More…Sketches for practice.

Practice makes … passable. 

Tell me what you think?

              

      

  

How about this as my “Artist Statement”

I am in a quandary in trying to conceive an artist statement.  What I have determined is that understanding art is a completely personal phenomenon and very difficult to place into simplistic terms.

In addition my prior work is vast, over 23 years of work so there are many facets to draw upon as well as the generation of the new works. Invention and re-invention to an artist is the cornerstone of their work and lives.  For my-self this is an intricate part of my craft.

As a way to construct where I am now as an artist I must just focus on the place I have arrived what has given rise to the work created.  To do so I must express how I view art that resides in a similar vein.  Abstract, Abstract Expressionism, even Surrealism as well as abstract art with figurative influences are often misinterpreted due to the viewer trying to "find stuff" in the abstract generated. Then the question is what about the ‘figurative’ elements found in some abstract art? This brings up the issues of what separates "representational" and "abstract”.

In actuality, looking at abstract work you have to view its abstraction in terms of what or how it extracts feelings that you have as you view it. Each viewer interprets the colors, movement and textures in his or her own way. Based on the weather the view perceives the art as a depiction that has "harmony" or "disharmony" it can stimulate a singular feeling or a combination of pleasant and unpleasant that offers up senses for their mind, soul and body to savor or disdain.

With that stated, my works are formed out of my observations and the impact of these experiences. In addition I am intrigued by the relationships between the human spirit and how I can create its presence into forms. This is an endless process that deals with the conflicts and decisions of life which I try to reveal in my own way.

These experiences which I have journeyed through are shaped and molded most often by the circumstances of the daily conflicts, personal and collective catastrophes and individual questioning that happens within my-self and to those around me that I love.  Breaking this concept down even further, I am interested in finding simplicity in something complex.  Getting into the core elements creating my compositions from the inside out, depicting what I experience, as opposed to what I physically see in front of me.

Weather I paint in segments or whole images broken into tonality the entire experience becomes more intimate and can never truly be resolved in a definite way.  I endeavor to evolve my work through recurring themes aiming to move and awaken the view with my images. By means of this quest I have found myself painting more and more abstractedly.  This method provides an alternative to realism which some might consider a choice based on taste.  It is rather that as an artist it affords me the freedom to present my ideas without being bound by what is seen only on the surface.

Final Crit!

Tomorrow I have Printmaking and Digital Imaging Final Critiques.
AARRGH! Im my experience this endeavor is painful – not because the
critique is harsh but because I never feel like I get the feedback I
was searching for. It seems the surface of the piece is the only thing
discussed and that the two most important questions are never
resolved. Important in the academic setting.
#1 Does the work meet the requirements of the assignment?
#2 Is it ART?
One would naturally assume that a critique would follow along those lines of inquiry but alas it is not so.

Some others have compared the crit as…

"It feels kind of like being on trial, and
your work is the evidence,"

"For not only are students exposing themselves
in public to negative comments about their art, which is presumably close to
their hearts, but they are fielding these remarks from professors they
generally respect and students they invariably know, perhaps too well."

"Think about the general nightmare of
standing nude in public," said the painter Lisa Yuskavage, who earned her
degree in 1986 from Yale. "But add something else you fear, like standing
nude on a scale."

"Only in the military they break you
down to build you back up into a team player who serves a leader. At Yale they
break you down and leave you to put the pieces back together."

Becky Smith, who earned her Yale M.F.A. in
1998 and now runs Bellwether Gallery in Chelsea,
has another analogy: "It’s like a gladiator spectator sport. And yes, it
can be traumatic."

"Ms. Smith remembers a crowd of maybe 75
people on good days. "One of the meanest crits I can remember was of
Everest Hall, who did these teeny-tiny, precious oil-on-copper paintings,
old-masters-style paintings of gay porn stars," she said. "Everyone
tore it to shreds. They thought it was illustrative, manipulative. They didn’t
like the subject, and they didn’t like the presentation." (The market
apparently disagreed. When he later exhibited this work in New York, Ms. Smith said, it quickly sold
out.)"

