Metal.

I have been working on a piece I’ve been thinking about for some time. I’ve always wanted to create a painting that had metal as a support.

I started by engraving simple patterns on the surface of the metal. I then filled the engraved lines with printing ink, and I wiped the surface but left the overall tone of the surface a beautiful gray. I then placed gold and aluminum foil on the surface. I plan on finishing the piece with oil paint.

Still something missing.

I have been looking at this piece for a few days now and I feel as if something is missing. The composition seems a bit top heavy and I’m trying to figure out what the best solution would be. I may add a red cord across the bottom; I would attach it to the framing device, and allow it to gently sag.

I very much like the two narrow red panels that I placed in the top portion of the composition. They have filled in dead areas, but have also created the sensation of top heaviness.

Many things underway.

My studio is in its usual chaotic state, and at first glance it would appear that I’m having trouble focusing on any one piece. But strangely I really do enjoy when things are as busy and cluttered as this; it makes me feel a little more creative during the January doldrums. I have several pieces I’m working on at the moment, and I’ve been sorting through stuff to redo or reassemble, or simply finish. There is nothing as pleasing as a studio full of work and possibilities!

Facade.

I have been looking at this painting / construction for a few days and I feel it is finished. The title that best suits this work is Facade. The definition that I like best from the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is “an outward appearance or front, esp. one which is deceptive.”

I like the fact that the shape of the work recalls the facade of a building, possibly a temple, and to heighten this relationship I included columns on either side of the doorway. The figure within the doorway is in a shroud wrapped with wire and surrounded by talismans, or to be precise, a magnet and string, and a strip of film.

All in all I’ve enjoyed this exercise; I’ve never worked on anything like this before and I feel I’ve gained a few ideas that I can make use of in further work. But the piece is something that I will probably bury away in my studio and never show. It is little more than a mental exercise, something to learn from, even if what I’ve learned is to never do that again! I can learn a lot from failure, and I feel that if I try to view this as a piece of art then it is a failure.

Salvaged paintings.

I have been trying to make use of unfinished or problem paintings that are taking up space in my studio. The piece I’m working on now consists of two paintings, one that never seemed to be working to my satisfaction, and another that seemed to have some good parts, but felt too busy.

The first photo is of the painting that just wouldn’t work, and I essentially completely painted over it, and very little remains.

The second photo shows the repainted canvas with the busy painting attached to it and mounted in a frame. The composition forms a simple upside down cross, and I feel there may yet be some alterations to this formate. I may add two narrow canvases to the upper part of the structure and paint them the same red.

The third photo shows the repainted busy painting. I tried to keep compositional elements of this painting intact, and you can still see the basic composition and parts of the under painting. I like the overall effect of the red canvases, red is such an amazing colour. It is violent and arresting to the eye, and yet it can also be full of subtle and numerous variations of hue.

Stage six.

I am coming close to the finishing stage in this work. I can now see what the finished work will look like, and I feel there is little more to do other than small details.

Stage five.

Things are under control though they seem to be otherwise! I actually have the finish in sight.

Stage four.

I really like the bottom half, and I am starting to get a better sense of the overall composition. I always keep in mind that the finished painting will most likely be completely different than this stage.