Caroline Larsen: A Painted Kind of Knit
Emerging artist Caroline Larsen’s new solo exhibition – Burning Up – resets perspective on the spectacle of a blazing vehicle. (Does the viewer see themselves as the arsonist, or the bystander who cannot help but marvel at the conflagration?) But it is the woven paint technique of this Toronto-based artist that draws the eye.
Larsen’s oil paintings merge pixilated neo-impressionism with the idea of textile weaving. By employing blocks of colour mixed with luminous gradation, the paint underpins the canvas in intricate weave. Rich, bright and intense colours demand the attention of the viewer, drawing them into the optical illusion of the painted knit. -Exhibition notes, General Hardware Contemporary, Toronto
Larsen uses a bag with a fitted serrated tip to extrude the paint. “Using this piping process, I am able to apply ribbons of paint that weave up and over themselves to render images. The repetitive and rhythmic nature of applying the paint with a bag makes the work not only about the subject but also welcomes the notion of process as part of the mainspring.”
Caroline Larsen’s website, here.
On Facebook, here.
14 Comments
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KatPodolak
Just saw the show and it is BRILLIANT. Thanks for highlighting!
boomerontario
Great to know. Certainly looked special, and thanks for confirming it was!
Dean Whitehorn artblogs
Great work! Fabulous!
boomerontario
I’ve never run across this type of work. Agree it’s fabulous.
anngrafics
I had no idea that was paint – thought it was needlepoint! Wow. Neat.
boomerontario
On first glance, you’re right, it’s absolutely like a needlepoint work – which makes it such an interesting gift when you realize it’s paint.
Resa McConaghy
This is fantastic! It does look a lot like a Fair-Isle knit. The texture is very appealing to me I have a degree in knit technology and design, and am very partial to images within knit. Congratulations to Carolyn for her ability to paint this kind of beauty!
boomerontario
Wow, you have so many fascinating pieces to your background. No wonder it appealed! It really is a fabulous work for its technique, agreed!
Kitty
Very intriguing technique!
boomerontario
Right. I’ve never seen this precise technique before. Wonderful, isn’t it.
the organic artist
wow, just beautiful work. It’s the kind of obsessive compulsive work I am drawn to and blown away by all at the same time! Keep making great art!
boomerontario
That’s such a great observation – about the obsessive compulsive draw of something like this. It’s true, too, that it would take that kind of persistence. Thank you.