Acrylic 3D

Written By Lisa Nevens

[Boots]

In this series William created a range of 3D objects, mostly footwear, out of 100% acrylic paint. The above Boots piece was in a show in Vancouver, BC, which received a positive review. However, the only thing that William mentioned about it - repeatedly, literally for decades, and with immense exasperation - is that the reviewer completely missed the point and thought this was a real pair of boots. So I’ll repeat: these are made 100% out of dried paint.

The process to create these was:

  1. Go to the dump and the “As Is” section (best place ever) of the Sally Anne (aka Salvation Army thrift store) and collect an assortment of random tables, trestles, and large sheets of glass.

  2. Scatter sheets of glass on tables and trestles throughout home, taking care not to damage child.

  3. Pour thick layer of the required colours of acrylic paint on the glass and let it dry until it’s firm enough to cut and manipulate like rubber or leather, but not yet so rigid that it will crack.

  4. Start over again because the cat jumped on the glass and the kid put their hand prints all over. Or maybe someone broke in and did that. I guess we’ll never know.

  5. Wash cat.

  6. Cut out the hundreds of shapes needed and build an impressive 3D object out of a traditionally 2D medium.

  7. Display along with the sheets of glass, but still have art critic completely miss the point.

[Runners]

[Fins]

[Shoes]

Missing Pieces:

  • The biggest missing piece here is an incredible series of wearable acrylic ties that William created in amazing colours and patterns. He sold them all at an exhibition - one maybe even fancy enough to be called a vernissage. He brought me along in my sweatpants and favorite snoopy shirt. Mostly what I remember is he seemed like a rockstar with people coming to buy his cool ties for a scandalously low price.

  • There is also a series of sewer covers in acrylic that’s missing and one of objects imbedded in paint - think paint rollers, cutlery, brushes, critical pieces of your kid’s toys that you “borrowed” - all used to paint with, then covered in paint themselves and left on the canvas to dry.

Lisa Nevens
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