A re-hash of an image that began as an intaglio print and was put aside for a while before I tackled it again. Technically I wanted to combine oil paint with intaglio print. The image is part of a series about the theme of self-portrait as allegory of painting that seems to have originated in the seventeenth century. In this composition I tried to show how the artist’s mind may discern how light and dark reveal and obscure imagery.
Remaining paintings in this series:
This one began with a gesso underpainting into which I placed frottage and sketches done on site at Lake Mungo. Below are details and I placed them on the left of the composition making it appear lop-sided. Below are close ups of the work on paper.
Top half
Bottom section with postings of gesso mixed with Indian ink.
Then my attempt to balance the image resulted in
Three colours poured across the surface into which I placed gladwrap that I will remove when the paint dries a little.
This oil painting began as a pen and wash on paper and developed many twists and turns as I cast it aside frequently quite happy to have a collage or printmaking distraction. At each stage I felt that somehow I hadn’t quite got it. I intended the horizontal composition stay that way but at the last-minute it became a vertical format. At one stage I thought there were possibilities for some of the more ethereal versions but my mood went on to its predictable cycle and changed mid-stream from blues to moody greys. After which an orange and red stage of the cycle will come to pass. I often retain stages and will come back to them later when I sometimes see things anew.
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