Attack of the Killer Tomato

'Tomatoes on the Vine", oil on canvas, 3' x 6'

"But I'd never say that I started every painting in the same way at all. It's a sort of patience of trying things out and putting it in and taking it out. And just saying "give it a go." Because it's never the way you conceive it to be at all, and I don't think there's anything wrong in that, but lots of people get disappointed because they think: "I want it to be this." But I think if you keep going it becomes something. You grow every time you do a piece, anyway. You become the person in the painting or the painting changes you and your perception of things anyway. So I don't think there's anything wrong in having a completely different image to the one you set out with in the beginning." -Jenny Saville

The above quote was said by one of my favorite contemporary artists, Jenny Saville. Saville paints large scale (large is hardly the perfect adjective, her paintings are often 10' x 10') figurative work. She explores the human body, often making disturbing images of nudes, often obese, some hermaphrodites, others victims of abuse or disease. These subjects do not sound appealing, but the way she manipulates the paint is incredibly beautiful. Saville's paint application is similar to witnessing a sculpture, with Saville carving out her subjects. Thus, when painting on a large scale I find Saville to not only be an inspiration, but an encouragement. I think the above quote rings true, for when painting on such a scale it is as if you are painting several different pieces, that have to fit seamlessly. Myself being an artist who likes to paint the big picture immediately, I was reminded of Saville's words and tossed my expectations and old processes to the wind, and just "gave it a go."

I began by painting my intended focal point of the piece, and moving across the canvas so that all three subjects would develop a positive conversation.

I then pulled in the background to allow the tomatoes to have even more warmth, applying energetic strokes, but at the same time not allowing them to away from my subjects.

(Ignore the outfit, look at the scale)

Overall, changing up the process, "giving it a go", was refreshing and allowed me to see the big picture even more so than usual. Not to mention, in this case I also feel that bigger is better. If you are interested in "Tomatoes on the Vine" it will be displayed at The Shed at Glenwood (A fabulous Atlanta restaurant with yummy local fare and a killer wine list) along with more of my Fall series.

$1000.00 (+ tax and shipping)

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