A restless experimenter, Joseph Drapell achieved an artistic breakthrough in 1973 when he developed a painting technique using broad spreading tools attached to a movable support. Drapell would often begin by pouring paint close to the centre of the composition. He then used his customized tools to paint in fluid, sweeping layers. By cutting notches into some of his spreading tools, Drapell could create evenly spaced grooves and striations within each large gesture. “Life Fulfilled” exemplifies the results of this experimental technique, with its unusual painterly content and complex surface. The painting has a shimmering, iridescent quality which shifts and changes in the light. The radial movement of the painted surface contrasts with the unusual geometry of the format. The painting features bevelled edges, which add another visual dimension to the work. Directly inspired by the landscape of Georgian Bay, Drapell has used mechanical means to arrive at romantic results. Intensely interested in pushing his materials in new directions, Drapell eschewed traditional brushstrokes while creating a distinctive and personal mode of image-making.
