Bernard Frize

Bernard Frize is an artist who's working process is not dissimilar to my own. Frize's work focuses on the use of pattern and colour. However chance plays a big dynamic influence in his work. Frize uses a a brush with four colours next to one another or in other cases for separate brushes tied together making sure either the brush contains a lot of moisture or the surface he paints on is wet. This is so the colours can bleed and blend together to create a new aspect in the piece. Frize also held high importance in finishing a piece in one go. This is so the movement and energy in the piece is kept. In and interview with David Ryan, Frize said: 'To me, a painting has to be done quickly to be able to show it's process, to be clear, without tricks. I don't like the mess of painting; it has to be done most of the time in one go - otherwise I get bored. Ironically, working out the process and figuring out all the preparations for a painting take longer than the actual act itself.'
Recently it has become more clear to me that the processes involved in creating a piece of work can hold more importance than the finished piece itself. Also when creating a series of pieces maintaining the same process is important to get a reliable and consistent result.

  Frize gained inspiration from Morris Louis, however Frize felt Louis' work fitted in too much with Clement Greenberg's ideology. Both artists work hold similarities in the way that a predetermined outcome has been perceived crossed with the working process of automatism and spontaneity.  

Morris Louis