7 individuals that fit as 1

These are all 48" tall, done with acrylic on canvas. It's tough to tell from these photos, but most of the paint is transparent, built up in several layers over the course of the past two months. The overall theme is still water, but this time the focus is on depth and surface texture (as well as shine). The difficult part of photographing these paintings (besides the 3 dimentional aspect of them) is the glare from all of the gloss gel. But, that is a major part of the painting. The reflections of light on water's surface, and the closer you get, the less of an issue glare becomes, until you can see below the surface to some of the component parts that make up the color depth within a body of water.......................................................................

All seven of these were painted at the same time, using a wave shape as the form, and water as a theme. They are contemplated both seperately and as one seven-part painting.








Photos of some details willl follow, provided that I can at least partially capture the 3 dimentional aspect in that 2 dimentional medium.

Regarding the 3 dimentionality..... it seems that for a long time throughout the history of painting, the focus had been on the illusion of 3 dimentional space on a very flat surface. The ACTUAL 3 dimentional work was left to sculptors and architects. The attitude was that a painting was a "window" THROUGH which we looked at a scene. Modernism addressed both the obvious flatness of a painting on canvas, as well as explored all of the areas between sculpture and painting. Here, now, I am interested in bringing the two together. Discussing BOTH space that can be looked "into" as through a window, and space that pushes "out" into our plane. Transparency is the obvioius solution to this, especially when working within the contraints of painting on a flat surface (such as I am)

And, to directly address those who would question my self imposed contraints: I WANT to work on surface and not really in the sculptural realm. I don't have any prolems with sculpture, or any perceived places between sculpture and painting. It's just not what I am moved to explore at this time. If I changed the constraints, then the entire project would change. Besides, I just really love the feeling of paint. Yes, the visceral experience of high viscosity, squishy, sticky, smooth, flowing paint. It's like having the ability to play with water as it is in that transition from solid to liquid. It is a melting point. Wax as it starts to soften and drip. Chocolate as it melts slowly on your tongue.

Another thing. I"m not a strong believer in "post" modernism. I really don't think that it exists. it is a useful tool to discuss either the immediate future or the exact present. But Modernism is still going on,and the "post" is a concept.

Anyway..... enjoy the paintings. I've had fun with this investigation. I'm also still working on them. They will surely still be a little bit wet when I hang them for the show in two weeks.

Also. If anyone knows any photography tricks.... I'd be happy to hear them. These painting have to be experienced up close to really apreciate them, and photographs are not capturing all of the subtlties involved in each piece.