Tupper Malone
Tupper Malone |
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I have come to painting by a circuitous route, having worked for over 25 years as a sculptor. In 2000, after an injury, I took up watercolor and collage as my creative outlets. In recent work, a realistic rendition of my subject is offset by an abstracted, somewhat geometric background, as shown in the Santiam Longhorns Series. I enjoy working in this style and feel I can communicate a sense of the subject. I am drawn to animal life, and this style works well in depicting the soulfulness of a lone creature, whether in a pasture or in the wild. The pour technique that is the starting point for the Opus Series and the Technicolor Cows Series permits a spontaneous reaction to the color as it is set down on paper. Using watercolor crayons along with negative painting draws the subject off of the page as I work on the painting. This is almost the opposite style of painting used in the more realistic work described above. It is wonderful to use the watercolor crayons on top of a pour and find the colors layering on top of one another, ever changing the dimensions of the work. The layering of the crayon, pour, and negative painting adds a depth to the visual work that is very exciting to me. In spite of the technique, I feel the Opus Series conveys a sense of serenity, particularly Opus I Number 6 which, in its monochromatic tone, imparts an aura of calm. The Technicolor Cows, drawn from the same subjects as the Santiam Longhorn Series, are exciting in their rich red hues. These are powerful animals, yet, in their leisure in the pasture, they are languid—a contradiction that isn’t often considered. |