THE PROCESS >
The execution or process involved in the making of my work is important to me. I like to make visible the traces of processes by drawing attention to the surface of the image where the addition and subtractive removal of many layers are registered. I also like to think that the viewer got a sense of time that had passed in the execution of the works. In other words, each painting has a sense of ‘history’ which I see as an inscription of my journey through that particular painting. These layers are built up using 'true' gesso which is a traditional 'ground' used by old masters. Its absorbency and texture enables me to stain and watermark and then reduce by sanding back, depending how I am interpreting the development of the work. I also like to group images in a series or sequence where one component of a work may be read in relation to another according to a logic or theme. I am interested in noticing and incorporating the peripheral 'happy accident' into my working processes, eg. in my more recent works I incorporated incidental shadows that happened to be cast across my works in progress. I am also interested in digital media and its place within and in relation to paint.
All artwork, electronic and printed images are protected by copyright © Heather Hourigan. Usage of these images is not permitted without the prior permission of the artist. All rights reserved.
