22” x 42” x 2” (2018)

Acrylic, graphite, colored pencil and stainless steel on concrete panel.

*This painting was displayed in the People’s Gallery Exhibition in 2020. Held in Austin’s City Hall, the People’s Gallery is an annual public showing of carefully selected works by top local artists.

Combining graphite, acrylic and stainless steel on a concrete panel, Twice in a Lifetime is the the latest piece that I created using a discarded siding panel from a home renovation project. Several hours of sanding and surface preparation were required before I could attempt to apply the subtle graphite gradations and sharp lines with the minute tip of my .7mm mechanical pencil. Multiple layers of acrylic wash were applied in order to achieve the necessary depth of color. Instead of leaving a blank, white border, I decided to contain the movement of the painting within its edges. This effect was achieved by using my fingertips to rub graphite onto the surface.. Finally, painted stainless steel carriage bolts were added at each corner. The bolts give the piece a modern, industrial look while acting as support for the mounting hardware in the back.