“Bones”
Acrylic
90x120cm
ABOUT THIS PAINTING:
“Bones” talks about things past that are the
underpinnings for what is Now. The
painting grew out of an earlier painting (see below). This earlier unresolved painting was done
during a difficult period in my life. It
was from this, that “Bones” came into being at a later stage in my life.
I am very reluctant to date any of my
paintings. This is because I think that paintings can be continued at a later
stage in time. It is up to me as the
artist, to say when a painting is finished and that has to be flexible because
painting is a way of life – my life.
Until I have reached a time when I do not paint, then any painting that
I hold in my possession is open to re-working if I see fit.
Over the recent years many art
competitions specify that a painting has to be done within a certain
time-frame. That is quite impossible in my
view, because an artist can go back to working on it when and if they like,
while they are living. There is a recent
tendency to “define painting within the strict perimeters of accountability”. I really object to this because while it is
still in my possession it is available to undergo alterations, refinements and
name changes.
Yes, I concede that it is convenient
for those who catalogue an artist’s work to have access to this information after
the artist has died, but while they are living, then the paintings are still
subject to the artist’s inspiration and whim.
It is different however if the work
has been sold. Then it belongs to the
buyer. Yes an artist’s work can evolve
and go through stages during their career but generally one can follow the
progress of an artist throughout their life as being unique and an individual
statement of that person. Painting is
very much like a person’s signature – its hard to change or if it does, that in
itself, is noteworthy.
“Bones” is a case in point. The painting is a resolution of the earlier
work seen here.
Artistic techniques used in this
painting:
The white images, representing bones, are
scattered across the flat aqua surface much like shamanic bones are cast to
divine the future. The viewer’s eyes
move around the painting. However the
unobtrusive yellow and white marks in the centre-right create tension that if
not there, would render the painting bland and boring.
The
tone is high because there is a relatively high contrast between the aqua of
the background and the white bones. The
overall feeling that the painting inspires is that of calmness. This is created by the dominant aqua which is
a calming colour. Note the difference
between the final painting and its predecessor which is turbulent.
The
composition is balanced because of three corners of the canvas have
“bracket-like” shapes that frame and stabilize the overall image. This painting is resolved as far as I (its
creator) is concerned and it no longer belongs to me so I will never change it
at a future time. However I cannot
promise that for those paintings I hold in my possession – they are always open
to change!! Excuse the pun, but I am
making no bones about that...
I
would love to hear what you think about the above.
