Sculpted Canvases

These pieces reach into the visceral experiences of life- moments, both sublimely quiet, and those that rush with sensation. The sculpture comes out of my full contact and involvement with the work- I need to mold it with my hands as well as apply paint. The gesture evokes the feelings of the moment. They are memories, sensations, and feelings that recall another memory, another sensation.

They began when I met my fiance, whose presence in my life introduced rich, full color back into my palette.

Witness (2/07)

(16" x 40")

 

Untitled (10/28/07)

(39" x 39")

I need to get a better picture of this- it's showing a bit yellow here and doesn't have the full color range in the greys.

Soft Afternoon (3/07)

(56" x 38") sold

This one was created to be installed in a room with red walls. Sadly, the photo darkens and simplifies it. The range, changing light, and depth in this one are completely lost in this photo.

Water and Wind (12/06)

(46" x 34")

Embrace (6/06)

(26" 26")- not for sale

In Progress

As process is often the most interesting part of a work to me, I take daily photos of my paintings to track them as they develop. Here are a few in progress in this series. Often a particular stage will be quite unappealing. It may need to be far brighter than we would like, or even a color opposite to the finished one. The trick is to be so aware of the following stages that this does not discourage one from those necessary stages.

Pieces In Progress...

3 rounds of sculpting in to "untitled" (5th sculpted piece)

 

several stages into painting

 

painting in progress

I did the hands to this point all in one day (8/24/07) Sadly this shot doesn't really show the subtlty of the underpainting behind them. I made additions to the sculpted part during an earlier session.

Refining on the hands, (8/28/07).

current title for this work is "release"

8/31/07

10/16/07

I am putting just a little bit of flesh into this. Two or three layers and this is done. For some sections to get more fleshlike, and for the background and the substance falling.

detail of the paint layers in the lower section

detail from the finished painting.

 

others in progress...

sculpted, sanded, and ready to paint.

  

"Soft Afternoon" - 4 rounds into sculpting

 
 

 
   

This one will get some figurative elements, but it has a long way to go before it starts to look like itself- this layer is awkward on its own, but will produce a rich underlay for the next layer.

   
   

1/1/06