Artist R.L. Gibson

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Artist R.L. Gibson

Category: Painting

DAY 5: 110°

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
“110º” acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson
“110º” acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 5 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  My fifth offering is “110º” acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Available for $50.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  For the past two days, these pieces have taken on an accidentally planetary path.  To break this unintended, ever so slightly representational bent, I am going to vastly change up the color palette for day six.  Stay tuned.

110º is fifth of a number of paintings inspired by traffic circles:  “As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life.”

Next stop? Day Six.

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DAY 4: 90°

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
“90º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson
“90º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 4 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  My fourth offering is “90º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Available for $50.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  These small canvas pieces are studies for a larger body of work. I have finished a larger (18″x24″) piece, and started a second. For the first time in a while, I can envision building a full show.  This challenge has already helped me turn a corner, and it is only day FOUR.

90º is fourth of a number of paintings inspired by traffic circles:  “As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life.”

Next stop? Day Five.

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DAY 3: 212°

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
"212º" acrylic & gold leaf on 5"×7" unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson
“212º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 3 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  My third offering is “212º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Available for $50.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.  These small canvas pieces are studies for a larger body of work on wood that I am working on in conjunction with this challenge. I hope to have a few of those to reveal of those before month’s end.

212º is third of a number of paintings inspired by traffic circles:  “As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life.”

Next stop? Day Four.

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DAY 2: 102°

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
"102º" acrylic & gold leaf on 5"×7" unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson
“102º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson

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It is Day 2 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  My second offering is “102º” acrylic & gold leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Available for $50.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.

102º is second of a number of paintings inspired by traffic circles:  “As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life.”

Next stop? Day Three.

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DAY 1: 91°

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
"91º" acrylic & silver leaf on 5"×7" unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson
“91º” acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas by R.L. Gibson

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Today marks the beginning of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by painter Leslie Saeta.  On day one, I offer “91º” acrylic & silver leaf on 5″×7″ unstretched canvas.  Available for $50.

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As a xerographist, my work tends to be, almost exclusively, representational.  I have struggled lately to find a representational voice for my changing motivation to create work.  The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offers me an opportunity to revisit abstract painting as an alternate voice.

91º is one of a number of paintings that are inspired by traffic circles.  As a frequent traveler, I am both comforted and amused by the familiar behaviors found while traversing the traffic circle.  Well-intentioned drivers lean forward to afford themselves a better view of street signs, use their right turn signal despite all options being right turns, momentarily hit the brakes not quite certain of their choice before barreling ahead often without noticing the presence or location of other drivers on the circle or having to go ’round again because they missed the mark the first time.  It is sort of a perfect metaphor for navigating life. 

Let’s see where it takes me.

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30 in 30

Posted on by R.L. Gibson

Artist R.L. Gibson takes the 30 Paintings in 30 days Challenge!I love to paint. But because I am known for primarily for xerography, no one ever sees what I paint. At the recommendation of friend & painter, RoByn Thompson​, I am taking the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge from Artist Leslie Saeta. (TW: @lbsaeta) 

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Painting begins September 1st.  Stay tuned!

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Choices.

Posted on by R.L. Gibson

BECAUSE YOU ASKED..

So many of you have asked me about my preference in colored gesso.  I have pretty standard preferences in gel medium (Liquitex) and acrylic paint (Golden).  I find that an art supply is usually popular for a reason.  But occasionally, I find favorites by accident. (continues below)

First coat of gesso, Carmine by Holbein

I’ve spent years contemplating the addition of color and texture to my xerography, but all experiments have failed to impress.  Xerography, by my method, is tricky and inflexible.  Holbein to the rescue.  Lots of the big name manufacturers offer white, black & gray gesso.  But the 22 colors offered by Holbein make my heart sing (non-affiliate link). Did I mention that the packaging helps you squeeze out every last drop and makes mixing a dream? LOVE.  Carmine is my favorite.  I’ve added my first coats of gesso in prep for transfer…then paint.

Stay tuned…

♥

Experiments Continue.

Posted on by R.L. Gibson

MORE COLOR

I have spent a lot of years working with an absence of color.  Black & white photography has and continues to be the cornerstone of my work.  In 2014, I opened Do I Know You with every piece featuring hand-drawn background patterns to that same b&w photography.  But, as I continue to move toward a new series, Better Than Figs, I can seem unable to avoid color. (continues below)

Transfer experiments from Artist R.L. Gibson!

I’ve been experimenting with both color and b&w photography on both white and colored gesso (examples above).  I’ve also been testing out other transfer mediums.  In the end, colored gesso will likely find a place in my work.

Stay tuned!

Heart Breaker.

Posted on by R.L. Gibson
Heart Breaker, 11"x14" Xerography on Canvas by Artist R.L. Gibson
Heart Breaker, 11″x14″ Xerography on Canvas by Artist R.L. Gibson — a part of the “Do I Know You?” series

A CHANGE
in season

I’ve been busy testing a change in process–the addition of color and paint.  I am closing in on a new direction for the next series of work that I’m calling “Better than Figs” at the moment.

The new series
examines what it means
to really live.

 

The series title, Better than Figs, is from Shakespeare’s Anthony & Cleopatra:“O excellent! I love long life better than figs.”  Before diving headfirst into production, I sat down to edit the “Do I Know You?” exhibit.  It seems that Heart Breaker (pictured left) might be the best way to say goodbye to #DIKY.  Is it okay to mourn the loss of mourning?  No longer mourning puts closure or finality to the loss of my father.  I have guilt about that.  My mourning for the loss of the personality I knew as my grandmother has become acceptance.  I am grateful to at least have my memories of who she was–even if her memories don’t include me anymore.  I finally learned to just “Smile.  Because everyone dies.”

If you didn’t get a chance to visit the #DIKY opening in July,
you can see the series by visiting the Do I Know You? page.

♦ ♦ ♦

 

 

KEEPING TRACK.

Posted on by R.L. Gibson

Pass the Bottle by Artist R.L. GibsonWhere is EVERYTHING?

I’ve been giving lots of thought to inventory lately.  I am experimenting with changes in my media; more specifically, I am incorporating paint into what has been a solely xerography output from me for many, many years.  And, as my production increases, I find myself with the challenge of keeping track of all of it.  They are kind of my babies, and I want to know where they are going before I send them out into the world.

There are so many art inventory software systems from which to choose.  A few of them seem to have all the same flaws–they track work for shows but aren’t set up for artists that deal primarily with galleries OR they track shows/fairs and NOT galleries.

So I am curious, are any of you out there dealing with inventory issues?  Do you have room, in-studio, to store all of you work prior to shipping it to galleries?  And, once you ship, how are you tracking the work?  Do you have recommendations?  Have any of you tried eArtist, Art Tracker or GYST?  What about cloud-based Artwork Archive?

I would like to hear your thoughts.
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