shane mcadams: ball point pen paintings

'pen blow 67' by shane mcadams
ball point pen and resin on panel
12'' x 12''
image © shane mcadams


exploring the notions of landscape in the broadest sense of the term, brooklyn-based artist
shane mcadams creates abstract paintings from ink extracted from ball-point pens. the body of work
focuses on the often dueling relationships between natural and synthetic forms, illustrating through
process the phenomenon of elemental forces incrementally sculpting a land over time.

displaying a soft and colourful array of tones, the pieces push the boundaries of ballpoint pen ink
through a series of non-traditional applications: once extracted, the liquid is heated and mixed
with solvents before it is applied to the surface. mcadams does not 'draw' in the conventional sense
but rather lets gravity, wind, and other physical forces direct the movement of the ink.
resembling a chromatography test, subtle gradients and unexpected streaks emerge to create
a ghostly multi-toned image. by allowing the painting to, in essence, come to being by itself,
it forces the viewers to question what is organic and what is artificial.



'pen blow 69' by shane mcadams
ball point pen and resin on panel
12'' x 12''
image © shane mcadams



'pen blow 68' by shane mcadams
ball point pen and resin on panel
12'' x 12''
image © shane mcadams



'pen blow 71' by shane mcadams
ball point pen and resin on panel
12'' x 12''
image © shane mcadams



'pen blow 66' by shane mcadams
ball point pen and resin on panel
12'' x 12''
image © shane mcadams



'pen blow 23' by shane mcadams
ball point pen and resin on panel
12'' x 12''
image © shane mcadams