Monday, November 9, 2009

Somewhere Between Collage and Sculpture


The paintings "fall somewhere between collage and sculpture," as has been pointed out by a critic or two. So many artists, critics, and historians have described the painting as object. In my work the three-dimensional qualities inherent in collage and sculpture (in the round and on the wall), grow out of the textural qualities in the paint, as well as out of the metal plates I used to create Intaglio (Italian for gem, seal, piece of jewelry, or metal plate having an incised, sunken design) prints. Ink is then transferred from the grooves to paper, via a printing press. It is the historic (many would say authentic) way to make a print, as opposed to a reproduction, examples are Drypoint, Photo Etching, Monoprint, Lithograghy, Silkscreen, Engraving, and other centuries old print-making processes. All are labor intensive, highly technical, and involve the multiple uses of metal, ink, acids, various resins, grounds, tar, solvents, feathers, and many toxic substances. It is the main reason I quit making prints; the toxic substances and the delayed gratification of having to carry a work through so many processes before I could get anywhere near the finished product. I made prints using these methods a total of six years, beginning in High School. It was excellent discipline, it led to sculptural qualities in my painting, mixed-media and sculpture. There is something to be said for hard work beginning in high school. Sadly, I doubt that Printmaking is still offered to High School students. One can only hope for a return of the arts to education, I have always looked forward to a world of people who know and love the arts. It begins with education.

4 comments:

Zhenne said...

Your installation in this photo looks gorgeous! And yes, I agree with you about the importance of the arts to humanity...art is a nutrient, a vitamin, a nourishing supplement to one and all...
Vitamin Art
Vitamin Beauty
Vitamin Creativity
Vitamin Dance
Vitamin Expression

Chandra said...

Wow, Zhenne how very creative you are:
Vitamin Zhenne!

Zhenne said...

Hah! And completely organic, no harmful side effects...

Four Seasons in a Life said...

Sadly the arts are the first thing that gets cut, even before sports are touched. Yet both are important to the well being of the human spirit.

It is up to the elders to guide and instill into the mind of the young the beauty of art and its limitless possibilities.

Thank you for sharing,
Egmont