Jim Series
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
My portraits show the inevitability and acceptance of aging. I depict a male figure embracing and enjoying his later years of life. I hope for viewers to connect their concerns about growing older to his positive demeanor.
My conceptual concern lies in capturing this person's essence, or those certain characteristics that belong uniquely to him. Rembrandt, the master of painting the essence of his subjects, influenced me to make images which show someone's particular gestures, postures, expressions, and possessions.
My process primarily involves pyrography, or the slow-burning of the line into ash or cedar wood with a heated nib. I study the swirls and lines of the wood grain and choose an image that will harmoniously converge with it. For instance, the grain becomes the wrinkles on skin or clothing or serves as a setting in the background. Additionally, the grain guides the eye through paths along the surface of the forms of the image.
My esthetics focus on the organic fluidity of the burned lines. The lines that flow with the grain of the wood enhance the symbolic connection between the man's aging and the beauty of wood as it darkens with time. Lines burned in dense proximity become the shape of shadows. Lines drawn sparsely, or not at all show direct light, imply atmosphere of sea air or smoke. Additionally, I limit the use of color. But with one piece, I explore both opaque color areas independent from the wood grain, as well as translucent colors, which flow with the grain. I choose to apply color with acrylic paint, colored pencils, and water-based crayons.
Making this body of work was a full sensory experience for me that helped me appreciate each moment. The smell of the burning cedar, the feel of indentions of the burned lines, the sight of the mesmerizing undulations of the grain gave me sensual awakenings and feelings of calmness about the time past and time to come.
My portraits show the inevitability and acceptance of aging. I depict a male figure embracing and enjoying his later years of life. I hope for viewers to connect their concerns about growing older to his positive demeanor.
My conceptual concern lies in capturing this person's essence, or those certain characteristics that belong uniquely to him. Rembrandt, the master of painting the essence of his subjects, influenced me to make images which show someone's particular gestures, postures, expressions, and possessions.
My process primarily involves pyrography, or the slow-burning of the line into ash or cedar wood with a heated nib. I study the swirls and lines of the wood grain and choose an image that will harmoniously converge with it. For instance, the grain becomes the wrinkles on skin or clothing or serves as a setting in the background. Additionally, the grain guides the eye through paths along the surface of the forms of the image.
My esthetics focus on the organic fluidity of the burned lines. The lines that flow with the grain of the wood enhance the symbolic connection between the man's aging and the beauty of wood as it darkens with time. Lines burned in dense proximity become the shape of shadows. Lines drawn sparsely, or not at all show direct light, imply atmosphere of sea air or smoke. Additionally, I limit the use of color. But with one piece, I explore both opaque color areas independent from the wood grain, as well as translucent colors, which flow with the grain. I choose to apply color with acrylic paint, colored pencils, and water-based crayons.
Making this body of work was a full sensory experience for me that helped me appreciate each moment. The smell of the burning cedar, the feel of indentions of the burned lines, the sight of the mesmerizing undulations of the grain gave me sensual awakenings and feelings of calmness about the time past and time to come.
All images and writings of this site are original works by Mary Ann Post © 2017-2022. All rights reserved.