“Phobia” is a 48″ x 36″ acrylic on canvas painting which will is currently available.
Abstract expression, action painting, palette knife work
Phobia
Abstract expression, action painting, palette knife work
Archive: Author: Ken O'Toole
Abstract expression, action painting, palette knife work
Mother of Invention
So, what’s new about this painting? The painting itself is not. In fact I created it over sixteen years ago. However, three events have caused me to look at this painting with new eyes.
It first came into my review as a possible source for creating one of my constrained sculptural works I call “Inklings.”
I also have received a large dose of confirmation about this and other similar paintings when NASA began releasing images from the James Webb telescope. Along with other abstract expressionists, I have always considered these works as glimpses of the far reaches of the universe. They are landscapes of the cosmos.
“Mother of Invention” 48″ x 36″ acrylic on canvas.
As I became more confident in the choices my studio practice suggested, I began looking at ways to add more depth to the action paintings with which I was experimenting. “Mother of Invention” was the first time I used another support to make an imprint as well as lift excess paint in a previous layer. This made room for me to keep working as well as make a start on another painting during drying periods.
Firestarter
In 2010 and 2011 I held numerous workshops to demonstrate and encourage a new process I developed in my studio. I called that process “Dancing Paint.”
“Firestarter” was one of my favorites from the many examples I created during this period.
“Firestarter” is a 14″ x 11″ acrylic on canvas will be available at the upcoming gallery event.
Music / Lyrics
The “Music & Lyrics” sculptures were created while thinking about a recent visit to the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, TX. This museum is local and refreshingly free to the public. I visit often to view new installations and special exhibitions. On each tour of the building I make a point to spend some time in front of Louise Nevelson’s sculpture “Lunar Landscape.”
I’m not ashamed to say that the first time I saw this piece I was brought to tears. Almost every subsequent encounter with it has ended the same way. There is a melancholy present in the residual energy of the solid black sculpture. Knowing that Nevelson and her young son scavenged through the back streets and alley of
New York City to find firewood to warm their apartment is a factor. This is how and where she began to use odd pieces she found in her sculptures.
As I thought about this I began to wonder what she saw in those fires she started.
What shapes did the charcoal embers conjure that resulted in her painting many of her collage type sculptures solid black.
Was she softly singing a lullaby to her young son as the fire crackled?
These three sculptures are part of a body of work I call “INKLINGS.”
I am making these original sculptures available for sale individually here.
I am making these original sculptures available for sale individually here.
“Opera” is largest of the three. “Sonnet” is the smallest. “Cavern Song” is…well Cavern Song.
For additional images click the name of the sculpture you’d see more of, or click learn more for purchasing information.
Prospect
The “Prospect” sculptures incorporate elements of paintings I completed between 2006 and 2007. Those same paintings were included in the book “The Spirit of New Orleans.”
As I have been planning a visit to New Orleans for “Prospect 5” in the fall of 2021 these were on my mind and naturally became part of the process.
Each is made with dye-based ink on 70 lb card-stock which has been manipulated with techniques combining lessons learned in origami and paper airplane creation.
These sculptures are part of the body of work I call “INKLINGS.”
These particular sculptures are no longer available. However, I do welcome commissions and would be happy to entertain requests for making another “Inkling” with a similar palette.
Glimpses of Louise
Glimpses of Louise ( homage to Nevelson)
Structure is 7.5″ x 5.25″ x 5.25″
contact ken@otoolestudio.com for purchase or exhibition information
Reversal of Fortune
Reversal of Fortune is an image based on scans of the Beautiful Loser series (discarded lottery tickets painted with alcohol ink.)
The collage as it was originally painted went through digital rendering so that the resulting image reflects upon itself, turns inward, makes peace and moves through itself until it is outside itself.
If you would like information on the limited edition prints here is the purchase info
For a consultation concerning the 3 limited custom print sizes of this image contact us here for availability.
Memoriam
“Memoriam” Is an image based on scans of the Beautiful Loser series
(discarded lottery tickets painted with alcohol ink.)
Through digital rendering the resulting image reflects upon itself.
For purchase info
For a consultation concerning the 3 limited custom print sizes of this image contact us here for availability.
Staying Conscious
I am thankful
for all the words of encouragement over the years
which helped to keep me awake, aware, alive to the possibilities.
In a world where anything can happen, it does.
I’m just thrilled to get to participate. For that, I intend to stay conscious.
In March of 2019 I painted the first of my large pareidolic paintings, Heart Bomb. My thought process at that time included musings on quantum field theory, the nature of eternity, healing, mortality, and not least ,God. My wife was about to undergo surgery to remove cancer from her breasts and lymph nodes.
As often happens, my musings on quantum aligned themselves with my beliefs about God and eternity, in that they gave me hope and serenity concerning the interconnectedness of all things, the limitless possibilities available to all sentient creatures, and the confirmation that myths still abound in modern religion. The best example of that are the myths surrounding the concept of hell.
The ethereal nature of these pareidolic paintings provided another confirmation regarding these musings, in that they not only presented a fertile field for the imagination to consider those infinite variables we all encounter, but also a large area of common ground that we all share. I am speaking of the fact that pareidolia is a trait handed down to each of us (granted in various degrees) through natural selection.
“Staying Conscious” is the painting with which I decided to dig deeper into my process. I began to investigate why my process was creating something beyond what I had painted.
This painting is an example of combining abstract expressive techniques within a process of “abstract redaction.”
This allows for large, dark, expressive drawing gestures, followed by similar expressive gestures with a lighter touch. This effectively covers the previous line or lines as if “whiting out” them out.
