“The Work Party: The Big Lathe II”, 2020; oil on paper, 44”h x 36”w; $1,795.00
In much of my work over the last 40 years, I’ve concentrated on the interplay of objects in contrived, theatrically-lit interior settings. Earlier works were primarily large-scale figure paintings, but my most recent focus – my ‘Work Party’ series – has been on smaller-scale still life paintings. I enjoy the juxtaposition of playful objects – antique toys collected over the years and colorful balloons – against utilitarian objects such as machines and old hand tools. The entire composition is typically lit using one or more colored lights, throwing intense, high-chroma color against deep shadows. I try to find a balance between achieving a ‘realistic’ rendering and allowing the physicality of the paint — and the ‘process’ of painting — to remain clearly visible. There’s no deliberate, implied narrative in these works, leaving them completely open to each viewer’s individual interpretation.