Technique Series 3: Still life - Complementary Ground Drybrush Painting

This painting expresses the stark contrast between the Platonic solid icosahedron (water element) and a piece of living fruit (pear) resting upon the folds of fabric (time). The universe is a system of systems. Once you figure out how one system works, you can apply that understanding to decode other systems. I hope the viewer will experience the feeling of refreshing and fruitfulness as they focus deeply on both objects. My approach with still life is to key in the term “life.” So, I try to look deeply at the subject matter and create interesting compositions that can also be used to inspire the viewer look more deeply at the world around them. I selected scumbling/drybrush over color ground to gain experience painting on wood panels and to see how the colors energize each other. I experimented with a complementary color to the fruit. For this technique series, I challenged myself to apply painting or do painting in different ways that I’ve never done before in order to stretch myself as an artist. This also allowed me to explore techniques as well as looking at other Art Master’s work. There’s something about honoring the past that provides a firm platform for the future. The painting is applied to a wood panel. Frame is not included. Sawtooth hanging hardware included.