PLANETS
Inspired by circular Renaissance paintings called tondos, this 2015 series is a variation of my Framed Skies paintings. (See http://www.scottponemone.com/portfolio/framed-skies/)
As part of a presentation I gave during an exhibition opening in October 2018 in Tetouan, Morocco, I described this aspect of my art making as my Meditative Path. Each painting pairs a view of a sky, which for me represents all that is unknowable and ever changing, with a patterned border, which I see as man’s attempt to create some order out of the unknowable. This visual pattern is also a stand-in for social and linguistic patterns constructed by mankind.
The framed prices for these watercolors range from $750 to $1,800.
Italy 2022 Planets
These Planets were inspired 3 1/2-weeks’ travel to Venice, Bologna and Parma in the fall of 2022. The skies were painting in Italy, while the borders were planned in Italy but painting back home in Baltimore. The names are based on the source of the border pattern.
Palazzo Te
Watercolor, 26 Feb. 2023, 12″ diameter
Parma Zodiac
Watercolor, 20 Feb. 2023, 12″ diameter
Stone Wreath, Venice
Watercolor, 31 Jan. 2023, 12″ diameter
Piacenza
Watercolor, 8 Dec. 2022, 12″ diameter
Parma Duomo
Watercolor, 2 Dec. 2022, 12″ diameter
Torcello
Watercolor, 19 Oct. 2022, 12″ diameter
Torrechiara
Watercolor, 23 Oct. 2022, 12″ diameter
Mezzoratta
Watercolor, 31 Oct. 2022, 12″ diameter
Mount Vernon Planets
These Planets were inspired by iron fencing and window boxes that grace my Mount Vernon neighborhood in Baltimore.
MV Planet A
Watercolor, 20 Jan. 2022, 22″ diameter
MV Planet B
Watercolor, 2 March 2022, 21 1/2″ diameter
VCCA planets
These three Planets were painted during an artist residency at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Oct. 25-Nov. 14 2021. The skies were based on views from the balcony off my bedroom, and the borders were based on wrought iron fencing around houses in Lynchburg, VA.
VCCA Planet A
Watercolor, 2 Nov. 2021, 22″ round
VCCA Planet B
Watercolor, 10 Nov. 2021, 21 1/2″ round
VCCA Planet c
Watercolor, 1 Jan. 2022, 23″ round
First Planets
Planet I
Watercolor, 12 May 2015, 20″ round
Border was inspired by contemporary Delft vase.
Planet II
Watercolor, 19 May 2015, 20″ round
Planet III
Watercolor, 29 May 2015, 20″ round
Border was inspired by ancient Greek pottery at the Walters Art Museum
Planet IV
Watercolor, 9 June 2015, 20″ round
Border was inspired by federal gilt mirror, c. 1820.
Planet V
Watercolor, 9 July 2015, 20″ round
Border is derived from a Byzantine mosaic in Ravenna, Italy.
Planet VI
Watercolor, 12 Aug. 2015, 20″ round
Border is derived from painted rib of a vault in an Italian monastary.
Planet VII
Watercolor, 23 Aug. 2015, 20″ round
Border is derived from 18th-century tombstones in Eastern Massachusetts.
The image is orientated so that it will fit into a diamond-shaped frame.
Planet VIII
Watercolor, 7 Sept. 2015, 20″ round
Border is derived from a Greek vase at the Walter Arts Museum.
The image is orientated so that it will fit into a diamond-shaped frame.
Planet IX
Watercolor, 22 Jan. 2016, 20″ round
Border is derived from the Great Meteoron monestery, Meteora, Greece
Planet X
Watercolor, 2 Feb. 2016, 20″ round
Border is based on a mosaic from Ostia Antica, once the port of Ancient Rome
SKY AIPENS
The following paintings are an extension of the PLANETS, but the borders reflect a month’s residency at PECAH 2016 high in the Himalayan foothills. The borders are my take on the aipen painting tradition. The read up on aipen, please go to my ART I SEE blog post: http://www.scottponemone.com/lessons-in-aipan/ The complete run of my India paintings can be found in: http://www.scottponemone.com/portfolio/india-influence/
Sky Aipen I
Watercolor, 5 March 2016, 12″ round. $500
Sky Aipen II
Watercolor, 6 March 2016, 12″ round. Not for sale
Sky Aipen III
Watercolor, 7 March 2016, 12″ round. Not for sale
Sky Aipen IV
Watercolor, 4 April 2016, 20″ round.
Sky Aipen V
Watercolor, 21 April 2016, 20″ round.
Sky Aipen VI
Watercolor, 11 May 2016, 20″ round.
Sky Aipen VII
Watercolor, 13 Dec. 2016, 16″ round.
Sky Aipen VIII
Watercolor, 28 Dec. 2016, 16″ round.
Mughal Skies
The next three paintings have borders inspires by Mughal architecture on Delhi and Agra, India.
Mughal Sky I
Watercolor, 4 June 2016, 20 1/8″ x 20 1/8″
Border is adapted from a stone inlay along the platform of Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi, India
Mughal Sky II
Watercolor, 14 July 2016, 21 3/8″ round
Border adapted from stone inlay pattern along the exterior of the Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Mughal Sky III
Watercolor, 10 July 2016, 22 3/4″ x 21 3/4″
Octagon border adapted from a carved stone grill on the ceremonial gate to the Taj Mahal
Tetouan Skies
The next four paintings were painted in fall 2018 during an artist residency at Green Olive Arts, Tetouan, Morocco.
Tetouan A
Watercolor, 19 Sept. 2018, 16″ round
The repeated arch was derived from a colonnade near the King’s Palace in Tetouan.
Tetouan B
Watercolor, 28 Sept. 2018, 16″ round.
The animal chase scene is derived from the base of a bronze Roman torchiere at Tetouan’s archeology museum.
Tetouan C
Watercolor, 3 Oct. 2018, 16″ round.
After a day’s lesson on Islamic geometry, I made this playful border of hexagons.
Tetouan D
Watercolor, 8 Oct. 2018, 16″ round.
This pattern was seen carved above a mosque door in the Tetouan medina.