When I decided to paint this subject I remembered some old ivory piano keys I'd been given. I had been meaning to try them as a painting support for a while and thought this would be an ideal opportunity. Miniatures have long been traditionally painted on ivory. I must admit feeling a bit guilty about the long deceased elephant, but it is a wonderful material to work with. I painted directly onto the ivory after sanding and cleaning it, and left the ivory showing through within the actual button. It was quite a test for my aging eyesight this one..! The photo is larger than life size.
The label on the underside of the enamelled dish reads "Kockums Sweden". I googled this and apparently Kockums now make submarines. Strange but true. I considered titling the painting "Kockums" , however, descretion proved the better part of valour...
This painting was done by candlelight. Or rather, the subject was lit by candlelight, which gave a lovely warm glow to the prominent background and cast an interesting blueish shadow under the match. The title, "Caput Mortuum", which translates literally as "death's head" is the name of an artist's pigment. A kind of dark earthy violet that I'm particularly fond of using. I used a tiny touch mixed with white for the ashy colour on the dead match head. I am happy with this particular painting. The match may be dead, but it is being observed by the light of the flame it ignited. I'm sure there must be something deeply spiritual or cosmic about this concept..... Or something...
This is a seed capsule from the tree just outside my studio. They open out into a kind of trifoil arrangement with shiny black seeds stuck in a sticky substance. I believe that it's a New Zealand native Karo, or Pittosporum Crassifolium.
I love to hate the fact that every piece of fruit or vegatable we buy from a shop nowadays has a label plastered over it. There must be hundreds of thousands of people being employed all over the world sticking little labels on things. See below for more labels...
I guess this little composition is a gentle parody of all those big abstract minimalist paintings. Looking at it here I find the initials in the corner distracting. I'm tempted to paint them out. Signing very small work is always a nuisance really!
Another in the match mini-series. This time reflected in a black saucer. I thought it looked a bit like a bridge and with the connotation of "burning your bridges", felt it would be an appropriate title.