A friend of mine in Barrington, Illinois, near Chicago, called last month inviting me to participate in a “Stations of the Cross” commemoration. She’d been inviting various artists, each to do a “station.” And each was to depict “hands only.” For example, the Roman governor Pilate, at the trial, would be washing his hands of the whole thing. Mine was to be the final piece, with the doubtful disciple Thomas invited to put his finger in Jesus’ wounds.
Stage 1: Covering the canvas with paint. (Click any photo for larger view.)
It was my friend’s request that I make it large, her having seen some of my big paintings before. The piece of canvas I cut was 73″x 100.” Adhering it to my studio wall and applying a background color (getting rid of all the white) was a first step. The small broom makes a perfect brush for such purposes.
Stage 2: Wiping out with a wet sponge.
I used acrylic paint, water-based and good for its fast drying properties. Actually it was drying a little too fast for me as I went back over portions with a wet sponge to get some of the white back for highlights. With a canvas this big, one has to work very fast at the early stages.
Stage 3: Applying contrast color.
To set off the foreground from the background, I added some blue, a complimentary color to the orange-brown of the hands. I find an old housepainter’s brush works best here. If the paint drips, so be it; it just adds more interest. And everything can be gone over again.
Stage 4: Wiping out. Note: a regular artist’s brush has not yet been used.
Putting in and taking out; it’s all part of the painting process. Sometimes I find a roll of paper towels just right for thinning out some of the just-applied paint and restore some transparency. It’s also useful for softening edges that can get too crisp and lose naturalness.
Stage 5a: Applying paint to bubble wrap.
Sharing a studio with a printmaker (wife Anne) has obviously influenced me. One way is using something of an “offset” approach to painting . . . applying paint to something (a “plate”) and then pressing that onto the art. As I often teach, a painter isn’t a painter because he uses a brush; he’s a painter because he uses paint! The paint can go on in any number of ways.
Stage 5b: Pressing in the painted bubble wrap.
This approach is only useful on a large painting and one that allows for a bit of “non-control.” The effect, however, can be impressionistic, pointillistic, luminescent, and slightly mysterious.
Stage 6: Establishing a few lines.
It’s toward the end of the painting, as opposed to the beginning, that a few defining lines are introduced . . . here, finally, with a small artist’s brush. The fine-tuning at this stage goes painfully slower, but valuable, the end of a matter being always better than its beginning.
Stage 7: The wounds colored in and, “It is finished!”
What I didn’t mention is that the whole thing started (after the initial idea) with a photograph. A friend took the picture, another posed for the Jesus hands; that’s my own hand in the middle, representing Thomas. It’s symbolically fitting, my representing Thomas, as Thomas represents me . . . needing a bit of proof, but after that thoroughly convinced.
Giclee prints, on canvas and paper.
For any would would like a prints of this painting for home or church they are available here.
7:45 am
Thanks Hyatt. Watching your process here is very interesting and fun. Oh, if you ever need an extra hand, let me know. :-)
7:45 am
This was awesome to see. Fascinating to watch.
Morris Louis would never allow anyone to watch–even his wife. I’m glad you’re not that kind of artist.
Great piece,
Pastor Adam Barton
Akron, Ohio
9:22 am
This painting left me breathless. No words.
9:28 am
Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah!! The beauty of his suffering, and me, he did it all for me, as if I were the only one. what a blessing and joy to ponder your paintings and watch step by step as you use your talent to create wonder.
Thanks Hyatt
9:29 am
How exquisitely powerful this composition is, Hyatt. It’s a very moving piece, one that causes my emotions to rise up from my inner self. This is a good thing.
11:08 am
Fascinating, Hyatt. I love the inventive moves … the paper towel roll, of course, and the use of the screen-pressing technique. It’s like Gipetto’s workshop at your place. Only, instead of wood, you bring paint to life. Forewarded this to all of our friends artistic. You’ve made us aware of beauty today. Thanks for sharing!
11:18 am
I love this painting and the story behind it most of all. Your heart for Jesus blesses me every time you share what is going on inside of it, and glorifying Him with the talent He put inside of you.
1:41 pm
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!! I am one of the artists who has the privilege to participate in the Passion Art Walk. It has been an amazing event !!! Your work is breathtaking!!!!! I am moved to tears as the spirit moves with all the artists. I look forward to enjoying more of your work, and maybe one day meet you!!!! Again Thank you
4:12 pm
I’m perplexed…for all of these years I’ve been using a broom all wrong. I’ve been using it to brush stuff off…not on!
I love the painting…
4:25 pm
This speaks so passionately without faces. I have always loved hands. This is no exception. Exquisite! And even more beautiful in the telling of the techniques.
10:14 pm
INCREDIBLE HYATT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVED SEEING THIS PROGRESSION TO THE FINISHED FABULOUS AWE-INSPIRING COMPLETION!!!!!!!!!!!! GOODNESS!!!!!!! THANK YOU! ALSO I LOVED THE APPLES WITH THE WONDERFUL SWIRLS MAKING AN INTERESTING PATTERN AT THE BASE OF THE APPLES! LOVE THAT YOU HAVE BECOME INSPIRED BY ANNE’S PRINTMAKING TECHNIQUES AND ARE INCORPORATING THEM INTO YOUR INCREDIBLE OILS! AWESOME! DON’T STOP! YOU BOTH COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER SO BEAUTIFULLY! BEST! LISA
6:17 pm
Hyatt:
I thank God for blessing you with such inspitation and talent. You bless me and so many others with it.
Your painting makes Jesus even more real to me.
Thank you,
Happy Easter,
Ursula
11:17 am
The pose of the three hands ( I was expecting two – only one of Jesus’ and then Thomas) gave me pause to consider that it is always He who draws us to Himself. We don’t come on our own. Thank You God, for Your amazing grace and mercy and love and patience and kindness and…!
It is always fascinating to watch someone exercise their God-given creativity. Thanks for the insight, Hyatt!
2:37 pm
Your passionate painting brought to mind my childhood church, First Lutheran, at 9th and Atlantic in Long Beach, CA. On either side of a large cross on the wall behind the altar in the front of the church are eight sculptured hands, referred to as “The Hands Around The Cross”, if I remember correctly. The church was built in the late 1950s. The sculptured hands are quite large and well done. You might find it interesting.
Thank you for your love for the Lord and for following His plan for your life. Easter blessings to you and Anne!