Painting of a Paint Tube in a Contemporary Style

Tube Painting (acrylic and spray paint on 18"x24" panel)

Artist: John Potter

This painting is part of an ongoing series in which I explore the use of custom linear halftones as a central formal and conceptual device.

The work draws conceptual inspiration from the quotation, “Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it’s awfully hard to get it back in,” a phrase popularized by H. R. Haldeman during the Watergate scandal. The quote serves as a metaphor for irreversibility, informing both the imagery and the process-driven nature of the work.

Visually, the painting is intensely bright and highly saturated, drawing on the color sensibilities and immediacy often associated with street art. A resin coating gives the surface an almost candy-like sheen, enhancing its visual impact. While the work strongly commands attention, its relatively small scale allows it to remain assertive without overwhelming its surrounding space. Although the painting reproduces well photographically, it is best experienced in person, where its surface qualities and object-like presence can be fully appreciated as an objet d’art.

Painting on display