Smoke

The paintings in this section all use carbon smoke from an acetylene welding torch. Since 2003, several series of work have emerged which are all produced via a semi-controlled process using baffles and fans to blow the smoke unto a horizontal white panel. The later smoke work has used various objects and materials such as gravel, hardware, or leaves to obstruct the smoke from covering the sub straight surface leaving shadows of the shape of the placed objects. “The more conversant I get in the technique and the older I get, the more I can tolerate the accidental and the lack of control," Sayre notes. He describes the process as a form of dancing with a torch, licking the surface with heat and smoke and then carefully sealing the very ephemeral smoke signals with a sealer.

Above: From the “Face” series. 48”X48”, Smoke on panel with objects used as “resist”, 2022-24