Dry Erase...

It started with one dry erase piece I did at Beers Books, 2018. The Beers Books white board was large like a whole wall. After I left Beers, I wanted to continue exploring white board artwork. I got my own transportable white board.

Working in dry erase marker on a white board surface poses many challenges. The marker can lay down thick colorful strokes one second, then begin erasing those same lines the next. It takes some experience and skill to use that feature to your advantage and learn to work with the erase as much as the mark. Another challenge is the dry erase marker comes in a fairly limited palette. I found fluorescent dry erase markers, but they are sometimes hard to come by.

Dry erase works best with short broken-up marks on the surface. As an Expressionist painter this makes for an exciting medium to work in. The short marks are layered in patterns and blending color consists of marks side-by-side instead of blended together, much like the Impressionist painters do. The dry erase marks create a certain vibrancy to the viewers’ eye, and have an almost wood-cut appearance.

When I had a professional art studio I would create a white board piece to unveil at my open studio. It was a fun way to celebrate the event. After I let go of my studio, the white board sat blank other than an encouraging messages to myself here and there, You’ve got this, Michelle.

Having the urge to paint, but with not always a lot of time and energy to do so, I have begun to create work on the white board again. The plan is to exhibit online and in my newsletter, a new piece each month, or more realistically, every few of months.

Perhaps the most interesting part of white board art is that each piece is erased after a month after being created to leave room for the next creation.

Dry Erase Art…where the erase is as important as the mark, and the artwork is fleeting.

Thank you for reading.

XO,

Michelle