The Striped Tie Painting

Piet Modrian's 'Composition with Grid 9,' (1919) Joan Shogren, a pioneer in computer art, Agnes Martin and Chuck Close are substantial sources for understanding the grid in painting. I scaled a low resolution photo to 30 x 33 pixels, then prepared an 33 inch canvas and painted a grid of 30 x 33 24 mm squares using a paint brush, a 3D printed stencil and 1/32" graphic tape to paint the background in the inverse color. The next step was to paint the original colors in the form of an X over each painted square. Theoretically, this would result in a neutral painting because the Xs and the squares (the foreground and background) are complementary, canceling each other out. The painting radiates color, regardless. It has a vibrant neutrality that is calming and radiating light. Even though the painting has a minimal geometry to it, it requires extensive preparatory work, such as graphically preparing the images on the computer, taping the grid on the canvas, 3D printing the stencils, and using other tools. Much of the painting relates to the obliteration of the identity through repetition and minimalization. Seeing and mixing the individual colors is a purely visual experience. Reproducing the colors with painting materials, however approximately, is rewarding and almost mindless. Though the painting is minimal and reductionist, it brings a lot of questions and invokes a lot of thought on the meaning of painting, identity, and life. I especially enjoy how the painting looks under various computer displays, resolutions and sizes. Please download the images, view closeups and thumbnails.

Painting:Acrylic on Canvas

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:30 W x 33 H x 1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.