Torn Paper: a new group of nanoscapes

A few weeks ago, I began The Post Card Projects, a return to the small works that were the first nanoscapes. They have gone in two directions: The 31 Pumpkins of October (ongoing) and The Torn Paper Projects.  After the first two Torn Papers (orange at left), I took a detour with the 6" square Red Linked Blocks (right). Torn Papers play up the negative spaces filled by links in Linked Blocks, and I have returned to Torn Paper with a 12x16" new work.  (below, right)

These designs had stirred a memory of Hawaiian applique quilts, and I thought that they were either the source or the inspiration. Having  refreshed my memory of those exquisite works, I admit to completely mis-remembering, and must continue digging in my memory for the  source of these designs.

Check out these beautiful designs by Sharon Balai and you will see how completely unrelated that they are to the Torn Paper designs. 

Linked Blocks #1 -- an experiened traveling nanoscape

The last Linked Block #1 photo from the Palm Pre....

I painted Linked Blocks #1 in 20 days and 4400 miles as it traveled with me to California and Iowa. 

Experienced painter-travelers know that small dried blobs of watercolors in pallets and small paintbrushes whiz through airport security, and that a cup of water can be found virtually anywhere. I painted on a 12x16" Arches 140# hot press block which tucked into my tote bag with my new traveling Peugeot Pepper Mill.

Because I love colors and connections, I am looking forward to making more paintings in the Linked Blocks family.  The original Linked Block #1 is for sale, and it will be available for $400 at the nanoscapes website on Friday September 24.

Linked Blocks #1 is related to 100 Buttons

Other than its relationship to a drawing of a Very Famous Shoe Designer's covered button shoe, the real story of 100 Buttons is the way in which it seemed to take forever to paint.  Tracing the U.S. and French coins, painting the Winsor Newton Davy's Gray outlines of the coins and of the centers of each button (two circles for each button), layering in the button colors, painting in the "threads" two or three times, painting an outline for each button and center, and then stopping to count. When I was certain that I was half finished, I found that I had painted far more than 100 buttons, and that I certainly was nowhere close to being finished.

The story of the formerly nameless traveling nano is grows more like 100 Buttons every day.  I drew the nameless shapes, painted both the shapes and the little links that connected them with Winsor Newton Davy's Gray, painted the colors into the shapes, outlined each of the shapes with Daniel Smith Deep Sap Green, and painted colors into the links between each of the shapes. For the two days that I worked on the little links, I thought that they would perform their linking function without an outline between the between each shape. Although I haven't (and won't) count each shape, it is clear to me that each of the little links needs an outline.  And yes, there are far more little links than there are "big" shapes.

This is quintessential Painstaking Exuberance.  Gotta outline. Gotta get to work.