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Saturday, November 05, 2011
in the studio
It's now over three weeks since I got home from Ireland, and I'm starting to see some new directions unfolding in the studio. The saturate color of the rainy, misty countryside that surrounded the Tyrone Guthire Cenre, and the textures of rough stone, lichens and megalithic carvings are exerting an influence.
I've been experimenting with layers of colors that do not initially seem compatible, but through glazing and the use of neutrals arrive at complexity and depth. To enhance texture, I've been allowing some of my initial layers to set up longer before going back over them, and using additives like sand and powdered marble. All of this is leading to tactile and richly colored surfaces that resonate with my memories of Ireland.
Although at times my attempts to express such a complex experience seem like grasping at dream memories--elusive and fragmented--I'm pleased to see an essence of those days in Ireland beginning to emerge.
I'm working on a series of small paintings that work well for these experiments. (Slieve, above, is one of these--10"x8.") I also have a number of larger paintings in progress, some of which are visible in this studio shot.
¶ 5:07 PM 
It's now over three weeks since I got home from Ireland, and I'm starting to see some new directions unfolding in the studio. The saturate color of the rainy, misty countryside that surrounded the Tyrone Guthire Cenre, and the textures of rough stone, lichens and megalithic carvings are exerting an influence.
I've been experimenting with layers of colors that do not initially seem compatible, but through glazing and the use of neutrals arrive at complexity and depth. To enhance texture, I've been allowing some of my initial layers to set up longer before going back over them, and using additives like sand and powdered marble. All of this is leading to tactile and richly colored surfaces that resonate with my memories of Ireland.
Although at times my attempts to express such a complex experience seem like grasping at dream memories--elusive and fragmented--I'm pleased to see an essence of those days in Ireland beginning to emerge.
I'm working on a series of small paintings that work well for these experiments. (Slieve, above, is one of these--10"x8.") I also have a number of larger paintings in progress, some of which are visible in this studio shot.
¶ 5:07 PM
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I love the influence of Ireland, I also like the contrast of the lines with the sort of drizzling down the muted bottom block of color. Beautiful. How bold of you to venture out on another residency!
Rebecca,
This is an interesting direction; it seems like the green bar at the top of Slieve bears the rich heavy weight of green that is so redolent of Ireland's countryside. Ditto your description of letting your layers set up longer and then adding the sand and powdered marble. It echoes the strength and hardiness of the land...
This is an interesting direction; it seems like the green bar at the top of Slieve bears the rich heavy weight of green that is so redolent of Ireland's countryside. Ditto your description of letting your layers set up longer and then adding the sand and powdered marble. It echoes the strength and hardiness of the land...
Nice work Rebecca. I can see how Ireland is working it's way into your bones. I think it might never release you!
Definitely reminds me of Ireland. Isn't it great how new inspiration finds its way into the art process? I love these colours!
Thanks for all these great responses. I am being quite surprised by green...I have rarely used it in the past ten years since I got away from landscape painting. But now, I can't seem to paint without it, at least when I'm thinking of Ireland. The green there was SO intense. (I'd have thought all this green might be a cliche, before seeing it myself.)
I too like the "inner green" that your pulling out of your memories of Ireland. I also like the idea of using layers of color that eventually become compatible and neutralized through the use of glazing. Good work, Rebecca!
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