Scissor show at the Delaplaine

A young guest studies carefully painted scissors.

Painting is a isolated activity. I have never found a way to make it otherwise. Every step requires solitude. It begins by a trip to the lumber or art store where, in my case, I buy 4’x8′ panels of hardboard. These are panels ofter referred to a masonite. As it turns out masonite is a brand name while hardboard is the generic product. Framing materials are also necessary to build a frame support for the eighth inch hardboard. Several days of cutting, gluing, and priming and it’s time to paint a picture.

The ideas for painting are the hard part. In this series I have selected a pair of scissors as a constant symbol. By making this decision I have freed myself to explore the unimagined. This series ranges in size from 10″x10″ to 48″x48″ in watercolor, acrylic and oil pigments. I have tried not to think about design and all the other shall and shall nots I have been told are facts not to be forgotten. My montra for this series is “what if”. So, I have had a hell of a good time trying things I had never done before. Some “what ifs” led to using new materials, In “The Book of Scissors” a paint rag initiated a process of gluing the rag to 2 sheets of watercolor paper. Many of the scissor images are tracings from a pair of scissors.

“The Book of Scissors” 48×48″ oil on hardboard

“Centered” 48″x48″ oil on hardboard

“Centered” began with a no-no as I drew a black strip from top to bottom. These scissors are too large to be traced so I had to resort to drawing, which is not too stressful. Most of the painting I did is covered by the last coats of paint. Only a few remnants are visual.

Golden Shears is the last large painting completed prior to the show opening.

“Golden Shears” 48″x48″ Oil on Hardwood Panel