Friday, February 24, 2017

New Work and Paper Covered Pillars/Columns/Whatever!

Western Skies 1
16" x 16" painted collage landscape

Pillars? Columns?
The above piece was completed earlier this week. Using yellow is sort of new for me with these collages but makes total sense to me. For much of the year, the land where I live is a yellowish-brown color. Pretty soon, things will dry out and when they do, the grasses will turn from green to yellow. I anticipate that my color choices will change as well.

The completed piece also marks the introduction of some resist techniques that I used on the paper. I have been trying to really let the brush strokes show in order to give the paper some texture. Using a matte varnish medium mixed in with the paint helps. The more you use, the more the brush strokes show and the greater the translucency of the paint.  It has taken me awhile to get used to that idea but it is growing on me. The resist idea is this: I started painting the blank paper with some gloss medium/varnish. Once it dries, I then paint the paper with the intended color, wiping off some of the paint before it has a chance to soak in to the paper and dry. The areas with the varnish tend to "resist" the paint and whatever pattern you make shows through. It isn't a new technique of course but it adds another dimension to things.

The second pic shows the idea I have been working on. They are wooden boards, primed/painted and then wrapped in  my hand painted papers. I mean for them to be a 3-D version of my collages. They will eventually get a wooden base painted white (I think). They are really fragile (the paper is) and need some support so they don't fall over. I posted the picture on FB and Instagram and people seemed to really like them. Why is that I wonder? My girlfriend, who never comments on my art, said that even she likes them and that her husband likes them too. He said that they were "dude art."  Dude art? I suspect that art that is understandable (it's a sculpture, it's a landscape, it's a portrait) appeals to people a little more. I show pictures of my finished work but I never show a shot of it matted and framed and hanging somewhere. Maybe that is an oversight on my part.

Anyway, the pillars were very fun to do and I have a second set already planned. If anyone has a suggestion for what to call them I am open. I wanted to call them colorforms but I understand that is a trademarked name for a toy. I do think of them as color forms though (And of course I am familiar too with the work of Anne Truitt.) Suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks for reading and commenting,
Libby

6 comments:

  1. Hi Libby, so good to see your work is also incorporating sculptural columns. I am familiar with the work of Truitt and I see how perfect the Column fits with your personal vision. These are terrific. No wonder they were well received on Facebook and instagram. Thank god for the blog as I never saw them on either. it's a hit or miss situation I guess.
    I laughed at Dude Art. I look forward to seeing what you pick to call them.

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    1. Julie,

      It's funny but I didn't originally know why I wanted to do these columns. I only knew that I liked the tactile process of applying the paper to wood. As I was picking out the wood at the store though, I laid the pieces on the floor for comparison. I could see right then that the wood was a 3D representation of my collages. I got in line instantly to buy the wood!

      Look for me on Instagram under Libby Fife Fine Art. I see your stuff from time to time there as well.

      Thanks for the visit. Hope all is well.
      Libby

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  2. I'm wildly appreciative of both of these photos of your new work. Western Skies 1 just speaks to me! I think that narrow vertical with distinct markings is brilliant.

    I really like your verticals too. There has always been something in vertical forms that I respond to. I would love to see you continue with these, adding some of the textural markings you explored in the Western Skies piece.

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    1. Carol,

      Thank you for such an enthusiastic response to both ideas. I am such a timid artists so those printed vertical lines were a real leap for me to make.

      I'l be doing another set of the verticals using some textured pieces. It's exciting isn't it when you find something that seems to have lots of possibilities.

      Thanks you as always for your observations. I hope all is well in your area of the country:)
      Libby

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  3. Dear Libby - what a super way to display your art. I am smiling at your friend's comment "dude art". Whatever you call it will be interesting to hear. In the meantime I am loving it. Take care and have a super week. Hugs!

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    1. Debbie,

      I still am not sure about the "dude art" comment. But, that's OK. I will take it!

      We will see what happens with the idea. Stay tuned:)

      Thanks as always for your visit. We have warm weather this week for a small break before the rain starts again:)
      Libby

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Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it! I reply back in an email if you are signed in and I can see your address. Otherwise I will post the reply here under your comment. I tend to cut and paste my emails too so that others can experience the back and forth which I think is integral to blogging.
Libby