Jumping off the blackboard, onto canvas over panel, a new sketch (or possible painting) is underway. This could either become really interesting, or a total disaster, but that’s the whole point in starting something new. I’m very excited about the idea of two overlapping grids, set at a 45 degree from each other. This geometry, the base of the octagon, is what started this exploration. In the initial idea, I decided to create two random grids, rather than equally measured grids. Due to the randomness in the spacing, it it nearly impossible to find or plot an exact octagon. Irregular octagons are the norm in this exploration and the irregularity becomes more interesting with the unusual geometric shapes that emerge around, between and inside of them.
Additionally, this work has become an opportunity to revisit an old medium I haven’t touched in years. When I started my BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the early courses required the use of oil bars. Oil bars are basically oil paint in stick form, and they feel like a giant wax crayon, due to all the extenders in the mix. I’ve had this collection of oil bars tucked away in box since that time (10 plus years….but whose counting). They are a great way to start an idea, and then you can add turpentine with a brush, or other oil mediums to melt, blend and manipulate them like regular oil paint. I’m planning to further manipulation the surface here. Mark making over blurred edges and forms, with potential drips and marks is the goal. The rather odd palette in this work has been determined by the old inventory. If I add yellow, I’m doing an homage to the early grid painters……might happen, let’s see where this goes.
