SPLIT PAINTINGS
Trench Coat Billboard Split, acrylic on canvas, 21 1/2" x 37", 1990
Maiden Clasp Construction, acrylic on paper, 11 1/2 x_29 1/2" 2003
Cactus Split Yellow Green, acrylic on canvas, 27" x 30 1/2" 2000s
Cactus Split Street View, acrylic on canvas, 28" x 53 1/2", 2001
Yellow Digger Split, acrylic on canvas, 21.75 x24 in.
Cactus Split, Machine #1, acrylic on canvas, 40" x 23 1/4"
Cactus Three Splits, acrylic on canvas, 32" x 40"
Canyon & Tractor Split, watercolor on paper, 8 1/2" x 11"
Canyon & Construction Split, acrylic on canvas, 26 1/2" x 36 1/2"
Girder & Construction, acrylic on canvas, 29" x 35"
Half Dome Split, acrylic on canvas on bars, 25 1/2" x 29"
Orange Cab and Demolition Split, acrylic on canvas, 30 1/2" x 38". Private Collection.
Palm Tree & Machine Split, acrylic on paper, 26 1/2" x 29 3/4", 1997
Seneca, acrylic on canvas, 25 1/2" x 27 5/8"
Split Billboard & Storefront Canopy, acrylic on paper, 38" x 35"
Split Cactus & Demolition, acrylic on paper, 25" x 23 1/2"
<
>
During the 1990's and into the early 2000's. Val Lewton explored "split" paintings, combining disparate elements into a creative whole. Sometimes seamless, most often the subjects reflected a juxtaposition of West Coast to East Coast images, or the demolition (machines and destruction) in the surrounding city versus the beauty of the natural landscape, art or architecture. A keen observer of life around him, everything was fodder for his painting. In retrospect, one could foresee the fascination with "split" painting when observing the strong verticals employed in earlier urban landscapes.