10 of Diamonds from The Playing Card Series
1990
Aquatint
Image: 11.5 x 8 inches
Sheet: 21 x 15 inches
Edition of 44
©1990 Donald Sultan
On first glance Donald Sultan's portrayals of unadorned street scenes
and still lifes may appear simplistic, yet he maintains he works in abstraction.
While his subject matter may lack grandeur, all of his paintings, sculptures
and prints possess a painterly quality so evident that one could almost
put his brush strokes in chronological order, reminiscent of Pollock and
Rothko. Sultan's modernist approach to traditional subject matter is most evident
in his large-scale still lifes. These works are painted on square, masonite
tiles that can measure one foot by one foot, four feet by four feet, or
most commonly, eight feet by eight feet. In addition to their abnormally
large size, Sultan's tiles are characterized by their multiple layers
and imperfect facades. When creating a work, Sultan first cuts holes in
his nylon surface, then fills the holes with plaster before painting over
it. This creative technique results in a texture that gives his work a
unique emotional feel. While his choice of subject ranges from dominoes
to streetlights, he is most known for depicting fruit and flowers, specifically
lemons, pears, roses and tulips.