JAMES BURNS
HOW TO PAINT? or WHY TO PAINT? Automatism was the breakthrough method for American painting known as Abstract Expressionism. Matta taught Motherwell how. In theory it relinquishes conscious control to the unconscious. This is easier said than done. It is like deciding to have a dream. There can be no decisions in automatic painting except to set the conditions in your studio and decide to make a painting. Materials do not appear by themselves. Collective Automatic Painting can spark the flame of what is called art. A new fire is born. Beware, you will risk everything!