Pages

8.03.2012

Color: Field and Form, Part 6

Part 1: Truitt, Appleby, Jackson, Shils, Donaldson  
Part 2: Estrada-Vega, Johnston, Korman, Gimblett  
Part 5: Goodwin    .
.
Douglas Florian, Dawn Thieves
Bravin Lee Projects, March 28 - May 20
.
For Well or Woe, 2011, oil on wood, 24 x 24 inches
.

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.
.
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.
.
* 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
.
View of the left side of the gallery looking toward the back, with the painting below in the foreground
.
Bewail and Weep, 2010-2011, oil on wood, 24 x 20 inches
.
.
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
.
.
Next week: Sheila Hicks and Fabienne Lasserre

11 comments:

annell4 said...

Each post better than the last! Thank you so much!

Douglas Florian said...

Thank you so much, Joanne, for you kind words and phabulous photos. The works on paper, done in the past, were acrylic-gessoed and the backs sprayed witha de-acidifier.
Thanks again. Douglas

Joanne Mattera said...

Douglas: Thank you for posting this information. I made a correction and noted your comment.

Cherie Mittenthal said...

Great Post Joanne!

Cherie Mittenthal said...

Great Post Joanne!

Barbara Harman said...

Lovely, luscious work! Thanks for posting. Barbara

Christine Sauer said...

Juicy surface and color. Love the intimate scale of his work. Thanks for sharing this!

About Connie Goldman said...

Thanks for this post, Joanne. I love Douglas' work.

About Connie Goldman said...

Thanks for this post, Joanne. I love Douglas' work.

Nancy Natale said...

Juicy is the right word for these pieces in terms of the paint and color, but they have a deeply felt sense in their composition, not just being composed of color but of worked form. Thanks for posting, Joanne!

julia schwartz said...

Excellent series, Joanne, and excellent choice here: Douglas' work is rich and visceral. Really wonderful.