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          Decalcomania              
1971-1972
      
The technique of decalcomania was 'invented' by Oscar Dominguez, a surrealist painter from the Canary Islands. I always thought this fact  was strangely significant because of the connection between the Canary Islands and the legendary Atlantis, which seems to be reflected in the eerie, aqueous landscapes that Dominguez made with this technique.

You begin by spreading black gouache on shiny paper and then press it down unevenly on the other piece of paper  to produce Rorschach-like abstractions. The resulting images have been described as "submarine flora, unfathomable fauna…delirious broughs of grottoes, black lakes, will-of-the-wisps"  (-Andre Breton)

I decided to try a variation on the traditional decalcomania technique by using coloured, instead of black gouache, which reduced the graphic impact, but strengthened the lyrical qualities. Of course Max Ermst was a master of this technique in oil on canvas.
         
             

Plateau
gouache on paper, 1971
                                                                                                




Cthulu
gouache on paper, 1971





The Summons
gouache on paper, 1971




Landscape with Houris
gouache on paper, 1971




Messenger
gouache on paper, 1971




Polyphemus
gouache on paper, 1971





Dream of Pan's Home
gouache on paper, 1971





Yearnings
gouache on paper, 1971




 
Ramscape
gouache on paper, 1971
(Private collection, Vancouver)





Journey to the Hesperides
gouache on paper, 1971





Pillars of Hercules
gouache on paper, 1971



 
Arc II
gouache on paper, 1971
Dawn
gouache on paper, 1971
 (Private collection, Vancouver)



 
The Woods at Twilight
gouache on paper, 1971




  
Arcturus
gouache and enamel on paper, 16" x 20", 1972



 
Garden of Venusian Delights
gouache on card, 16" x 20", 1972




 
From the Void
gouache and acrylic, 20" x 24", 1972



 
Jewel of the Andes
gouache and acrylic, 20" x 24", 1972




 
The Chariot of Elijah
gouache and acrylic, 20" x 24", 1972




 
Nighthawk
gouache on panel, 16" x 20", 1972
(Collection of the City of Vancouver)



 
Moon Dance
gouache on panel, 16" x 20", 1972
(Collection of the City of Vancouver)



 
Untitled
gouache on panel, 16" x 20", 1972
(Collection of the City of Vancouver)



 
Cross Fire
gouache on panel, 16" x 20", 1972
(Collection of the City of Vancouver)



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