This work is inspired by a 19th century photograph by Julia Margaret Cameron taken in 1867 titled, Lago. The painting is 48" x 60" in size and painted in oil and gold enamel on canvas. This is a continuation of the Dreamscape series idea.  Although, I am not incorporating any resin paint in this work as in the previous Dreamscape piece I titled, Teepee Dreamscape in previous posts.  As in the previous Dreamscape compositions I am incorporating black and white images from the past. I like to use early photographs as my inspiration as I have always been drawn to them.  The black and white image is painted in oil instead of the resin pigment paint in this work. The idea of incorporating black and white imagery in juxtaposition to colorful decorative background is the same and creates an interesting contrast between the two which accentuates both. I have not titled this painting yet although I will most likely title it, Lago after the Cameron photograph.

Teepee Dreamscape finished painting

TeeThis is the first finished work of the dreamscape series titled, Teepee Dreamscape. Sorry that I've jumped from the beginning of this painting to the completed painting without the updates and progress but I felt it was important to show the end result even though I haven't shown the steps along the way. I did provide some updates on my Facebook page if you are interested in seeing those you can visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gslindner and scroll through the posts.

Teepee Dreamscape 72" x 120" total measurement on 12 canvases in oil on gold leaf and pigment in resin

This is the first in the series composed of twelve canvases 24” x 30” in size. The work is three canvases high by four canvases wide for a total overall size of six feet by ten feet. The painting is a Southwest landscape with teepees inspired from a 19th century photograph by Edward S. Curtis. I have used gold leafing for the sky and am painting large stylized sunflowers onto the leafing with oil paint. The foreground landscape and teepees will be in the epoxy resin medium in a monotone like the black and white photograph creating a strong contrast to the brightness of the gold leaf and the colorful treatment of the sunflowers. The juxtaposition between the different medium and techniques results in the different areas highlighting each other likened to placing complimentary colors next to each other to make them stronger and really pop off the canvas.

Something big is coming!

This is a project that I proposed to the Guggenheim foundation last year when I applied to their grant.  I was unsuccessful in securing the grant last year but I am still proceeding with the project.  I feel very committed to this vision of a large scale multi-panel work like this.  I am integrating my resin painted imagery with gold leaf and painted floral background into a multi panel work.  The work consists of twelve canvas panels that are 24” x 30” making the overall size of the piece six feet by ten feet.  I have been really enjoying work large scale.  There is just such a feeling of satisfaction that comes with completing something of this scale.  It makes such a major statement in a large size.  I plan to continue working in a larger scale with my future projects.

Flowers and Foliage Complete

All the flowers and foliage have been added and now it’s time for the resin painting of the horse but I have to wait until the weather is a little warmer.   In Southern California that will happen soon so in a week or two I should be able to add the horse to the painting over the background.  In the meantime I will start working on the other two paintings in this style for the solo exhibition in February of next year.

Painting the decorative background

The gold leafing is applied and now it’s time to add the decorative background.  I use stencils to outline the pattern and then go in and paint with acrylic paint in the case to create the lush foliage.  The flowers will be added next.

Second Water girl work on paper

This is another piece hanging in the studio that I am working on right now.  This work is on sanded paper.  The background is a continuation of the graphic floral patterning that I have been infusing into my work.  I like the way it adds life to the works and a contemporary feel to a vintage subject.

This is the first one of the water girl series.  I love the interplay of the ceramic vase and the human figure and the interplay of black and white and the graphic floral pattern in the background.

Gold leaf applied

This piece is 24” x 30” on canvas.  I have just finished applying the gold leaf to the canvas after priming the area to be covered.  This is the second work in this series where I  will paint graphic floral patterns over the gold leaf bringing another element to the painting creating a contrast between the gold leaf, the painted patterns and finally the painting of the image in pure mineral pigment powder in acrylic resin.  The final layer of the resin compound will unite the layer creating a rich multi dimensional composition.  The first in this series can be seen under the “Equestrian & Related” titled “Arabian in Floral”.