"The act of putting your pictures up on
the wall involves a lot of trust, like sharing your personal history. And the
whole thing can be very theatrical, very emotional." He likes to end his
crits by heading across the street to a bar, so that everyone can unwind over a
beer.

That drink always sounds good before – during – and after a crit…I must admit I have used all three methods to get through.

Thought I would post a few quick shots of some of the work I will be turning in tomorrow. Wish Me Luck!

April 7th – The Big Show!

 It was a wonderful success. I received great responses from a multitude of individuals, including the art community, former professors, family [they have to be nice] and friend [also on the nice team]. 

 

OK – here it is the week of the show in review.

Monday April 3^rd… supplier of acrylic sheets notifies me that the materials I ordered did not come on the truck from Houston – He had under the table requested me the materials because if I officially ordered them then I would have to have paid for the full sheet and the shipping – ah! $600.00 no way – so he requested the materials for stock – however he forgot to call me late the prior week and tell me they had not arrived — ALL TOGETHER NOW —- YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So when I called to double check – I received the bad news.  OK – News Flash!!!! I was at work at the time and it was lunchtime. CAN WE SAY DON’T PANIC?

 

I started calling all of the acrylic suppliers in the county – finally managing to get one who was interested in helping me with my problems.  That night I send an email to all of my professors telling all that I would not be attending class that week due to the problems. [Lucky for me I am in good stead with my professors.]  Tuesday I spend the morning getting the paintings organized and getting the information for the materials needed.  At the distributors office we have to dig through the pile of remnants and other full sheets.  They do not have the exact colors or thickness I need – but they have a close match.  I am so frustrated – I hate last minute problems.  I go home and work through the designs for the paintings and then call on Wednesday with the order.

 

Thursday I get there bright and early and the pieces aren’t cut yet.  So I wait while the order is filled.  I don’t get home till 1pm.  I have to rework the designs and alter a few of my ideas to make the materials work.  I paint from 1pm Thursday afternoon to 4am Friday morning.  By the time I am in the bed – collapsed – it is 4:30am – I get up at 6:30am to get the minions off to school. 

 

That Friday morning at 8am I had a meeting scheduled with my youngest sons school – called ARD.  It is to discuss and plan his entrance to middle school [6^th grade].  He has some special provisions set up to assist him with his class work.  He has a slight learning disability – so he is a mainstream student but received a little extra assistance.  You would think we were planning an invasion… The Principle, his two Teachers, and The Counselor from his current school and the Counselor from the middle school he is going to attend, and I.  *The meeting went from 8am to 10am.  After we discussed the next stage the Counselor and I met with Bryan to talk things over with him and make sure he was comfortable with the decisions the staff and myself made.  Next year at the Middle school Bryan will be in the meeting with us and get to voice his concerns over his learning and what he can do to help.

 

OK – Mommy work done for the moment… I head back to the house where my next door neighbor helps me load up my paintings – they are on the large size average size is 2ft by 4ft – and heavy – we deliver them to the gallery – for a thank you I buy lunch for him and the curator of the gallery — he heads out and we get to work on the installation — @ 4 o’clock all but one piece is installed but not completely assembled – The curator heads to her house to get cleaned up and I head to mine – she lives 2 minutes away – I live 25 minutes on a good day – But because it is Friday I find myself in traffic.  I don’t get home until after 5pm…the show is to open at 5:30 – She gets there and has to assemble the last piece – with instruction from me over the phone — I call the hubby begging him to grab a few last minute items we need [of course he does – he is awesome] – I do the 2 minute shower drill and slam on clothes – putting make up in the car while the hubby drives.  The show opens at 6pm – I walk out to double check every thing and my professor are standing in the gallery – already!  Yeah for me! ARRGHH!

 

He and I chat – and discuss a time when we can meet to have a sit down – he is my independent study professor – I had gotten the solo show and convinced him that this would be a perfect Final.  Two birds one stone!

 

The mohitjo’s are now flowing and the guests are arriving – the open to the public is in full swing – ‘First Friday Art Walk’ – Check out the photos – At 9:00pm we close the gallery – a few guests are mingling around the gallery and the studio – I am tipsy and around 11 pm head home.  Happy and VERY TIRED!

