Soccer balls & Spray paint

Wendy White’s paintings deal with several different ideas, including the incorporation of ordinary objects in painting, the utilization of spray paint, the integration of text, and the placement of a series of paintings together to create a singular painting. After seeing many of her works during the Mason Gross School of the Arts presents: Artist's Lecture Series, I can see her graphic design influence and training, especially because of the way she paired her paintings with still photographs of her inspirations scrolling on the right during the presentation- most of them being sports and advertisement related.

Wendy White talks about the difference between beautifying something and painting on it; there is juxtaposition between creating beautiful paintings comprised of spray paint, masking tape, and soccer balls. The idea of using spray paint adds another dimension to the work; spray paint immediately dictates the rebellious act of graffiti, and that triggers the thought of text. She talks about using “text as a construction of image.” Consequently, the utilization of spray paint, masking tape, and text makes complete sense.

She thinks about the frame of the painting reflected in the framework behind the walls, and the construction or breakdown of the painting. Further adding to the breakdown of the artwork are the modular paintings that she makes. She purposefully paints on the moveable paintings to highlight the gaps in between the paintings and make it obvious that they are several canvases together. One might wonder what the back of the painting looks like and how it is constructed just from noticing the different panels. Furthermore, Wendy White talks about her inability to move her own canvases: a shortcoming that I too have had to deal with.

Joan Mitchell and I

So the assignment was to make a response painting. I chose Joan Mitchell's Sunflower paintings, particularly the diptych painting. I really enjoy the brush strokes she uses, they're juicy and expressionistic (hence the inclusion of Mitchell in the ABEX movement). I wanted to capture those brush strokes and the freedom that she must have had to do these paintings, but by using house paints. The colors I chose are vaguely reminiscient of the colors she uses, but a little more fleshy and grey. I also wanted to play around with the composition. I found that it was un-necessary to do another painting because the composition of the one painting is satisfying enough. I also wanted to do the painting on paper. The feeling that the edges are peeling up subtly from the wall is completely different then paint on canvas... I might have to do a few more of these paintings. So, here it is!