The Hospitality of Doubt

Authors

Ian Grieve, Southern Methodist UniversityFollow

Abstract

This paper discusses the last two years of research toward a Master of Fine Art in Studio Art. I mainly address my painting practice, but while in the program, I have worked in collage, ceramics, intaglio printmaking, and sculpture. My paintings are thick, multilayered, and often contain ambiguous narratives. The pictures develop through engagement, openness, and response within the work. I seek and embrace connection with viewers of the work. The spectator ‘completes’ the art and enhances or alters the artworks meaning by observing it and applying their individual perspectives. I seek to incorporate a sense of nostalgia and familiarity. Though mainly figurative paintings, the worlds created are not beholden to the physical laws of nature in our world. I am also exploring ways to depict time through aged surfaces, reclaimed materials, and the panoramic form. I further discuss existentialist and post-structuralist philosophies around meaninglessness and individual freedoms related to a process-driven art-making practice and life. By embracing uncertainty, I remain open to the search for meaning. However, all things are transient and mutable. Embracing the ephemeral brings comfort and an ideal space to create. By leaning into ideas of constant change, I can react to what the painting ‘needs’ to flourish. Beyond these conceptual concerns, I describe my process, including research, working with oil paint on wood panels instead of canvas, and using palette knives in addition to brushes to produce highly textural artworks.

Degree Date

Spring 5-13-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.F.A.

Department

Division of Art

Advisor

Barnaby Fitzgerald

Second Advisor

Jer'Lisa Devezin

Third Advisor

Nishiki Sugawara-Beda

Subject Area

Art, Art History/Criticism/Conservation, Philosophy

Number of Pages

29

Format

.pdf

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Grieve, Ian, "The Hospitality of Doubt" (2023). Art Theses and Dissertations. 24.
https://scholar.smu.edu/art_etds/24