Art 101 — Jax’s Style

  Art 101 — How to make your Professors head spin.  Do something he has never done himself and do it better than he would.

 

My printmaking professor is about my age – actually I think I have a few years on him.  He is from Utah – yes I thought of all the Mormon jokes also – the really funny thing is he looks as sounds like he is from there.  He tries to be funny but isn’t.  I wish he was so I could laugh, he really is nice.  Extremely smart but a tries a little to hard.

 

When we did our first print block cutting.  He seemed disheartened because I didn’t need any advice. When he stopped by to check my work I gave him my ideas and he just looked startled.  Thankfully he didn’t try to instruct me, he simply told me if I need help to ask.  The next time he stopped by I was finished and prepping for my print run – he seemed surprised and excited.  The run worked very well and I received a good critique. I really like getting A’s.

 

This time we are to use color and a multi-block print run.  Where we use one block using a reduction printing method – cut out some then after you run a few prints – carve some more, then run it again with another color.  As always I am complicated and am going to use both methods.

 

The imagery is my medication bottles; the viewer is looking at the bottles at eye level.  This places the viewer lower – in a position of struggle to get up or a struggle to lie down.  There are negative connotations associated with this imagery and that is on purpose.  The viewer is placed in a position that they have to determine if this is a suicide attempt, addiction.  Pain and illness is the one of the first thoughts, how that applies to who sees it is up to the viewer.  If the prints are successful it will be very poignant.

 

I am making a key image – in black – which will be the last run.  The other two runs are in orange and blue.  The places where the orange and blue mix will create a brown for the table the bottles are sitting on.  The bottles are a darker orange and the pills are a lighter blue.  The creating of the colors are the hard part.  In the two other prints I have to cut out everything but the orange on one and everything but the blue on another.  The white will be cut out on all three blocks.  This is the multi-block printing method.  The reduction part will be a few of the highlights on the bottle and the pills, which means both get to be run twice; First with the true color, then second with the corresponding color to create the mid tones.

 

Yes I know I’m complicated but I do so love when I get a blank look on a professor’s face and a dumb, ask if you need help.  It can be very satisfying. I have several friends that will call periodically just to see what I have pulled lately; these have been dubbed ‘Jax’.  I am very proud of the fact that they will also call and tell me when they pulled a ‘Jax ’, it makes me feel as if I have contributed to the world a little … LOL LOL LOL – hahahahah.

‘The Artist’s Dilemma’ quoted from Raven’s Rants, part of Creative Commons

 

The Artist’s Dilemma

 

Everyone seems to wonder why artists of all types always seem to be a little bit out there, a little bit crazy or a little bit beyond the fringe of society. Artists, writers and musicians have a long track record of mental disease, drug/alcohol abuse and other self-destructive behavior. No matter how magnificent or profound their works seem to be, artists themselves seemed to be doomed to lives of misery, insanity and slow destruction.

But why is this? Why is it that the creative souls of our planet, the very people who carry forth the message of humanity, the bearers of ultimate truth, always seem trapped and tormented by forces within themselves. Why is it that they seem to suffer the most of all?

 

The reason is all-too simple. Artists have always seen the world in a different way from the rest of humanity. Rather than limit themselves to a simple notion of truth, artists, by their very nature, have to open themselves up and see the world as it truly is, including all of the misery, hatred and hypocrisy that the modern world seems to need in order to survive.

 

It’s enough to drive anyone to the brink of madness and that’s why, from day one, we’re trained by both parents and schools to narrow our focus and see the world in black and white, without the complexities and overlapping ideals that surround us everywhere we go. Though it may be a very simple way of seeing the universe, it’s probably for our own good. After all, history has shown, often in graphic detail, what happens to those who venture to expose themselves to the world as it truly is.

 

But while taking in the whole truth may be like staring at Zeus’ natural self, a sort of suicide by knowledge, it’s something that artists of all varieties have done for thousands of years and continue to do today. I myself face this dilemma today, torn between preserving my sanity and my happiness and opening myself to the world around me.

 

My only hope, perhaps my only prayer, is to strike some kind of balance between the two forces and discover a way to see what is profound, to see what is true and still avoid destroying myself, literally eating myself alive.

