8.15.2011

#307 - Retro Robin

6"x 6" oil on masonite  Sold
Ever since I got a better camera for taking pictures of my paintings I've been bitten by the photo bug. It's just so much fun. The speed and ease (compared to painting) at which you can make beautiful images is very intoxicating. But as fun as photos are, I still think of them for the most part, as painting fodder. A DSL is a different world of beauty from a point and shoot, but still you can't beat the convenience of something smaller. Speaking of convenience, I can't get enough of the camera on the iphone. There are even apps on there now that rival photoshop. The iphone app called Instagram ain't no photoshop, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. Lately I play with it all the time. I can't resist the old retro filters! I love the ones with the borders, especially in black. I always like the way they seem to add a feeling of weight, reference and nostalgia to an image. Feels like a border or frame, grounds an image in time and space. It's an anchor for an image, like a period is for a sentence. The style of the frame can be an anchor in time. Remember the way the old family photos (~70s) had those rounded edge? I loved that. How kind were those edges to see and hold compared to the sharp ones? A sharp corner is so definite and sometimes acts like an arrow sharply pointing you away from the image. A rounded edges seem to gently nudge you back inside a photo (or back in time?). Anchors and weight. That's what I've been thinking about lately. That's what I've been missing or wanting in my paintings. I think physical as well as visual weight too. Feels substantial. The next painting I'll post up soon is a 10 x 10 on a thick canvas frame. The size and weight feels good. I'll keep on painting the smaller masonite (and artcard) ones, but I want to play with some bigger sizes. It's fun to stretch out.  It feels good, plus maybe it's simply time to get bigger.


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7 comments :

SamArtDog said...

Careful of that iPhone camera. It's totally seductive and will eat your first-born. Try the camera+ app. Amazing. And of course the Pollock app.

Love the "Cowangle".

Anonymous said...

Happy to hear you are going bigger! Can't wait to see them.

suzannepaints said...

Love the birdie! Watch the birdie...

Jeff Mahorney said...

Thanks guys :)

carol morgan carmichael said...

Welcome back! I was afraid you were throwing in the towel. I was just catching up with blog posts and came to yours because a sweet lady Virginia Floyd referenced an old post you did. Jan 28, 2008. What a great post!
Anyway....hope you find time to paint. I am loving the creative mark "paramount" thick canvases I am using.
"retro robin" is even more beautiful than a real robin.

Jeff Mahorney said...

Hi Carol,
Nah, I always come back. Sometimes it just takes longer depending on the circumstances. You'll be seeing a lot more of me though.:)

Paramount frame eh? I'll check those out. Do you ever make any of your own? I'm trying to learn.

Angela Sullivan said...

What a beautiful little birdy.