Theme 9: Contemplative

On my second day back, I had literally gone from unpacking to converting my living room into a mini-studio. I've been really loving working with spray paint, especially as a means of laying down a background. It takes away the scariness of a white piece of canvas, and actually, gives the surface of the canvas a glossy surface, which makes it easier to paint on.

Anyways, I'm taking full advantage of the spray paint I have at home. I only have a few colors -a lush pink, a fleshy pink, a bright red, and of course black. For this piece, I wanted to just experiment with the pinks and the red and lay off on the black a little.

I didn't really have an idea in mind; I literally just sprayed the pinks and red on top of each other in my garage, waited for it all to dry, and thought about what I would do in the process. I then brought the canvas in and used the shapes that I was getting from the spray paint as a guide to what I would paint (using acrylic instead of watercolor this time). I repeated and layered some spray paint over acrylic partway through. Half of what turned out is probably the product of me inhaling the paint fumes while waiting for the spray paint to settle and dry, but it's one of my most imaginative pieces yet. (Let's not talk about the nineish hours it took to get there)

Sink 20x24

Inspiration? I'm sort of in this James Jean - influenced phase. Very fluid, almost surrealistic. I've always been fond of contemporary pop surrealism.

I took some pictures of the whole process, finished product is the last photo (obviously). Hope you all enjoy!

Side-note: That building in the background and the tan peaking through on the sides (i.e. the buildings behind the spray paint in the first picture)? I'm semi-recycling old canvases. Tired of buying more canvases when I can scavenge my old stuff.