typewriter | Christopher Stott

Tagged typewriter

On Painting Typewriters

Underwood Leader / 30 x 30 / oil on canvas / 2018

Typewriters seem to embody ambition. They represent the tools to document thoughts, ideas and stories – you literally hammer your words on to paper.

They’re familiar to us, but distant enough to be obsolete. As with all the man made objects I use as subjects the compositions are simple and straight forward. But they become more complicated with the repetition of the keys and the mechanics of the machine.

I’ve painted many typewriters and without fail, every time I start working on the keys, I think “what did I get myself in to?”

Above: Underwood Leader
Below: Remington Quiet-Riter II

Remington Quiet-Riter II / 30 x 30 / oil on canvas / 2017

Smith-Corona Clipper

I found this Smith-Corona Clipper typewriter at Everything Old and now it is honoured in a simple and clean painting.

It can be found hanging at the Robert Lange Studios in Charleston, South Carolina along with the other typewriter in the case I posted last week.

Fresh off the easel.

This piece is fresh off the easel and awaiting varnishing before it heads off to the Robert Lange Studios in Charleston, South Carolina.

I’ve got several commissions in the works and a solo exhibition in Los Angeles in April 2018, so I have my work cut out for me this winter. It’s good to be busy.

Remington Quiet-Riter

This Remington Quiet-Riter painting is like all of my paintings – simple at first glance, but full of detail once you look a little longer. The straight forward composition is easy to read, but the repetition in the numerous keys creates complexity. The layers of paint to bring the depth of the inside of the case was a joy to paint.

Underwood Standard Portable Typewriter II

This is the sister painting to the baby blue Royal typewriter in a simple vignette. A red Underwood Standard Portable Typewriter to be featured in my October 2017 solo exhibition at the George Billis Gallery in New York City.

This is another painting that left me very pleased with the outcome. It’s the culmination of years of work and dedication.

Royal Quiet De Luxe I

This is hands down my favourite painting that I have done in the past few years. It’s a Royal Quiet De Luxe typewriter in a simple vignette. It feels good when a painting comes together in all the right places.

This will be one of 18 new paintings showing at the George Billis Gallery in New York City from the beginning of October through to the beginning of November.

This is the culmination of plenty of work and focus. I painted all throughout the summer months and a huge sense of relief and accomplishment has come over me. I have kept busy boxing up and shipping the paintings, but also stepping back from an intense period of painting and now I’m gearing up for the fall months spent following the momentum I built up this past summer.

Silent-Super, Smith-Corona

A new Silent-Super, Smith-Corona painting showing at the Robert Lange Studios in Charleston, South Carolina.

I thought it would be fun to take a look at a typewriter painting I did exactly 11 years ago. Although I think my precision and technique have changed over the years, I feel rather consistent with subject and approach.

Smith-Corona

A Smith-Corona typewriter. Recently completed and now comfortably inspiring a new collector in New Jersey.

Several years ago I started painting a series of typewriter vignettes. Recently looking for inspiration, I found that revisiting my own paintings as a place to learn and grow from.

You can check out all of my typewriter paintings to date on Flickr → click on this link.

Royal Typewriter in Progress

I haven’t shared anything on my blog in a few weeks because I’m knee deep in several complex paintings. I don’t know how some people have the time to share so much on social media. Every time I decide I should post on Instagram or Facebook it seems to take way longer than anticipated. I’d rather be painting.

Royal Typewriter / Work in Progress by Christopher Stott — Royal Typewriter / Work in Progress

Oliver No. 3 Typewriter

This painting of an Oliver No.3 Typewriter from 1907 is my contribution to the Attention to Detail exhibition at the Robert Lange Studios in Charleston, South Carolina. The Exhibition runs through February 2017.

The exhibition features 30 realist painters from the USA, Canada, Spain and England. It is an honour to have been invited to show my work beside artists who share an affinity for this labour intensive approach to painting.

I found this magnificent typewriter at Everything Old – an antique shop near my home.

Corona in Progress

Corona Typewriter Painting Work in Progress by Christopher Stott — Corona / Work in Progress

I have used this vintage Corona No. 3 typewriter in the past – but nothing gives new life to a subject like a wall of beautifully vibrant colour.

Corona & Royal Typewriters

Corona No.3 Typewriter Oil Painting by Christopher Stott — Corona No.3 / 24 x 36 / oil on canvas

Typewriters are all about ideas and writing. They seem to spark the act, I think it’s because of the physicality of them. They make this amazing noise, your words literally express themselves vocally as you tap away at the keys. You have to immediately concentrate, your whole mind and body becomes involved. You focus.

Royal Typewriter Oil Painting by Christopher Stott — Royal Typewriter / 20 x 40 / oil on canvas

These two typewriters are a great contrast to one another – the Corona with its sleek black curves and stately design, the Royal with its crisp blue and modern edges.

I have these typewriters in my collection, and when they’re out of their cases they invite anyone around to sit down and type.

Both of these typewriters were found at Everything Old – an antique store in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island.