The Third Space

In addition to Ma, Notan is another design principle to think about. Also a Japanese term, Notan refers to the interplay of dark and light. For artists it is something to bear in mind for composition and value. While considering the layout of a work, Notan is part of the decision to break up the space with interesting shapes, and to balance the darks and lights in a pleasing way - or a disturbing way, if that’s
what you’re after.

 

One way to check a composition is to reverse your image. The inverted values help in seeing in an abstract way if the shapes are interesting and if the darks and lights are balanced.

 
Metaphorically, Notan is a combination of presence and absence. The two, by nature of their dynamic opposition, create tension, and a mysterious, transcendent, ‘third space’ is evoked.

Murmuration Flies North…

Some of it lands in the homes of new collectors, some will roost in my studio for awhile, and six paintings have made their way to the Modest Fly Art Studio Gallery in Tujunga to join the ACAG Mother’s Day exhibition that’s already in progress. This show runs through June 9^th with a closing reception on Friday, June 8 from 5 -8 PM.

Above and below are more shots of the changes people have made to the flight patterns while Murmuration was on display at TAG Gallery. One gentleman visiting from Australia was thrilled with the opportunity to interact with the art. He told me that usually people are told to “stand back” and “don’t touch the art.” He went on to spend some time arranging and re-arranging the paintings. Some of them even ended up upside down or some sideways and worked just as well in these positions.

Smoothing Out the Wrinkles

I’m feeling celebratory this week. A painting that has been a problem child from day one is now starting to take shape. It is a modular painting. By that I mean it is composed of two canvases, a 40 x 60" placed above an 8 x 60". I’m using oil - primed linen, always a little difficult, but this time it was as if the linen was resistant to my every effort - everything except extreme patience. I stretched, waited, tightened, waited, smoothed and adjusted and retightened, over and over, coaxing the linen to flatten out. For a few weeks stretching linen became my number one preoccupation. One night I literally had nightmares about going to the studio to try to paint on surfaces made up of origami folds. What a relief to wake up! What a relief to see this painting co-operating at last.
Here are a couple of detail views from different sections:

As an imaginary composition there have been a lot of adjustments to get the balance and motion of the birds right and then to make sure the top and the bottom sections are cohesive.
It has a way to go yet, but has at last entered fun to work on territory.
Have you ever had a project that seemed to resist all your efforts?

Assembling a Series

Clouds, Birds  in progress ©2011 Katherine Kean

oil on linen 8 x 8" each 

Here are the first three of a series of twelve small square paintings of clouds and flocking birds. I've been working on many diptychs, triptychs, and modular paintings lately. A group of modular paintings can have the visual impact of a single large scale piece but has built in portability and versatility. Much of the time I've found that paintings in a grouping can be completely rearranged while still working together as a whole.  

Work in Progress: Murmuration

Murmuration in progress © 2011 Katherine Kean
oil on linen triptych 48 x 126" overall

Here is what the large triptych taking up all the breathing room in my studio looks like at the moment- click on the image to see it enlarged. It will be getting a few more layers and I suspect the bird formations will change somewhat, but I'm not going to say in what way just yet. What I will say is that I'm glad that I did most of this painting during the longer days. At this time of year my studio seems a little darker every day and I have to start depending more and more on artificial light.

On the Easel, On the Wall, On the Floor

Marsh Path in progress Katherine Kean
48 x 48" oil on linen

Here's a sneak peek at the works in progress in the studio. The painting above just barely fits on the easel, while the two triptychs below are being painted as they hang on or lean against the wall. The larger is 10 1/2 feet wide, and the smaller one is 6 feet wide.