Symphony No. 3, Clash of the Titans by cameraobscura2
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Title: Symphony No. 3, Clash of the Titans
Series: Symphony
Location: Studio
Date: August 19, 2007
Image: N07038M1c
Medium: Oil on canvas with Polymer emulsion for texture
Size: 36 x 36 inches (91.44 x 91.44 cm)
Technical notes: This is the first time I have used a polymer emulsion, applying it to the canvas with a two inch wide brush, dividing up the space between texture and a smooth surface. Once dry, the entire surface was painted using Cremnitz White by Winsor & Newton. The painting was set-aside for a week in order to solve the problem of not having any brush strokes enter the crevasses of the polymer emulsion. All paint had Liquin Original added to it.
Commentary: This series is being uploaded in reverse so that it would be in the right viewing order when seen in the gallery. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Twice I believed the painting to be finished; only to go back, working it further.
The application of the only other colour of paint (van Dyck Brown) left the painting incomplete like a sentence that was left unfinished. After a few days I decided to add several Power brush strokes and at the time I was please though later was bothered by one, a seven-inch brush stroke.
The more I looked at the painting, the more I felt the last stroke was in error and needed to be remove without making it look like it was ever present, leaving the previous painting as much as possible intact.
By removing the offending stroke that brought me so much displeasure, I was constantly thinking I might ruin the painting and there was no guarantee that I would be successful, but what were my other options?
It was good that the main surface colour on the canvas was white and the only other colour was van Dyck Brown. I covered several sections of the painting, almost twenty percent in white, then re-applied the only other colour the way I did before the Power strokes.
Finally a little tidbit of information as to how the van Dyck Brown colour was applied, so that it would not enter into the crevasses of the Polymer emulsion.
When inking a plate in etching we must remove the ink on the surface of the plate after all the groves were inked, this was achieved by wiping the plate with fabric, as it did not penetrate the etched depths of the plate. By reversing the process I could apply this technique to my painting (prior to the Power brush strokes) and so I took a brand new pillowcase with a high thread count and folded it in half, so that I would have four layers of fabric. Taking a number of plastic bags and shaping them into a ball, I placed them in the center of the pillowcase and tied the ends back. It resembles a baren, which is used in block or linoleum printing, even looks like a Dabber in glazing.
The paint was applied to the pillowcase using a palette knife and allowed to penetrate the fabric. Any excess was removed. Standing over the painting and with pendulum like swings, the pillowcase began to leave its mark upon the canvas flat area when it strikes lightly the surface. This process was repeated until the desired effects were achieved.
Still using the pillowcase this process was continued on the raised Polymer emulsion texture but with a little more vigor and more paint on the surface of the pillowcase, which produced variation of hue.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my work and commenting. Vielen danke das sie die Zeit genommen haben meine Arbeit zu betrachten und darauf zu Kommentieren. Egmont
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Comments (31)
jedink
I like the gritty starkness of this piece. The furrows grab my eye and drag it around. I have zero skill in painting, my computer mouse is my medium these days. I'd like to see the process of this image. Nicely done mate.
babuci
Reminds me of da Vinci. I am looking forward to see the rest of your work in this series.
Prinzessin
This is so interesting, Egmont... I love your style... It is full of emotions.. I can notice enragement somehow in contrast to the accuracy of the whole painting, the small and careful painted lines... It is overwhelming - I would put it in my living-room...!!! For sure!!! Wonderful and very expressive work - and work it was indeed as I read in your little story.. ;-) hugesthugs my friend... :-))
unstrung65
......well - it looks to me like a shot from space - or an airplane - with clouds obscurring the snowclad terrain in places....the deep gash of a canyon and it's tributaries....yep - that's how it hits me.
cameraobscura2
I like your assessment Douglas (unstrung65), especially the airplane theory and clouds, so I just had another look and I am beginning to see Thunderbird fighters engaging with Zeros over the pacific Ocean, or one of my favorite wartime pictures with Gregory Peck in Twelve O'clock High.
sharky_
My imagination grows and I see many different things relating to your title. Interesting work. Aloha
gunsan
Sounds very complcated and very interresting. You surely has creativity left. I like the result, your title gave me a way in, then Bang...I landed in nature at micro level. Love the story of it's emergence.
visualpoetry72
This is very powerful Egmont, I would love to be able to see the real thing. Your commentary on the developement of the painting adds a whole new layer of interest. Great work!
