This painting came about as an experiment. I wanted to see if I could capture the happenstantial nature of the abstract patterns created by the old dry paint on these old studio knives within the rigid structure of their figurative forms.
The three knives depicted here have great sentimental value to me as they have been with me since my early painting days and have moved around with me everywhere I have lived since.
They are now so encrusted with old dried paint and various painting mediums, they are no longer useable but as I cannot bear to part with them, they became the subject for a painting.
Painting is largely a process of trial and error in the pursuit of the elusive prize of success, so these, with their evidence of paint-covered fingers and the encrusted blades, speaks of the need for immediacy and spontaneity.
Considering all of the above, and although it is essentially a still life study, I would venture that this painting could also fall into the category of narrative painting too.
Three Knives
Oil on wood (private collection)
