jim darling’s art
FOR TEXAS-BASED ARTIST JIM DARLING, THE SKY’S THE LIMIT.
What’s the first artwork you remember making? One that stands out to me as being an actual ‘piece of art’ was a character I drew in college. It was a ballpoint pen-and-marker drawing on paper with tape and coffee stains. It really wasn’t that special, other than the fact I wasn’t making it for a class. It was fun and it felt different. After that piece, I started making work for art shows.
Talk us through this series of paintings. Where did the idea come from to use the aeroplane window as a frame? The Windows series is the continuation of a two-person show my wife Tina and I had years ago, titled Over Under. My concentration was on things in the air, while her focus was on things underwater. I thought about how the window seat on an aeroplane is this special, coveted place. Everything appears so small and insignificant from up in the air – it’s always a humbling experience for me. It’s also a view you can’t fully capture or share, as it’s constantly changing as you move. One landscape flows into another and another, and so on. That’s what I try to capture.
What kinds of techniques do you use? The window frame is made from layered wood that’s painted and sanded. The painting itself is acrylic on wood. I start with some basic colour washes, then drop in key shapes. I work on a large portion of the painting with a line brush to make the connections that guide the viewer’s eye. The pieces take a long time. I get lost in the details and work hard to find the finish point.
Do any of these outlooks come from views you’ve actually seen? Some of the more abstract fields and skies are from memory or my cellphone photos. If the view is of a specific city, then I’ll use a reference. Sometimes I fly around in Google Earth for a few hours to pick elevations and angles that are realistic and captivating – occasionally, I combine multiple views. That said, fairly early into the painting I let go of the reference and try to maintain the mood of the scene while just having fun.
Do you get itchy feet while making these? I would say yes, but it’s not that the image has inspired me to travel… it’s more that I’ve been inside working and it’s time for me to get outside! I travel between five and 10 times a year. I enjoy it – especially packing my bag. I’m a big fan of the airport bar, too. The only thing I don’t like is the airport check-in process. And I have long legs, which is an issue. The window seat in the exit row is my seat of choice.
How does this series fit in with the rest of your artwork? These are acrylic paintings with a bit of woodworking, which is what most of my pieces are created with. I think trying new things is important, though. The Windows series is the only body of work I’ve decided to keep open-ended. A few years after creating the original six windows, I realised I hadn’t tried continuing a series, so I’m giving it a go.
Where can we see more of your stuff? jimdarling.com or on Instagram at @jimdarling.