Common Circles draws its inspiration from the center-pivot irrigated fields as seen from 30,000 feet. Arranged in a grid the diptych captures the essence of these cultivated fields with an abstract form suggesting the annual cycle of growth, human ingenuity and labor.
Using a variable speed drill and foam brush as precision painting tool, the artist carefully modulated the rotation and pressure to form each circle marrying mechanics and artistry. One canvas showcases white circles on a black background, while its companion inverts the palette to black circles on white, reflecting the dualities of growth and dormancy, harvest and rest.
A lifelong renovator and lover of all things powered, the artist delights in bringing his tools—and his playful ingenuity—into the studio.
Created in support of Common Ground Farm, Common Circles celebrates both the beauty of agricultural landscapes and the labor, systems, and care that sustain them. Whether viewed as modern aerial cartography or poetic abstraction, the piece offers a compelling homage to the land and those who steward it.
My practice reappraises 60s & 70s minimalist ideas first explored by DeMaria, Martin, Serra, et al. I do this in my paintings, prints, stencils, multi-media assemblages and sculptures through a process of organizing and ordering via sequence, emptiness, monochromatics and formal structures.
I apply, remove and layer acrylic paint, oil marker, gesso, spray paint, oil marker, joint compound, aluminum foil, various tapes and more elements using a variety of brushes, sanding blocks, paint rollers, aerosol cans, ink pens, power tools and other media across a variety of traditional and non-traditional surfaces including MDF board, canvas, carboard, plywood, masonry (buildings), asphalt (streets), concrete (sidewalks), driftwood and more.
Many of my pieces reference topographic and geographic surfaces that are flattened, extended, divided, cracked, distanced, and arranged in geometries informed by human shaped landscapes and forms.
https://thomasbregman.com
Using a variable speed drill and foam brush as precision painting tool, the artist carefully modulated the rotation and pressure to form each circle marrying mechanics and artistry. One canvas showcases white circles on a black background, while its companion inverts the palette to black circles on white, reflecting the dualities of growth and dormancy, harvest and rest.
A lifelong renovator and lover of all things powered, the artist delights in bringing his tools—and his playful ingenuity—into the studio.
Created in support of Common Ground Farm, Common Circles celebrates both the beauty of agricultural landscapes and the labor, systems, and care that sustain them. Whether viewed as modern aerial cartography or poetic abstraction, the piece offers a compelling homage to the land and those who steward it.
My practice reappraises 60s & 70s minimalist ideas first explored by DeMaria, Martin, Serra, et al. I do this in my paintings, prints, stencils, multi-media assemblages and sculptures through a process of organizing and ordering via sequence, emptiness, monochromatics and formal structures.
I apply, remove and layer acrylic paint, oil marker, gesso, spray paint, oil marker, joint compound, aluminum foil, various tapes and more elements using a variety of brushes, sanding blocks, paint rollers, aerosol cans, ink pens, power tools and other media across a variety of traditional and non-traditional surfaces including MDF board, canvas, carboard, plywood, masonry (buildings), asphalt (streets), concrete (sidewalks), driftwood and more.
Many of my pieces reference topographic and geographic surfaces that are flattened, extended, divided, cracked, distanced, and arranged in geometries informed by human shaped landscapes and forms.
https://thomasbregman.com