Craig Cahoon

Conceptually, I am intrigued by the universality and timelessness of humans’ search for meaning amid the uncertainty of constant change. I attempt to convey the tension of being in a liminal space, transitioning from a known state to an unknown state in my paintings.

In my process as a painter, I prefer being in a new place over a long period to observe the ambient light and colors of the environment for movement and changes in the hue and texture. The painting SEVEN OAKS responds to observing a meadow landscape transitioning from summer to fall. Working with palette knives to add and scrape iridescent pigment, I gradually built thin layers onto primed canvas.

The paint I chose is interference paint. The light waves are interfered with so that the paint’s appearance shifts between advancing and receding (absorbing light in another color). The reflections in the paintings depend on the angle of incidence, the position of the viewer, and the light source, especially when using paint that incorporates titanium-coated mica flakes that simulate metallic effects of light reflection, iridescence, and interference.

The speckled rhythm of deep space is created by contrasting mixed and solid colors of interference paint to produce a heightened sense of depth and movement on a two-dimensional plane. I find that the shifting appearance of the paint is more akin to my experience of observing phenomena in which there is a constantly vibrating movement.

- Craig Cahoon, 2021