'Aquatic.'

Mediums -

Ink, Acrylic, Pearlescent Pigment, sand & Expanding Foam On Canvas

Why is the piece titled 'Aquatic.' -

The piece is titled 'Aquatic.' due to the nature of the composition, as the name implies it was inspired by the ocean, depicting the foaming waves as they clash and retract from the rocks, saturating each and every orifice within its proximity.

The acrylic was applied generously to create an impasto base, I had implemented various methods of application to ensure an impasto appearance, from the use of pouring to layering a with a brush and palette knife. I overlaid the acrylics all a-prima with pearlescent pigments and inks. I found the ink to work quite well across the expanding foam and its elaborately porous texture; due to the wax like epidermis glazed over the expanding foam, the ink settled into blobs and retracted from absorption which I found to be aesthetically appropriate. Lastly I embellished the piece with a moderate dusting of sand collected from the beach to further accentuate the abstraction of the piece by affixing another tactile element.

This was a smaller scale beginning to an expanding foam series which will be continued over the second course of this project, I am quite content with the final outcome of this composition as I find it to be reminiscent of the ocean. I am particularly happy with the textures shown within the piece as the porous nature of the foam has been shown clearly through the use of the mediums and application. Instrumenting an element associated with the environment in which its sourced from, especially peaks my interest as my project is about bringing the composition to the viewer and allowing them to experience the environment of which its located, or inspired from.

In regards to exhibiting this piece, I would have it mounted over a plain white wall, in conjunction to the next two expanding foam painting which will follow suite; and optical oceanic series. These paintings would be mounted in front of the headset and sensory jars I had mentioned in a previous post, which will play audio recordings taken from my time at the beach. Visual, sensory and auditory stimulation!