talking to myself
I have told the story before that in 1979 and 1980 I made lots of little works on paper and many of them I shoved in a folder as unfinished, only to rediscover them in 2010. I decided this year to complete them, adding what I would certainly not have added when I first made them.
I remember that they were created using a process akin to “automatic writing”, doing my best to make them unconsciously. That they were on paper, small in size and carried out in haste, helped me momentarily to suspend conscious judgment. Looking back I now think of it as the setting up of an “as if frame”, a term I borrowed from John Grinder. I also think of the process as a specific type of trance.
In going about completing these works I set up a new “as if frame” with the rules of 1) making minimal intervention, 2) keeping respect for the original image and 3) adding something that I would not have added all those years ago. A different type of trance ensues, a conversation between my two selves, Andy 1979/80 and Andy 2012.
Talking to Myself, 2012, acrylic and oil pastel with collage on paper, 15cm x 27.5cm
These are great Andy. I’m really enjoying them.
Jane
February 15, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Great paintings Andy. That central band of pink is really interesting, and holds it all together.
sbmacinnis
February 15, 2012 at 1:15 pm
thanks Stephen (and Jane)
the bright pink does do something rather strange I think. the thing I notice most is the way it brings that grey squiggle, directly beneath the moroon band, forward.
Andy Parkinson
February 15, 2012 at 8:18 pm
What the pink band contributes most, I think, is it’s sharp, regular edges. Contrasts with everything else that is irregular. I also really like the circles. Are they stenciled?
zorgor
February 19, 2012 at 3:05 am
I also meant to say that it would be interesting to see “before” and “after” with these started in 1980. It’d also illustrate your points.
zorgor
February 20, 2012 at 1:42 am
Thanks again for your interesting comments. I agree.
The circles are circle shaped stickers from a stationers, coloured by me with oil pastel and stuck on. There is no way I would have done that in 1980.
Andy Parkinson
February 20, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Ah! That works great! Perfect circles, yet still painted. I tried stenciling some circles with an old Tylenol bottle I sawed the top off of. They didn’t come out with crisp edges, but I like them. I’ll be posting that this week.
zorgor
February 20, 2012 at 7:21 pm