Excavating Paintings
I would like to try creating multi layered cave paintings using a process of excavation. I will paint several layers onto wooden board, and try carving and sanding down to excavate the image from beneath the surface. In this way, I would be metaphorically digging down into the rock, unearthing it's history, as well as the layers of my own psychological past. I think this approach would work best with a close up image of the rock so that the ‘excavation’ process enhances it's texture and creates more visual interest. I will try different compositions, but I think it would be less effective if the sanding process were to confuse the perspective of the image. I will need to find an appropriate kind of wood that will be able to be worked in this way, as well as considering safety during the process, ie. how to avoid inhaling wood and paint dust. Other materials I could experiment with include acrylic paint (poured in several layers), and wax.
