"Ultrablue Garden 03" by Patrick Burns

Entitled "Ultrablue Garden 03," this mixed-media work by contemporary artist Patrick Burns makes a bold impression with a tactile surface of unconventional materials and a monochrome finish of hand-mixed vibrant blue pigment.

The work belongs to Burns' recent series "Concrete Gardens," a creative endeavor to translate his love of the land and horticulture arts into sculptural paintings with vibrant color and heavy texture. Using press molds, tree branches, sand, gravel and many, many layers of highly-pigmented paint, Burns creates surreal, botanical landscapes that balance the delicate imagery of flowers and plants against the strong tactile qualities of concrete, sand, plaster and gravel. Found objects unearthed during his gardening are tucked within each composition, layering the abstract settings with hidden details and personal touches.

Inspired by the rigidity of his urban surroundings, Burns uses his Concrete Gardens paintings to explore the contrasts of his hobby, placing the perceived femininity of flower gardening against his own masculinity. By the artist’s own words, “I played football in college. I lift weights. Hard physical work is my modus operandi. If I were to turn my passion for gardening into art, what would that look like?” Lingering on this juxtaposition, Burns subverts the perceived femininity of mothering a garden with masculine visual elements such as bold colors, rough materials and strong, well-defined form – concrete gardens.

Pigment, gesso, acrylic paint, plaster, concrete, and found objects on wood board.