James Richards: Material Abstraction

Materials:

•      Nylon String: 6 rolls (for weaving the canvas)
•      Yarn: 4-6 bundles (varied colors for texture)
•      Discarded Cloth: 6-10 pieces (for added texture and materiality)
•      Cardboard: Several sheets (for structural elements)
•      Papier-Mâché: Prepared from old newspapers and wheat paste (for vessels)
•      Acrylic Paint: 8 quarts (assorted colors for painting)
•      Polypropylene Rope: 4 piles (for structural reinforcement and texture)
•      Chenille Yarn: 4 bundles (for added texture and surface detail)
•      T-shirt Yarn: 3 balls (for additional texture)
•      Macramé Cord: 7 piles (for weaving and structural elements)
•      Pigmented Water: 4-6 gallons (prepared by mixing acrylic paint with water to create evaporation traces)


Optional Materials for Papier-Mâché Components:

•      Cardboard Boxes: For forming vessels
•      Tape: For assembling shapes
•      Wire: For structural support
•      Papier-Mâché Material: Homemade or store-bought
•      Acrylic Paint: For coloring vessels
•      Water: For mixing pigments

Instructions:

Create Structural Elements:
Stretcher Bars - Assemble using 2x2 redwood planks to create a double stretcher system, providing a 5-inch space for integrating compositional elements.
Cardboard Elements - Cut and shape cardboard for additional structural components. Optionally, use these elements to create space within the canvas.

Prepare the Canvas:
Weave the Base - Hand-weave the nylon string to create a textured base layer with openings.
Re-weave - Incorporate yarn and discarded cloth into the weave for added texture and visual interest.

Prepare Papier-Mâché Vessels:
Form Vessels - Cut the cardboard into desired shapes, using tape and wire for assembly. Ensure part of the vessel is convex to hold liquid.
Cover and Seal - Apply papier-mâché, let it dry, then seal with multiple layers of a titanium white and acrylic gel mixture for waterproofing. Pigmented Water - Mix acrylic paint with water, fill the vessels, and let them evaporate in the sun. The remaining pigment traces will add a unique texture.

Assemble and Integrate:
Integrate Vessels - Use ropes, strings, and cords to attach and suspend dried papier-mâché vessels within the woven canvas.
Layer with Textures - Add polypropylene rope, chenille, and t-shirt yarn for additional texture and structural complexity.
Weave Base Layer - Use all drilled holes to weave the base layer of polypropylene and nylon string. At this stage, incorporate any optional papier-mâché components.

Paint and Finish:
Apply Acrylic Paint - Use acrylic paint and a thick acrylic medium mixed with titanium white (50/50 ratio) to enhance and build texture on the surface.
Top Surface Paint - Add the final top layers of paint to complete the composition, creating additional compositional elements as desired.

Display:
Mount and Hang: Secure the finished artwork using double stretchers or another suitable method. Adjust the tension in ropes and strings to create a dynamic interplay between the picture plane and physical space.

Notes:

Materiality and Physicality: Emphasize the physical presence of the painting by exposing structural elements and integrating diverse textures.
Tension and Fluidity: Strive for a sense of tension and fluidity that reflects both flatness and the physicality of the materials.
Creation Process: Allow traces of evaporation and raw craftsmanship to be evident in the final piece, contributing to its narrative and visual complexity.

Influences: fossils, climate change, outer space, quantum physics, abstraction, arts and crafts, ant colonies, sculpture, macrame, cake frosting, land art, the built environment, sponges, urban/wildland interface, geology