I found this canvas in a thrift shop and recycled it. The bright colors are showing through from the original thrift shop painting. I drizzled roofing tar on the canvas and then brought out some of the images which were suggested in the texture. The next day the aluminum particles in the tar had risen to the surface and the images were obliterated. I tried to force the drying but the images kept disappearing. I finally used a barrier coat of clear shellac to seal and stabilize the tar and went in on top of that with metallic oils to bring the images out again.
mine enemy grows older 
That is whicked cool (and I never use that term). I love the face, the eyes…
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Thanks, Oz. But I can’t leave this one too long in the sun! I have a friend who is a curator in an art museum. She says they have some paintings that drip wax and tar constantly because of the artist’s poor choice of materials. But it is fun to work with new materials and to push them to see what they can do. Now, with the ease with which we can digitize art, even “fine” art can be treated more like art produced for the camera, for reproduction, and the original art becomes just a step in the creative process.
Which has the added benefit of making art affordable. As much as artists need collectors, I also feel the work we do has work to do in the world that has little if anything to do with us, and it is a shame to see images disappear into the homes of those who can afford original art. It is like someone owning a song, or a poem, and not sharing it.
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Great combination of texture and color. Thrift stores are full of inspiration.
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Aren’t they though? Thanks for stopping by. Will be over to visit and check in on the work in process.
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The only way I will ever like Mangoes so much is if they are in a chutney next to a Korma… taste totally obliterated by the strong spices, and a grateful me. What a strained link (haha) to show the absolutel opposite of what you have done here! Living art with a nod to what went before, which is not only respectful but masterly. I absolutely love this. If it’s dripping then so much the better … in a completely masochistic way because that means it will forever change. Fabulous.
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Hi Narnie, okay, forget the mangoes. But the chutney and Korma sounds great. Thanks for checking in and for your kind words. I’ll be over to visit soon.
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I needed inspiration this morning after a difficult week and fate led me here…well your comment on my blog led me here, but that’s splitting hairs.
I fell in love with this creation when I saw it and with your explanation of it’s birth pangs, I love it even more.
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Thanks, Katie. I hope the week is getting better. I’m glad you found me. Come back anytime. I’ll be over later to visit. (I’m whiling away time in the Chicago airport!)
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just been browsing through
I so very love your art, especially the vividly colored ones with all manner of things happening in them.
Though the kitchen witch was awesome, too. She looks right at you.
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amuirin, thanks for stopping by. your writing and photos are pretty awesome.
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