Title: “Scene
of Action”
(Inks and Enamel on Masonite)
46x61cm
THE IDEA BEHIND THE
PAINTING
This painting is the prototype for a
much larger painting which won Highly Commended in the Warrana Festival Art
Prize. It was a mixed media and called
“Space Encompassed” (90x120cm). It also
is in the Caltex Collection.
Artistic techniques
used in the painting:
With all my
art making, it’s a matter of enquiry, problem solving and resolution. This could concern issues of a personal,
political or global nature. Or it could
be of a technical artistic problem.
People who have been following my blog will know that I do not just
paint a picture... there is always something deeper going on.
The smaller painting shown here titled “Scene
of Action” represents experimental art.
I began by pouring inks onto a sealed masonite board. At the time I was experimenting with inks and
air-brushing. I had a small air brushing
kit that used pressure packs to spray fluids.
I poured the green inks and then the reds were applied with the
air-brush. It was a very spontaneous way
of producing a painting. I then
reproduced this painting onto a 90x120cm board.
This used all my skills and painting experience because I was
reproducing something that was initially born from chance. However I did accomplish this and it was
highly commended by the judges at Warrana Festival.
I re-named
the bigger painting “Space Encompassed” because the focus point is the red
space in the lower centre (slightly to the right). The viewer’s eye is drawn into this area of
the painting as if into “a still space beyond all the action”. The name of the prototype being “Scene of
Action”.
I used enamel
on the larger painting along with inks, whereas on the prototype I used the
air-brushed inks.
Although the
prototype was produced randomly, the larger painting had to be scaled up and
the spontaneous dribbles and pouring had to be reproduced. It is not easy to do this and keep the
spontaneous look.
I really urge
painters to experiment with new materials.
It is only through trying out different mediums that you start to get
experienced in just what they can do.
Then when you want to achieve a certain effect, you will be able to
select the best medium to achieve that effect.
This is what painting is about – along with the traditional techniques
of colour, composition, texture, design, emphasis and meaning, the knowledge of
different and new materials is essential.
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