Working in the tugboat industry in his younger years gave Marcus Bowcott a view of the waterfront and the port from an up-close viewpoint. Here, sunlight on an early morning transits through the mesh of structural steel, illuminating some places and putting other parts into shadow. The shadows vary in colour depending on the intensity of the sun's rays hitting it. In addition, there is some reflected light from the water beneath.
It's an amusing exercise to look at a painting to figure out where the light is coming.
Details
The painting was begun in 1998 with a square format but, in 2008 the painting was reworked. Bowcott decided to make it rectangular. A panel was added to the right side and the horizontal elements were added creating a much more interesting composition.
A better light and dark balance is achieved as is the balance between patterned and solid colour shapes. What you may not see in this small format thumbnail is that there are many different colours of darkness in the tangle of structural elements in the upper left area of the painting.
This method of adding on to an already finished painting is not uncommon in the art world. Edgar Degas used it frequently for his chalk pastels.
Condition
The painting is very good. The painted sides of the panel are covered in mat paint. The substrate of the painting is Masonite (press board). The pieces that make up the stretcher/frame are made of 3/4" plywood. The piece that makes the bottom frame shows a 13" crack of unknown origin.
Artist
Artist Name
Marcus Bowcott
Geographical Location(s) of Art Practice
Greater Vancouver area, BC, Canada; London, England;
Signature: "MB '09", in paint, on lower right front. "M Bowcott", in black felt pen and "M Bowcott" in graphite, in upper left rectangle, verso; and M Bowcott/ 1998 - 2008.
Inscribed: "Green Scaffold" in black felt pen, and "Marcus Bowcott 1998-2008" on the upper right, verso.
