St. Claire Art | This blog is for posting photos of new pieces and for posting the random thoughts of the artist. | River Arts District | Asheville, NC
Because my panel is actually larger than any canvas I can get my hands on, I had to prep the panel itself to receive the texture, inventing the gloppy substance that will readily receive the texture I will apply. So here's the recipe: 1 c. gesso, 1 c. wood glue, 1 c. modeling compound plus a tablespoon of secret sauce. Mix thoroughly (no tasting), pour into paint pan and roll on the panel. Viola! (see -- half artist, half mad scientist).
Future "Cullasaja Falls"
Have you ever decided to do something and then wonder, "Oh my gosh. What was I thinking?"
A few days ago, I ordered a 6' x 8' panel for a new project I want to undertake. I knew it would be big. Then today it was delivered.
Oh my gosh. What was I thinking?
This thing is truly huge. At 6' x 8', this monster is the largest painting I've ever done. Most paintings take between 3-4 weeks. This one will take six months. I wanted something larger, more intricate and more challenging than anything I've ever done before. I'll take you along step by step until it's complete.
"Is this a commission?" you ask. No. I'm just doing it. It will hang in my Asheville studio until someone adopts it.
"WHY are you doing this?" you ask. "Are you crazy?" Yeah well...
You know how some people get into running and they end up running a marathon? If you ask them WHY the HECK they'd do that, a lot of them will simply answer "to see if I could do it".
So that's my answer. I want to see if I can do it.
This is what I am painting...Cullasaja Falls, North Carolina.
This video is a nice sample of the last several months of work. Fun times...and big plans ahead.
This one was a bit different than my standard pieces in that it is a painting that fits together like a puzzle (see photos below). There are 76 pieces to this, each cut out, textured, covered with aluminum leaf, painted, assembled and glued to my panel, then resined. Though the Aegean is far from North Carolina, the colors in this artwork are reminiscent of the golden sunsets and aquamarine waters.
Final Assembly
"The Red Planet"
Every now and then, I feel like I have just a bit too much fun. I don't feel guilty about that mind you! The latest bit of fun involves this commissioned art piece (yet to be formally named). This abstract oil painting is destined for a home that will be part of Asheville, North Carolina's 2016 Parade of Homes this autumn (and Joy and I have been invited to be there shamelessly handing out business cards). Anyway, the video (below) was actually taken from a helicopter 10,000 feet above the surface of an alien planet. Just kidding. It's just me playing with my camera. Cheers!
"The first assembly"
This is the beginnings of a new "intarsia" piece I'm working on. Each piece (there are 76 of them) is cut out, texturized, painted and then assembled and resined. The photo above shows the first actual assembly of the piece before the first layer of paint was applied. Photos below are just a couple to show what they look like with the first layer of paint. They will get several more layers of paint...so stay tuned.
First layer of paint
First layer of paint
This is just a quick tour of my studio this afternoon. This video is no longer current however, because one of the paintings shown here was purchased and is headed to a new home in India!! That's right. Not Indiana...India (across the ocean a long ways).
"Hominy Valley" (16" x 26")
Some of our favorite hiking trails in western North Carolina are just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, southeast of Mt. Pisgah. Waterfalls, streams, amazing vistas and BLUEBERRIES are what make this part of the Blue Ridge landscape so special. The fastest route to the top of the Parkway here is on the back side of Mt. Pisgah. Gradually making your way through rolling hills and Hominy Valley, (a beautiful place filled with wildflowers) you approach the hulking mountain (our local landmark). Many such drives through Hominy Valley have inspired this oil painting. I hope you enjoy it and next time you're in Asheville and feel like exploring, come by the studio and I'll pull out a map and point you in the right direction.
"The Acolytes"
Joy and I had a great time yesterday delivering and installing my tropical fish painting in the amazing home of our clients, Keith and Becky Belcher. They live in an idyllic section of the South Carolina coast between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. It was great to feel sand and sea water on our feet again! I let my clients name the piece and Becky came up with the title "The Acolytes". She explained that in the Methodist church, the acolyte is a child that lights the candles in the beginning of the service, and then carries the lit candlelighter out of the service at the end, signifying the carrying of light out into a dark world. She said that that's what the painting reminded her of: these fish have been swimming near the surface in the sunlight and now they're "carrying" the light down into dark places. I love that! Symbols are so powerful and the symbol of light has been sacred to people in every culture since the beginning of time. So, thank you Becky! Great title!
I live in Asheville, North Carolina and because of that, I'm usually painting the woods, mountains and trails I love up here in the Blue Ridge mountains. But a couple weeks ago, after my exploration into the underwater world of giant kelp and tropical fish, I decided to experiment again with more water; this time a crashing wave. I rarely have more fun than I did with this one! This piece measures 40" x 50" but I am thinking it would be awesome a lot larger than this as a statement piece or awesome entrance art.
"Zuma" (40" x 50")
St.Claire Art
ASHEVILLE, NC:
344 Depot Street, #104
Asheville, NC, 28801 USA
(828) 505-3329 | stclaireart@gmail.com
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