Category Archives: February

Natalie: February

Aktau Sea Port

F7
Gouache on paper, 42 x 59 cm

This study was completed under the direct influence of Barnett Newman’s infamous zips, as well as Rothko’s push and pull techniques, as I was going through their biographies during that particular week. The initial idea was to capture the beauty of an otherwise ordinary day at the local sea port. I deliberately avoided any details since the main goal was to capture the colours that stood out the most. The squares and rectangles represent the shipping containers loaded onto the ships using the yellow cranes. The study was completed using a photograph as the main source.

 

Abandoned site

F4
Acrylic on paper, 20 x 20 cm

The small study was indeed of an actual abandoned site and the photograph appeared in the local news. Normally I avoid working with photos that are not mine, since I cannot connect with them. However, the left coat on a chair had such an impact on me that I started to feel the atmosphere, which I then wanted to capture. I did several studies and I don’t think this is going to be the last version of it…

 

A little walk around the town (Aktau)

F3
Acrylic on paper, 29 x 26 cm

I am desperately trying to understand perspectives and so urban sketches attract my attention more and more. This study was completed on the same day that I took a ‘no idea what for’ photo of this building. It was pretty sunny, but still a muddy day!

 

It’s time to be fed (R)

F6
Charcoal on paper, 42 x 59 cm

This is my response for Patricia’s Snowed-in planters (January). I wanted to create a continuation of the story. I ended up with sketches of cows, to demonstrate a symbiotic relationship in nature, i.e. for the grass to be able to grow back some of the tips need to be removed whilst at the same time cows need to be fed. I realize that Patricia’s plant is not the same as grass, but I used it as a symbolic gesture only. These two drawings would look rather organic if placed together. Maybe this is something we should consider in the future.

 

Three shells (R)

F2
Charcoal on paper, 29 x 20 cm

This is my response to Patricia’s Snowy terrace with wooden stool and planters (January). I immediately wanted to produce a drawing with eggs! The thought of using eggs might seem a bit banal, but it was the first thing that came into my mind. One could call it a truly free association response. I wanted to capture the drawing’s elegant fragility.

 

Sunset (R)

F1
Gouache on paper, 29 x 42 cm

When I saw Patricia’s Sunrise over the city (January), I immediately wanted to respond to its colour only and I thought Mark Rothko’s Colour Filled style would be the most appropriate to express my first impressions. My response turned out to be not as subtle as Patricia’s work, which might give a misleading impression about my perception of the original painting.

Patricia: February

Potted plant

IMG_5050
Pencil on paper, 35 x 28 cm

Study of a tiny pineapple plant. I liked the growth pattern and the shapes of its drying external leaves.

 

Still life with watering can

IMG_5052
Oil pastel on paper, 30 x 23 cm

I rediscovered my little viewfinder which is a great tool to develop bold compositions. It greatly helps me to crop my objects in unusual ways, whereas otherwise I tend to create very conventional arrangements.

 

Winter Market (R)

IMG_5054
Coloured pencil on paper, 29.5 x 42 cm

The Farmer’s market in Midtown Manhattan. During the winter times the market only comprises a few pavillions. I found it interesting to depict the somewhat abstract patterns of people and merchandise in the midground. The drawing was inspired by Natalies ‘Black Entrance’ painting, I responded to the concept of a ‘street scene’.

 

New York Lights (Male figure) (R)

IMG_5055
Oil on paper, 60.5 x 46 cm

This painting was a response to Natalie’s ‘Thinking Man’, with a lot of subconscious work going on. I think I was inspired by the irregular, patchy colour patterns and the male figure in Natalie’s painting. I developed a colour pattern phantasy in warm yellow-orange-red-brown spots and the idea to somehow integrate a male torso. The colour pattern was created as an acrylic underpainting, and the process was very intuitive and very exhausting. I was ready to abandon the torso idea but the painting looked incomplete and unbalanced. After I added the transparent torso, the painting felt complete, that vague initial idea had materialized.

 

Still life with squash, zuchini and onion (R)

IMG_5058
Oil on canvas, 19 x 39 cm

A kind of practice still life inspired by Natalie’s ‘Jam’ charcoal sketch, of which I liked the bold and simple composition. In my painting, I focused on developing shades of the local colour to emphasize volume, and tried to keep colours fresh. Overall I think the painting would benefit from a more elaborate context – the white and beige background is a bit dull.

 

 

Abstract composition (Interior view)

IMG_5070
Collagraph print on paper, 21 x 30 cm

I developed the composition for this print with the viewfinder. I was looking for interior views with interesting compositions which would lend themselves for an abstracted treatment. The printing plate was made by glueing cut paper shapes onto cardboard, then sealing with shellac. This is the final of a series of six prints, where I experimented with the technique. It combines the intaglio method of wiping away ink from the relief (dark blue linear elements) with relief inking (red areas) and was printed in a single run through the press on slightly damp cartridge paper.