 

Now I don’t claim to be a perfect human being, nor do I claim to have an answer to this dilemma, but I know deep down that if I don’t find a solution, at least one that works for myself. I’m doomed either to a life of mediocrity, or to a life of misery and when I’m confronted with a decision like that, I begin to understand the artists and writers who have fallen before me. I can see why they chose to eat themselves alive with drugs and depression. It was their only choice.

 

After all, their only other option was to stand by and let the world do it for them. It’s quite possible a lot of artists, much like falling on their swords, decided to die by their own hand rather than letting themselves fall into the arms of an impossibly cruel enemy. An enemy that the artists, through their vision, know all too well…

 

(c) Raven – http://www.ravensrants.com

 

“Artist”

As an artist, painting gives me the feeling that I am a translator, giving the viewer an interpretation of what I see.  The artist takes something mundane that is often just skipped over with the eyes and transforms it into something exciting, interesting, and that will make the viewer look twice.

 

Each artist has a certain routine they use to establish the frame of mind necessary to create.  The set up process places you into a conducive frame of mind to open yourself up to recieve what you see.  Setting up can either be complicated or simple.  I prefer the simple way myself.  I make sure I have all the materials necessary to paint: acrylic paint, brushes, jar with water, paper towels, canvas, and my easel.  Some artists like to work in complete silence or with surrounding noises, but I prefer to have music playing in the background.  Music offers me the ability to intensify the emotions I am trying to use within myself to create.  Last but not least, you need a stimulus which can be anything from a still life with flowers, a vase, a landscape you see just outside your window, or an memory that either brings you happiness or scares the hell out of you.

 

Uncovering that moment in time or place that  will awaken an emotional response in the viewer on canvas is one of the greatest accomplishments an artist can achieve.  The emotion an artist seeks to translate to the viewer can be calm and relaxing, angry and hurtful, or passionate and spent.  What is seen in the work is up to ther viewer, the only thing that the artist desires is that it makes you feel or think.

 

Of course, without a solid grasp of the materials and methods all the emotion an artist captures on the canvas is meaningless.  This is something that can be taught but if an artist has an natural ability, teaching can enhance or hinder.  Renior once stated that "painting isn’t just daydreaming, it is primarily a manual skill, and one has to be a good workman."  Learning the fundamentals and techniques of painting are essential, and they can be self taught or learned.  Whether you prefer watercolors, oils, or acrylics, the effects you achieve by utilizing the media to its fullest seem to transcend the painting out of the ordinary and into what is labeled as ‘ART’.  Color and composition captures the viewer’s attention because of a strong impact brought about by how the painting was manipulated.  Subjects and themes inspire the viewer to step out of their humble lives and into what either inspired or tortured the artist.

 

Webster’s Dictionary states the definition of art and artist as "art: activity of creating things that arouse the emotions through one or more senses and artist: a practitioner of art."  This is what I strive for in each and every piece of art that I create.

 

 

July ~ Contemporary Art Month

1st Friday Art Walk – July 1st

 

Well if you didn’t know from reading my prior post – I was invited to participate – last minute – in a various artist show.  The gallery [Stella Haus Gallery]  wanted the artists to do some sort of work on a napkin… yes you read that right a napkin.  A sort of novelty themed idea but I thought it could be fun so I said sure.  Well we formulated the entry on Tuesday and she needed the piece by Thursday to hang for the opening which was that Friday.  Yeah for me!

 

Anyway, rushed and pressed for time — oh thats right I have a life — the two point two kids – the husband – the full time job oh and also all the baggage associated with a new job — yada yada yada — sorry I slipped. 

 

I looked for insipiration on the net in some imagery.. did a few sketches but nothing really worked.  My whole premise was figurative.  I wanted to do something with the idea of a formal figure image but altered.  I thought the mouth — that is it – just the mouth the jaw line maybe some of the neck but everything else gone — just not addressed.    It could represent — gluttony — laughter — sad — happy — sex — multiple intrepretations.

