I care deeply about space, emotion, and movement in Art. Asteroid, Pre-dawn
was made with a broad, brass sign painting tool that broke within thirty minutes of beginning the
final painting. Earlier painting studies were much smaller in size, and the papers were smooth
finished. But, my aim for the painting was the look of nighttime drawing nigh to dawn;
and it was a rough, full sheet of watercolor paper which was best able
to reveal my invented color wheel as a spiraling heavenly body.
The final art measures 42.5 x 55.5 inches, framed
My Dress Blue Gown
Over the years I have made many
embroideries. They are all random
semblances of things in the natural
world which I saw, or imagined that I
had, while being outside
in the wide open air.
Presented, are three photographs of my full-length work embroidery upon a satin gown of royal blue color, that was hand-made for me by my mother.
Transforming the page into multitudinous, fragmented particle spaces,
due to the making of marks---my own. I combine them to form.
Picture Wrtiting Then & Now was made using
stone ground sumi ink in broad-nib and pointed-nib pens.
The work measures 19.50 x 20 inches, framed
Four lines of a stanza of the Christmas carol 'Away in the manger'
A prayer
As an illumination
I saw in my mind's eye deepest blue dark night, a blueness un-ending
in the firmament high above the whole world. Stars sparkled
from far away, streaming radiant brightness through deep space. Some of that
lit up the surfaces of other heavenly bodies and made their presence visible
by reflection. But a solitary star also was moving forward during
this night, and was coming very near to the face of the earth. The star,
then, passing over the lay of the lands came to rest quietly,
radiantly, here, overhead a little cove of shelter,
in little Bethlehem town.
Prayer: The Medieval
I created the work using graphite pencils and
watercolor paints; it measures 11.50 x 16.50 inches, unframed
I was imagining a setting in the deserts
of the Arabian Peninsula that would appear to be
a refreshment to traveling souls---a respite from the natural aridity and brutal heat
that spreads over the expansive terrain.
Paradise Oasis is a watercolor
painting of the size, 17 x 10.50 inches, framed
My concept was to create an ornamental
landscape of this sea in the Near East.
Red Sea Seascape was created
using watercolor, and is of the size,
14-5/8 x 9-3/8 in., framed
Continuing with the concept of landscape
as pictorial ornament, on this occasion,
the landscape is a forest pond.
Pond Oasis was made in watercolor
with pointed pen and brush. My workis 15.25 x 10 inches, framed
...weird looking plants, and most varietals are flowered, tendril-bearing vines
Pen and ink composition, created with stone ground sumi ink.
Passion Flowers measures 16.25 x 21.50 inches, framed
My idea about a happy Lady Bug who enjoys crawling around,
meandering through trefoil clover and grass and dirt
Trefoil Lady Bug was composed using watercolor paints
on a ruggedly rough and torn sheet; 100% cotton, watercolor paper.
The work measures 21 x 17-7/8 inches, framed
I composed a less-tight threading style of
Celtic, Hiberno-Saxon knots, then, drew it in
reverse, and set one on each side of Turkish rosettes.
Floral Arabesque was painted using
gouache; the work measures 9.50 x 3.50 inches
A variation of the previous composition, with a transition of colors of the knotted thread design. Ornamental Spring was created
using gouache; it measures 9.50 x 3.50 inches
A geometrical setting of early day, with a light breeze moving over thia particular place on earth.
Good Morning was composed using watercolor.
The work measures 22.50 x 12-5/8 inches, framed
Remembering, this night, where all the light was, earlier today. Summer Night was composed using watercolor.
The work measures 21.75 x 13-1/8 inches, framed
Painting forward movement through the ocean, and
wanting to harmonize form and space with the wind.
Sails Forward is a watercolor painting.
The work measures 19 x 14.75 inches, framed
Earthiness.
If it is even a word.
One can see it.
Marblized Paper
I marbled the paper using
oil paints that were floated
and raked over shallow water
mixed with rabbit skin glue.
The work measures
5-13/16 x 14.50 inches
jcw@wassermandesign.com