My current work references urban and topographic views. I am fascinated by urban planning and by how to integrate new buildings into already erected structures and layouts. The shapes should find a language that they relate to and communicate with each other.

I work with resin and I paint between the layers of resin which gives the painting further depth while I paint some of my shapes totally flat at the same time. I endeavour to give my paintings a fresh look and a sense of beginning and spontaneity and experiment with contrasts like transparency and opaqueness, flatness and depth, etc.

Most of my life I have lived in large cities; my abstract art reflects my fascination with urban settings. I love to study city and topographic maps and to analyze strategies for urban planning. My work is inspired by city architecture, urban planning, reconstruction, and restoration. I examine the relationships between people and urban conglomerations, between human nature and industrialism.

My compositions are an act of reduction. I try to simplify my imagery to fundamental forms and essential structures. My current series of abstract paintings explores the concept of organized shapes and networks versus chaotic lines and random shapes. In this new series I have gone away more and more from my strict squares and rectangles and have used more random shapes. Also I have played with some exciting colour palettes.

Ira Hoffecker will be featured in the Garden Room at Sooke Harbour House from February 1st to February 28th.  Ira Hoffecker will be at Sooke Harbour House in the Garden Room on Sunday, February 12th, 2012 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  Everyone is welcome!