Tag Archives: Painting I

Artist of Interest: Steve Spazuk

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Steve Spazuk is best-known for his work with flames when creating his work; he has perfected the art of what he calls “fumage,” in which he uses a flame to, essentially, paint with soot. Then, he uses tools such as needles and even feathers to make marks (or draw) in the soot. He explains that bodies intrigue him and that his compositions express “how every one of us is a constituent fragment of the human community.”

Ornothotem is a piece from Spazuk’s bird series. The ethereal feel of the piece is expressed through the wispy lines created by the soot. The fine details found in the birds contrast well with the uncontrolled mass of soot floating around the figures. What I find most captivating is the unearthly quality of the piece and the emotion that is conveyed through the use of soft yet heavy soot on a plain background.

Steve Spazuk, "Ornothotem" (2014)

Steve Spazuk, “Ornothotem” (2014)

Another noteworthy piece includes The nozzel, which is from Spazuk’s “Ornithocide” collection of soot paintings in which Spazuk attempts to convey to his viewers the harmful nature of using pesticides that has begun to permeate through the food chain and kills birds. This piece seems to commentate on just that by including a stark contrast between a symbol for the pesticide and a bird, which is a symbol for nature. It almost appears as if the nozzle is a man-made rendition of a bird and the fact that it is juxtaposed with a delicate bird makes the nozzle seem like a threatening force. Additionally, the soot adds to the overall feel of the piece, which is that of foreboding and uneasiness.

Steve Spazuk, "The nozzel" (2014)

Steve Spazuk, “The nozzel” (2014)

What initially drew me to Spazuk was a video that showed the process he goes through to achieve these wonderfully-crafted pieces; it seems as though Spazuk makes every mark so effortlessly yet skillfully. I want to experiment with this technique and see what my results will be; perhaps I can find a way to create massive compositions on canvas, paper, or even cloth through “fumage.” Spazuk is one of many artists who have fascinated me and encouraged me to mess around with different non-traditional mediums when creating work.

Artist of Interest: Nick Gentry

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British artist, Nick Gentry, explains that he focuses especially on the use of recycled materials such as film negatives and is concerned with the “development of consumerism, technology, identity and cyberculture in society.” Gentry reuses items such as floppy disks and, in the process, challenges the preconceived notions of the original function of these objects.

In Fade, Gentry utilizes floppy disks as a backdrop for the portrait of a woman. The eyes draw the viewer in, as they seem so blank and yet so captivating in their stare. Similarly, the features of the woman become so pronounced as Gentry emphasizes the contrast between the color used to create depth and the flat background (which is ironically 3D) of the floppy disks. Additionally, the stern and somewhat questioning glance of the subject pulls the viewer in. The viewer’s attention travels outward from the eyes to various points in the portrait, and the negative space created by the white background lets the viewer know (even more so) that the face is the point of focus in this piece. I love the way Gentry recycles these old objects in order to create something so far-removed from the floppy disks’ initial intended use.

Nick Gentry, "Fade" (2014)

Nick Gentry, “Fade” (2014)

Gentry’s piece entitled Lost Moments challenges the preconceived uses of materials such as film negatives and x-rays. The subtle yet powerful lines and depth created through the use of oil and differently-contrasting film and x-rays make the piece so eye-grabbing. Again, Gentry plays with positive and negative space in order to focus the viewer on the subject while emphasizing the usage of these unique materials to achieve the effect he has achieved. The composition would appear to be a photo manipulation if not for the small hints of information left behind about the materials’ previous usages. Also, the stare of the subject seems to create a feeling of uneasiness, as the person seems to be apprehensive about something in the distance. This may be part of Gentry’s goal to question the rise of technology that makes items like film negatives obsolete.

Nick Gentry, "Lost Moments" (2012)

Nick Gentry, “Lost Moments” (2012)

Overall, I found Gentry’s use of these unusual objects to paint on to be very informative; now, I understand what oil or other mediums on top of found objects such as film and floppy disks appears. Gentry inspires me to continue experimenting with different materials and challenges me to question why certain items are used (like whether the use of a found object translates to commentary on the state of society in this day and age).

Artist of Interest: Zhao Na

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Zhao Na, "Drunk in Autumn" (2014)

Zhao Na, “Drunk in Autumn” (2014)

Zhao Na, an artist who mainly focuses on the utilization of acrylic paint and ink, along with colored pencil and graphite, creates several pieces that focus on characteristically unique renditions of subjects that may remind one of very detailed comic book scenes. Currently, Na works and lives in Beijing, China and has displayed her work in several exhibitions since 2003.

The piece that particularly drew me in was Na’s “Drunk in Autumn,” a beautifully intricate rendition of a tree bearing apples. Within the tree is an amalgam of creatures that are “drunkenly” hanging out, strategically entangled within the branches. The piece almost takes on a humorous mood and quality, as each of these creatures appear to be the same size (which is not true to reality). The artist pairs muted and bright colors in order to create an interesting interplay between various aspects of the composition. I admire the sketchy yet fulfilled quality of the piece; there is an interesting balance of positive and negative space (which seems to bite into the tree itself). Additionally, the tree appears to be composed of a mixture of organic shapes and items such as moss and leaves.

Zhao Na, "Rest" (2012)

Zhao Na, “Rest” (2012)

The other piece worth noting includes “Rest,” which, similar to “Drunk in Autumn,” includes a depiction of a tree along with a creatures. Na seems to hide the owls and various types of birds within the branches of the tree; Na utilizes similar muted colors in rendering both the branches and animals. What is interesting is that Na includes dabs of green within the tree along with muted colors such as gray, which creates an unlikely balance within the work. It almost appears as if the tree, near the bottom, is opening its trunk, ready to swallow up any unsuspecting bird (perhaps a baby chic) that loses its balance on the fragile branches. Again, Na creates an interesting interplay of negative and positive space while drawing the viewer into the seemingly uneasy piece by adding so much detail and unique combinations of colors and renditions of the subject.

Overall, Na’s work reminds me of a highly-developed style of animation (almost comic-book like) that involves the portrayal of whimsical ideas through the use of painstaking detail. Though I have not made any pieces that involve so much detail, I would like to work towards creating a wider array of work that creates an interesting interplay of unique colors and space.