Brave Media

Wood, canvas and plaster all have wonderful raw, tactile qualities. They are also great for drawing and painting on. Once students start using these materials they don’t take much convincing to start combining them; constructing, hanging, scratching and destroying the rich surfaces. I enjoy engaging the students with the challenge of weight and fragility. The painting that’s made of torn jeans is a good example. The artist applied Auerbach-like layers of oil paint giving it a sliding sense of weight and drag. She was aiming to capture her nausea at the sight of meat. In contrast, I admire the way many Asian artforms have an ethereal quality. This has had a strong influence on my own artwork and my teaching.

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