Stephen Balut is a contemporary artist that is inspired by process and materials. He firsts paints the canvas and then wraps as many as 50 layers of thread, string, yarn, wire and/or monofilament. Each layer has a unique color and sheen that reflects light differently depending on its depth, contrast or resonance with the paint behind it. Viewed perpendicular to the piece, the paint typically dominates the reflected light and combines with the thread to create a deep, rich composition. The cast shadows from the threaded patterns and recessive layers of string contribute to the depth and complexity on the canvas. Viewed at an angle the paint is subdued, reflecting light from the threads that dominates the uppermost layers creating a lenticular fuzzy glow. Balut’s work is the result of years of laborious experimentation. The paintings themselves are so vastly detailed that they can take weeks at a time to create. Expertly layering string and acrylic paint, Balut can achieve a subtle version of the lenticular effect – one piece can appear quite different when viewed from a 45 degree angle as opposed to straight on. These perceptual shifts are a recurring study in Balut’s body of work. “My paintings are about beauty, complexity, mystery and scale. They most often beckon the ethereal and atmospheric qualities of infinity… celestial vibrations of color created with paint and thread.”- Stephen Balut