Gaye’s Studio News

Carnivals and constellations

5 March 2022

In February I jumped (or tumbled) into two large paintings following my recent two themes; carnivals and constellations. The first started with an orangey background(Indian yellow and alizarin crimson). I then used blue greys, pthalo turquoise and pale yellow to build up shapes and marks; leaving the background to show through.

Titled Tumbling senses.

The second one had a dull greeny aqua background with turquoise, purple and yellow marks and shapes layered over. More gestural and dynamic mark making, then I introduced a range of pale colours and white, creating movement and energy. I think the larger size lends itself to this. I have titled this one Stellar winds

I was very pleased with how these turned out so followed up in the same vein but with a smaller 60 cm square format, keeping to the same colour palettes. Both of these while done in the same way seem more constrained and different to the first two. Fun to do and I like them! Child of Asteria and Tumbling still

Then as I am wont to do I decided to stick with the carnival/shapes theme but used a different set of colours; magenta, Indian yellow, ultramarine, burnt sienna and a touch of black. On both I tried a darker under painting. The paper was covered with an acrylic base layer of a mid toned navy blue. I chose a basic tonal compositional structure to guide me.

The resulting images were looking too rigid and a little too busy but I liked the colours. Intervention. Bold gestural drawing with my gorgeous oil sticks, creating some larger shapes. Quickly they were resolved. The same colours were used but the two paintings look quite different. This intuitive painting style certainly gives some surprises.

In my Constellation series, I looked to NASA for inspiration. And I found it. Beautiful images of nebulae and constellations but not conducive to representational painting. So I am trying tp express the feeling of unlimited space and beautiful gas clouds. Not there yet. A very dark viridian green/black background was used. Not sure they are going where I want them, so might put them aside and start some new large ones.

Recently I created a visual catalogue in folders with thumbnails of almost all the paintings I have ever produced. I am up to 875, of which 200 having been done in the past two years after ramping up my art practice. I have always kept a detailed spreadsheet however but it was becoming harder to navigate, so this catalogue has been a boon.

Most of the unsold works are/were in storage in my studio.. The process of creating this visual catalogue has been cathartic. I am able now to ‘let go’ of some of them. Many are no longer consistent with my current style. Starting with paintings on canvas to free up storage space, I considered a bonfire and other disposal methods but decided on my local tip shop cooperative (resource recycling centre) which provides employment for locals. So I think about 16 paintings were donated (without signatures). They could be purchased for a wall as is or overpainted for reuse. It did feel a little like dropping your children off to an orphanage

This week I changed the exhibition of 10 paintings I have at City Doctors for a different set. They will be on display and available for sale until the end of April.

I finished two little fun pieces this week as well. I have called the Rainbow singing and Rainbow dancing.

My website is undergoing some maintenance but most of my work is available at www.bluethumb.com.au