2011 Figurative Work: Embracing the Ephemeral

As my exploration of the figurative form continues, I find myself drawn to a state of deliberate "unfinishedness" that paradoxically feels complete. My latest piece, an untitled acrylic on wood (24" x 48"), embodies this aesthetic fully.

The composition centers on a spectral figure emerging from a rich, earthy background. I've employed a limited palette dominated by warm, oxidized reds and deep umbers, punctuated by the stark contrast of cool whites. This interplay of warm and cool tones creates a palpable tension within the piece.

Texturally, I've allowed the natural grain of the wood substrate to inform the work. Thin washes and glazes in the background let the warmth of the wood peek through, while more opaque passages define the figure. The paint application varies from areas of dry brush technique to more fluid, dripping sections that echo the figure's ethereal quality.

What fascinates me most about this piece is the constant flux between emergence and dissolution. The figure seems to materialize from the very essence of the background, its form simultaneously concrete and elusive. This effect is achieved through a series of layered glazes and selective scraping back of paint, revealing underlying tones and textures.

The ghostly quality of the figure speaks to deeper themes of emotional immersion and the struggle for clarity. It's as if we're witnessing a moment of transformation – a being coalescing from raw emotion and seeking definition.

I've come to appreciate that this state of visual ambiguity is not a sign of incompleteness, but rather the core of the work's power. It invites the viewer to engage more deeply, to project their own interpretations onto the shifting forms.

As I continue this series, I'm embracing the tension between the finished and unfinished, the defined and the nebulous. It's in this liminal space that I find the most profound expressions of the human experience, rendered in pigment and texture.