Tuesday 26 July 2016

'City of Glass 37- (PLOT.noun/PLOT.verb)'



TUESDAY 26 JULY

Exciting news - this painting has been shortlisted for the Lacey Contemporary Art Prize and will be on show in the Finalist Exhibition at Lacey Contemporary, London W11 from 3 -16 August


Gallery view - Lacey Contemporary


Private View at Lacey Contemporary. (Ashley with Chris Salmon on left)



WED 10 FEB

I've spoken many times about 'breaking (the perfection of) the square' - well, it's not a square now....

This is very exciting; the power and tension of the black-lines of 8th Ave and 14th St, holding the shape that wants to spin round...I've pushed the shape of Manhattan right into the corner - more plotting.  Because of the orientation of the canvas, the original drips now become a subversive, subtle pattern of angled lines beneath the transparent paint.  I think it might be done. 

Mysterious doorway.

'Hello Mondrian..' would make a good title, though he wasn't fond of green! (or curves)






This goes back to something I was looking at during Open Studios last year when this painting and 'City of Glass 33 - (Buried)' were in very early stages. 











I have used the idea of the controlling vertical in a shaped canvas before in 'Porthleven 13', (below), the only circular canvas that has worked and that I've kept.



'Porthleven 13'





detail- City of Glass 37

FRI 5 FEB 



in progress


Early days but I already have a title- the relationship with words is so important in this series witrh its source in text*

Love the multiple meanings of the word 'Plot':

  • plot as in narrative
  • plot as in conspire
  • plot as in plan or map....

In the novel, Quinn plots Stillman's walks onto a street-map of New York

In turn, in City of Glass 6 and 35, I have 'plotted' Quinn's walk described on pages 106-112...

In the act of painting, I have 'plotted' the grid of New York, already several times in this piece, to establish the angle, scale and position of Manhattan within the canvas , looking for the strongest composition. 

My 'plot 'is for the Manhattan shape, once established, to be painted entirely with layers of transparent colours, giving the appearance of coloured-glass.....


*'The New York Trilogy' by Paul Auster



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