From There to Here

Posted on Mar 27, 2012 in artwork | 10 comments

This is a post about one way that an artist’s work can evolve and develop.  I produce paintings in a serial fashion.  A previous piece informs the current one.  There are always threads that weave their way through my work.  While I’m trying to refine and articulate my vision, eventually there comes a point where I think I’ve perfected it.  This is the good news/bad news.  I think I’ve already stated the good news.  The bad news is, OK, now what?  As I’m definitely not interested in repeating myself, variations are devised to explore the nooks and crannies of my idea.  This struggle is ongoing, but there are times that seem to be inflection points.  I’ll explain.  This painting was finished in the first weeks of the year.

 

 

At the point of finishing this piece, I gave myself the challenge to switch mediums.  Besides encaustic, I’ve worked in oil, acrylic, and various print and drawing mediums.  I had been doing encaustic exclusively though for five years, so a switch was a big deal.  In any case, I had few, if any plans and decided to just let the medium lead me.

Without trying to explain how these paintings happened, perhaps I should just show them now and offer some comments at the bottom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After painting for so many years, I have many techniques, images, and themes to draw on.  About five years ago I started using line as more of a grid image.  The lines developed curves, which had other meanings.  In the course of working on this new series, I thought about line in a broader context.  That is, to let them imply shape.  The earthiness of the texture in the paintings support the idea of physicality as well.

Meanwhile, tomorrow I could turn on my hotplate to work on some encaustics, and who knows what might happen?

 

10 Comments

  1. Carmen - March 27, 2012

    Thanks Howard! This is amazing… Did you paint in the order you posted the paintings?

    If so, I can see how the First tryptic starts a dialogue, then the second is like going back to revisit Encaustic, then the following painting continues this first dialogue… the story they tell… from First to last painting the story is complete. This story you paintings tell me reminds me:

    From Constantin P.Cavafi

    Ithaca

    When you set out for Ithaka
    ask that your way be long,
    full of adventure, full of instruction.
    The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
    angry Poseidon – do not fear them:
    such as these you will never find
    as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
    emotion touch your spirit and your body.
    The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
    angry Poseidon – you will not meet them
    unless you carry them in your soul,
    unless your soul raise them up before you.

    Ask that your way be long.
    At many a Summer dawn to enter
    with what gratitude, what joy -
    ports seen for the first time;
    to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
    and to buy good merchandise,
    mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
    and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
    sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
    to visit many Egyptian cities,
    to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.

    Have Ithaka always in your mind.
    Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
    But don’t in the least hurry the journey.
    Better it last for years,
    so that when you reach the island you are old,
    rich with all you have gained on the way,
    not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
    Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
    Without her you would not have set out.
    She hasn’t anything else to give you.

    And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn’t deceived you.
    So wise you have become, of such experience,
    that already you’ll have understood what these Ithakas mean.

    Constantine P. Cavafy

    • Howard - March 27, 2012

      How wonderful that poem is, Carmen! The 5 acrylics are posted in the order of completion. Thank you for taking the time to not only get into the work, but to find a poem so fitting.

      • Tracey Adams - March 28, 2012

        Howard,

        I always enjoy reading your musings. You are a brave soul to post your work and the progression thus far. Thanks for sharing – I really like your new work, too!!!

        • Howard - March 28, 2012

          Thanks, Tracey. Yep, brave or foolish. BTW, I have a studio app’t with Patricia R. tomorrow.

  2. Gwendolyn Plunkett - March 28, 2012

    Howard, I love the way your series develops. Thanks for sharing. Love the poem in the comment above too.

    • Howard - March 28, 2012

      Thanks, Gwendolyn. The poem is a perfect compliment; I agree.

  3. sue stover - March 28, 2012

    I love these works, Howard! The textures and interplay of line are wonderful. Are they oil or acrylic?

  4. Connie Goldman - March 29, 2012

    Thanks Howard. I enjoyed this. It’s an apt description of the challenge we faces as “makers”. To stick it out for the long-term requires courage and willingness to move into unfamiliar territory. I appreciate and admire these works.

    • Howard - March 29, 2012

      Thanks, Connie. Support and encouragement from our peers is one of the few perks we have.

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