Carl Melegari
'Sofia'
Original ~ Oil on Canvas
Available
(From 0 Reviews)
Description
Original artwork - oil on canvas.
This beautiful piece has been created using the impasto technique layering oil paints.
Carl Melegari's style is unmistakably dramatic and unique, most recognized for its dripping downward pull. Despite the action and thickness of Melegari's surfaces, a figure still surges through with great gravity and surprising amounts of detail.
This unique piece would look great on a feature wall
We have presented this piece in a natural wood frame.
If you would to see additional images or you would like more information, please contact the Gallery and we will be happy to answer any questions.
Want to see how this piece will look in your own home? Call our Gallery in Nottingham on 01159 243 555 to arrange a personal home viewing before purchasing the work
Artist
Bristol contemporary artist Carl Melegari paints in a dramatic and bold style, focused primarily on human heads. Carl Melegari's style is wonderfully dramatic and unique, mostly recognised for its dripping downward pull. Despite the action and thickness of Melegari's surfaces, a figure still appears through the paint with great gravity and surprising amounts of detail
Melegari's unique painting process is a consideration and exploration of paint and its various behaviours when mixed and applied in different ways. His practice also involves revisiting the same portrait time and again, in some instances years after his most recent adjustments.
"I begin by applying an oil turpentine tonal wash to the figure. I apply various impasto layers of oil paints (I mix an alkyd medium with the oil to enable a better drying process) at times using a brush, but predominately palette knives. I occasionally scrape back layers only to reapply in the same area liberally, vigorously attacking the canvas. This is applied with bold applications of paint fused with thinned paint using either or sometimes a mixture of linseed oil and turpentine. All this allows the paint to interact with my application. I will allow the drips to run in different directions. The drying process can take weeks and quite often I will rework into the painting by peeling away and reworking the layers. I'm basically exploring the physicality of the paint and how it reacts with the surface - applying the paint generously and allowing it to drip spontaneously too."
The layers Melegari builds up, and the artist's tendency to rework a piece multiple times causes comparisons to be drawn with the likes of Auerbach and Freud; however, Melegari's style stands entirely on its own as uniquely and distinctively his.
Melegari's prefers a muted palette, with splashes of red or purple hues to make his subjects pop. Despite the near brooding nature of Melegari's subjects, the painter's works are among the most popular acquisitions for living spaces and the workplace.
Dimensions
| Depth | 2 " |
|---|---|
| Width | 43 " |
| Height | 43 " |