Transparent Wave

12" x 12"
Acrylic on canvas



more focusing on the transparency of water and how the movement of water,which churns up it's layers, are what often make it less transparent.

I went into this one remembering that moment just before getting swallowed up by a wave, sitting just below the surface, or on the edge of a river, looking down into a swirling current.

simple overlaps

difficult to see in the photo.... but I am amazed at how just the overlap of the transparent acrylic paint (over the pencil lines) can create such a sense of depth and layering. It's most likely because the image is so simple that the overlap and transparency have the ability to be on an equally important ground; whereas if they image was very complex that overlap and transparency would be relegated to an "oh yea, that too" kind of status.

Additionally, I am really excited how the acrylic maintains it's appearance of fluidity even once dry. I think that it dries fast enough, and has the proper viscosity to allow the streaks and variations to remain visible (as a record of both the motion of the brushstroke and the evident liquid form of the the paint)

I have played with ink before and it's a bit too flat. The acrylic emultion stands up, away from the paper a little bit. I just might have to go back and make more of these, and investigate this technique further as a way to explore some of the dichotomies that actually lead to a third state of existence.

fluid/solid
transparent/opaque(overlap)
motion/stillness

I'm really glad that I've been able to realize a new way (for me) to use acrylic paint, and it has opened up more ways to make paintings, while still actually using paint.

Fleshy waves?

These are details of the 7 piece, composite painting hanging in the show.....


every show that I've had this past year, someone has seen figures, faces, or other human/organic forms in the more abstract work. this time a student at FDU saw a face in one of the etchings. I saw the flesh tones in these red/orange paintings when I was taking photos.

there must be something to this


I closely relate a body of water to the human body, because feels alive. Moving water pulses, undulates, and has a rhythm that I have seen in many people. Imagine a board surfer duck diving under a crashing wave. Picture young people playing in a small river with rapids, under the hot summer sun; swimming in and out of the currents.

I was tempted to use wax, encaustic, for this project, but I prefer the clearer (and more durable) medium of acrylic. I suppose now I know why wax sculptures are so life-like. The wax mimicks semi-transparency of skin.



What is really curious, fascinating about this subject, is that the more I work on a piece, the more I keep leaning towards a more fleshy combination of colors. It's easy to realize that our bodies are mostly water. Our flesh is mostly water. But that's the simple answer. There is something more of a deep connection to the water; some kind of calling.