Hi All,
I am working on putting together tryptics from my abstracts. This is the first. Just the first three images are for the tryptic. The last one I threw in because it is my favorite of the ones from this painting and I couldn't resist. These all come from one large painting that I created and is hanging in my house. How does it work?
Feedback welcome
EDIT: I often get questions/feedback about the practice of photographing these paintings. I appreciate these and value the perspective! I have also dwelled on this and in most cases fall into the group of not photographing art pieces as the artistry belongs to the artist who made the original. There is also something magical about original works. But.... there are five reasons that combined to send me on this path with these painting and I'd love to share them - not to defend or change either side of these opinions as I hold them both as valid. Rather just to share my process.
The first is that there is a glowy depth to the pieces in photograph that I love. I take the photos before I apply multiple coats of poly to the painting because the poly is not matt finish and I get reflection spots on the photos if taken afterwords. Even without the poly I need to take these in very low light on a longer exposure in order to avoid light reflecting on the uneven paint surface. After coating, the paintings become richer in color but there is something about the infinite depth of a photograph that is not quite there on the original.
Josh hit on the second reason. These paintings have a life of there own. The chemicals that are added to the paint create motion even after the manipulation ends. Many more times then not something undesirable happens somewhere on the piece but elsewhere awesome results occur. Rather than losing everything, photography allows something great to be captured while the overall piece may be a bust.
There is a more controlled element of composition that can achieved also. Don't get me wrong, there is a great deal of compositional intention in the paintings. The buggers often have their own mind through! Photographing them allows me to create a composed image that is not posible otherwise.
The fourth reason is that they are my paintings and therefore these images are an extension of my own work. I would not feel the same way about taking photos like these of someone else's painting.
Last but not least, unless I have a show, you'd all have to come to my attic in order to see these! Photography is a venue that allows me to more widely share these images that I am passionate about.
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Interesting! Are there animals in these photos? If not...take a close look and you can see birds fish and snakes....and there are other things that you can pick out.
Amazing and interesting !!
these abstracts are at different level altogether. Am eager to participate and witness the creative discussion/s.
Starting with one. Ruth, the abstracts were segregated from coloured frame. What possibilities do you visualise from these further on. considering these are the canvases to begin with and not the end !! How can the depth be created in these?
This series is very two dimensional. Sometimes, the paint flows out is a more three-dimensional appearance like these but with the black and white it is not so much. Maybe if I added a little grey. It is part of the adventure of these to see what happens.
Since you ask ... I am about to try a series with significant black in the mix and try a double exposure. Stay tuned!
These are super cool! Kind of reminds me of looking at cells under a microscope. Also, really interested in your approach to photographing your paintings--rather than just digitizing the piece as a whole, you try to identify individual sections that might make compelling abstract photographic images. Have you always done it that way when you've combined the two mediums, or was it a happy experiment at some point in your artistic journey?
Hey Josh - thanks for the thumbs up!! I decided to add some thougths to the main post that answer your question. I appreciate your curiosity about these and value your (here and always)!
These spotlight your brilliant painting talent and skill. At the same time, this is often the reason I tend to gloss over photos that mimic or represent actual fine art pieces, because Iād much rather save up and commission someone like you for a painting as opposed to having a picture that looks like a painting.
Just a personal philosophy, although I can see these in large format metal in a lobby for example, without thinking twice about how they were made.
Thanks for the kind words Robert! I value your feedback! And goodness knows getting philosophical fredback is my favorite! š i decided to put some thoughts in the main post. Checknit out and expand upon it if you are inclined.