Vela City Painting
$ 3,500.00
I have 5 of these large city paintings - each of them have been in development for the last 4-6 years.
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Not sure if you know about my background -I graduated from Cooper Union (1995) with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.
Planned to go for Masters in Architectural Theory at McGill University in Montreal. Thought I would teach -BUT- could not get financial assistance- so plan never materialized.
In school I also did a lot of printmaking - which is a truly collaborative art form - creating in a workshop with many other artists -
Having ADHD (and not knowing what it was) - spent the first few years, after graduation, trying to work in several architecture firms - failed miserably -could not focus.
My love of printmaking - led me to design books and make books - which led me to teach myself graphic design - and- flying by the seat of my pants’ - I started my own graphic design studio - which I ran for about 10 years, with a staff of 8. In 2008 - the financial crisis hit and I had to lay off my entire staff (same time my first son was born) - and I tried to keep my business going - but it did not survive.
My wife said “what are you going to do? What would make you happy?. I said “Printmaking”.
I teamed up with a commercial printer — and we started a few niche print companies.
One caught on and, as the company grew, we moved to upstate NY. Being a kid from Queens - I did not want to relocate my family - so I took a step back from that company.
The discipline of architecture, the collaborative nature of printmaking and the fact that I was a father of two young boys -is what led me to start Little Pulp.
I was trying to build a creative environment that I could sustain by entertaining children and inspiring them to find a love for the creative process- and give myself a studio where I could explore my art.
The large paintings started purely as a way to give the kids an alternative to the printmaking we do here. But, as the children started working on these paintings - cities started to emerge.
Now, I am up against the possibility of this studio closing - and realize I have to start selling the work - getting my name out there - to (hopefully) keep this place going.
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Ok - so back to this painting.
It’s an imaginary city called “Vela”.
vela is the Latin plural for vēlum, meaning "sails," "coverings," or "curtains," which is the direct root of the English word “veil”.There are so many layers under this painting with dark colors- that I have slowly tried to overlay with white paint - to build the forms that exist in the city.I chose the name vela because the whiteness is acting like a veil over all the colors and forms that have been creating for the last 4-6 years.
Factoring the time these paintings have taken to develop, the amount of materials used over the years and, most importantly, what it means to me - in terms of the pedagody of this place and what I am trying to do with my art and what I intend to do in the next phase of my life - which is getting more people to know and understand what goes on here at Little Pulp and it’s importance to children’s imagination and community.
The price for this painting is $3,500.
I have always struggled with self-worth and insecurity - and for the last 6 months -I have been working with an ADHD Coach and journaling about my art, my place in the universe and all that.
The only way I can continue this studio -is if I am able to make enough money to keep the studio open - and the only way I can do that is if I start to sell the art.
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So, long story short - the price that I have listed for this painting is $3500.
Painting Size: 32" x 20"
Tempera, Acrylic and House Paints on Canvas.
Signed: F. Kiernan
Free Shipping Included in Price.