From the studio to the urban landscape, oil painting remains one of the most versatile and evocative mediums for artists seeking to express the intangible. In our 15 years installing… The fluidity and depth of oils offer a powerful means to capture the subtle, atmospheric energies that often evade other disciplines. By harnessing the medium’s ability to convey elusive moods, textures, and luminosities, painters can transport viewers into realms of the unseen.
Mirrored Spaces and Psychological Intimacy
One artist who has masterfully explored the psychological and material depths of oil painting is Madeline Gallucci. Her ongoing series of mirror paintings delve into the complex relationship between reflection, surface, and the viewer’s own sense of self. As Gallucci explains, “I’m interested in how the mirror serves as a framing device: simultaneously an object and image. I see the use of screens the same way. What is revealed or shifted through the changing of one’s position on the computer screen or a phone?”
By depicting mirrors that present no clear reflection, Gallucci creates a disorienting effect that “collapses this viewpoint” and challenges the viewer’s assumptions about the nature of representation. The works are imbued with a palpable sense of intimacy, as if the viewer is trespassing on a private, psychological space. Gallucci’s painterly approach—layering translucent acrylic washes with more opaque oil passages—enhances this atmosphere of mystery and introspection.
“I’m also bringing in more fragments of my own personal histories and direct observations,” Gallucci notes. “We are constantly moving through a world bombarded with images, text, advertising, and screens demanding our attention, while also (perhaps unconsciously) making us consider our position in the world and our relationship to them. The mirror directly allows a way to confront ourselves and self-monitor our own appearance, behavior, and connection to these influences.”
Capturing the Residue of Experience
Gallucci’s paintings also investigate ideas of residue, accumulation, and the unintentional marks that accrue on surfaces over time. Drawing inspiration from the graffiti, writing, and smudges found in public bathroom mirrors, she is fascinated by “how these spaces felt simultaneously full and empty, and the ways we look for patterns in static to seek meaning or connection.”
This interest in detritus and the “accidental moments” of human activity extends beyond the mirror motif. Gallucci’s canvases often feature layers of scrawled text, dripping paint, and ambiguous shapes that suggest a palimpsest of experiences. “The text is more about atmosphere than it is about deciphering a sentence or phrase,” she explains. “I am interested in the way that text exists all around us and it is up to our attention to decide how and what to pay attention to.”
This exploration of surface residue and the compression of time aligns with Gallucci’s interest in “how time is measured through accumulation and erasure.” By juxtaposing immediate, gestural marks with more subtle, weathered passages, her paintings evoke a palpable sense of the passing of time and the impermanence of human experience.
Cultivating Atmospheric Tensions
Beyond the specific motifs and conceptual underpinnings of her work, Gallucci’s approach to oil painting is rooted in an intuitive, improvisational process that allows her to capture the elusive qualities of atmosphere and mood. “I find that I’m rather intuitive with color and will use bold saturated colors that hold a lot of weight and emotion,” she notes. “I often wrestle with it when I paint, which contributes to bouncing between a feeling of aggression and suppression.”
This dynamic interplay of bold and muted tones, opaque and translucent passages, contributes to the palpable tensions that define Gallucci’s canvases. As the artist reflects, “I hope that the paintings actually collapse this viewpoint, because they become more confusing the more you dive in.” This layered sense of visual ambiguity mirrors the psychological complexities Gallucci seeks to evoke.
Painting Tutorials and Techniques
For aspiring oil painters interested in exploring similar atmospheric and conceptual territories, Gallucci offers the following insights and practical techniques:
Cultivating an Intuitive Approach: Embrace spontaneity and experimentation in your process. Gallucci often begins her paintings with “fast and intuitive” acrylic layers, allowing the paint to “soak into the canvas and create these matte textured surfaces.” This establishes a foundation for subsequent oil applications, which she uses to “vary the color density and create a sense of depth and separation.”
Harnessing the Materiality of Oil Paint: Engage with the intrinsic properties of oil paint to enhance your atmospheric effects. Gallucci utilizes varied brushwork, from broad, gestural strokes to delicate scribbles, to create a sense of texture and movement. She also incorporates dry-brushing, glazing, and impasto techniques to build up layers and introduce a sense of depth.
Exploring Text and Symbolism: Incorporate text, marks, and abstract shapes as a means of conveying mood and atmosphere, rather than literal meaning. Gallucci’s scrawled, often illegible text functions as “more about atmosphere than it is about deciphering a sentence or phrase.” Experiment with the visual and emotive qualities of mark-making to enhance the conceptual resonance of your paintings.
Embracing Ambiguity and Contradiction: Lean into the tension between the immediate and the ephemeral, the bold and the subtle. Gallucci’s works often juxtapose vivid colors and gestural passages with more muted, weathered areas, creating a sense of visual ambiguity that invites the viewer to linger and explore.
Referencing Photographic Sources: While Gallucci’s paintings are not direct representations, she often begins her process with photographic documentation of mirrors, surfaces, and spaces that pique her interest. Utilize photographic references as a springboard for your own interpretive explorations in oil paint.
By embracing the fluid, atmospheric qualities of oil paint and cultivating an intuitive, improvisational approach, artists can unlock new realms of expressive potential. As Gallucci’s work demonstrates, oil painting offers a powerful medium for capturing the elusive and the ineffable, inviting viewers to engage with the psychological and material depths of the medium.
For more insights and inspiration, be sure to visit Pencil and Paint Muse – your go-to resource for all things art-related, from creative techniques to professional development.
Tip: Practice daily sketching to continually refine your technique