Spring Semester

My experiences this semester have taught me more than I have ever thought possible. It has taught me to open my mind, and broaden my horizons. To take my time, and really think things all the way through. That no matter what happens family will always be there. There is always time for fun. And you have to learn to relax every once and a while, but stress can be good to. It can be your biggest motivator. And last but not least it isn't about having time it's about making time. What really matter will always work it's self out.

Light Box Sketchbook

None of my three dimensional work made the cut for my website, but I still feel it is worth sharing.  This is one I'm most proud of, mainly because of all the nights not leaving the CFA till 1:00 AM trying to get it just right. It was my first 3D class, my first illustrator project, and my first laser cutting experience. The whole box is designed using tabs and slots. It is a sketchbook designed to double as a light table. When you aren't sketching the paper is stored inside the box. When you are drawing remove the lid to retrieve paper, and if you are using it as a light box simply insert light source into box and replace the lid. I use my phone because the LED light it provides is really bright. Over all I'm pleased with the outcome, but just like with everything else there is always room for improvement. This only teaches me how to get better.

Rainbow Round my Shoulder

Rainbow Round my Shoulder 
Choreographed by Donald Mckayle

I am not much of a dancer. I'm not a dancer at all actually, and this semester I some how found myself sitting in a dance seminar every tuesday and thursday. I haven't been particularly enjoying my time, just doing my work bidding my time till the semester ends. And then today we watch "Rainbow Round my Shoulder" by Donald McKayle and it sparked my interest. Out of everything we have seen I find this the most note worthy. The emotion and rhetoric displayed in the piece is incomparable in my opinion. In a way it opened my eyes to dance, and encouraged me to keep them open. Well worth checking out.

The Psychology of Color

The Psychology of Color
The other day in class someone suggested using color to convey motion in our collaborative piece. While we did not end up deciding on that idea I think it is still worth thinking over, in general to better ourselves as artist. As professional "makers" it is our job to stimulate emotion wether good or bad, and the color choices we make no matter how minuscule and tedious they seem are crucial. Each color is going to convey an emotion and effect the viewers ascetic experience. The link above is by no means the say all about the psychology of color, but it is a fun and entertaining way to get you thinking about what our color choices really mean.

Women of Willendorf

Anyone who had taken Art 220 knows this image. Women of Willendorf or Venus of Willendorf. Through Art 220 and 221 this is one of the objects we have learned about that have really resonated with me. I am not sure why, perhaps because of the anonymity of the figure. Or what it represented to the people, health and fertility. Either way the image and figurines repeatedly pop up in my mind and will resonate, I believe for a while.

Stop Motion

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/5nZKB7/butterr.com/video/mind-blowing-painting-skills/

While stumbling I came across this. It is a very well made stop action film about painting. The was he combines himself into the paintings and the bubbles is ingenious. Truly blurring the lines between sculpture, painting, and even digital media. Found it interesting and worth sharing.

Work in Progress

I chose a suburban scene in isometric perspective because I really wanted to emphasize the repetition and conformity of a suburban landscape. But when you get close the way it is draw each house is in it's own way different just like people. It's designed as a maze to symbolize the maze we travel though life. My work is not normally this heavily symbolistic, but I'me pleased with how it has been working out.

Chuck Close

This particular Chuck Close self portrait has taught me a lot about how art can be sensual without being sexual. This image has not erotic and does not have out right sexual content, but yet it's extremely sensual. The paint the attention to detail the cigarette all come together an create a very sensual image with out being sexual. And I think that can teach any artist a great deal about the importance of thinking through any and all implications of their work, and what they want to convey.

We Live in Public

        I just finished watching "We Live in Public", an insane documentary that sort of puts things in perspective. This insane technological master mind puts himself and other people through pretty much a psychological living hell. It takes the concept of "big brother is watching" to a whole new level. Devaluing genuine human relationship, setting a tragic scene of what the internet is doing to society, and giving you a glimpse into the human psyche. A internet mogul million spends his entire fortune, and ends up in well I won't say so not to ruin the surprise....
         .... Josh Harris will really make you think twice before you turn that video camera on, and let people into your room. Definitely worth watching.

Destruction

This six part series is based off a still life that I had done. As a part of class I participated in a program called back water clean up. As a class we went out and cleaned up the Back River of Essex. While we were cleaning I found three of the pieces of plywood I used as canvas. They where covered in muck and rotted out, and I found them inspiring. I love the thought of using found objects in my work. So i set out to find three more, and I didn't have to look any farther than my own backyard. The woods behind my house was littered with abandoned plywood providing ample canvas. After I rinsed and primed them each piece was painted with a different repetitive shape found in the still life. Once the paint had dried I took a electric hand sander and really roughed up each board. I wanted it to feel as if they where found this way like I had done nothing to them. Like they where a part if something greater that had broken off.  

Hustler

This oyster piece is my first clay sculpture attempt. It's clay with a dark stain and white glaze. The idea behind the oyster was to make a "toy" that shows your story. The story behind the oyster is that when I was younger, much younger than you are supposed to be to eat oysters, my father fed them to my sister and I by the bucket. We loved them, but no one believed we did. So when I used to go to family/friends parties I hustled adults out of their money by betting them that I would eat them. This oyster symbolizes those experiences and probably afforded me a couple of actual toys!