Conversations Painting

36" x 36" on Lauan panel with 1.5" gallery wrap utilizing acrylic paints, and American and French vintage dress patterns. Dress patterns are designed to be assembled in a specific order to create the final object. Here I am appropriating the patterns, re-cutting them and arranging them in different contexts, using the directional lines printed on the pattern pieces to move the viewer's eye around the painting. The mechanical nature of the printed graphics on the pattern pieces are complimented by the free-hand painterly mark-making of the painting. I always admired the way that the early cubist's, notably Picasso and Braque utilized ticket stubs and newspapers and I am exploring a similar process with this painting. I enjoyed using both US and International pattern pieces with directions in multiple languages, all working together to create this painting. ** Please note this piece is created on Lauan wood. This substrate has been used by artists for years. It provides a nice solid surface to work on, particularly when working with mixed media. This wood comes from the Lauan tree which is native to the Philippines and Southeast Asian countries. The wood usually has small layers woven in that provides different effects and textures to the surface which I like to incorporate into the work itself. There will be strips of different colors and different layers and edging that you will notice that is native to the wood. Rest assured I, along with many other artist have been using Luan for many many years and it is strong and durable and stands up extremely well over time. The entire piece is covered with a high quality gloss polymer acrylic varnish to seal everything in place.