Katherine Glover, A New Panel Diptych

This most recently-completed work continues my exploration of negative space in the design.  Its design incorporates a further challenge, in that the gesture must sweep the intervening space between the two panels without stumbling. 

I wanted to create a background on which to float the design -- a surface that is both pristine and of the same texture as the the strips that form the wave.  I hoped to make it seem that the swirls are rising from the background, in the same way that a wave rises from the sea.  At its highest point, the wave crests about 3.5" higher than the surface, and at its lowest, it seemingly subsides into the surface.

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Wave

First I adhered several full sheets of khadi paper flat to the panels, then built the wave on top of this, using graduated strips of torn khadi paper.  I hand-tinted gesso to match the natural color of the paper, then painted several layers of this over the entire piece.  This treatment gives the free-standing strips stability and additional body.  It also visually softens the paper edges so they seem more water-like.  I have gilded the edges of the paper strips that create the wave's visible surface with gold metal leaf.

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Wave, detail

Bling-bling!

Materials: background is khadi sheets adhered to surface of birch panel; design is torn khadi paper strips adhered upright to this background.  Gesso.  Gold metal leaf embellishment.  

Dimensions:  Diptych -- overall piece measures 49"" wide x 48.5" high x about 4.5" deep