Yesterday, Alex Nodopaka of Lake Forest, California, USA, wrote, "What do you think about making art by cutting larger paintings into several pieces, and also cropping existing work slightly smaller? Also, what's the recommended way to do this?"
Thanks, Alex. Very often, a large "mish-mash"--poorly composed or overly cluttered work--can have a better life by turning it into two or three smaller works. To get an idea of potential compositions within paintings, try moving frames of various sizes around in the offending work. Two "L" shaped cards are okay, too, but they don't always lead to the preferred standard sizes. Paintings often take on new strength and presence when they are even slightly cropped. For example, a 12" x 16" can often be downsized to 11" x 14" to good effect. A 24" x 30" can theoretically be turned into a 16" x 20", a couple of vertical 10"x 12"s and a pair of 8"x 10"s.
While a laborious and time-consuming job, canvas can be removed from stretchers by pulling out all the staples and re-stretching on different stretchers. I prefer to mount canvas onto boards. You need to knife the canvas slightly larger than the proposed size. Excellent prepared boards with reversible heat-activated conservator's adhesive for this exact purpose are provided by various companies including Art Boards of Brooklyn, New York. You get everything hot in your kitchen oven and then roll the canvas down with a brayer.
For smaller work I glue down with not-so-reversible acrylic medium. Some artists use one of the various carpenter's glues, but I don't recommend them. After cutting the canvas from the old stretcher I spread straight medium onto quarter-inch (or thicker) mahogany plywood cut to the required size. I press the canvas to the panel using a book press. (A couple of old Britannicas will do.) After the work has adhered to the panel, the overlapping canvas is knifed off and you have a fresh new painting. Give the back (and edges) a coat of thinned medium or varnish to help prevent warping.
It's okay to go in and finesse your downsized work. Often, the new format suggests painterly opportunities you didn't see before. Sign and go.
Best regards,
Robert
Esoterica: It's often a mystery why compositions get out of whack. A well-composed painting can be spotted from across a room and draw folks toward it. A mish-mash sends them on their way--no matter how well done its parts. Sometimes it's just a matter of too much space around some of the elements within the picture plane. In other cases the artist has lost control of the eye-control. While it's desirable to compose well to start with, cropping and downsizing are legitimate ploys. Knives, skill-saws and glues are treasured tools of aware artists. FYI, we've put some photos of the process in action at the top of the
current clickback.
The Art Show Calendar: If you or your group has a show coming up, put an illustrated announcement on The Painter's Keys site. The longer it's up, the more people will see it. Your announcement will be shown until the last day of your show.
The Workshop Calendar: Here is a selection of workshops and seminars laid out in chronological order that will stimulate, teach, mentor, take you to foreign lands or just down the street. Many of these workshops are recommended by Robert and friends. Incidentally, if you are planning a workshop and have photos of happy people working, feel free to send them to us and we'll include a selection in the workshops feature at no extra charge.
The Painter's Post: Every day new material is going into this feature. Links to art info, ideas, inspiration and all kinds of creative fun can be found in this online arts aggregator.
If a friend is trying to subscribe to the Twice-Weekly Letter via Constant Contact, please let her or him know that confirmation is required and to reply to Constant Contact's confirmation email.
You can also follow Robert's valuable insights and see further feedback on Facebook and Twitter
Featured Responses: Alternative to the instant Live Comments, Featured Responses are illustrated and edited for content. If you would like to submit your own for possible inclusion, please do so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write to rgenn@saraphina.com
No comments:
Post a Comment