This commission began several months ago after an exploration of Mungo in printmaking ie etching etc media. Now returning to this topic, a combination of collage and oil, I feel a freedom painting on a larger surface. The surface consists of canvas on board which lends itself to application of any material with a staple gun.
The first image consists of printmaking paper onto which frottage images, taken from surfaces of Lake Mungo’s terrain adhere. In the background are oil washes that loosely resemble dunes behind the clay pan. The frottage was done with graphite in the left section and in the central area I combined it with part of the clay pan and clay/sand mixture. The paper in the right hand area had been moulded to the surface of the land leaving sunken shaped into which ink settled as well as grated pastel.
The piece of frottage dated 2001, lay in my plan draws until not long ago as I have found it difficult to get my head around how to express the feeling of total exposure and blinding light when first arriving. And while I studied it geology and history and took my usual approach of collecting data, I still couldn’t find a way into it.
I think I was side-tracked with a sense of romanticism due to spectacular sunsets and sunrises so stunning in a desert and which are popular subjects esp. for photographers. Anyway, the second stage as I felt my way into a composition began with tearing away excess paper, making cut-out areas into which I poured paint.
Close up of 2 sections
Also I blocked out with masking tape pieces of frottage that didn’t need paint yet or at all.
gorgeous. love the subtleness of this!!
Thank you Deb. Like your comment about the subtleness. Think that was part of my hesitation after the strong colours of the Pilbara etc. You may enjoy the work of another artist, Anna Warren whose blog I follow, who is also travelling to the North West.
you’re welcome!
Really beautiful, Elaine! I really like your working methods.
Thank you Richard for your encouraging comment