Members’ Showcase – Ragna Bruno and Donald Mallow

Ragna Bruno 

I work from the imagination, without a preconceived idea. Music is very often a catalyst for my painting. In my process I consider at the same time the Whole and the Particular, intertwined.

I find that the Macro starting point probably defines my approach best, but I feel the Macro and Micro are always present and factor into my decisions while I’m working.

I have three overall themes:

The Landscape that has become, over the years, more and more abstracted.

Some “Grid Paintings” that have evolved into more free geometric themes (usually while listening to Bach).

Lately, I have been making paintings with mirror writing and scribbles, sometimes inspired by poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

Donald Mallow 

In 2005 and 2006 I drew a series of drawings on site of the interesting construction of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. I was intrigued by the great stone ledge that was blasted for the approach road on the Waldo County side of the river.

Blasting revealed a myriad of colors, facets and patterns in the newly exposed face. I photographed images close up of many areas of the wall.

Eight years later, I came upon those photos and, studying them, realized the wealth of material they contained beyond the first impression. Scanning across the smallest portions of each frame produced levels of otherwise unnoticed unique imagery.

These minute elements became the points of departure for an extended series of fourteen small gouache and watercolor paintings over a period of two years.

(Between the drawings and the paintings I always feel a connection driving across the bridge.)

 

Image at top: Ragna Bruno, On the Way Home, oil on canvas, 48 x 48 in., 2019.