Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Matchstick in Miniature Vase

Matchstick in Miniature Vase
Oil on linen card
66x60mm

I was having fun playing around with perceptions of scale in this painting, while at the same time indulging in a little self-deprecating humour.  It's a normal sized matchstick in a miniature vase from a dolly teaset.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Monday, April 19, 2010

Crossed Live matches

Crossed Live matches
Oil on linen on card
57x80mm
$80
sold

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Popsicle Stick on it's Edge

Popsicle Stick on it's Edge
Oil on linen on card
100x150mm
$150

Saturday, April 17, 2010

A Couple of Single Objects

Live Match on Purple
Oil on linen on card
45x60mm
$80
sold


Small Wire Nail
Oil on linen n card
45x60mm

sold

Friday, April 16, 2010

Popsicle Stick

Popsicle Stick
Oil on linen on card
148x98mm
$120

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Small Cluster of Bottles

Small Cluster of Bottles
Oil on linen on MDF
160x200mm

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Business Card - Verso


Business Card - Verso
Oil on gessoed hardboard
140x100mm

Small Jar of Marbles

Small Jar of Marbles
Oil on linen on foamboard
100x100mm
sold
This was one of those terribly frustrating painitngs.  The subject of marbles packed tightly in a jar appealed. They are safely contained and can't go getting lost or into trouble.  I liked the idea of the composition, the square shaped jar within a square format, placed at the bottom and with a low viewpoint.  While I was sketching it in, the compositions of the minimal abstract paintings of Joseph Albers came to mind with his series "Homage to The Square"


The sense of frustration came from the tecnical problems I encountered while trying to depict the glass marbles within the glass jar. The light faded and I had to give up on the day I started and when I came back the next day the paint had dryed and it always changes the charactor of a painting when you overpaint. You lose the initial freshness. But sometimes you gain gain something else.  The small scale didn't help matters and I have been wondering if I'm not been stupid in trying to keep to a modest scale in these paintings. It would be so much easier at a bigger scale. But scale is important too, and the meaning and charactor changes when you paint things larger than life.  I used to paint still life objects at this larger than life scale but I stopped some years ago, and with this "Postcard painting" project my paintings have gotten smaller and smaller. Perhaps it's time for another change. I'm starting to feel too trapped and confined. Like this subject. My painting has always been essentially autobiographical.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Lahar Hills


Small Lahar Hill Komene Road
Oil on linen on card
55x90mm
$100
sold


Cloud Over Mountain and Ranges - Komene Road
Oil on linen on card
90x162mm
sold



It's been lovely weather and I went up the road to do some plein air painting the other day.  The local landscape is dominated by the everpresent and volcanic Mt Taranaki.  I say "everpresent", however it is a newcomer on the geological timescale at merely around 135,000 years old. Around 22,500 years ago, the entire western side of the mountain collapsed and the resulting avalanche of mud and rock flowed all the way to the coast between Okato and Opunake, leaving behind these strange and rocky mounds.  The last volcanic activity on the mountain was around 300 years ago and it is well overdue for an eruption any day now.  I live in the direct path and I often wonder if it would be a rather fitting and dramatic end if my studio and paintings were all buried by tons of mud and rock for the rest of eternity. Still... it was a lovely day.

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Black Pencil


Black Pencil
Oil on linen on card
60x126mm
$120

Like many people, I struggle with depression.