The Paint is the Thing

I've come to believe that literally the paint itself is of central importance in my work. I've been experimenting  for years with different viscosities, textures, sheen, and overall look of the paint, both oils and acrylics, to come up with a quality which resonates the kind of feeling I hope to achieve in the finished work. In the end, nothing communicates like the quality and characteristic of the paint itself.

In my latest work I've been mixing  a variety of paints, and applying with a number of different tools and techniques to achieve the look I'm after. These new paintings are built up over many layers, often beginning with charcoal and graphite, then washes of thin transparent paint, additional layers of archival mediums mixed with dry pigments, and finally thick impasto applications of pure color. I'm liking the results very much. The contrast of the materials and techniques built up through the layers brings a level of excitement and liveliness to the work. I very much look forward to continuing the exploration. 

Tanto, 48" x 48", mixed media on canvas