New Work from Tim Bavington

We visit the Las Vegas-based painter’s studio and learn about his upcoming projects and gallery show

9 January 2012

Drawing inspiration from guitar riffs and heavy beats, Las Vegas-based painter Tim Bavington translates melodies from ear to eye with his vibrant works. As long time supporters of Bavington, we jumped at the chance to stop by his studio on a recent trip to the city of sin. Here we got some insight into his production process and learned more about an upcoming installation project and his next solo show at Los Angeles’ Mark Moore Gallery.

To draw a parallel between music and his art, Bavington sees his creative process as similar to how a musician transforms sheet music into a performance. “I begin with a score or transcript which, on paper at least, seems to suggest strict instructions but becomes something completely different when interpreted.” He describes the actual painting process as “a more intuitive and improvisational than they may appear.”

To reduce waste and toxicity of overspray, Bavington sticks to working with acrylics, although he has sprayed oils, alkyds and auto paints in the past. Although his application style seems more impulsive, the canvas size and portions are much more calculated, “I typically make studies for a work in up to 24 color ways. Then I choose ones that appeal or interest me, for whatever reason. Canvas size and shape is usually related to the math of the composition.”

While being in the studio was a privilege in itself, the true highlight was learning about his latest up-and-coming sculptural work set to be unveiled mid-March 2012. For this project Bavington will translate the musically inspired energy from his paintings into the third dimension on a significantly larger scale.

This singular transition from canvas to steel will culminate with an 80 foot long, 28 foot high installation to be located in the park adjacent to Las Vegas’ new Smith Center for the Performing Arts—which is set to open doors around the same time as Bavington’s installation will be finished.

At this point the project is still in the development stages, with a significant amount of time spent adapting to the new medium and adjusting designs. Unlike his paintings where Bavington may complete a piece in just a few weeks, the mammoth steel rods require months to be painted and assembled.

Coincidentally Bavington will be back once again at the Mark More Gallery in Los Angelas for his sixth solo show “Heart Above Head.” Opening 16 January 2012, the exhibition will present a recent collection of eight new compositions.