 

OK — after a few feeble attempts I caved and went back to the net.  Many searches later I found a picture that I thought was perfect — Do you remember Janet Leigh in Psycho …  the shower scene… I cropped the photo to show only her mouth while she screames.  The image on the napkin is in no way a representation of her but the angle and the technical details I drew from that shot .. shadow and size – crap like that. [post of piece to come later]

 

I hung the piece on Thursday evening after work. Friday I grab the hubby and we head to the show and the art walk to mix mingle and stuff.  I stopped by the gallery first — at say 6:30 pm.  The owner was not among the viewing audience and so I went around back with my husband.  We tapped on her office/studio door [an artist herself], she opened the office door, she was chatting with two men.  She announced me as — Oh here is the artist.. clue one – they were talking about my piece.  We introduced ourselves.  About two minutes into the conversation she tells me they bought my piece.

 

This is not a rare occurance but it was a unique one.  I have had a couple of hiku type work be sold before but not so quickly.  He went on and on about the piece – asking me typical collector quesitons.  Once a person has purchased a piece of work from me I tend to allow that person to have whatever intrepretation they want for the piece — ah hello they own it now.  So when he went on and on about how whimisical and fun the piece was ‘I didn’t have the heart to tell him that the piece was wrought from Alfred Hitchcock ‘s Phsyco.

 

I had a hard time trying not to laugh at the idea though.  Imagine someone going on and on about how  whimisical and fun something is — all the while you are going – its freakin Psycho!

 

 

‘Art in the Hood’ June 2005

I had been invited to participate in the show but missed the deadline for entries.  However I did want to support my fellow artists and friends in their endeavors so I went.  The show as extremely hot and unfortunately it wasn’t the arts fault — Texas in June — Hello people it freakin melting weather here during this time peroid — oh to add to the fun the location was not air conditioned.  Ket me say that again — tons of people enclosed space and no AC.  Welcome to the gates of hell.  The organizers did try to prepare they had fans that they handed out — you know the little paper ones on a stick that at least move the hot air from side to side instead of just letting it rest on you oppressively. 

 

It was wonderful to see all of my acquaintances in the art realm again.  I would love to call them friends but it’s not like they are calling me to go for coffee and chit chat.  I do try to keep realism in my life even if I don’t paint it very much.  I have not found one singular or even a true group of artists to communicate with as a collaborative group — even if only for discussion – I seem to be to honest when some one askes me what I think — I am all polite but HONEST, not rude – unles you are just to dense then I can be.  It has made for some interesting conversations in class and in various galleries.

 

I re-connected with various artists, gallery owners and met a few collectors.  Tons of fun — I in general like people — in general — however I do not have time to pander to your needs if our acquaintance is going to be short lived — If you are important to me I can justify pandering but only to a very slight degree.

 

There were many highlights to the evening but one in particular made me laugh.  We were standing around and a lady approached us.  We started a conversation on our clothing – nothing note worthy there we were a group of women.  Anyway after a few minutes she asked if she could take my photo.  I looked confused — much laughter — apparently they knew who she was — anyway she introduced herself as the Style Editor of the San Antonio Express News.  Still looking confused she asked if her associate could take my photo — she had been wearing a camera.  We all had cameras of various sorts so I did not assoicate this with anything out of the ordinary.  I said yes — stepped back and tried not to laugh to hard while she took my photo and a photo of my shoes.  I jokingly asked so when is my picture gonna be in the paper — she said Thursday.  Now you have to understand I saw her take tons of photos and talk to lots of people I didn’t think I would make it in — apparentlly I was wrong.

 

Jackson Pollack News

"Trove of Jackson Pollock artwork uncovered"

A trove of 32 previously unknown works by abstract art icon Jackson Pollock has been discovered by a family friend, who said on May 13, 2005 he would like them to tour internationally and be studied by art historians. Alex Matter, a filmmaker who knew Pollock from childhood, said the collection was among the possessions of his late parents, who were long associated with Pollock and his wife Lee Krasner. Photo by Reuters Reports/Reuters Many unknown works by artist Jackson Pollock discovered in New York storage space.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050515/ts_nm/art_pollock_dc_5

The National Gallery of Art http://www.nga.gov/feature/pollock/