The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them. - Mark Twain, Notebook, 1935
I am not suggesting, by pairing this painting with the Twain quote, that my work is radical or new, in any way, but I have been thinking about what behaviour, or ideas, are considered extreme, which are blaise, & what does it mean to be a radical? Happy Thursday Y'all!
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This series continues to intrigue me & I find myself learning more about the manipulation of the paint. I love that that practice provides knowledge & continue to get lost in the mini-universes that form in the making of these paintings. If you are interested in more things art & practice related check out this video by Sarah Urist Green. She illustrates the importance of intent in art. Happy Friday Y'all! To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival. -Wendell Berry
Everytime I acquire a new paint color it changes the work, this time I think for the better. Juniper Green is a Dr. Ph. Martin Radiant Watercolor that makes its debut in this Aerial View #9. I love the vibrancy & luminosity it adds. As summer quickly approaches in the LowCountry colors get more pronounced with deeper contrast: the almost black of deep shade & the almost white of bright sky. Perhaps my work will follow that trajectory too. Only time will tell. Happy Wednesday Y'all!
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe stated, "Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There it begins." I would argue the same is true when you put two paint strokes together. Happy Wednesday Y'all!
It is interesting to me how expansive the Bombay Blue is. It just sprints across the wet paper, whereas the Higgins is much more contained & at times hydrophobic. These painting remind me of clouds or brick walls & I am pleased with that dichotomy. Happy Monday Y'all! How does the Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus behave when it is the only thing on the page? The test on the left is with cobalt in four lines on a wet pieces of Arches. The test on the right was executed with Payne's Grey in a squiggle fashion.
Some of you might wonder why I approach things with the idea of testing & scientific inquiry. First, my education is in printmaking. While I have not pulled a print in awhile the method of testing your acid & mixing your ink, along with the traditional practice of different states for a plate are still very much a part of my modus operandi. Second I had a great science teacher in high school, for three years in a row. She expected nothing less than perfection & while I often fell short, her strive for excellence meant that I still learned a lot. One of the things that seems most applicable to the work I do not is the Scientific Method: Problem, Hypothesis, Thesis, Testing, Revision, Testing, Testing. Sounds like making a painting, a print, understanding materials. Thanks Dr. Drew! Did you know how much your methods would help an artist? Happy Monday Y'all! One of the first things I have done in almost every painting class I have taken is paint a color chart or a color wheel. I never gave much thought to that in my current practice, but then yesterday I was painting this chart after acquiring the Dr. Ph. Martin's Set #2, & it occurred to me that painting a color chart is a great introduction to your materials, while simultaneously removing the pressure to produce "art." The first block I painted was the sepia, as a lefty I work from the upper right across the page. It was so granular that I am emailing the company today to find out if this is usual. Rest assured I had thoroughly shaken the bottles before testing, as who knows how long they were on the shelf. The burnt umber & sap green also had some granulation, but nothing compared to the sepia. If I had not done the color chart I would not have known this paints attributes & might have mistakenly placed a dropper of them on a painting expecting them to morph in the manner of the others. I would have wrecked a painting. So what am I saying with all of this? Check your materials whatever they may be, know their properties & attributes & learn how to best work with them. I am sure there is a life lesson in there. Happy Tuesday Y'all!
P.S. Contacted Dr. Ph. Martin regarding the sepia. Response within 5 minutes, new bottle on the way. Customer Service for the Win! |