November 10, 2007

More On Tondos...

2004 - Sphere Series - 10" square

When I say I like my layers to interact this is a good example. I'm especially fond of this particular series but unfortunately their diminuitive size inhibits the works. Possibly they should be separated, not shown as a group... used in small rooms or niches where each can carry more impact.

These 'found' paintings were used through several series, a few can be seen on my website. One of the problems is that I'm limited to these 6" disks... oh sure, I could contrive the same idea in a larger version, but I don't think so. Have tried working them into grids (a precursor to the bokusho idea) but didn't like that format.

To be continued...


6 comments:

p said...

sphere #2 does it for me big time.
Between your tondos and the bokusho, me the non materialist penniless artist, were I to have the extra cash I would buy in a heartbeat.
I feel such an excitement when I look at this. It is unique and contained. Something about those circles entice me and tickle my fancy.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious to know more about how the size inhibits the work.

I also wonder about combining several in one painting, something similar to Kandinski's work, "Farbstudie Quadrate".

Karen Jacobs said...

Paula, I'm not surprised that you relate to the tondos and bokushos... and not surprised that I pick up on your work. Somewhere in our DNA there are similarities, methinks.

Brenda, good point about size inhibiting... I didn't mean that as a blanket statement, just as I relate to these objects and see how they do or do not stand on their own. I mentioned that they appear (to me) to do best when alone rather than in a group setting. So it follows that 'arranging' them on one canvas will detract from the impact that one small composition might have. This flies in the face of the adage "The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts." It's arguable but basically it's just a personal opinion. Kandinski's work certainly holds up, thanks for pointing that out.

Olga Norris said...

I am very much attracted to the Spheres series, especially seen without frames. I agree that they would work well in their own space where they could take on whatever scale they need to. I sometimes think that an image can be inhibited from assuming its appropriate scale not just because of the physical reality of its size, but because it is seen in relation to another image, or even it is contained by its frame.

I await with curiosity to see how this continues.

Karen Jacobs said...

You said it better than I, Olga... thanks.

Seth said...

I think this series is amazing. Art created in this serendipitous manner is often the most compelling and gratifying to me. And I particularly love Sphere 3 that you have highlighted here.