Recent Paintings — JILL PAZ

Jasmine Plum, 2023

Acrylic on laser-carved cardboard

107 x 61 cm (42 x 24 inches)

Tropical Meander is a new series of paintings inspired by the rivers and creeks that run through the city of Manila.

Waterways flow, the Pasig river waxes and wanes, the banks of the creeks overflow. What can these waters tell me about the history of this place? Of my roots and my future routes?

My painting process begins with a photograph. I manipulate the image on Photoshop, translate it onto another computer program that the laser machine can read. Through a series of laser light pulses, I carve the image onto gesso primed cardboard of Balikbayan boxes, before I place the cardboard pieces back together to create the whole image. Lastly, I air-brush acrylic onto the cardboard pieces.