Art in Abstraction

Connie Rigdon’s exploration of abstract expressionism

By Liesel Schmidt

Connie Rigdon approaches a blank canvas with the same passion that she once did the renderings of a building, utilizing what she considers “problem solving” to express emotion and blend the natural with the manmade world in explorative, bold strokes that evoke an abstract impression of some time, place or feeling.

“My work is a real reflection of my effort to find peace and calm in our energetic and many times chaotic world,” she says. “I hope that the viewer is able to feel that same calmness emerging from the initial energy that starts in all of my paintings.”

Rigdon’s love for art began at a young age. “I can remember always having a crayon or pencil in hand, drawing or coloring,” she recalls. Her first artistic recognition came when she was only five or six years old, winning her first drawing contest. That innate creativity served her well during her career as an architect, as she gravitated toward the art of creation in her work. It was a starting point, a touchstone that kept her connected to her early love of conceptualizing something and bringing it to life—first, on a page, and then into the world.

And while art has always been a passion, it wasn’t until more recently that Rigdon considered pursuing painting as a professional career. She sold her first piece in 2018, but it was 2020 that truly focused her energy and allowed her to concentrate on her creative pursuits.

“Like many people, I really dove, feet-first, into painting during the COVID lockdown,” she says. “I ended up with a couple dozen very large paintings in my living room, with no place to put it all.”

By the end of 2020, she had been invited to showcase her work at the Charleston Artist Collective. It was a turning point for Rigdon, as she quickly discovered that her art resonated with a wide audience.

“I sold nearly 100 paintings in 2021,” she notes, reflecting on the moment she realized she could fully dedicate herself to her craft. “That is when I was bit by the bug.”

Rigdon’s work is largely defined by her background in architecture, which has greatly informed her approach to both technique and subject matter. While her style leans toward abstract expressionism, her architectural training shines through in the way her work often reflects a balance between organic chaos and structured design. Naturally, Rigdon draws inspiration from a variety of sources, particularly her travels to large cities and her time spent in nature. Whether she’s exploring mountains or oceans, her work is an emotional response to the environments she experiences.

However, it’s not just nature and urban landscapes that fuel Rigdon’s creativity. She is also deeply moved by the work of other artists, particularly those who, like her, are driven by a passion for abstract expressionism. Her favorite artistic influences include some of the greats from the movement, including Joan Mitchell, Richard Diebenkorn and Jackson Pollock. Like these artists, Rigdon considers herself an “intuitive, emotional painter,” often allowing her emotions and responses to the world around her to dictate the direction of her work.

She approaches each piece with an open mind, ready to embrace spontaneity.

“I like to apply paint to my canvas very randomly, with very little thought, just creating marks and shapes on the blank surface—many times, using whatever is left over on my palette from a previous painting,” she explains. “From there, I begin to respond to those marks and shapes. It’s all very much like a jazz composition, complete improvisation with one note informing the next note until they become something spectacular.”

She adds, “With my work, you will not really ever see repetition, because the evolution of each piece is never the same. The dialogue between the canvas and paint is always changing, fluid and responsive to the present.” This ensures that each piece is a unique reflection of her thoughts and emotions at a particular moment in time.

Since relocating to Charleston from Beaufort in 2019, Rigdon has become an integral part of the local art scene. She is a member of Preserving a Picturesque America, and her work is represented by the Charleston Artist Collective in Mount Pleasant, Hagan Fine Art in Charleston, the Campbell Art Collective online and Presson Gallery in Monroe, North Carolina. Her work can also be viewed at www.connierigdon.com.