Nitrocels 2019 / 2022

The Nitrocels series explores natural history, revitalization, and the richness of materials. Painted with nitrocellulose, the material that makes nail polish look so cool, on antique hardwood planks.

Blackbird Flocking©2019, approx. 5’ 6” x 14” x 2”, nail lacquer on found vintage plank.Details below. — **Blackbird Flocking**
2019, roughly 5’ 6” x 14” x 3”, nitrocellulose on vintage logging plank

Bluebird Swarm©2019, 6’ 2.25” x approx.10.75”, nail lacquer on vintage plank from a Lake Tahoe logging camp that razed mountainsides to build Virginia City in the 1870's. Details below. — **Bluebird Swarm**
2019, 6’ 2 1/2” x 10 3/4” x 3”, nitrocellulose on vintage logging plank

Blue Murmur©2019, 7’ 4 3/4” x 7 3/4”, nail lacquer on vintage wood, Enjoying the lightness of Matisse.“I love that flocking autumn blackbirds through the crack in the South Dakota barn wall hunting pheasants with dad and brothers circa 1990s...” — C… — **Blue Murmur**
2019, 7’ 4 3/4” x 7 3/4”, nitrocellulose on vintage logging plank
‘I love that flocking autumn blackbirds through the crack in the South Dakota barn wall hunting pheasants with dad and brothers circa 1990s...’ — Clark Stevens, architect

Untitled©2019, approx. 8’ 6” approx. x 12.5” x 3”, Nail lacquer on vintage logging plank. — **Untitled**
2019, roughly. 8’ 6” x 12 1/2” x 3”, nitrocellulose on vintage logging plank

Swarm©2019, 7’2” x 12”, nitrocellulose on vintage logging plank.Details below. — **Swarm**
2019, 7’2” x 12”, nitrocellulose on vintage logging plank

**1Crow**
2020 / 2022, 35 3/4” x 24” x 3/4”, nitrocellulose on vintage plank set in plywood frame

**2Crow**
2020 / 2022, 40” x 24” x 1”, nitrocellulose on vintage plank set in plywood frame

**Crow + Drone**
2019, 27” x 9 3/4” x 2”, nitrocellulose on wood

**Starling**
2019 / 2022, 21 1/2” x 29” x 1”, nitrocellulose on vintage plank set in plywood frame

**Starling | White Blossoms**
2019, 8” x 38” x 3”, nitrocellulose on vintage driftwood

**Topcoat on the Art Train**
2019 / 2022, 32” x 22” x 1”, nitrocellulose on vintage plank set in plywood frame

**Simone**
2019 / 2022, 21 1/4”” x 32 1/2”, nitrocellulose on vintage plank set in 1” plywood frame

**Juno**
2020 / 2022, nitrocellulose on vintage plank set in plywood frame, 47” x 19”

1 — describing my thought process as I work on the piece.

2 — speed video of the piece developing.

3 — blocking in the painting, applying initial layers. You can see the gooey resistance of the material. The process is very direct with one gesture built upon the next. Every stroke matters and suggests direction.

4 — The final incarnation of the 1st phase of the Juno portrait.

**Harper | Mask**
2020, 36 1/2” x 10”, nitrocellulose on vintage plank set in plywood frame

**Cleo**
2020 / 2022, nitrocellulose on vintage plank set in plywood frame, 37 1/4” x 7 3/4”

**Harper | Lozenge**
2020, nitrocellulose on vintage planks, 11 5/8” x 36 1/2”

The final incarnation of the 1st phase of the Harper portrait. Art is a journey. This one you can follow below.

1 — A response to quarantine, a foray into online teaching, documenting a process. Thanks to my model Harper, and cinematographer, Juno. My first nitrocel portrait.

2 — Development continues…

3 — This piece is stubborn, and dictates an unanticipated direction.

4 — Challenging pieces can yield interesting, rich results because of the tension during the process.

Nitrocels 2019-22

Nitrocels 2019 / 2022