Alan Mckee: Digital Abstract Expressionism

By Cassie Rief in Featured Artists > Other Mediums

The opportunity to present color in vivid, luminous ways is what drove Alan Mckee to become a digital painter.

Educated by his mother, Marjorie, who was part of an abstract expressionist movement in New York, Alan blends old painting styles with new digital imaging techniques to create a style all his own.

Rain for example, in all its three-dimensional glory, contains the refreshing coolness of an unexpected afternoon shower.

rain

Notice the movement in this painting: graceful arches of blue, purple and white flow out from the center of the composition, and it’s up to you to decide whether you’re looking at steady streams of water or the branches of a delicate bush beaded with droplets.

In this piece you can see the beauty of rain slowed down and magnified, showcasing the splendor of each, individual raindrop. And the color choices—so clean and prismatic—are quite revitalizing, too!

Next, Moondance perfectly conveys those glorious nights, when the brilliant light of a full moon casts everything below into stark contrast.

moondance

Imagine looking up into the night sky and seeing the gleaming light of the moon bouncing back into every darkly lit corner. I don’t know how he did it, but Alan perfectly captured that moment in this piece.

With curvaceous lines and a flowing, “etched” design, he repeats shapes like that of a crescent moon in a hypnotic way that truly does let your eyes move along each curve like the smoothest dance.

Lastly, like Japanese origami, Folded Meadow Twilight uses sharp edges and abrupt color changes to contrast wispy textures and fading colors with squared up shapes.

folded-meadow-twilight

The intense blue and yellow hues within the inner section of the composition remind me of a pasture at twilight, when the sun is low and casts a warm glow across the field. And yet. . . the vibrant sky above still hasn’t yet lost its bold blue hue.

Then, in a matter of seconds, those fiery colors dim and dull until whispers of them are all that remain among the still trees and tall grass, and darkness settles in. We can see all of those moments at once within this piece, and that’s what makes it so dynamic.

Alan’s portfolio is alive with nature-filled, abstract pieces that are just as intriging as their titles suggest. Don’t miss out—visit his website today and see for yourself!

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