Tracks and Trails

My name is Eyaeal Fisseha. After attending California State University of East Bay (CSUEB) and I have received a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Traditional Arts in painting, drawing and pottery. While in school and after, I have exhibited my art in different venues, which experiences I have enjoyed immensely.

I have been working abstractly on my series "Tracks and Trails," using acrylic and mixed media on small scale canvases. By using sketches of animate and inanimate objects, I try to create repetition and movement on the canvas. The shapes originate from everyday objects that have interesting details. The pattern of yarn intertwined might intersect with another shape or a pattern coming from nature, for example, from insects.

I am interested in different kinds of mark making. The repetition of bubbles seems contained, but then some diverge from the larger shape and float free. The repetition of shapes and lines flowing together create direction, activate the space and make the whole cohere. The use of muted earth tone colors and lines gives my work simplicity. The colors I use are either based on the original color of the object that I am referencing or a color I think complements the background.

I subtract color and add color. While doing that, the washed out paint leaves tracks which give that area a distressed appearance and the feeling of shapes disappearing into space while other shapes and lines are revealed and discovered.

I would like viewers to use their eyes and imagination to wander and be led through these shapes, lines and colors to create their own meaning of what they are seeing.