About the Series: Surface Tension
In late 2017, I began an extended series of abstracted landscapes investigating hand-mixed artist’s oils, cold wax medium, and marble dust.
These modified pigments remain workable for days, and may be built into rich impasto textures that support aggressive re-working with knives and scrapers. The final paintings may take months to dry, depending on the thickness of the surface.
My love of painting is simple at heart. The desire to bring beautiful things into our daily lives. I make traditional works of art in a contemporary language. First and foremost, they are scenic views.
Yet - at the same time, there is a game in play.
As the viewer looks closer, the illusion-of-place dissolves into a miniature topography of color. A hidden landscape of abstraction.
There’s a sense of participation, or collaboration. A viewer can switch between the narrative illusion of the landscape I’ve painted, and the emerging abstract designs they find within the surface.
This is why I call this series Surface Tension.
This dichotomy of narrative image and sculptural surface makes an engaging work of art that can be re-visited day after day - remaining fascinating for a lifetime.
Note to collectors:
The paintings in the Surface Tension series are grouped by size. I have many smaller works on 10x10” cradled birch panels, which make ideal gifts, and are perfect for any intimate space that invites repeated viewing. A den, study, nook, or even a hallway or stairwell.
Larger works in the series are between 16” and 36” square. At this time I have no monumental wall-sized works in this project.
For purchase inquiries, contact me here.
Thanks,
Marc Taro Holmes