Michelle Hinebrook

In her works, Michelle Hinebrook explores objects’ figures much closer than a traditional painter or sculptor might do, at skin level. Intrigued by the way the skin surface reacts when pressed against or restrained by another surface or material, Michelle explores her own figure in both physical fashion – by wrapping her body in a hammock, as well as virtual one – by using an MRI scan, and then uses the grid representations as a theme to create her work. But this is only where her journey begins.

She starts by creating broad chalk strokes on painted wood, where the intersecting lines will guide the placement of nails – anchor points for the netted mask that comes next.

The mask, essentially any netted material, is then manipulated in between the nails, creating areas of tension and suspense.

She warps the fabric as she explores the resulting effect, and lets the material guide her as it twists and relaxes.

Then, it’s the spray paint, delivered with either a commercial spray gun, for wider areas, or an airbrush for finer lines.

The spray flow vibrates the fabric threads, creating a fuzzy expression as the paint settles. Layer upon layer of paint is added, and although they don’t accumulate, as oils would, her enamels mass up and create colorful presence that is emphasized by the almost mathematical organization of the cells.

Removing the netting, Michelle continues to add brush strokes that seem, at first glance, in total contradiction to the fine cellular expressions below; black, bold and wide, like coarse material rubbing against delicate skin. The intersection between the two spaces, internal and external, is what tends to be the first thing to catch the eye.

You can see more of Michelle’s work on her site, at http://www.michellehinebrook.com.