Paintings > Glitter Paintings

The Fluidity of Soil
ultrafine glitter, microbead glitter, paillettes, enamel, pouring medium, and archival adhesives on board
11 x 14"
2015
Glint
ultrafine glitter, microbead glitter, hairy glitter, enamel, pouring medium, and archival adhesives on board
12 x 16"
2015
Surfacing
ultrafine glitter, glass glitter, paillettes, microbead glitter, pouring medium, and archival adhesives on board
9 x 12"
2014
Crazy Lace II
6 x 12"
2013
Pigment, nail enamel, glitter, glue, on bristol
2014
2014
Ice Blink
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, and glass glitter, archival glues on board
11 x 14 x 2"
2012
Fielden
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, and glass glitter, archival glues on board
16 x 20 x 2"
2012
Stalagmitical Luxe
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, and glass glitter, archival glues on board
9 x 12 x 2"
2012
Gestic
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, and glass glitter, archival glues on board
9 x 12 x 2"
2012
The Usual Catalysts
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, archival glues on board
each panel 6 x 6 x 2"
2012
detail, Superior Boundaries
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, archival glues on board
11.5 x 14.5 x 2"
2012
Superior Boundaries
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, archival glues on board
11.5 x 14.5 x 2"
2012
Settling Histories
ultrafine glitter and archival glue on board
each panel: 8 x 6 x 2"
2012
detail: Eye Agate
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, archival glues on board
6 x 6 x 2"
2012
Eye Agate
ultrafine glitter and archival glue on board
6 x 6 x 2"
2012
Red Rock
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, acid free glues on watercolor paper
18 x 24"
2011
Sweet Crude
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, acid free glues on watercolor paper
18 x 24"
2011
Third Wave
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, acid free glues on watercolor paper
11 x 14"
2011
Wood Grain
ultrafine glitter, and acid free glue on bristol
9 x 12"
2011
History of Gestures II
ultrafine glitter and archival glue on board
11.5 x 14.5 x 2"
2012
A History of Gestures
ultrafine glitter, and acid free glue on bristol
21 x 17" framed
2011
Untitled (gift)
ultrafine glitter and archival glue on board
8 x 6 x 2"
2012
Second Position
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, acid free glues on watercolor paper
11 x 14"
2011
Outposts
ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, acid free glues on watercolor paper
9 x 12"
2011
Murmur, Sigh, Whisper
ultrafine glitter and retroflector on bristol
7 x 17"
2011
Tarnished Tower
antique German silver glass glitter and ink on paper
48 x 96
2011
Study for Blind, Muscle Memory
Prismacolor and ultrafine glitter on bristol
11.5 x15.5"
2011
study for Glittered Canyon
prismacolor, ink, unltrafine glitter on bristol
4 x 6"
2011

(click on thumbnails for large images)

"The grey film of dust covering things has become their best part."
–Walter Benjamin Dream Kitsch

Glitter is little more than dust. It was created around the time of the Second World War (according to some sources) out of scraps in a machinist's shop. The machinist, Henry Ruschman, was determined to find/create something of value out of discarded material.

The notion of what we consider valuable and where value may be found is of great interest to me. Returning to Benjamin's quote, I wonder what it would mean if dust were glitter–if all the residue of history was reduced to sparkling, iridescent flakes.

Glitter, as a fine art material, is often seen as a kitschy element–a material better relegated to grade school art classrooms, gaudy gifts, and holiday decorations. Sometimes the value of a material lies beneath the surface and must be unearthed, like mining for precious metals. I want to imbue glitter with value, to transform into something spectacular that is not so easily dismissed.