Notes
Painting on wood is very different from painting on canvas. The wood doesn’t give, it resists; it’s hard and so can take a lot more abuse, which paradoxically leads to something far more tender, the soothing rotating application of oil to the freshly sanded surface. This rhythmic exploration serves to render a familiarity with the wood. An organic material perhaps long severed from its initial source as a tree, it’s history is still present in its radiating grain. The oils are also organic and when mixed with linseed become smooth and warm to the touch, flowing easily, leaving traces of the passage of the fingers pressure. These patterns suggest forms and the design process begins. The receptive eye discerns emerging imagery; here is the juncture of materials and art, the transformation of paint into something imagined. We must trust the paints ability to point the way, be it whimsical or profound.
This old sideboard is a wonderful blend of purples reds and copper tones…..and the wording on the top is the quote by Leonard Cohen “Ring the bells that can still ring, Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in” - this quote was on my fridge from the beginning of lockdown and was a powerful reminder that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, and that good can be found in every situation if you look for it..….the sideboard is marbled with beautiful silvery cracks to highlight this theme…
