By Donald Schenkel
120 x 55 cm, 2020
Oil paint on paper, on 4mm Dibond

Donald is fascinated by the possibilities of oil paint in connection to its materiality. He creates subtle colour gradients, seeking for smoothness in his compositions. Approaching oil paints as material instead of a means to create an image, led to a focus on the qualities of paints and the behavior of colors. Over the years, his works have become more complex through his experimentation with contrasting colours and materials like glass, aluminium and canvas. Through this, the colour gradients have the ability to act as an immersive illusion. Light colors can seem to dissolve into the depths of the darker gradient, while knowing it is the blend of colours that give this effect. The perception of reality and the interpretation of the painting is altered by the material aspects of the object itself, something that continues to be a source of inspiration for his work.