Crazy Connections

What crazy connections are in this week’s painting? Let me share them with you! Before I do, here’s a warm welcome to new and longtime readers to this blog. And, here’s a link with an explanation of it’s purpose and focus this year. If you like what you read and see, please sign up here for a weekly dose of color, paintings, work in progress, studio life and insights on art history and more.

What Crazy Connections

So the first crazy connection to this week’s painting is it’s inspiration. You may find this hard to believe but I’ll share the 1440 painting by Andrea del Castagna entitled “Pippo Spano.”

This fantastic painting is an early example of a painting’s image extending beyond the picture plane. What do I mean by that? Check out the Pippo Spano’s foot in the lower right hand corner. It looks as if it’s broken the picture plane and you, the viewer, could reach out and touch it.

I have not seen this painting in person. But if I did, I would be the art nerd staring at the cast shadow under his foot and the ledge underneath it. Each help to create a wonderful illusion.

No Knights No Problem

Now I don’t have armor or a marble ledge or a model hanging out in my studio. But I am taking a class where I’m interested in painting an object that, like Pippo Spano’s toe, appears to break the picture plane and beguile and bedazzle the viewer.

So what crazy connection did I see and decide to use? Toothpaste. But not just any ol’ toothpaste, gentle reader. I love the colors of the packaging of Tom’s of Maine toothpaste. So, here’s what I have been working on while I’m in my studio.

If this looks as if I’m having fun, you’re right I am. And, I have included lots of other dental hygiene related objects here too. Here’s a sneak peak of the whole painting.

What Other Connections

Funny you should ask this! I was listening to this (crazy long) interview in the studio this week. And, there’s a discussion about the risks of alcohol based, antiseptic mouth wash. What? So, of course, I googled it. And, sure enough there are a gazillion articles. Here’s just one of them.

I’m delighted to report that there don’t seem to be any of the dangerous ingredients in the Tom’s Mouthwash (painting in progress). Here’s a list of the ingredients in case you’re interested.

Off Track

Can I get distracted or what? So let’s get back to this work in progress painting. OK? I have realized that ever since I painted this painting late last year, I love incorporating patterns into my still life paintings. So as I worked on this 2023 still life painting, I searched for ways to incorporate pattern. And, that purple dot on the Tom’s Mouthwash label inspired me to include a polka dot pattern on the right side of the painting. Why? Because I can?

I printed polka dots on sheets of paper, trimmed them, and placed them to the right of the mouthwash. And, so I’m taking my time to incorporate them into this painting. Those dots are time consuming little devils. But, hey, that’s OK. After all, “Time and Attention” is this year’s theme. Right?

Just One More Thing

Before I sign off, I want to share one last image. It’s a photo of my palette with a luscious grey pile of paint. This grey paint pile usually happens at the end of each painting day. One of my most loyal readers (thank you amazing writer, Beth!) asked me if she could see what the grey (or er gray) paint looks like. So, here’s a pic of that for you to see.

Unlikely Links

What about you gentle reader? Do you have any crazy connections or unlikely links in your world these days? If so, I would love to hear more. Please share in the comments below and thank you for reading here today!