Seeing Red

Sometimes, you don’t know what you are missing until you experience it.

A few years ago, during the pandemic, I had cataract surgery, which not only cleared my vision but corrected a lifetime of nearsightedness. I had no idea how bright and detailed the world around me was. I hadn’t seen so well since I got my first pair of glasses at 7 years old.

And the colors! Red, in particular. For the first few weeks I found it difficult to drive because the vivid red of cars and taillights distorted my depth perception.

Up until then, I had been struggling with my painting. I didn’t realize yet that my vision was compromised, and I had several unfinished oil paintings that were hopelessly drab. I gave it up for a while, and my garage studio became a storage area, with boxes and crates blocking my easel.

It took a few years, but I finally cleared out my painting studio and it seems fitting that the first painting I’ve finished since before the shutdown, painted right over one of those sad hopeless paintings, is a celebration of light, and of the color red.

Red Amaryllis, oil on linen, 36” x 18”, 2024. $3,800.

A Moment of Joy

My friend Giovanny, a model who poses for me often, was going through a rough time last year. We all have those periods in our lives, and I was sympathetic. One day in spring, he showed up looking different, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was rounding the corner. This portrait is a multi-media print made from sketches and photos I took that day. I believe it captures a moment of pure joy.

Giovanny en Paraiso, original silkscreen and intaglio print, 2023. 22” x 15” (image size 16” x 11”) on rice paper laminated to Rives de Linge paper. Edition of 16, paper variable. $800.

Giovanny decribed it more eloquently on social media: “Little did I know that the colors of my life would be represented in such a way that it would illuminate this new path…a path filled with possibilities and true freedom … My face gleaming with hope, my hands gently embracing life.” I’m flattered.

AND NOW, FOR PRINTMAKING GEEKS ONLY:

I love printmaking! This piece is a combination of silksreen and intaglio techniques. Christian Ward, professor at LBCC, helped me figure out the approach:

First, after working out the composition, I made an etching plate. I wanted to emphasize the details of the face and hands, and the delicacy of line etching was perfect for that element.

Next, I prepared six different Duralar films with ink and brush, one for each color of the silkscreen element, each to be exposed onto a screen coated with photosensitive emulsion, creating a stencil. The colors were printed in succession on various shades of rice paper.

For each print, the center of the etching plate was inked À la poupée in two colors, (dark red and dark green) and then covered with a split-font top roll in translucent shades.

Finally, the printed rice paper, dampened, was laid onto the plate and sprinkled with adhesive. Heavy printing paper, also dampened, was laid over all, and package was run through the etching press, printing the image in the center and laminating the papers together, in a process called Chine collé.

Whew! It took months, but I think each element contributes to the whole in its own way.

Birds in Flight

Silkscreen is such a versatile medium! With this piece, I wanted to have the spontaneous feel of a watercolor, though there is nothing spontaneous about the process. Each of six colors was prepared on its own screen and printed in succession. Transparent inks allowed for the colors blending as they overlap. Using different shades of paper lends some variety to the edition.

Birds in Flight, 2023. Original silkscreen print, 24” x 22”, (image size 16” x 16”), on Rives BFK cream paper. Edition of 14 (paper variable.) $600

Rives BFK grey paper, Rives BFK white paper.

Printing in Paradise

One of the beauties of the art of etching is that once a plate is made, there are infinite possibilities to explore in the printing process.

Bird of Paradise, 2023. Etching, 15” x 12” (image size 10” x 8”). Printed on rose rice paper laminated on white Rives BFK paper. Edition of 8, edition variable. $400.

 

Bird of Paradise is a line etching I completed last year, based on the unique shapes of our ubiquitous Los Angeles flower. It is printed on various colors of transparent rice paper that are laminated to heavier printing paper in the Chine collé process. Using both white and grey printing paper offers more possible combinations. The result is a subtle variation of texture and color in each impression.

Back to the Hollywood Hills

This painting came back to me recently after a 20-year stint in Oregon! I'm happy to have it again. It was part of a short series of views from the LA's iconic Mulholland Drive.

From Mulholland Drive II, 1997
Oil on canvas, 41 x 54
Available*

*For price or other information about pieces marked Available, please contact me:
JosephCorsoArt@gmail.com

LA River #19

This one was a challenge! So much blue space. I'm pretty happy with the result.

L.A. River XIX: Clearing Storm, 2016
Oil on linen, 36" x 60"
Available*


If you find yourself in Calabasas City Center, this painting and my previous piece will be hanging in the lobby of City Hall through October.


Paintings being hung at Calabasas City Hall.


*For price or other information about pieces marked Available, please contact me:
JosephCorsoArt@gmail.com

After the Storm

There really is quite a bit of life along the river. After a rainy day, cyclists, skateboarders and dog walkers take to the pathways.






LA River XIII: After the Storm
oil on linen, 36" x 48", 2015
Available*





*For price or other information about pieces marked Available, please contact me:
JosephCorsoArt@gmail.com


Small Paintings for an L.A. Show

I'm excited to have these four small L.A. River pieces accepted by Couturier Gallery in Los Angeles for their annual group exhibit "Present Art," a collection of smaller, affordable works by 24 artists.

L.A. River XII: Field Trip
oil on linen, 12" x 9', 2014
Available*

L.A. River XIII: The Source
oil on panel, 10' x 14", 2014
Available*


L.A. River XIV: Widening
oil on linen on panel, 6" x 12", 2014
Available*

L.A. River XV: Recreation Center
oil on linen, 9" x 12", 2014
Available*



The opening reception is this Saturday, December 6th, from 6:00 to 8:00 and the show runs through January 3rd. More info:  http://www.couturiergallery.com/showdetail.asp?ShowID=173


*For price or other information about pieces marked Available, please contact me: JosephCorsoArt@gmail.com

Looking Downriver

A new piece in my L.A. River series, looking south from the Arroyo Seco confluence near Elysian Park. In the distance is the new Metro Gold Line Bridge framing the century-old North Broadway and Spring Street bridges.

L.A. River XVI; Three Bridges
oil on linen, 48" X 48"  2014
Available*




*For price or other information about pieces marked Available, please contact me:
JosephCorsoArt@gmail.com