Merle Temkin

Palm (2017)
oil on canvas
15 x 18 in.

For the past several years, trees have been the focus of my paintings. Because of my sculpture background, I perceive negative space in three dimensions on canvas. By carving away this space with paint, the tree is revealed, a process of working from the outside to depict the inside. The paintings evolve as I repaint them over many times to find the exact color combinations in keeping with my vision. The edges of the layers of colors are purposely left visible to document the development of the paintings.