Moments of Making in a New Terrain

Since I started painting more abstractly about two years ago, my process and what happens day to day in the studio has moved from a certain level of predictability to the grand unknown. Like all adventures of an indeterminate destination, there is a level of trepidation, but also excitement as one embarks down the path without any real compass. The familiar tubes of color, containers of waxes and oils, and an almost dizzying array of marble powders, pumice, sand, powdered pigments, graphite, charcoal, cold wax, etc. start lining up in the on the palette and vying for attention. It doesn’t take long for some semblance of order to turn into chaos. Actually there is usually a direct correlation between what kind of studio day its been and how much mess I have left in my tracks.

It’s been a fascinating experience to explore all kinds of lines and marks in my recent work. Cold wax paintings lend itself beautifully to a shift in surface like no other media I have ever used. Part of the thrill is having no real predetermined idea about what will happen with varying alternative tools. Figuring out which tools do what is an experience in itself. I have gone from the familiarity of a brush to using scrapers, palette knives in endless sizes and shapes, sticks, dried plants, stones, skewers, and pumice stones, just to name a few. Essentially anything that can add or subtract a mark or make shifts in the surface is fair game!

Powdered pigments from a famous old art store in Florence. called Zecchi. Gathering these gorgeous colors is a highlight in my expereinces in Florence during the summer.

Morning light in my home attic studio.

A sign of a good studio day!

Palette scrapings on my studio wall. Its interesting to see what happens with a natural layering of color that is a happen chance event within the act of painting.

Here are some details of a current works in progress.