Posted: January 3rd, 2010 | Filed under: Equipment, Recent Work
Lakeview Hardware, Battle Creek, MI
…Arrived at the hardware store on a warm sunny morning and had to immediately determine how ambitious to be with this project. Michigan weather is notorious for its inconsistency, and while it was tempting to try an outdoor painting, there was no guarantee that I would have consistent weather the week or so I had planned for the MI visit. Wandering around the store I found myself in front of the display window near the front door. There were two grills perched on a platform adjacent to the storefront windows. Sunlight poured from the windows in front of the display and the side by side grill kettles passed light and reflection between each other. Beyond the grills and through the window I could see the street, road signs and a modest brick house across the way. Tightly positioned, in the front corner of the store, I jumped into the work as I normally would however I was more mindful this time I was in a retail establishment and didn’t want to disrupt business… Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 3rd, 2010 | Filed under: Equipment, Recent Work
Duncan Aviation, Battle Creek, MI
There was a black bellied plane with tan pin strips that I found interesting. In particular, I liked all the reflection I was seeing in the black engine cowlings. This canvas was smaller partly because I didn’t want to attempt a larger piece that I might not be able to complete in the time I had given myself for the project. While the Dassault painting was primarily white, this painting would be nearly all black. The composition for the Hawker would be even more abstract than the Dassault piece. I chose a cropping composed almost exclusively of the engine cowling which shows its black underside when opened. Beyond the open black cover you can see the white upper part of the engine cover and part of the airplanes body. If you weren’t familiar with aircraft, I am not sure most people could identify what the composition represents.
In the open cowling cover, which covers more than half of the canvas, I set out to explore a convex reflection. In the reflected image I can see myself standing alongside the easel and behind me is the expanse of the hangar, other aircraft in for servicing and the network of overhead florescent lighting. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 2nd, 2010 | Filed under: Equipment, Recent Work
Duncan Aviation, Battle Creek, MI
…I had casually mentioned during a discussion about possible subject matter that I would love to paint aircraft sometime. My friend Laura offered that she knew the general manager of Duncan Aviation. Laura said that she would try to put me in contact with her friend Bill. Over the late summer, introductions were made and emails were exchanged. I invited Bill to view some of my work online so he could see and understand more about my work and methods.
On my first visit to Duncan Aviation’s facility, I walked through the building and down the hallways and I noticed the ample collection of paintings, prints and sculpture displayed at nearly every turn. It was explained to me that the Duncan family were avid art collectors. I had no prior knowledge of this but felt that the company, via it’s founders, would be more inclined to participate and host my proposed activities given their own personal interests. Read the rest of this entry »
rachel lussier art