Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Is it Real or is it Memorex?

What constitutes a "real painting"?  Does it have to be oil on canvas, framed and matted, suitable for an art gallery?  Does it have to have lasting qualities?  Most of my paintings only exist in this computer and sometimes I wonder what they do in that world by themselves?  I paint when I feel like painting and have been known to paint on just about anything.  I take photographs along the way and it is only these that get preserved, their life limited to the digital world.  Oh, once in a while I may keep one.  I have four hanging in my house, two in my shop gathering steel dust, I have given some away and actually sold two!  But most live a short life, getting painted on top of each other, turned into something else or just plain crumpled up and tossed!
 an Experiment on tin foil
   One of my favorite things to paint on is tin foil, that kitchen foil we use to wrap up food!  That is almost as temporary as painting on ice!  I don't particularly like the canvas texture that is present with "professional" paintings.  I find that surface gets in my way of what I am trying to do.  I like how paint reacts and stays on the surface of the tin foil, alive and mixing, intermingling, swimming on top.  Easy to get depth and shadows.
 Color on Tin Foil
   They don't last of course, except in my computer, but they are fun to do.

 Ocean Waves on tin foil
Last Christmas I wrapped my gifts in tin foil that I had painted, temporary I know, but pretty and fun for the moment.

I wonder if you could paint the ocean from description? Never having seen it or heard its roar? Smelled it or tasted salt water?
More tin foil art and other stuff is HERE

4 comments:

Yvonne said...

I'm in love with your abstract art when you play with colors. When I was young, it was almost impossible for me to part with anything I created unless I totally hated it. It was a hard process for me to give away as presents or sell as art anything I made, but it has gotten easier the older I become. I guess it's because I actually do realize I can't take it with me in the end. I like your McDonald's photo, lol.

Jerry Carlin said...

Thank you, Clipped Wings! you have gone deep into my portfolio to discover my "McDonald's Art"!

Autumn Leaves said...

These are all three magnificent, Jerry. I have often used tin foil as my palette for oils and wonder why I never hear of anyone else using it. But to actually paint on it? Rather incredible idea that I love, though admittedly, if there is no way to make it permanent, I'd hate to waste the paint! LOL I'm frugal that way.

Constance Stanza Extravaganza Extraordinaire said...

We have a wonderful painting on our wall of a tree with 2 leaves painted on tinfoil. It was used as a digital wedding card then used to wrap around a wedding gift. It is a very precious artwork to both of us and something that will never be thrown away or sold!