Stan Bowman: RHODADALIA
Artist(s):
Title:
- RHODADALIA
Exhibition:
Creation Year:
- 2007
Medium:
- Giclée ink jet prints on canvas, stretched on a wood frame, with protruding wood pieces attached
Size:
- 45 inches x 45 inches x 1.5 inches
Category:
Artist Statement:
I am intrigued with layers in images. For me, these are metaphors that operate on several levels: layers of earth stratification, layers of human culture, and layers of the human psyche. My work represents the intermingling and dynamics of these layers. The use of floral objects in my images is also intentional. Flowers show us most clearly the essence of life cycles. They are ever changing, ever evolving, in simple yet powerful forms. But what grabs my attention most are their exciting organic shapes, colors, and textures, and their ability to assume a completely individual presentation without repetition. The geometrically shaped canvases of my current works also present an outline that is unique, one which goes beyond the more common and expected rectangular character of a picture. It draws emphasis to the work as an object itself. Finally, floral objects push outside the geometric shape to attract even more attention. The result is a stronger three-dimensional visual experience.
Technical Information:
Most of the organic objects I use in a still piece are initially scanned on a large flat-bed scanner because I have found that I can achieve finer detail by scanning as opposed to working from a camera image. I have also found that a scanned image has a special quality of light that is not achievable through other photo processes. I use Photoshop to assemble an image, creating numerous layers that often seem to float in space either above or below other layers. In this piece, I have also used Photoshop to merge two flowers together to create a fictitious Rhodadalia. I started this work by printing a giclée image as a bottom layer on canvas and stretched it on a specially built shaped wood frame. I then printed a second canvas print of the top flowers, cut these out either singly or in groups, and glued them onto the first layer. However, some of these second-layer flowers
extended beyond the limits of the basic shaped edges and needed support, so underneath these I made wood pieces cut to the shape of the flowers and depth of the frame edges. These were attached to the basic wood frame. I then glued the extended canvas flowers down onto them. Finally, I painted the side edges of these wood extensions in acrylic to match the flowers.
