I think my paintings are like this – raw and unrefined and unapologetic.
W orking on oil pastels, one of the first materials that this self-taught artist approached, Jordy Kerwick recreates his iconic vicious roaring tiger—a reference to the primal nature existent within humanity. In a demonstration of his usual iconographic decomposition, the left ear of the beast incorporates the square-like pattern evocative of his two headed snakes, making them present even in their absence. Free of any style constraints, Jordy Kerwick incorporates a variety of techniques into his practice where color and texture take the front stage. The hefty usage of pastel layers for the creation of the tiger confers him an inherent heaviness that exudes character. Meanwhile the marked strokes stand as a record of the hand of the artist in the creation of the work. Inspired by the cut-outs of Matisse’s late career, his hard-edged figure resembles an icon ready to inhabit any of his ferocious configurations.
Image © Jordan Kerwick, 2020
