Think about diving into the waters of the Caribbean. Imagine feeling the sensations of being under and in the water off St. Bart’s, St. Johns or Martinique. Cooling blues and greens float with muted reds, yellows or oranges. Then visit the newest paintings by McCain McMurray in his solo exhibit Immersion at Touchstone Gallery during the month of July. You’ll see slices of the Caribbean in his long vertical paintings—painted essays defining the essence of this watery space and the experience of exploring life in it.

Working in acrylic, McMurray pours multiple layers of thinned paint onto the unprimed canvas and allows the pigment to seep into the fabric to actually stain the canvas. This staining process creates a flow that is different from his previous works on board. “This process results in freedom to take advantage of serendipity and the surprises it can bring,” he states.

Trowels are used to spread the acrylic. Wet paint is poured into wet paint or wet paint over dry to create either blends of colors or edges of color. Ink and wax pencils are used for additional mark making.

Many paintings are covered by 15 to 20 layers of pigment before they are finished, resulting in very rich deep colors. These paintings offer a version of McMurray's reality, a reality that “has to be digested…to be transmuted by paint,” as American abstract expressionist painter Richard Diebenkorn observed.

Immersion: Paintings by McCain McMurray

www.mccainmcmurray.com

July 1-31, 2016: Opening Reception: Friday, July 22, 6-8:30 pm; Artist Talk: Saturday, July 30, 2-4 pm

Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001; www.touchstonegallery.com