In fact, it is the softened intersection of light with shadow that causes the pareidolic effect.
For purchasing information, please follow this link to the sales page.
Visions #5
Visions # 5 is the fifth large oil painting I have finished since my wife’s surgery. It may be evident by now, even to the casual viewer, that my thoughts have been occupied by the topics of life, death, and what comes after.
Although this painting was started with large expressive gestures in black paint (a basic drawing beginning) those lines were randomly redacted or incorporated with lighter colors over multiple layers. Visions of faces, both familiar and alien appeared and disappeared as the work continued. The temptation, which I resisted, was to accentuate what I saw as various focal points. However, I chose (as free men do) to employ a cloud painting technique to send them softly into obscurity. Now, they remain for you the viewer to find and identify….or not.
The original oil painting of Visions #5 is currently available for sale. Please follow this link for purchasing information.
36″x 48″ oil on canvas.
For those who would like to own a COPY of this painting I am also making prints available as well. Please follow this link for purchasing information of those.
Available sizes include 16″ x 12″
and 48″ x 36″
Quiet Desperation
Oils on Canvas. 48″h x 60″w
Quiet desperation is another of the new large paintings with what seems like a whole novel full of characters inhabiting it. All are just slightly out of focus. Still, as if from a bizarre mixed up dream cast, dozens of odd visages emerge under various lighting to tip their hat. Well, at least the Mad Hatter does, as does as the dormouse. Nosferatu, The Lost Boys, and others have showed up, but not to speak. It’s an appearance of courage, but not quite enough to escape or talk about their lot.
This original painting is now available for sale. Click this link for more information.
Prints for this artwork are also available for sale HERE at this link.
Heart Bomb
In March of 2019 I painted the first of my large pareidolic paintings, Heart Bomb. My thought process at that time included musings on quantum field theory, the nature of eternity, healing, mortality, and not least, God. My wife was about to undergo surgery to remove cancer from her breasts and lymph nodes.
As often happens, my musings on quantum aligned themselves with my beliefs about God and eternity, in that they gave me hope and serenity concerning the interconnectedness of all things, the limitless possibilities available to all sentient creatures, and the confirmation that myths still abound in modern religion. The best example of that are the myths surrounding the concept of hell.
The ethereal nature of these pareidolic paintings provided another confirmation regarding these musings, in that they not only presented a fertile field for the imagination to consider those infinite variables we all encounter, but also a large area of common ground that we all share. I am speaking of the fact that pareidolia is a trait handed down to each of us (granted in various degrees) through natural selection.
The original oil painting pareidolic diptych (composed on two 74” tall cardboard panels) is no longer available.
Limited edition prints of Heart Bomb are now available for purchase by following this link.
Lessons Learned #1: Minding My P’s & Q’s
This work stems from my practice of using everything to its fullest potential. I had began a reverse painting on this piece of poly-carbonate some time back, but always felt it was missing something. Likewise, I had some design elements that I had used in making some greeting cards for friends and family, but always thought more could be done with them. The same was true for some hand drawn fonts I had created.
After attending a lecture at the Kimbell about Georges Braque, I began to view collage and these idle components differently. “Lessons Learned-#1 and #2” are the first results of this part of my practice.
Purchase details: available
Star Shepherd
The translation of Isaiah 40:26 from the Living Bible (2nd printing 1985, published by Tyndale House Publishing Inc.)has always touched my heart where God is concerned, and caused me to favorably view the idea of additional translations of scripture.
This text states,” As a shepherd leads his sheep, calling each by its pet name and counting them to see none are lost or strayed, so God does with the stars and planets.”
To me, that says that God is not only big enough to create the universe and beyond, but also omniscient and concerned with ALL that universe includes. Not just to the planets, but also as other scriptures suggest, down to the number of hairs on each of our heads.
This image is the print of a painting which was executed with acrylics and pouring mediums (acrylic resin)
I am currently offering “Star Shepherd” as a limited edition print in a run of 20, 18″ x 24″ acrylic panels
These reproductions are printed directly onto the back of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic.
Higher Power
“We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
There is so much that is outside of my abilities to control. In fact, considering that I am unable to control other people, places and things, or at best have limited ability to effect control over them, I am left with just one thing I have nearly total control over. That would be myself.
Unfortunately, I am not always in total control of myself. When circumstances apply overwhelming stress, or when I allow another person’s actions or behavior to get the better of me, I may lose what control I have over my thoughts and / or emotions.
It is at those times that I have a choice to make, I can either lose control of myself, or I can turn to a power source outside of myself to aid me in recovering that precious part of myself; my sanity, my serenity, my peace (of mind). I have come to believe that the latter is not only a better choice it is the only choice that works in my best interest. That is because I have found that this is the option that works due to the faithfulness of my higher power whom I call God.
May you find God as well.
I have portrayed Higher Power as an abstract Hieroglyph, primarily due to the abstract nature of the spiritual nature of God. Some refer to God as The Universe, as He, or as She. I prefer to think of God as greater than the created universe, multi-dimensional with multi-faceted personality traits, some male and some female. So, I sometimes refer to God as He, sometimes as She, but more often as They. In Christian theology, God is a trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In ancient Hebrew text the Spirit of God was referred to as She, or more precisely in the feminine form. (reference Proverbs 1:20 -33) So, I generally think of God as the Father, Mother, and Child, or the Holy Family. Since this is a bit much to convey in an image I prefer the economy of an abstract Hieroglyph.
This painting was created with acrylics and permanent marker on cold-press watercolor paper.
18″ x 24″ acrylic panels
These reproductions are printed directly onto the back
of a 1/4″ thick sheet of clear acrylic.