Summary: to take away, simplify, cut back, or extract one thing or, to contemplate an idea as in a nonphysical actuality. Summary: to cut back to an essence, to hunt the quintessential side of one thing, to discover a specific side of one thing as separate from a generalized expertise, to cut back to data into patterns.

With these ideas I flip you consideration to the portray strategy of abstraction. I start with three examples of questing for an abstracted id utilizing three completely different landscapes. Let’s start with the portray as they seem of their present state after which, stroll backwards down the path to see how these works arrived of their current state.

All three works are 24×24 inches (61×61 cm) on enameled laminated aluminum composite. First is “Very important Indicators”, Second is “Tidewater Maze” and the third is “Melting into Blue”

Instance 1. “ Very important Indicators” oil on laminated aluminum.

Instance 2. “Tidewater Maze” oil on brushed silver laminated aluminum.

Instance 3. “Melting into Blue”, oil on laminated aluminum.

Instance one started with me wandering as a volunteer path steward by way of “Stonebridge” an Aspetuck Land Belief property.  I take 1000’s of photographs. I come to laptop and begin recomposing a number of of the photographs and layering them with different photographs.  In recomposing I persist with one basis shot and layer others over it, reverse it, clone out and in different components of it, recolor it and extra. Listed here are three examples of how that labored in preparation for “Very important Indicators”. In every of those photographs it’s best to be capable of detect the widespread denominating picture.

Instance 4. “Very important Indicators” picture one,

Instance 5. “Very important Indicators” picture two,

Instance 6. “Very important Indicators” picture three,

I approached the re-composition of “Tidewater Maze” in another way. I spend time mountain climbing by way of close by coastal wetlands.  I take photographs. I come house and distill imagery by way of sketches.  Forms of designs are examined, completely different horizons are examined however, these sketches and check all depend on one easy compositional form. On this case the form was a foreshortened “S” or serpentine. To point out the evolution of the increasing watery foreground I’ll first present you an earlier model after which once more present you the present model (examples 7 and eight).

Instance 7. The sooner model of “Tidewater Maze”,

Instance 8. The present model of “Tidewater Maze,

In my third instance “Melting into Blue” I’ve reached for extra ambiguity and a stronger suggestion of the metaphysical.  Right here I started by overpainting a earlier work (instance 9) after which utilizing a small vernal pool as my overlaying thought. I excised areas of the overpainting to disclose parts of the underpainting.  The picture grew to become a hybrid.  Subsequent, I attempted a number of completely different horizons. I’m exhibiting you a type of earlier options right here (instance 10) which is adopted once more by “Melting into Blue” (instance 11) in its present state

Instance 9. The work which might be over-painted and function the substrate for “Melting Into Blue”.

Instance 10. One of many earlier variations of “Melting into Blue”,

Instance 11, Present state of “Melting into Blue”,

I invite you to affix me for on-line lessons upcoming in February (subsequent week). I provide demonstrations, talks on composition, coloration, brushwork and artwork historical past and, in case you need I provide private critiques of your work utilizing digital drawing instruments. You possibly can register at daviddunlop.com on this web site.