Abstract Letter Opener (Donostia)

This is an old painting that was based on some other paintings, some doodles, and a still life object. The central painting depicted behind the letter opener is a remake of a scene done in San Sebastian Spain, also known as Donostia. Behind the painting is a scene of London Ontario (where I was living at the time). The letter opener was a gift given to me from a friend Lorea who was working in the same laboratory at the time. I can't recall where the doodle came from for the woman and the spider-thing in the front but it may have been designed as I created the painting.

From a technique standpoint, I was very confident (or foolish) when this was painted because it is quite difficult to super-impose five images in this way using watercolour paints. With acrylic you can paint over-top of things, but with watercolour, to paint the white 'on top' you leave the space blank. In fact, I can't recall how I pulled this off here. The outline for the doodle in the front must have been done first, then the background elements, and then the letter opener, then the middle ground. You have to think it through first. The letter opener looks particularly realistic, it must have required three or four layers to build up the volume that way. Usually I remember doing my paintings no matter how long ago, but this one is a little hazy, I do remember it taking quite a while, maybe three weeks to complete. 

Abstract Letter Opener (Donostia), 12 x 14" cold press, watercolour. 2000 (No. 1753)