First Thursdays – Caramelo – JP

Some new ink block on paper works of mine will be shown during this month’s First Thursday at Caramelo Clothing Company. The work is a departure from paint on canvas and somewhat of a reaction to our trip to Spain and France this fall. Influenced by street art (Europe is packed with great work), contemporary art, and printmaking this is my first in these series. For the portrait series, I approached the print blocks not as the method of predominately creating the image but instead serving as a building components of the image. Thematically it’s a reflection on how we eat, what constitutes food and at what expense. Although the “vocabulary” of the printing blocks will expand, I started by using my styled initials that serve as a signatures for my canvases and other works. In the second block printing approach, I’m using repetition to make spot paintings reminiscent of Thomas Downing and Andy Warhol. I’m fascinated by color blocking and association told in primitive form. I also admire repetition as way of allowing the viewer to observe color, and not the subject, to convey distinction.

If you’re in JP tomorrow, or at all during November, please stop by this beautiful store and take a look. Price sheet will be up front. The holidays are coming. Just say’n. – SM