Douglas Fraser

2020

Sewing

DECEMBER 1, 2020

I respect sewing machines. Their presence has always spoke to me of the sewing together of art and technical knowledge. My respect for those that operate a sewing machine skillfully is large. The machine’s working parts have always struck me with their intricacy. The mechanical elements of the pressure foot & needle are a composite of a bird’s leg or landing gear from an aircraft, plus an element of a snow ski. Then there are the myriad of combinations that are available in the different stitches. I still enjoy the tactile quality of the mechanical push button machines. I offer this image as praise to the spirit of the creators and operators of the machine. The sewing machine.

Early rough sketch - Graphite
Base sketch on canvas - Graphite
Sewing Machine - oils on canvas, 61 x 57 cm

Bull Pin

APRIL 8, 2020
Bull Pin - 20 x 19.25 inches, Graphite drawing & oils on panel

Bull Pin;
The two tiny items hung around my desktop for the last couple of years. As I looked at them from time to time they drew me in. The plastic manufactured quality of the bull. A bull that small, it made the pin look large. Thoughts about bull fights where the bull is killed by stabbing it. To stab a bull that small one would only need a pin?.... Bull Pin not bullpen.....the black of the bull with white horns & a red topped pin. The red a foreboding?…..Why did I painting this?..... freedom to entertain my non linear thoughts..... seven has been considered a lucky number, but maybe not for this bull...... structural drawing & painting to support an open ended entanglement of two random items that have fermented in my thoughts.

Painting with subject items
I did a frame out of poplar