Category: Modern Art

S_V_H The Ghost of Tom Joad Final Image

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

The Ghost of Tom Joad final image

I have completed The Ghost of Tom Joad. This artwork proves to me that it is easier to test new ideas when working on a smaller size canvas. I used two new techniques in this work that I plan on developing, and experimenting with in future paintings.  The first one is drip painting.  Dripping paint is not a great artistic breakthrough. It is a technique that I have ignored, until I stumbled on a dripping method that was convenient to use, consistent, and with fairly precise control. The second new technique, if you look closely at the enlargement,  you will see a number of small square wooden pieces that I have attach to this artwork.  I am fascinated by the unlimited opportunities that attaching painted pieces of wood to canvas can offer.

These two methods each can add interest, and more important depth, in edition to using multiple layers of canvases to make that three dimensional, sculptural look possible.  But not every artwork works well with layered canvases.  Now,  with the option of dripping, and adding small wooded pieces to the canvas surface,  I can give even a traditional flat rectangle artwork a little of that three dimension look.  I am always after this to better reflect the depth of the music I am portraying.

My original idea for The Ghost of Tom Joad  was to use earth tones to keep the coloring muted and the contrast lower.  I found out once again, that it was hard for me to limit my pallet.  I may have an opportunity to actually limit my pallet with this years Birthday painting, at the end of July.  My Birthday painting I start and complete in one day.  A simpler color scheme, with smart use of tints and shades, could save painting time,  and be an opportunity to experiment with a cleaner appearing,  less cluttered looked.

 

Up next is another small artwork, and a Blues Classic, Sweet Little Angel. I cannot seem to get enough of B B King so I thought it was time to do one of his own classic songs.  Since this is a Blues piece I can see this as an opportunity to create a simpler artwork.

Scott Von Holzen

 

S_V_H The Ghost of Tom Joad image 4

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

theGhostOfTomJoad_5

This is the painting The Ghost of Tom Joad in a late stage. I have completed all the important parts of this artwork.  Next up I will be adding interest, and cleaning up the image. I do not have much to add about this work beyond you are seeing, in this painting,  pieces of styles from a number of earlier works. But, if you scroll down the blog page and look at the Billie Holiday painting,  I just completed, you will see an entirely different style. What that shows is that this art does not evolve from work to work, but instead it comes from the music that I am portraying.  Up to now you are seeing an overall style evolution partially driven by the chosen music, but probably also pushed on because I do not want this art to stand still. As I have said many times in the past, I am persevering in this fine art quest to find out how it will actually turn out. I want to know ‘does he really make it in the art world.’ To get to that end, duplicating myself is the last thing I want to do. Evolving from the past is good and necessary, repeating begins the end. This art can fail in multiple ways, but it must not me that is the cause.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H The Ghost of Tom Joad images 3

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

 

theGhostOfTomJoad_3The Ghost of Tom Joad before removing the tape I used to cover the flow of the music.

theGhostOfTomJoad_4Of course this is The Ghost of Tom Joad after removing tape. I have tried this experiment  before but not to this extent. I do not think I will do it this way in the future.  I am thinking differently about how this should be done. Next time I will just indicate the general areas where the music flow will land, and then pull the layers of paint across these areas with more care.  By doing this l am thinking that each layer will be thin and soft enough that masking the music will not be worth the time spent masking.

I can see the need for a lot of touch up after removing the tape. Also, I found, especially trying to mask out the circles, that the taping overlapped, which then made the layers that cover the tape thicker. That has created a lot more finishing issues.

The base painting is done, so now it is on to the music and smoothing out the transition between the music and the background. I save the blues and their relatives, for the music. What that means even though I am trying to stay with earth tones, * brighter colors are going to creep back into this work. I can not help.

Scott Von Holzen