May 20, 2010

Cylinders: Two New Paintings

Green Red Blue, egg tempera on vellum, 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches


A friend recently pointed out to me that in most of my paintings, curved forms predominate. I realize that is quite true; my subjects––farm machinery––often have curved volumes: covered with belts, filled with liquids, used for Archimedes screws which move chopped hay. I find these volumes very satisfying, and enjoy working to get the illusion of solidity in the paintings. These two paintings are very small works, perhaps smaller than the image displayed on your screen.


Two Bolts, egg tempera on vellum, 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches


This painting, with its dark background, reminds me of Spanish still life painting, such as the work of Luis Melendez, which I wrote about here. It's fun to be using an ancient technique to depict contemporary implements.

Below are two small watercolor sketches that I painted to work out the color for the paintings; I chose not to use the original colors, which were very intense and acid. In Green Red Blue, the blue was originally black. Doing the sketches was very helpful; I think I will use opaque gouache, more similar to tempera, in future.

My next painting, just begun, is flat.




5 comments:

  1. Beautiful!

    I think those two bolts might be holding on "hose clamps". -That's a Mr. Fixit-type art review!

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  2. Exquiste: thee play of light & shadow, the tension of edges meeting and defining, the growing abstraction. Also, I am a sucker for those sketches, their light touch seductive.

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  3. thanks, Kim and Julie, I'm so glad you like these. I"m so used to seeing them in person, that I wonder how they look online, bigger than actual size.

    hmm, hose clamps sounds about right.

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  4. Red Green Blue is perfection -- among my favorites of your skillful work. A balanced, simple, peaceful statement. Embodies the calm sophistication I am so pleased to visit in your blog.

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  5. thanks so much, twocorbies, both for your praise of the painting, and of the blog; I'm glad you enjoy your visits.

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