This week I’ll be uploading some images that were the “source” images for the abstracts that I created and posted this past month. I will be putting a link to the abstract post in the description for you to compare.

To start this off, today I am posting the abstraction plus the original image. A sort of before and after. You may clck on each image to view them separately and larger. The source image is a detail from a rail car. I don’t usually use source images with writing already on the image. But I wanted to give it a try and see if I can abstract the text enough so it has only a hint of legibility.

Many of you (who have been following my work for some time) know that I describe this process of abstraction as Visual Glossolalia. It’s the process of taking one type of visual language (a photograph of reality) then dismantling and reconstructing it into an new completely abstract visual language. Each image has its own merits and can be talked about in entirely separate terms. I think my work can be discussed in terms of drawing inspiration from many of the art movements that came before me without fitting comfortably into any single one them.

The source image is merely and simply titled “Writing On The Wall” but the VG (Visual Glossolalia) image its titled “Writings Of An Invisible Hand” and alludes to the Old Testament story in the Christian Bible from the Book of Daniel 5:5-31 that tells a story of King Belshazzar throwing a wild party and suddenly a large hand appears and writes 4 words on the wall which prophesied the end of King Belshazzar’s reign. My images are NOT religious. In fact I find the story from the Bible to be rather humorous and could be the first use of billboards (large walls with writing on them).

And now a different type of visual abstraction set to music. Enjoy “The Writing’s On The Wall” by OK Go.