Returning to the Source
The 3 paintings above are finished examples of the new series of paintings I've been working on. It all started about 6 months ago. I wanted to exploit my favorite things about using oil paints, and encaustics, and do it in the same piece. The way these two mediums look so different intrigued me and I wanted to build them one layer over the other. First with oils I build up the background colors. I mix cold wax medium into the oil paints which thins them out and gives them a translucent buttery consistency. After painting one layer of color, I use sandpaper and turpentine to lighten areas and remove some paint, then add the next layer. This background process takes time because each layer needs to dry before it can be manipulated and painted on, and that can take a few days. I've been wanting to do some figurative work with oils, mainly to express some characters from books that I love and also hybridized real life characters. I want these paintings to be very peaceful and poetic but also philosophical. It can take a while to paint the person just right, and then to figure out what else belongs in the painting to express the emotions there. The best thing for me has been taking my time with this process and waiting until the paintings speak to me. I find life to be layered and enigmatic and I'm trying to express this. I want to build translucent layers of imagery, as well as add mixed media elements to my work. The goal is to create a layered surface to emphasize dimensionality. This technique lends itself to work concerning the imagined realm.
