Color: Field and Form, Part 6

Part 1: Truitt, Appleby, Jackson, Shils, Donaldson  
Part 2: Estrada-Vega, Johnston, Korman, Gimblett  

Part 3: Aaron, Chong, Glessner, Mattera  

Part 4: Von Heyl   

Part 5: Goodwin    .

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Douglas Florian, Dawn Thieves

Bravin Lee Projects, March 28 - May 20

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For Well or Woe, 2011, oil on wood, 24 x 24 inches

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The last few times I saw Douglas Florian's work, he was painting in acrylic on brown paper bags. The paper was not the most archival ground * but the paint had a chromatic richness that elevated the modest material. And the images, fluidly organic and not a little quirky, were a joy.

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In Florian's recent work the images have lost none of their uniqueness, but the materials are now in it for the long haul: oil on panel. It's a beautiful transition. The color is still largely dry and flat, now fabulously textured, and highly chromatic thanks to Florian's propensity toward complementary hues. As before, the works are modestly sized--larger than miniatures but not bombastically overblown. Installed in a row at eye level, they are the right height and size for you to stand close and embrace each one visually. From a distance with their lapis, jade and turquoise hues, they suggest nothing so much as a string of gemstones.
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* See Florian's post in the Comment's section

View of For Well or Woe with Full Fair and Neete in the foreground. This vantage point is from the front of the gallery, right side, looking toward the back

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View of the left side of the gallery looking toward the back, with the painting below in the foreground

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Bewail and Weep, 2010-2011, oil on wood, 24 x 20 inches
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Same wall, back-to-front view. In the foreground, the two paintings shown below

With Leaden Legs, 2011, oil on wood, 19 x 26 inches

No Way, oil on board, 18.25 X 22 inches

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Next week: Sheila Hicks and Fabienne Lasserre