QUILTED WRANGLER (MIDNIGHT) original metal wall sculpture

Dolan’s experience in pattern making and textile design shines through in this mixed media work, where salvaged metal meets refined acrylic painting techniques, and the unpredictable beauty of ink transfer adds an engaging level of texture to the man in the snappy suit.

Beginning with a hand-drawn scene on wood, Dolan applied thick layers of unctuous acrylic, and while that set, he took to snipping metal to create the bold textures and tones found in the jacket’s “fabric”. Each piece of metal used in this work was found on Dolan’s cross-country adventures, pulled from an abandoned barn (see the pipe tobacco canister in the jacket) or similarly, unearthed from a forgotten campsite in the forest (the coffee can in the sleeve).

For the lapels, dress shirt and the man’s face and hands, Dolan created unique silk screens using vintage maps, vintage advertisements and handmade designs, then transferred them onto large sheets of reclaimed siding, sometimes layering up to four screens in one spot, to create the depth you see in the black-on-white patterns.

A recurring character in many of Dolan’s metal and paper works, this mysterious cowboy lives on in a vibrant new palette and peaceful desert mountain setting.