The creation of Swirls occurred over extended periods of time in a process that can be described as controlled and meditative. Starting with an intense red prime, I applied many layers of off-white paint in thin, rhythmic brush strokes. The swirly movement, covering the entirety of the canvas make up a painting that appears playfully upbeat, monochromatic but also hard-edged.
As with other Lights and Shadows pieces, the painting process with its slight color variations creates a subtle but vibrant viewing experience that captures shifting light conditions over the course of a day. In the morning, the piece appears in a cool white and blue; in the afternoon, red color pigments light up creating the appearance of a warm color spectrum.
The shifting nature of the painting’s appearance came with its own surprises during the painting process. I learned that mixing colors at different day times introduced some level of uncertainty that was not beneficial. Paint that I mixed in the afternoon often contained too much blue requiring correction towards a more neutral off-white the following day.
Here are a couple of photographs of the finalized piece:
Painting Details:
Swirls
2009
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
48″ x 144″ (122 x 366 cm)