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On the origin of a species...
10/29/2022
HEREIN LIES an example of how I get from A to Z in the painting process. My process is all about the repetition of drawing square after square of a set of lines, an object, or a shape, in search of an image, or images that intrigue me... It’s an adventure, and I basically go through three phases starting with the loose sketches in a sketchbook, where i find a few potentials.
Occasionally, there is a stage 1.5, and i do some quick small color sketches.
I then take the short-listers, and get a little bit more precise with them on a slightly larger scale, 2” x 2”, on what I call a “contact sheet”, and apply some color with my color markers. This stage will also prompt a few new images as well, leading to an image (or a few) that stands taller than the rest. At this point, they appear to be resolved, and usually the painting works out according to plan. But occasionally, it doesn’t, c’est la vie...
At this point, now that i’ve found an image to paint, I feel a sense of relief, doubts cast aside at least for the time being... I can get to the quiet (mind) labor.
In this case, i painted right on top of the board after sanding it smooth, and forwent using any gesso or mediums. Is this a good idea? Don’t really know, but I’m using acrylic paint, and so far it hasnt been an issue. I will be gessoing the next lot of cradled hardboard surfaces in my lineup, with a hard sandable gesso from Golden... will see how that goes.
I next measure out, and draw the lines for the painting, and use tape to get the sharp edges on the shapes. In this series of paintings, I’m using Cobalt blue, and mars black, both mixed with white for the lighter shades. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves...
Sometimes the paint misbehaves, and i have to either re-tape a shape, or touch up a few spots here and there, where I painted over a piece of tape and didn’t see it till it was dry. And as acrylic dries quickly, I sometimes have to remix more paint, and it becomes a bit of a pain to get the color right again... But i got a nice little series out of that contact sheet, with a few more potentials to try. Final pieces below.
And Bob’s your uncle.