Type Book

This piece is combining two things that I have been exploring for a while, the type books and the effects of spray paint on prints that use toner. The resolution is a bit less than impressive. I have been thinking about just producing a series of short animations based on this. Maybe a daily exercise or something. That seems to fit with my previous studio practice of just working and letting a body of work develop. 

Work From the Past Few Days

Beginning a new image. 

Crossing off words, adding new ones. Paint seems to be the best writing medium, but I am not sure how well this incorporates into the body of work yet. 

Finished strip filling gap on left side of the configuration. Initially painted this green as shown here, but late last night painted it white. 

Progress on the small figure to the right, initial investigation of the stripes on the shirt. 

Mid-Week Work

The bright stripes at the bottom of the composition were knocked back into with some background color. A little more refinement to the large portrait was made as well. 

As a result of the irregular panel widths on the left side there is this slight gap that remains even after the 1" spacers were put into position. 

A pine strip was ran through the table saw to match the gap, after which an aspen panel was ran through and then the two were wood glued and clamped together. 

A little work here and there on this piece. Mostly roughing in the couch values and position.  

I have been considering for some time incorporating handwriting into the work. Artists like Basquiat, Twombly and Dine have done this well amongst others. This notion came up in critique this past week with Victor and I began to ponder in the impact it may have on the work. As a warm-up to the concept I took two of my least favorite panels and attempted to jot down various phrases that were on my mind in a variety of media to see how it altered to work. Finding the correct media/technique to use for rendering the letters as well as not over thinking the words and phrases is something that may take practice and time if it is to be an effective element in this slowly developing body of work.

Weekend Work

Developing shadows on the figure to the left. 

Starting some new panels.  

 The new panels with more paint added below an old panel placed on top.

Working them together.

Preparing For a Show

I was invited to participate in an MFA show at a community college in St. Charles which will run through the month of October. This is a shot of two of the pieces being "test hung" in the garage. I thought it was a good opportunity to work through the logistics of getting these things on the walls. I am considering the six pieces in the show to be complete at this point, but will have no reservations about working on them more after they are back in the studio. Considering alternate ways of displaying them such as stacks or structures is something I want to explore more. 

A little painting was eked out in between bolting and fashioning the work together for the show.