It’s refreshing to see a show of splashy and painterly abstraction and in this Haeslle delivers admirably. The subject matter vaguely references nature but this is not essential for understanding the work.  More significant is how

Haeslle, Untitled, 2007, acrylic on canvas, 76 X 102 in

Haeslle, Untitled, 2007, acrylic on canvas, 44 X 66 in

Haeslle, Untitled, 2007, acrylic on canvas, 78 X 78 in

the act of painting itself becomes the focus and infuses  these pieces with their visual energy.  Of course this is nothing new and though Haeslle draws from a tradition that, at least for contemporary post-war painting riffs on de  Kooning, he doesn’t extend the tradition.  There is a casual sloppiness to these paintings which shouldn’t be misunderstood.  The artist tempers his loose paint handling with the solidity of the composition.  The color is also balanced to present a range of tones that work well together while creating tension in the drama of the contrasts.

All of this work is acrylic on canvas but the paint handling suggests all the richness of oil paint.  Considering the less than forgiving nature of acrylics due to their quick-drying characteristics, Haeslle is able to get a great deal out of the medium. Some of the painted surfaces do ‘flatten out’ as is typical for the medium.  Look at the large painting (76 x 102) where the background grays and white shape demonstrate this quality.  You have to wonder though what the artist would be able to do with oils. But on the other hand the range achieved here is magnificent.