Monday, September 19, 2011

Ace


Oil on board, 9" x 8"
$275 plus $10 shipping in U.S.
Click image to enlarge
SOLD


Paper or plastic? Some may not agree, but I think paper sacks are really interesting. Hear me out.

Paper sacks catch the light in ways somehow both simple and extraordinarily intricate. From an artist's standpoint, that alone is a really intriguing challenge. And talk about shape-shifters--they can be twisted, inflated, crumpled or torn into an unending variety of sculptural forms. Stand the humble bag up and it becomes almost architectural in its geometries. I'll go so far as to say there's a certain dignity expressed...stateliness, even. A whiff of mystery too--what's in there...or is it an empty void? What I'm trying to say is that this lowly object is every bit as worthy of artistic consideration as, say, Niagara Falls. Once you start really looking, paper sacks can hardly contain the imagination.

Here's another thing I find interesting: these days it's difficult to find a sack (or anything else, for that matter) that doesn't have advertising or some sort of message printed on it. In fact, the world of marketing is by now so embedded in our culture that for most of us it is nearly invisible--at least consciously. Subconsciously, we are awash.

In the painting I'm not passing judgement on this phenomenon--just observing it. In fact, I believe the color and graphic character of the text on the bag adds something to the piece. Any larger cultural implications I'll leave to the eye--and mind--of the beholder.

12 comments:

Irene Georgopoulou said...

Beautiful!

Sonya Johnson said...

Really wonderful and intriguing painting, Don, and great commentary to go along with it.

Don Gray said...

Thank you, Irene. You do beautiful pastel work.

Don Gray said...

Hi Sonya--thank you.

SamArtDog said...

A fine painting, Don. And an equally good treatise on insidious marketing. I also happen to completely agree.

Karen Appleton said...

Love the light you captured Don! And all the shades of warm to cool browns and tans :)

Don Gray said...

Hi there Sam--thanks a lot.

Don Gray said...

Thanks, Karen! I love the paper bags you painted recently--fabulous!

Stephanie said...

I always look for the "painting behind the painting"...the meaning behind the art. I am intrigued by your commentary and now look at paper sacks in a whole new light. Well done.

Don Gray said...

Thanks, Stephanie for your insightful thoughts.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

I love it but isn't it the truth that everything has advertising on it?

Don Gray said...

It sure is, Mary--thanks for the visit. Nice to see your colorful new paintings.