The following painting is an experiment on several levels. I’m experimenting with a new paper from Arches called Huile oil paper which is designed specifically for oil painting. Anyone who paints in oil knows that working on paper is frowned upon as it is not archival. Secondly I am experimenting with the Surrealist technique of automatic drawing and painting. The following painting is the result.
Lavinia Seeks Solace at the Court of Coatlique
2015
oil on Arches Huile paper
15 by 22 inches
It is an absurd image composed of seemingly random characters, but there is a free- associative logic to it all…at least from my perspective. Lavinia (from Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus) in a dream state, wanders into the court of the Aztec goddess Coatlique, She of the Skirt of Serpents … and a pretty fantastic necklace composed of skulls, hearts and most importantly, hands! A bit of gallows humor perhaps, but I didn’t think it out too much. I allowed unconscious instinct to direct the composition. The following is Coatlique taken from our trip to Mexico City.
One of the things I really enjoy about taking classes outside of the discipline of art is the opportunity to free my mind and doodle with abandon. My judgmental brain is turned off and my hand flows across the page. They are not great drawings by any means, often ridiculous; but I find in them a nonsensical spontaneity that I value and want to integrate into my work more often.
The following are samples taken from an English Composition C course that I recently finished.
This might be my last post for awhile until I leave for my Philadelphia critique course at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. I have obligations I need to tend to before I leave on Independence Day. I’m nervous and excited, I’ve never been away from David (or my dear dogs)for such a long stretch; but to have time just for my work is an amazing opportunity.
Until next time, be well, LG
Boondocks Babylon 
Wow, there’s a lot going on here!
Which reminds me, did you get to watch Titus yet? Please let me know when you do. Even if you don’t like it!
Oh my gosh, yes I did. Stunning, I swooned . We watched it in class and even my classmates loved it. Spectacular, I need to own it.
Wow, you’ve nailed it; the composition, the colour and the space in the painting tie it all together, brilliant, I love it and the ‘doodles’ are great, wish I could doodle like that! Just wishing you all the very best for your trip and the course Leonard. Something of an adventure, I’m very keen to know what you’ll make of it :-). Enjoy it, and savour that time just for yourself and your work. Having been observing how your work has developed over the last year or two this seems like a great time to go and do the course. X
Oh thank you.
I have been drowning in self-doubt of late. This painting in particular crystallizes my anxieties-too mad,too dense, ill-composed (although the composition makes sense to ME)…
I’m looking forward to this experience and quite nervous.
I will be posting from my phone when i get there.
xLg