“Grapplers of Reliable recycling” by Kirk Larsen. This 10 inch by 15 inch oil painting, on a custom made gessoed wood panel features a subject as unusual to me as it may be to the viewer. It was created ‘en plein air’ (outdoors on location, in natural light) and finished ‘alla prima’ in one session.
I was being photographed while painting, in June of 2014, during an event called “Easels in Fredrick”, in Frederick Maryland- the photographer remarked that no on had ever painted their family’s business since they opened in 1918. I was intrigued then asked, what do they do? “Recycling” she said “…since before anyone knew what that meant. I was willing to have a look.
I was a bit surprised when I arrived and saw it was a scrap metal depot. With special permission I walked the property. I was particularly drawn to
The big green industrial machines which I learned that day were called “grapplers”.
I found a view I liked which came with its own unique challenges. Mainly how to paint several hundred thousand diverse pieces of scrap metal, changing constantly, as the grapplers grabbed, dropped, stacked and shifted the massive piles. There was an inconsistent flow of pick up and dump trucks feeding the grapplers and stifling, ninety-five degree temperatures, high humidity and dust.
It was actually a lot of fun. The end result is a seemingly effortless, vibrant collection of pulsating brush strokes, masses, shadows and shapes: A painting that informs and entertains the eye while beautifying an unusual subject. This is truly one of my all time favorite works, which I find more and more fascinating every time I look at it.
I am honored to have it included in the Laumeister fine art exhibition at the Bennington center for the Arts where I received the "Perseverance award honors"
The painting is also a finalist in the Raymar Art competition.
“Grapplers of Reliable recycling” by Kirk Larsen. This 10 inch by 15 inch oil painting, on a custom made gessoed wood panel features a subject as unusual to me as it may be to the viewer. It was created ‘en plein air’ (outdoors on location, in natural light) and finished ‘alla prima’ in one session.
I was being photographed while painting, in June of 2014, during an event called “Easels in Fredrick”, in Frederick Maryland- the photographer remarked that no on had ever painted their family’s business since they opened in 1918. I was intrigued then asked, what do they do? “Recycling” she said “…since before anyone knew what that meant. I was willing to have a look.
I was a bit surprised when I arrived and saw it was a scrap metal depot. With special permission I walked the property. I was particularly drawn to
The big green industrial machines which I learned that day were called “grapplers”.
I found a view I liked which came with its own unique challenges. Mainly how to paint several hundred thousand diverse pieces of scrap metal, changing constantly, as the grapplers grabbed, dropped, stacked and shifted the massive piles. There was an inconsistent flow of pick up and dump trucks feeding the grapplers and stifling, ninety-five degree temperatures, high humidity and dust.
It was actually a lot of fun. The end result is a seemingly effortless, vibrant collection of pulsating brush strokes, masses, shadows and shapes: A painting that informs and entertains the eye while beautifying an unusual subject. This is truly one of my all time favorite works, which I find more and more fascinating every time I look at it.
I am honored to have it included in the Laumeister fine art exhibition at the Bennington center for the Arts where I received the "Perseverance award honors"
The painting is also a finalist in the Raymar Art competition.
http://raymarartcontest.com/winner/77698
(Reliable recycling in Frederick Maryland est 1918)