the painting process

All of my materials are recycled or foraged aside from glue and acrylic paint and ink. The canvas can be anything from cardboard, to poster boards to print backings. It just depends on what I have on hand.

Catalogs, junk mail, card envelopes, and flyers make up the base background of the painting. I cut and tear pieces to arrange and glue on the canvas.

Next comes color correcting and blending to create the cohesive background. The dog's head becomes a rock, the woman's coat becomes a cloud, and the jean advertisement becomes a mountain peak.

Now for the actual painting. With acrylic paint and ink, I follow the lines and curves and shadows of the background to form the scene in my head. Most of it is painted upside down.

That's my manager, Ronan.

Details are last of course. How do I know the painting is done? I text a photo to my sister and she says "stop f***ing with it."

Once dry, I apply a matte varnish.

For hanging and instillation, I return to my recycled materials. Some paintings are hung with stapled basting string. Some have picture wire through the top corners. And some are lucky enough to find themselves a frame if I have any.