Azae theta nebula (with LEDs), 2023

Tiffani Buteau  

AZAE THETA NEBULA was made using Tiffani's signature holographic resin painting technique to capture the vibrant exhilaration of cosmological discovery. Rich sapphire-blue fades into the blackness of space holding tumultuously forming clouds of elements and colors as they chaotically churn into existence. Tiffani is inspired by the images coming out the James Wess Space Telescope, vaulted by its possibilities, knowing that a nebula very much like this would could exist in our infinite universe. Size: 18" x 36" Sides: Oregon Poplar wood with Japanese style, "Shou Sugi Ban" effect* Materials: UV-Resistant, eco-friendly resin Lighting: Fully installed LED strips that are customizable via a remote control, can sync with music, and plugs into either a wall outlet, or a battery pack via a USB cord. This install gives the painting an outer glow that is achieved with transparent stand-offs. *Sides: Originating in 18th century Japan, shou sugi ban is a particularly striking method of preserving wood by charring it with fire. Tiffani captures the look of this ancient tradition by sanding and staining the sides charcoal and rubbing it in to the wood grain before finishing it with a protectant. **NOTE: This painting is best put in a high-light environment so you can see all the details well, or in a dark environment to take full advantage of the LED strips' ambient lighting. Excellent choice for restaurant or bar artworks with an incredibly unique vibe. The mockup shows a rough estimation of its size in a living space, not exact. WHAT IS RESIN PAINTING? You can think of epoxy resin as a sort of liquid glass once it is mixed. After Tiffani mixes the two parts, the clock starts, leaving just about one hour to color the resin, pour it, and paint with it. It is about the consistency of honey while in this state. So she uses a knife and heat implements, like a blow torch, to paint these scenes. At the one-hour mark, it sets into its final form. Each layer takes about 72 hours to fully cure into a brilliant and extremely durable glass-like finish. Most paintings have several layers, creating a depth of field unrivaled by other mediums. You can see through the transparencies of certain areas of these layers to those below making the process almost sculptural. Tiffani is known for using this technique to create her signature immersive look of oceans and nebulae.