This painting (acrylic on canvas) originally measured 50 x 70 centimetres.
It was worked with palette knives and a glue comb.
The style of the work is abstract, reminiscent of a surreal (underwater) world.
Technically, grattage (literally: scraping) was mainly applied. More precisely, grattage with a palette knife in the still wet paint. Part of the top layer of paint is removed, revealing the underlying layer. This creates beautiful colour transitions and shapes.
Grattage was widely used in the middle of the last century; among others by Joan Miró, Antonio Saura and Max Ernst.
Grattage and layering create depth in the painting.
I am Auke de Jong (male, born 1953, married) and live in Hellevoetsluis (the Netherlands). I am also regularly in Hungary (in Mágocs), where we have a second home. As far as I know, I have been drawing and painting since my earliest childhood; later also.. Read more…