Paintings by Laura Corallo Titus at the Patricia Sweetow Gallery in San Francisco

“Between the Sky and the Sea III” 2012, acrylic on canvas, 64 x 70 inche

This week the paintings by Laura Corallo-Titus at the Patricia Sweetow Gallery caught my eye. The watery effects that Corallo-Titus creates remind me of the results that textile dyers get when they hand-marble fabrics. In the marbling process, paint floats on top of a thick solution while the dyer manipulates the paint into patterns. The pattern is transferred to an object by placing the object on top of the paints. The drawback (or, some would say advantage) to hand-marbling is the lack of control, or unexpected way that the paints intermingle. By using acrylic or oil paint directly on canvas, Corallo-Titus is able to get atmospheric watery effects as well as control over the placement of and size of the colorful forms. These pieces have an unusual meditative quality. They remind me of the ripples that surface as a rock skims over clear water.

From the gallery’s press release: “The imagery suggests a regeneration of living organisms, while the atmosphere of the paintings speaks of a serene order. Sanded and subtly brushed her muted surface belies the labored process of application.”

The paintings by Laura Corallo Titus are being shown in conjunction with the prints and video by Gail Wight. These works will be at the Patricia Sweetow Gallery through October 20, 2012.

“Sea Pod” 2012 oil on canvas 40 x 36 inches

“Infusion” 2011 oil on canvas 52 x 48 inches

“Between the Sky and the Sea III” 2012 acrylic on canvas 60 x 48 inches

“Waterstain” 2011 oil on canvas, 48 x 52 inches