[Title unknown]
Tom Long

Brooklyn-based artist Tom Long creates “ultra microscopic, insanely beautiful, intricate gouache paintings on paper.”

I typically do lots of thumbnail sketches; I’ll find some reference images online. When I settle on a composition, I’ll draw it out on this thick cream-colored paper, and then paint over that with gouache. I’ll tweak the drawing and change things after I’ve started painting. Color is a real challenge for me, so there’s a lot of trial and error with that. I’ve started to make preliminary watercolor sketches just to get the broad color relationships sorted out. I do use tiny brushes. The tiniest are actually easier to find at more arts-and-crafts-type stores. I guess they’re good for detailing the battle shields of pewter warriors.

[Major driving influences]: Various graphic painting traditions — Safavid-era miniature painting, Japanese printmaking and painting, Himalayan art, illuminated manuscripts. These traditions often illustrated mythic narratives, which was influential. I’m also a fan of science and scientific endeavors like particle accelerators, telescopes, and space stuff — though I don’t understand most of the underlying math or physics. But I enjoy learning the basics. Some of the general insights of 20th century physics are mind blowing and inspiring. Plus scientific equipment can be very beautiful.

- Tom Long, interview by Ryan Christian @ Fecal Face: Link.

Tom Long’s work appears at the Lisa Boyle Gallery in Chicago: Link.

~ Karl Jones

© karl_g_jones for Babel, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Gouache, Miniatures, Mythic Narratives, Paintings, Safavid, Scientific Equipment

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh