Relational-relations


An illustrated psychological melodrama.

The Relationships series began in 1984 and has continued up to today. They have been worked on five or six times with several years between sessions. Each session has been thoroughly documented. Anders have always looked at this series as the production of stills for an animated series. In a month or two he is going to back and look at the book of 1,000 slide details he shot for years: the post-production for a film of these painting evolving will then begin.

Destination and Anticipation, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite.  Photos by Anders Tomlinson.

Destination and Anticipation, an internal journey takes a first step.

Each of these acrylic paintings, unless noted, are on 24 by 24 inches masonite boards.
When one approaches the boards, which may have up to twenty layers separated by a clear coat finish, a sense of internal depth grows. Elements in these laminations will actually cast shadows depending on the light source.

Contemplation and Reflection, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite.  Photos by Anders Tomlinson.

Contemplation and Reflection, weighing rejection against potentials.

An element of this portfolio will be a musical soundtrack. A theme song, Relation-ships, was recorded in 1986. Three voices, male, female, and the couple-overlap demand copy to be written. Here, emotional layers will take flight, a moment becomes a week, becomes a month, becomes a year, becomes an era.

Penetration and Consolidation, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite.  Photos by Anders Tomlinson.

Penetration and Consolidation, a relationship enters new dimensions.

The paintings begin to intensify: more elements, more paths, deeper saturation, enhanced complexity. Anders is starting to visualize how to frame the series. He can see them them all together on a wall or room with the film being shown in multiple formats. At the any moment the viewer could be enveloped in a room that is now paintings details projected on the floor, walls and ceilings.

Emotional and Conversational, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite.  Photos by Anders Tomlinson.

Emotional and Conversational, attractions find common ground and ignore frictions.

There will come a time when these images are reinvented with Photoshop and whole new concepts and animation elements will come forth and embrace all things natural. Anders has a large library of natural movements that he has captured in the field: time-lapse skies, water movements, elemental textures… The merging of natural design with the paintings is an exciting concept to behold.

Replication and Multiplication, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite.  Photos by Anders Tomlinson.

Replication and Multiplication, things become unstated for multiple reasons.

There are elements of Peter Max and the psychedelic 70’s in these paintings. Design and shape play a major role of providing paths to follow through the work. Dimension is achieved by color relationships as much as overlapping elements. All of the images incorporated the same icons in various relationships. These are dense pages in a layered short story yearning to be a novel.

Inspiration and Congestion, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite.  Photos by Anders Tomlinson.

Inspiration and Congestion, an aftermath lingers on a closing horizon.

Many individuals and organizations have been involved with Relationships during the long duration of this project in progress. Anders would like to thank Lisa Meszaros, Shelly Meszaros, Don Marshall, Denver Clay, Joe Cordelle, Kit Nuzum, The Simple Band, KBCH RadioTV, Del Mar Channel 38 and many others who encouraged his efforts. The nature of these paintings is that they are used in some public media presentation and then lay dormant for years only to briefly resurface, again and again.

Clownization and Cyclopization, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite.  Photos by Anders Tomlinson.

Clownization and Cyclopization, reality tugs and pulls in surrealistic discord.

The Anders approach that each painting is its own animated short film, graphic presentation, and short story continues with Relationships, maybe more so than any other Anders series. Is there a gallery that will invest its space and skills in presenting Relationships as an art show? Time will tell, it always does.

Jesterization and Memorization, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, each 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite boards

Jesterization and Memorization, and then the magic is gone like beta tapes.

Relationships is a common tale: one of learning, experimenting, experiencing tangents that lead one to a fuller understanding of one’s self. Of course, there is another path that leads one away from one’s self in a darken hallway of self-induced horror. Relationships: can we live with them, can we live without them, that is the question.

Profilization and Comparization, paintings by Anders Tomlinson, 24 x 24 inches, acrylics on masonite. Photos by Anders Tomlinson.

Profilization, 36 x 24 inches, and Comparization, 24 x 31 inches.

There are an additional six Relationships paintings that are not 24 x 24 inches in size. The two largest are each 48 x 36 inches. Above, are two examples of these nonconforming works.
They are painted on heavily textured surfaces glued to boards. It seems like it has been a lifetime as Anders moved these boards from one place to another until this moment that they are finished. Good, there is always time to reconnect and move on, just like many relationships.

©2010 Anders Tomlinson, all rights reserved.