The Stylus

I had a deeper idea behind this piece from the beginning, but I didn’t want to paint something that told you exactly what to think. I wanted there to be a story in it, but also enough room for someone else to see something different.

I started by getting rid of the white canvas completely. I covered it with a rich orange first so there would be warmth underneath everything that came after it.

Most of that orange eventually disappeared, but it still shows through in little places. It gave the whole painting an underlying glow that I don’t think I would have gotten by working directly on white.

I painted this completely in oils and used a lot of subtraction as I went.

That process ended up creating this rich, moody depth that I really loved. Some areas became more defined while others almost disappeared into the background.

As I worked, I kept thinking about the relationship between the dancer and the gramophone.

Neither part of the scene really works completely on its own.

That idea became an important part of the painting for me, and the title, The Stylus, is probably the biggest clue I want to give.

Sometimes when you explain a painting too much, it leaves less room for the person looking at it. I like the idea that someone could bring their own experience to it and find a meaning that is different from mine.

So I’d rather leave this one a little open.

When you look at The Stylus, what do you think is happening between them?