LordLotte
... äusserst bemerkenswert und anregend. klasse, das du dir so viel mühe gemacht hast, deine arbeitsweise zu erklären. aber besonders auch den künstlerischen prozess in der auseinadersetzung mit dem werk. die wenigsten wissen, was es bedeutet, ein werk zu verrichten. den inneren kampf auszuhalten und den schaffensprozess nicht aus den "augen" zu verlieren. das mit der polymer emulsion war mir neu, denke aber, dass es etas mit acryl zu tun hat. da bedauere ich, dass mein englisch nicht so gut ist, aber ich habe etwas über polymer emulsion im internet gefunden, was ich mir in ruhe ansehe. also vielen dank und weiterhin gute arbeit wünscht die lothar p.s.du wolltest ja, dass ich etwas in deutsch schreibe, was mir angesichts deiner ausführungen und der bildbetrachtung leichter fiel, ähem!
JillianElf
Fantastic work Egmont! Finally your symphony arrives for our eyes and minds. Bravo on such a lot of work and thought. This reminds me of a footprint on the earth, like a shadow from overhead sky hiting wheatfields and mountains in shadow as it moves. The sight always amazes me as does you wonderful painting. Thank you for sharing your techniques. I think thos added flat strokes are perfect to your compostion. Bravo my friend, I look forward to the series immensely.
TwoPynts
The more I look the more I see. Very interesting process. Looking at this I hear rousing symphonic music from some part of Swan Lake, though I am not sure which specific movment it is. Presenting your oil paintings here gives us all a broader glimps of your artistic mind. Thank you.
zoren
a nice exploration in to this medium.....
Mousson
De plus en plus loin dans l´abstraction des images! Impressionant!
Valentin
It looks ominous, threatening and somewhat disturbing.... Black lines remind me an arbalest. Very impressive work, Egmont!
carlx
Fantastic abstract texture!!!!!!!!!!! Impressive, too!!!
Aioros
Great capture Great work!
Richardphotos
are not computer art awesome.no matter how many redoes one can go back to the original. I have been removed for so many years of doing oil paintings, I have no idea as to techniques available now.now if it was a house I could converse.I like where you are going with your art. a positive direction
bpmac
Great textural effects and overall result. Look forward to seeing it first hand!
rainbows
Good evening, Dear Egmont, I see passion here, your passion for painting. It is a wonderful artwork. You put all of your heart, your soul and strong spirit into your art. Your notes allow us to share the feelings you experienced whilst you were painting. I hear the music. I can actually see you painting this! The pillowcase rolled tightly in your hand. Your creativity knows no bounds and I for one am so glad of it. Hugs, dear friend. I look forward so much to the other works in this series. Diane.
Ionel
An abstract image; very much like an interesting texture! I can enjoy seeing this work for itself, no need to associate it with any other image! It is all about harmony! Someone, a honest person, will like it or not!!! :)
lior
Very nice abstract image!
Margana
Firstly, I congratulate you on this fine photograph. I haven't tried recently, but I know from the past how difficult it is to truly capture my paintings. This one would be especially tricky, what with all the surface texture. ( Mine were always extremely flat, as I always painted using thinner. In fact, the 'whites' in my paintings, were always my 'ground', if you know what I mean. ) My point is, even though my paintings were flat, I still had trouble. So high kudos for this capture. As to your painting...fascinating textures that express great intensity. It has an inherent violent aspect to it, made all the more profound by the van dyke against the ground of pure white. My interpretation of it, for what it's worth, is that this is a representation of purity that has repeatedly been violated...and the resultant scars of that confrontation, that have been left behind. I must be honest; I've never been one for abstract painting, ( my leanings have always been towards realism and figures ), but I think you did exceptionally well with this, Egmont. It's a fascinating work, and certainly not one to be absorbed and digested with a casual glance. Thank you for sharing this with us. -M :^)
nikolais
wouldn't elaborate on the message hinted by the title. aggressively expressive is my first impression. a really good work, Egmont
helanker
WOW ! Such an interesting painting. I like very mush the texture and the rough look on it. It makes me think about some flying objects, fighting in the air. It was very interesting to read how you made it. Thanks for that too.
Hendesse
Excellent and very interesting textures. You've crreated and stunning piece of art. Superb!!
elmurray
What an amazing piece of artwork this is Egmont. I could sit and stare and it for hours and still keep finding different things all the time. Brilliant, my friend!
lizzibell
Very nice...
moochagoo
Quite interesting work !
Onslow
A very intense series of paintings. I am not quite sure they transpose well in to photographs but it is the only way we will see them so better than nothing.
cameraobscura2
I agree with what you are saying (Onslow), especially in light of the fact these are considerable reduced then saved as jpg files, no photograph can ever do justice to any painting, mine or any great artist. All paintings, including fine art photographic prints need to be seen in real life under natural daylight condition, yet we are given no choice but to do our very best in photographing the art, so that our work can be seen by as many people as possible. egmont