Magnolia X soulangiana – study 1, acrylic paint, Jade glue, watercolor paper, and museum board, 14 X 18 X 6 inches

This is a machine to generate the colors that the white and pink magnolia blossoms would have produced in a variety of light conditions. I applied different light sources (daylight and incandescent) of varying characteristics (distance, focus) to pink and white surfaces. Light reflects off a colored “floor” plane, and then off a perforated, warped, and irregularly angled surface. The “back wall” plane is white museum board that has taken on a rose/peach glow from light reflected off the intensely “floor” plane. The front-most surface of the paper fragment in accordion fold is painted to echo this glow. The different grays are documentation of the changing colors of shadows cast by the paper fragments throughout the day. The lighter, bluer greys are from the day, when the bluish day light lightens the dark shadows resulting from the incandescent light. Here the bright pink color source is visible. How does this affect perception of the much more muted whites and grays?

Colors mixed from palette for Magnolia X soulangiana- walking study which becomes a collection of remembered colors from figure paintings from early twentieth century.

Magnolia X soulangiana – study 2, acrylic paint, Jade glue, paper, and museum board, 20 X 6 X 14 inches

This is a study of transposition. The colors and spatial relationships from Magnolia – walking study are the subject of this piece. The pinks and reds are from the magnolia blossoms, the blue of the sky are above and behind and make up the background. The dark and shady part turns right and behind.

Magnolia X soulangiana – walking study, oil paint, oil-primed linen, 75 X 56 inches

This is a record, synthesis of my process of looking at and experiencing a magnolia tree. Approaching from afar my first impression is of the overall dark and thick lines of the branching pattern and of the profusion of blossoms. Directly under the umbrage of the tree, I look up toward the sky and see the blossoms’ underside, backlit and dark. Looking further down at the blossoms within arms reach, I see individual petals, the vibrant pink and mauve streaking over creamy white. I see blossoms about to open, blossoms overly open and developing different browning, warm colors. Turning, peering at the farther, darker side in the shade, everything is bluish, shadowy, indistinct. Down at my feet, there is a carpet of white petals on grass.