Recently I wrapped up work on a large grid format painting consisting of (16) 24”x24” canvases for an overall dimension of 96”x96”. I may revisit with minor additions but right now it is in a good place. This work has been a challenge on the technical side as the blue notes in the diamond pattern took forever to dry. It was a bit nerve racking as I feared maybe it would never dry but it is all dry to the touch now and I can only assume it will continue to dry thoroughly. This condition can occur with varnish or the medium when you apply multiple coats of oil paint. It is risky and most often doesn’t happen to me. In my practice I try to put color down and move on and not apply color over color. But with a painting so large and one that evolves the way this one has, changes happen.
The top image is a detail of six of the 24”x24” canvases. The bottom image is an overall image of the sixteen canvases totaling 96”x96'“.
It occurred to me recently when photographing the group that in an installation I could expand the grid. Mounting the painting on a ‘wall color’ which would allow/introduce an additional color to the pattern, making a larger overall painting if the space required. This would incorporate two approaches I love, Wall Paintings and traditional oil on canvas paintings. I thought of making a mark-up to see the result. I imagine Fuchsia as the color. I feel the pop would be good for the pattern. Of course it could be a mid weight taupe color which would be in keeping with the Southwestern idea. But just now while thinking this through expanding the grid would break up the diamond pattern so forget that idea because the diamond pattern is what i most love….but…
Speaking of the title, Southwestern Vignettes. The title came from the palette which made me think of traditional western landscape and motifs. The big blue sky, the terracotta feeling. Vignettes came from the abstract brushwork that happens below each of the circles within the squares. I see landscapes that make me think of the desert and sky. So there you have, Southwestern Vignettes.
Southwestern Vignettes, 2020, (detail) oil/canvas
Southwestern Vignettes, 2020, oil/canvas, 96”x96”