I intend to make a group of small paintings over the next couple of months. To prepare for this, I have spent the last few weeks getting surfaces ready. I now have an assortment of primed card and paper, canvas boards and small stretched canvases to work on. I probably won’t use the canvases in the first instance, as I want the work to feel low stakes. As soon as I work on canvas, even small ones like these, the process starts to feel more serious.
Last week I bought some automotive masking tape, as I had heard that it is stronger than the tape I would usually use. It’s definitely more stable when I’m cutting and sticking it down. What I need to find out now is how easy it is to remove without damaging the surface. Ideally, I need to be able to leave the tape on the paintings for days, or even weeks, so this is something I need to test before using it in the work. I have masked up a range of surfaces and will leave them for a few days before painting over them and trying to remove the tape.
In preparation for this painting exercise, I have also made a lot of quick digital collages. Some of these recycle AI collages that I made previously. At this stage, they are just working images: quick ideas that give me something to respond to once I start painting.
The next steps are to test the removal of the masking tape, begin making the paintings, and think about what I might show in Daniella’s exhibition. I had been considering showing four small paintings, although that may be difficult because of the hanging system. I have also ordered some timber to build a 3D framework for experimenting with constructed collages. If I have time this week, I will make some balsa wood maquettes as a starting point.
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