Alf de Nominator is an Albuquerque-based artist. He received his MFA in sculpture from University of Kansas in 2000.  He transplanted to the southwest a few years later. Recent efforts to rethink what an art object is led to him slopping house paint on canvas drop cloths. These explorations steered his focus to large brightly colored paintings that showcase soft rounded shapes floating over patterns that mimic clouds. Randomness decides which color variations go where. Blending graphic design and graffiti into a safe space for curiosity to bloom. In a world that can often be dark, his paintings give you hope and a space to contemplate joy. 

"The goal in painting is to create a world where rounded shapes in pastel colors float in a dynamic landscape reminiscent of clouds in the Southwestern sunset.  Sometimes the shapes travel on their own, and at other times they connect in an embrace or dance.  I create paintings of soft, peaceful colors that will create an inviting and harmonious environment.

I have been painting on a large scale for some time. Large paintings allow me to physically engage with the shapes as they come alive across the painting. The submitted pieces are much smaller than normal. They offer some insight into how new shapes are formed. In my studio, I use easily accessible materials such as house paint and drop cloths for my canvases. These relatively inexpensive supplies allow me to make many paintings as I explore different shapes and color combinations.

Each composition is a spatial problem to solve, in which I use designated spacing, repeatable patterns, and geometric equations. Homemade paper stencils, common layout tools, and sometimes, even string helps create the layout for each painting. Once the color palette is decided, I use a randomizing computer program to generate a color assignment for each shape. Color blocks are created within each shape, adding to the curiosity of what’s happening with the design. The line work is the final dance that brings all the blocks of color to life. While it separates the colors, the shapes unite to make larger things, generating the idea of depth and motion within a static canvas. The final result is energetic and harmonious."