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Finalist

Jim Stewart Ontario, Canada, Beneath the Surface, oil, 14 x 18" (36 x 46 cm)
Finalist

My Inspiration My Design Strategy preferred tool is a 3-inch-long narrow
I usually begin a painting by keeping my Although I studied design early in life and tapered flexible painting knife, which
mind quiet and empty to allow the most learned the rules and concepts, I wouldn’t allows me to apply and remove oil paint
compelling inspiration to come forward let that stop me from breaking them if rapidly as well as skim the surface to soften
to work with. As I apply the paint, I can I felt inclined. I do not plan the design of edges or blend colours. I also use a flexible,
observe patterns and forms emerging and a painting. I jump in and go directly to rubber-tipped, wedge-shaped tool to
develop the one that feels strongest to me. the feeling of the design. I stay with the scratch into the paint and remove surface
In this case, the one that emerged is an feeling of the emerging image, and I like layers cleanly. To achieve freeflowing lines
underwater plantlike environment with to be surprised. In this painting, I liked in other colours, I use oil paint sticks. My
the underside of a boat hull beyond at the the flow of unfamiliar vivid shapes in the preferred palette of colour is bright and
surface. I like the dreamlike suggestion foreground in relation to the suggestion of I like to work quickly. Occasionally I will
of other dimensions revealing themselves a boat floating above and beyond. use a brush if I feel like applying the paint
through painting. Though the colours may that way and want that texture.
not at first appear watery, the energy of this My Working Process Often, look for an original, unusual angle. —Harley Brown
piece evokes a hidden dimension beneath I cover my primed canvas entirely with Contact Info
the surface. red as an underpainting. This allows me » Email: jim@jimstewart.ca
to later draw vibrant lines by scratching
through the surface layers of paint. My » Website: www.jim-stewart.ca

Art Challenge 9

Challenge Winners 110.indd 9 6/29/16 4:02 PM