Contexture

Night Garden, Russell Steven Powell oil on canvas, 16x20

CONTEXTURE

From the Ground Up, Russell Steven Powell oil on canvas, 20x16
From the Ground Up, oil on canvas, 20×16

POSTING PAINTINGS online is a nice option for sharing artwork, but cyberspace is woefully inadequate to showing what a painting is really like.

The reduction in size is obvious. A painting 36”x48” is virtually indistinguishable from one 8”x10” online. 

Perhaps the biggest loss on the two-dimensional screen is texture. Some of the layers of paint are inevitably lost or merely suggestive online, losing much of their boldness and tactile pleasure. 

Paintings are aromatic. The smell of oil paint lingers for years, and even acrylic paint has a distinctive odor that can only be imagined, not detected, online.

Still, this gives a pretty good approximation of what I have been working on while sequestered. When our doors re-open, maybe these images will inspire some to see the real things.

In the meantime, be safe and enjoy.

Branch, Russell Steven Powell oil on canvas, 16x20
Branch, oil on canvas, 16×20
Dunes Revisited I, Russell Steven Powell acrylic on canvas, 16x20
Dunes Revisited I, acrylic on canvas, 16×20
Dunes Revisited II, Russell Steven Powell acrylic on canvas, 16x20
Dunes Revisited II, acrylic on canvas, 16×20
Dunes Revisited III, Russell Steven Powell acrylic on canvas, 16x20
Dunes Revisited III, acrylic on canvas, 16×20
Dunes Revisited IV, Russell Steven Powell acrylic on canvas, 16x20
Dunes Revisited IV, acrylic on canvas, 16×20
Landscape 25, Russell Steven Powell oil on canvas, 16x20
Landscape 25, oil on canvas, 16×20
Viral Bound I, Russell Steven Powell oil on canvas, 18x24
Viral Bound I, oil on canvas, 18×24
Night Garden, Russell Steven Powell oil on canvas, 16x20
Night Garden, oil on canvas, 16×20

6 Replies to “Contexture”

  1. Con (Spanish for “with”) texture

    Indeed!
    These are fabulous, Russell. I can practically touch them, in fact I am touching them, virtually!

  2. BUSY! Good for you, I love at least half of them–but what matters is the doing of it. Keep painting! Stay safe.
    Judy

    1. I’ll take it. Many thanks. I like your newly posted work, but would love to see titles and sizes (I assume they are all acrylic). I’ve not had a chance to dig down into judithpodellart.com, but I look forward to it. Be well!

  3. Thank you for continuing your observations and transformation of the world around us and within, Russell!
    The CONTEXTURE series, which includes NIGHT GARDEN as well, have a compelling stipped back but barely latent abundance of life, as we experience the edges of winter and spring. What brightness and illumination!
    BRANCH and YOGA POSE both have these sinewy yet voluptuous bones in them, an organizing statement that is unabashed and deeply natural.
    CONIFERS is spectacular, the wintery light above and the vibrancy below, so unexpected and affirmative.
    As for the dunes work, these are a life’s journey for you. They each reveal another nuanced understanding of life at the edge of knowledge. Always welcome, and one day, a show of their own is in order.

    1. Your comments and insights are always helpful, my friend. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, encouragement, and support. I hope you have been managing some quality writing time, and outdoor time. Stay well!

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