Bokusho Domino - 42 x 60 - unfinished
I won't call it a love/hate situation, maybe just uncertainty. It's a fairly large painting, has a nice, rather comfortable feel to it, but lacks drama or real depth. A surface painting with no real story to tell. Not a work that I might be inclined to gaze at repeatedly. Several walls in my living room serve as 'contemplation' spots for paintings that are near finished... this one's occupied several of them but I still don't have a direction for it. Paintings that survive this scrutiny are clearly those I can't keep my eyes off of... this one isn't calling to me, or even talking to me, suggesting new ways to work it. That's what's supposed to happen. Maybe if I expose it to the blogosphere it will shed new directional light.
12 comments:
the dominoes are on the table, but so far, there's no game. I think it needs a spot of red to start the play. Annette
Agreed re: not being in play ;-) Perhaps the rusty red, drawn in square lines just aren't red enough... KJ
Ok, you asked for it.
I'd recommend glazing the whole thing with some color that you rarely use. Or puddle, sponge, splash, smear, something over it so that you will have to really wrestle it back into shape. Knock it back a step, almost kill it. Try spattering bleach on it, or coffee, or gluing a sheet of vellum over it. Take the opportunity to infuse the mediocre with some happy accidents.
Steven, you're suggesting I've become a bit anal with these grids? Yup, I think you're right! Color outside the lines... good idea! KJ
Hi Karen
I agree with the first comment about more red, and I agree with Steve about doing something over the top (but not obliterating it!).
For what its worth I'd try rusty-red transparent shapes over the grids ... organic shapes or perhaps Oriental hieraglyphics (mind gone blank on the spelling of that one!). With glazes one can always wipe them off if they don't work (if one is quick!).
Please post this again when its finished - whatever you decide.
best
Karen, what if the border went bigger, with a suggestion of red growing from the outside in one section of the border and then,the red skips around a bit in a thick to thin line and then hippy hop, into a few of the squares and hops about. Uhhhmmmm, does that make any sense at all? Ha! Something needs to hop about!
I have to preface this by saying that i am not an artist, nor do i play one on the internet, but when i saw the picture my first thought was "needs color."
Although i like Steven's idea with the bleach too.
Great comments... will have to see what floats. I have an inner force which wants to strip to minimalism, but it battles with a need for more involvement... which is what you are all suggesting. "Less is more" is not working in this instance.
Karen
I have no doubt that the size and the medium of the computer screen subdues the texture (which I explained to someone recently as making me just want to lick it - or eat it with a spoon, if you want a more delicate analogy) and that the texture is at least equal to the color/value in your work. I don't think you need to do much. I suspect you have glazed and scraped and gouged enough already.
Annette
Annette... I just want to hug you! You are so right about subtility of surface being lost on computer eyes. I do like the surface, but I also realize the composition is static... I just don't fully understand how to be subtle and dramatic at the same time. KJ
I like the minimalism of this piece. Adding red is too obvious. I think the hint of rust over the squares is very effective to delineate your Bokusho areas. Love that the rust lines aren't at the edge of the calligraphy, but overlapping inside.
If anything, maybe add some white glaze or "bleach" as Steve said to lighten the slightly muddy areas (which may not even exist in person)which would bring out the yellow-ish/tan backgrounds so there's a bit more contrast?
Wish I could see it in person, it's really hard on the screen. I'm sure the texture is terrific.
I love Lesly's idea, the piece is very nice so I would be afraid to overdo it but I think her suggestion would be enough to give it the energy you want.
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