First Space Loop painting reaches orbit

April 8th, 2008 | 2 Comments

This afternoon, my first Space Loop painting evolved out of concept form, into canvas form:

Space Loop

I am encouraged by this afternoon’s result. I look forward to continuing the series in the near future.

I have to admit that spent a seemingly ridiculous amount of time trying to get the stripes “right” for this series. Hours adjusting the curves, undoing those adjustments, bending the curves some more, comparing them to the original sketch, measuring the distances between stripes, rethinking all of my edits, starting over, etc.

After arriving at two designs, all of the editing came down to one big “hunch,” to borrow a term used by Frederick Hammersley, one of my favorite painters. One composition looked more dynamic. But the other composition looked slightly antisocial, but in a good way. I chose the former.

Can you notice the difference?


What is the difference? Decide for yourself. Left to right are original sketch (December 2006), the more “dynamic” version (from three weeks ago) and a “rethinking” of that version (from last night).


As I was going through this process, I was reminded of the saying “Too much tuning, not enough music.”

I do find myself deliberating, wondering, and doubting my designs perhaps a bit too much. However, I am trying to be more mindful of overthinking my designs. I have to be able to cut off my thought process and say “Time’s up. What’s your decision?” That’s where the hunch comes in.

Anyway, today was a great day. Beautiful weather and good music. Among the many albums on the stereo today were:

Animism by Expo 70 (mind-blowing space/ethereal/droning/classification-defying stuff)

Back from the Futer by Aavikko (brilliant 8-bit Casio tunes from Finland)

Affenstunde by Popol Vuh (a classic from the dawn of the digital era)

I highly recommend any of these albums. On that note, I am heading back to the easel. Thank you for reading.

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2 Responses to “First Space Loop painting reaches orbit”

  1. oliver hibert says:

    Yeah, i like the middle one personally.

  2. Robert Bell says:

    The two yellow stripes in the right and left image compete for my attention. In the center image they become negative space creating that zero gravity monorail.

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