Archive for October, 2008
Rules, and Bridges to Your Own
Friday, October 31st, 2008
I usually say that a painting is more than the sum of its parts, but in this case it’s the parts that have taught me more.
Some of the the details are groundbreaking for me and new things I tried will be applied to the next paintings, but as I try not to be biased about my work, from a distance the painting looks like just another landscape. That’s my general opinion about most landscapes though; being the most popular genre of painting, most of them need a second glance and closer study. I’m pleased with the efforts, but it began as work I had no intentions of posting.
One of our neighbors thoughtfully collects our mail and waters the garden whenever we’re away even when not asked, so when he requested a painting to be copied from a postcard of his home town in France I cringed (you know, about the copying thing), then agreed, but to barter. With no deadline demanded there was plenty of time to wrap my head around this project, and I took it. I still wanted to do a good job despite my strong convictions about copying, and waited for a time when I felt ready to do my best. The first few strokes are as important as the last.
There are decent arguments for and against a “right time” for things, and if a job needs doing immediately I have no problem doing it immediately; I was just thankful to have no pressure and a little more time to visualize this one.
I came to terms with the thing by finally just starting it, and the rest of this blog entry explains how that taught me more than my last five paintings all together.
Once I let go of all the over-thinking about ethics and integrity, while resolving to “make it my own” I got lost in the most important part of anything you create: the work; “the zone” (we all want to get lost in the zone!). It turned into a really interesting, fun learning opportunity.
There are a lot of slogans, terms, traditions, quotes and sneaky little Art-myths passed along through generations of Artists. We absorb them over the years and they gradually play a part in forming our opinions and our work habits to some extent. Impulsively we set up walls that can get in the way of seeing and discovery.
We need assignments like this that challenge us to break free from rules, if only temporarily…rules that may be fine for others but may prevent us from exploring the avenues that lead to our own personal best.
There’s a lot of competition in the Art Biz, a surplus of advice, group lessons, suggestions, and strong opinions about what Art is and isn’t, what you should and shouldn’t do, and even a kind of unspoken “underground” rating system that some people have, pinpointing what style or motivational source is better than another.
The point here is: whatever the initial source is that gets you painting or creating something, then use it. If it feels right for you then it is right for you. There are things in each painting, successful or not, that bridge all our efforts into the next. The act of painting is valuable above all, whatever it is or however it’s done. The value you hold for yourself translates into your work that, if successful, may also become valuable to someone else ($!).
A Studio Affair
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
The romance began last year.
Deer, Me
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008
Deer Me
Sequoia National Forest, Eastern CA
Well I’m in between paintings with too many photos and too many places to post them, feeling temporarily overwhelmed by choices of what to do first, but silly enough to blog the corniest most cliche pun ever. At least they’re current photos. This is a good time to share a few important messages that are conveyed so creatively I can’t stand it.
The Treeless Squirrel sends us a message of “Plant Trees Please” with a refreshing twist to the usual serious and extreme methods. The clever concept with a meaningful plea proves once again that creative thinking as opposed to anger and destruction is a much more effective way to encourage people to make changes. Click here to watch The Treeless Squirrel, and here to go to his furry website.
Click here to watch New Zealand comedy performers Flight of the Conchords singing The Issues
Click here to watch Obama dance on The Ellen Degeneres Show and see him as a child dressed as a pirate for Halloween.
New viewer, Artist Simon Halapir’s website
The Fourth Of July - moving on
Saturday, October 18th, 2008
The Fourth of July, 36 x 48 x 2 inches, Acrylics on wrapped canvas $2,200.00
The Oxide Gallery in Denton had an open call today for Artists to bring in three paintings that best represented current work, to be judged for upcoming space openings. Even though I didn’t think The Fourth of July was finished, I brought it in because it has the cheerful colors and bold marks that I’d like to start injecting more into future work. Usually there are lots of colors used, but they get layered over each other on the canvas and become muted. The gallery owners informed me that it is finished! OK, great, I’ll take their advice…I’m quite happy to move on to another painting and decide at a later date if this is truly finished.
Especially toward the final stages when so much time and study has been invested, we can be so involved in the work we don’t see it with a fresh perspective the way others do. Other people’s eyes and opinions are so valuable.
Oh, and my apologies to whoever posted a comment that never got published. In my haste to delete 24 spams I was too quick with the click. In that split second I noticed that it was not a spam, but it was too late. I don’t even know which post the was comment was on, so whoever it was, please try again - I appreciate all feedback, negative or positive..it’s always helpful.
VAST/VACD Exhibition
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
Merit Award winning Adam 11 x 14 inches graphite on paper, 21 x 25 framed will be on exhibit as part of VAST Connections running from October 3rd through November 1st. Sponsored by the Visual Arts Society of Texas (VAST) and the Visual Arts Coalition of Dallas (VACD), the exhibition will be held at the VACD Gallery in the Thompson Fine Arts, Inc. Building, 2902 Maple Avenue, Suite A , Dallas, TX. Gallery hours: Fri, Sat: 11a.m. - 5 p.m.