CLUSTERS

OVERVIEW

​A new series of marbled compositions. Minimal clusters of color forms a central body fragment that aims to explore and synthesize the essence of the enigmatic complexity of the marbled papers patterns. Elemental organic shapes that originates from interaction of fluid dynamics and chemical reactions, are captured from liquid surface in a sheet of paper using same techniques, tools and some of the materials used in the production of the early marbled papers, during the last centuries.

The paper is Arches Watercolor, hot pressed, 100% cotton, 300 gsm / Size of paper is 76 x 76 cm / Size of marbled composition varies from 23 to 30 cm diameter / Signed, titled and dated on the backside.

Cluster #001: Carbon black and burnt umber makes the veins. The shade of red French Shell makes it the predominant color. The tiger eyes seems to be aligned in three diagonal rows. The cluster is diffused, appears to be in expansion. SOLD.

Cluster #002: Carbon black and dark deep red veins. The veins were made fine with titanium white paint prepared with few drops of oxgall. Rich red and a earthy orange spots appears to float diffused above the veins and the transparent white drops. The tiger eyes here have some distortion caused by a contamination of turpentine that was in the whisk I used to throw the paint. SOLD.

Cluster #003: Carbon black, a shade of red oxide and a tone of Naples yellow first. French Shell spots made with carbon black on top and tiger eyes to complete. Note the tiger eyes are with its ‘iris’ big, this happens because of strong surface tension that holds the paint from spreading. The fix is to add more surfactant to the tiger eye paint, so it will spread more easily. ​​SOLD.

Cluster #004: Carbon black and brown veins, raw sienna, and a little of a tone of burnt umber, chromium oxide green and viridian green mixture and a tint of same color. Tiger eyes are plenty, bigger one has almost 4 cm diameter. The cluster is spheroid in shape and compact. ​SOLD**.**

Cluster #005: Carbon black and a shade of chromium oxide green as veins. Burnt umber French Shell and another Shell made with chromium oxide green and black, tiger eyes on top. It is very difficult to find perfect balance of oil, oxgall and water when making the French Shell paint, any imbalance in the system spoils the result. ​SOLD**.**

Cluster #006: Carbon black and chromium oxide green tint, tones and shade are used in this composition. The drops are small and it makes a complex and detailed cluster. The tiger eyes are of ideal size and darkness. Two of the great ones floating outside and apart from the cluster. SOLD**.**

Cluster #007: Carbon black veins, tone of red oxide, shade of cerulean blue, tint of cerulean blue, titanium white and exquisite tiger eyes on top. The cluster is compact, approx. 26 cm diameter. The tiger eyes are almost all same size, its rays are delicate and almost straight because of little potash in the mixture.** SOLD.**

Cluster #008: Carbon black veins and turquoise shade, tint and tone. A drop of turpentine was mixed to the last turquoise paint, it added some texture to the color with the very small holes that turpentine makes in the paint film as it spreads in the surface of size. The tiger eyes applied on top with a corn broom whisk. SOLD.

Cluster #009: This marbled pattern is known as the Italian Hair. It is made by first throwing the colors that will become the fine veins or "hairs" of the pattern. Next it is thrown a mixture of water, soap and alcohol. This solution makes the colors contract in fine lines, making a lacy and delicate pattern. Here I used black, brown, dark red, green and blue, followed by the "sprinkling water" and tiger eyes applied last. (Josef Halfer, Progress of the marbling art, English edition, 1893, p.74). SOLD.

Cluster #010: Carbon black veins, warm brown, tone and tint of violet, unbleached titanium white and the tiger eyes. The tiger eyes rays that flows from iris are fine and straight, result of little potash content in tiger eye paint formulation. The cluster is compact and spherical. Approx. 24 cm diameter. SOLD.

Cluster #011: Carbon black, shade of cerulean blue, and a mixture of cerulean blue and cobalt blue. A shade of burnt umber French Shell is applied on top of the plain colors, tiger eyes applied last. The cluster is diffused, the biggest tiger eye floating separated from the main body on top. Even far, a single drop of the brown Shell. SOLD.

Cluster #012: Carbon black, a very dark shade of purple and very dark shade of cerulean blue. Two different tones of cerulean blue and the tiger eyes on top. Most of the tiger eyes seems to have equal size and are in harmony with the size of the Stone pattern below, rays are delicate. SOLD.