Collection: S. P. Harper

spharper.com

@s.p.harper

Part of the Ecocentric Art Movement and inspired by my diamantaire (diamond cutter) late grandfather, I paint and construct images of gemstones and jewels with recycled and reclaimed material, synthesizing historical and contemporary styles by mixing the classical tradition of still-life painting with modernism. By reforming and re-employing materials, my work reduces, reuses and up-cycles. Restoring repurposed media is my theme. Background recycled patterns disappear behind opaque oil paint rendering and reappear through transparent acrylic wash.

Gods of fire have been chosen to represent gemstones. Eternal flames re-emerge in the facets of jewels which reflect and transfix. I use diverse media such as discarded wallpaper, graphic posters, painting, drawing, music manuscripts, postal stamps, maps, newspapers, wrapping papers and magazines. What begins as refuse is repurposed by transforming base materials into noble objects. My work has been showcased in twelve exhibitions in 2018-2019, including at the Torrance Art Museum.