Safe Beach

John Bittinger Klomp, "Safe Beach" (12" x 14")

This is the first frame I have sculpted. I made it as part of a lesson in Mixed Media taught at Lighthouse Art Center. There are many connections with other artists that build/make their own frames or containers for their artwork. Joseph Cornell's assemblage provides wonderful historical examples of constructed containers/boxes.

Joseph Cornell, "Unititled (Tilly Losch)" 1935-38*

Instead of starting from scratch, I bought a small raw wood frame and sculpted with craft clay over top. I glued actual beach sand and shells to the clay, gilded and stained the finished product. I'm pleased with the results, but want to take this further. In the future I will do more of these frames and boxes with found objects, gild and distress them in ways similar to the paintings that will go in them.




*Joseph Cornell (American, 1903-1972). Untitled (Tilly Losch), ca. 1935–38. Box construction. 10 x 9 1/4 x 2 1/8 in. (25.4 x 23.5 x 5.4 cm). Found at About.com, http://arthistory.about.com/od/from_exhibitions/ig/jcsfmoma_1107/jcni_02.htm. The Robert Lehrman Art Trust, Courtesy Aimee and Robert Lehrman, Washington, D.C. Photo: Mark Gulezian/Quicksilver. © The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation / Licensed by VAGA, New York. It is known that use of copyrighted images for one time scholarly porposes is lawful under USA copyright.

Waterworks, April 11, 2011

The latest in this body of work is titled "Water Sports." It is larger than the other most recent mixed media distressed paintings,16 inches x 16 inches.

Waterworks, April 6, 2011

Safe H20 #2

Another of 4 small mixed media distressed paintings (8" x 8") - I worked back and forth on this one, photographing the image, adding type to the photographed image, printing it out, cutting, and laminating pieces into the original. Using more distressed paint, shooting, printing, cutting and laminating.

Waterworks, April 1, 2011

Such beautiful water. The color was overwhelming. It is clean, clear, aqua. Will we be able to keep it that way? The distressing indicates the possibility of decay because we make layers of garbage, trash and poisons. The gold is for the richness we have now.

Safe H2O (8” x 8”)

The latest of the “Waterworks” - one of five different small mixed media distressed paintings plus one 20” x 20” painting - I’ve also decided to make prints of some of these images. These new paintings are central balanced designs, and the next four will be asymmetrical balance.

Sold at Arts United Art Exhibit in Fort Lauderdale

Waterworks #5

It’s south Florida water at its best, part of “The Waterworks,” this mixed media distressed painting sold last night at the "Art Explosion" opening on Sunrise.

Let’s all work to keep our water and air clean and clear!

Peace on Earth

During the Christmas season, 2010, Lighthouse Art Center where I teach sponsored an Exhibition that was underwritten by Mrs. Kathryn W. Davis. Ms. Davis is 103 years old and she continues to do her own work. The winner of first place in the exhibit, Ahni Sallaway brought her work all the way from Annapolis, Maryland. For that exhibit I created a mixed media distressed painting titled “Pacem in Terris.” I’ve since discovered that for many people the title conjures visions of Pope John XXIII encyclical of the same title in which he outlines his ideas for establishing world peace. I have no problem with that. However, my vision was to stress inclusiveness of all religion and human spirituality under God, who resides with all of us, no matter our religion. I know immediately that makes me something other than Christian in the mind of many a fundamentalist. Sad, isn’t that. I doubt that Jesus himself would see it their way.

Peace to all.