Fun With Nikolaj

Light blue, grays, some red/yellow color palette, organic shapes, dots, stripes and zig zag lines.

This 31.25 x 2.375 x 2 inch Acrylic on Canvas Painting by Larry Hefner is titled 'Fun With Nikolaj.' It is an abstract work that depicts different shapes and patterns and uses a balanced color palette of light blue, yellow, red and various shades of grey. There are three different organic shapes that are a light grey color, three organic shapes that are a darker, more warmer tinted grey, and two larger shapes with more linear edges and corners than the other organic shapes just listed, and they are light blue. There are two rectangular shapes that have grey and black stripes, one positioned in the bottom left corner and one in the top right corner. There are two varied shapes that consist of a dark grey color and many thin vertically placed, messy white and red lines; one shape is placed against the bottom edge of the work, almost fully lining the bottom but only coming up about 1/8th of the composition. The other is a small sort of rounded triangular shape that is positioned between the two large, light blue shapes, again consisting of the dark grey color and thin, vertical white and red lines. A very light grey color, almost off-white, takes up the rest of the negative space that the shapes surround. There are various small shapes, lines and patterns, mainly yellow and red, layered on top of the mentioned shapes throughout the composition. Most of the small shapes are rectangular and most the lines are zig zagged and/or dotted. The work resembles a sort of patchwork style, with the various lines being the stitching and the different shapes representing the fabric. This sort of abstraction fully grabs the viewer's attention as it has consistent movement throughout the work but yet has some uniformity in the color scheme. Hefner uses the three primary colors, blue, yellow and red, as well as various shades of grey, to create this sense of uniformity in contrast to the shapes and patterns represented that exhibit a sense of movement and playfulness.

Larry Hefner received his Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts Degrees from the University of Oklahoma. He has taught both art and deign at various universities across the United States for over 30 years. He is Professor Emeritus of Design in the School of Design at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma where he was chair of the Department. Larry is currently a professional fine artist working from his studio in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is a multi-disciplined artist working with a variety of media and techniques primarily working in the area of painting with acrylic as his primary medium. His work has been exhibited in many local and regional museums and galleries winning numerous awards. For the past 40+ years, Larry has worked as a graphic designer/photographer, owning his own studio, The Hefner Group in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma specializing in advertising and graphic design.