the new figure absorbed in her smart phone
1:44pm update: i introduced a new lone figure into the composition of parade 41, while at the same time smoothing out some inconsistencies in the upper left area of the floor.this painting may now be resolved. if you compare it with yesterday's version, on the left above, you may agree that the introduction of this new lone female figure, created a balance that perhaps was lacking. as well, in her isolation, intently looking at her smart phone, she reflects the contemporary phenomena of isolation and disconnection, reflected in these young people visiting MOMA, in new york. for me however, the entire composition is more in the genre of hopper. the figures speak volumes in their silent separation.
i had been intending for a few weeks to modify the lower portion of parade 37, 48x48" today was the day. i had a good sleep and am in top form, so it felt like something i could tackle. i placed the canvas flat on my work table and made a few variations until i felt it was where i wanted it. take a look at the previous version, on the left, and my changes, on the right, and see what you think. for me, the previous version didn't work because the wood on the bottom third was too dominant, taking away from the figures above.
SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
this is a painting in egg tempera on board from may-june, 1980. it is 8"x20." at the time i had just returned from 15 unbroken years in greece, and was still deeply immersed in that aesthetic, and in the medium of egg tempera. i learned to paint in that traditional byzantine and ancient greek medium from my friends and teachers, yiorgos manousakis and my former mother-in-law, niki karagatsi. my point in asking "so what else is new?" is that my preoccupation with a figure or figures engaged in everyday activities, in this case exercise on the beach in santa monica, is evident in 1980, as it was in greece a decade earlier. these figures are often isolated and usually enigmatic. what are they up to? but what are they really up to?
this painting is part of a series i did at the time in my santa monica penthouse apartment overlooking the pacific, on ocean avenue. they were all shown at fischbach gallery, then on 57th street, and most of them are in private and corporate collections in new york. this is the sole example i have from that period, so i treasure it. it's interesting to compare with the parade series i'm now working on.
7:04 pm update: great trail walk this afternoon. the volume and intensity of the snowmelt has ramped up dramatically and there'a distinct danger it might wash away this bridge once it reaches full strength. on the right, below: sunlight falling on parade 38, 40x12" this morning.
