Originally, the surface of this kayak was canvas that had been treated for waterproofing. In order to paint as I normally would, I needed to sand off the old waterproofing and rebuild the surface with compound.
After a few days of preparing and building up the surface, it's finally time to get to the artwork. While these first few flowers are relatively basic, getting these first marks down on the surface is a huge icebreaker. With so much detail involved, it's good when the early stages unfold smoothly.
The next major challenge after the initial prep and drawing all the flowers was to create a rich abstract painting using the KAYAK orange. It was key that this painting be simple and clean enough to allow the timeline to pop. More challenging still, would be drawing the timeline back over the painting, with no margin of error.
This is essentially what was so unusual about this project for me; The curves, the lumps, the bumps, etc. The trick here was to work the corners seamlessly to make sure the entire piece connected and related as one cohesive piece. Once I got a handle on that, the work came together nicely.
An essential component to this project is the timeline. The piece, after all, was commissioned to commemorate the conception and eventual sale of Kayak. The journey was comprised of several remarkable events, each one a significant and noteworthy milestone.
At this point, the abstract has set and I have crafted the KAYAK logo. The accuracy of this logo was absolutely critical for two reasons. One, it is the identity of the company and therefore essentially a portrait. And two, it provided a crisp, graphic component which pairs perfectly with the rustic elements of the kayak itself, as well as the looser, more painterly elements of the work.
This piece is essentially comprised of two large paintings, two smaller paintings, and a light restoration. This detail shows a great example of how well the kayak's rustic characteristics combine with the artwork. Along with the gold, the flowers and other colors work to create a joyful, tropical feel.
While this particular view showcases the wonderful patina of the hardware, it also gives you a feel for the surface qualities of the painting itself. If you have ever seen one of my works on canvas in person you will notice that the kayak's surface qualities have a remarkably similar look and feel. This is mainly due to the initial preparation and preliminary surface work.
The kayak's original condition was exactly what you would expect it to be after 90+ years on this earth. But after a little love, the charm and character of the wood really came through.
It was clear from the onset that a certain amount of this original 1920's piece be restored rather than reworked. Which is exactly why the interior was gently cleaned, reconditioned, and restored to its former glory. The canvas was also cleaned, but otherwise unaltered to showcase the pieces history and rustic character. The perfect compliment to the many new alterations and additions.
This view really highlights the balancing act between the graphic elements of the logo and timeline and the loose, painterly qualities of the tropical flowers.
The long view: This project's unusual challenges presented an opportunity for me to showcase my abilities in a totally unique way. I have often contemplated how I might approach a three dimensional piece, and this commission certainly brought me one step closer to that.
It's always great to look back on a projects early stages. It's humble beginnings. Particularly in the case of a work of this magnitude. For the viewer, it provides fascinating insight into a pieces development. It's not always best, in my opinion, for a work to be a total mystery. There is great value in the documentation of a works history and the process that brought it from conception to production.
