Materials: Their story

 (these are new paintings on handmade watercolor paper, using lilacs, dirt, acrylic paint)

I have been noticing a shift of process or conscious perception in the approach to my work lately.  We grow at such slow speeds that often we don't even get the chance to see it, but I am aware of a difference in how I see and my relationship to chosen materials.  

Right now I am very interested in the story, essence, or spirit of the materials used in creating something.  I am  interested in the space between the paper and the paint, the way the light moves it, the information it suggests.  I feel that the paper is deserving of its "importance" its not simply a convenient background for a picture, but rather in itself a precious object, created from living matter in a particular way, coming to its own resting place and all of this is of value and consideration to the viewing experience...its as if everything has at least 3 meanings, as certain phrases do...they are poems with many subtle whispers.  I also feel that I am almost seeing two dimensional things as three dimensional with another dimension of meaning...layers and layers.....

And lastly, I am curious about working within a boundary of 3, (until I don't want to do that anymore!) meaning to consider 3 elements-3 choices....

studio visit

Anger; A Help In A Time Of Need

The Antics Of Quentin And Archie

Lilacs and Plums; Grandma and Grandpa

Never Saw Toys As Anything Other Then Toys

For Linda; A Favored American Setting

Here are the remaining paintings in this series. Each is 16" x 20" Acrylic Paint, Photo Collage, and Dirt on Canvas. I thought there we're 12, but apparently there are 11. That's a weird number! Maybe I'll do another?

I hung two of these this weekend at the reinstitute. A fabulous new art venue for warm weather, (its a converted barn). I am thinking of proposing something for 2011 there, its really an inspiring space.

I mentioned the titles in my previous 'We're All Dirt' post, (if you look back at the previous posts they've been added) These titles are "combines". Combining the title of the original painting (when there was one), with text that accompanied the original photographs. Thus, creating new meaning with what pre-existed. I am enchanted with the riddle of unity, or a continuous connection throughout everything.

We're All Dirt

Frustration; Fun and Games

Chinese Money Plant; Bumbershoot Against A Masher

Milkweed and The Green Pitcher; A Thinker Of An Original Kind

Hope, Fear, and Stoic Patience

And Instant Hello and Goodbye

A Loving Group

I am excited to get these up! Remember the 22 canvas's I bought. The ones pre-painted with terrible landscapes and still lifes? Well, here they are after being collaged and painted with dirt. (These are 6 of 12 in this group.)
I knew I wanted to use some part of the original painting, because even though they were atrocious, clearly the person who painted them loved painting, (22 canvas's!)
The love element was intact.
The idea behind the collages is that we are all a part of everything, and I imagined what it would be like to be a little bit of everything and we will all be dirt at some point. Dirt is magical, alchemical in property. The people in the photographs have long since returned to the dirt, and the painter of these paintings is now dirt. Dirt continues to generate life from life.....
I have much more to say about this project, and will elaborate when I post the other ones, including titles.