Semblance of Order

What an incredible whirlwind of a year this has been. I have been stretched, pulled; reshaped like a lump of Silly Putty in the hands of a child. To say I have been busy would be a gross understatement.

Working two jobs and attending college with a full course load, I have struggled with 500 word MLA style papers, constructed sculptures composed of sticks and leaves, and studied until the next day - all fueled by copious amounts of caffeine.

I took my first trip to New York. It was love at first sight.

My art has expanded as I have begun to learn to speak and better understand it's complex language.

The world around us has become increasingly toxic and volatile during 2008. Many lost fortunes and jobs, homes and hope. A senseless war still rages. This is old news, and most are weary of the day- to- day reality of it.

But risking cliche, on this New Year's Day, it is good to begin anew. As artists, we have a mandate to decipher the world around us, to make sense of it in some way. Lines become shapes, shapes take on form and mass. Simple marks, all put together, can become an expression of a place, person or feeling.

Here's one of my student works, pen and ink on paper, which was ridiculous in it's complexity, and quite a challenge to render. It's really amazing what you can do if you just try.

Please

In between all the miscellanea I still, to my shock, have managed to do some sketching here and there.

Here is my latest, titled "Please".

Special thanks to Tom Stone, whose photos broke my heart and inspired me to do this work in progress.

Somethings got to give, folks. Is this still the USA???

Golden Discovery

One neat thing I'm discovering about college is the richness of the learning environment, and the unexpected ways new ideas can be discovered. Of course there's the traditional classroom way, with lectures and interaction between professor/student and student/student.

But I discovered a real gem in music . . . and no, I don't mean Brittany's out of rehab and decided to actually attempt to sing, or any otherwise unlikely event.

No, I mean a real talent in the person of Paul Robeson.

I write and maintain the blog for the IP Stanback Museum & Planetarium, which is on the campus of my school, South Carolina State University. We are getting ready for a new dual exhibition, The Hubble Telescope and Harlem on My Mind. Harlem is a a group of photos from the Harlem Renaissance era, taken by some of the best photographers America ever produced. The Harlem part is dedicated to Paul Robeson. I found out about him after researching for the blog.

Lord, oh Lord, what a voice. This voice will make every cell in your body resonate.

Take a listen if you haven't heard him before. If you have, reminisce.

Rural Splendor

Had a super time this weekend riding around the countryside looking. I am fortunate to have artist friends who need company, an accomplice for restocking art at a gallery that is a long way from civilization, or the type of civilization that most of us have come to expect.

The day was clear, the sky the color of blue memories are made of. The sun bright and gentle. I am rejuvenated, and aching to tell of my impressions of that day using the language of paint.

Title Trauma

I'm aching to get back to my easel! I have been away from it for far too long.

I started a new painting weeks ago, and really got into the groove; the lose- yourself-in-the-paint, drop-away from-the-world trance you get into when and if you're lucky. Unfortunately I got called away from it and am trying to clear up other obligations so I can get back to it. Here's my progress so far. I have a title that popped in my head as I was working, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with it, but it's at such an early stage I may change up. Titles ooze out of me as I'm working and experiencing the emotions it takes to create a piece. I think they are important, an intimate look into the state of mind of the artist that serves to enhance the connection between artist and viewer.

What do you think? I'm open to ideas. What should this work in progress be called? And nobody better say "Chairs"!!!!

The Exercising Artist

How important is it for an artist to get regular exercise?

I got up this AM feeling a bit overwhelmed and sluggish. It's no secret if you regularly read this blog, or even if you happen to know me personally, that I have a lot on my plate. I'm not whining about it - it's just a fact of my existence. And I don't think I'm anything special when it comes to the degree of busyness - everyone I know is stretched to the limit.

Several years ago I made the commitment to myself to take care of myself. One of the things necessary in doing this is to get regular exercise. I walk almost every day, and the benefits are many. The first and most obvious reason is the physical benefit. Walking is the most natural movement of the human body - simply put, we were designed to walk. As we walk, our heart rate increases and blood is pumped through the veins and arteries. This "stretches" them a bit, and helps to break up plaque that can form on the artery walls. Walking increases blood flow to the brain - which leads me to the next benefit - greater mental acuity. As I said, I woke up a bit sluggish. But when I took my walk, my whole attitude changed in the space of about 10 minutes. I became more aware, and started thinking positively and creatively. Here's a picture I took while on my walk. I'm fortunate that I live in a somewhat rural setting, and some of our property has lots of trees. We had a refreshing rain last night - here is a pine branch still wet.

Now, that should inspire you to go for a walk. You never know what beauty is there, waiting for you to find it.

Dirt Roads

I've been so busy lately. I've had my days jam packed full, and my evenings as well. Everyone I know is just as busy as I am, with no end in sight. I remember as a child watching "The Jetsons" - remember George zooming around in his hovercraft? A hard day at work for Mr Spacely consisted of pushing buttons. What happened to that future?

Anyway, I took some time off last weekend and decided to unplug everything- the computer, cell phone, TV; and went for a ride in the country. I'm fortunate in the fact that I live in a small town, and there are still unpaved dirt roads in rural areas. Going down these roads forces you to slow down, and really see. You might come across a deer bounding in the distance. You most certainly will see some abandoned homesites from a bygone era. I imagine what the day to day lives of the people that lived there were like. What were their hopes, dreams and ambitions?

Find a dirt road. Turn off the AC, roll down the windows. Smell the freshly cut hay and slow down a bit. That e-mail can certainly wait.

Artsy Tattoos

I previously have not given tattoos much thought. I don't have any, not because I think it's a low life thing to do, but rather I have not yet seen anything I'd want on my body permanently. I'm afraid that when I get real old and everything goes south I'll have to deal with some major regret. The things that I find drop dead inspiring today might not be so cool when I get older.

But recently, I came across some on Boing Boing that I find stunning. These tats are medical drawings on the outside of the body, highly detailed and masterfully rendered. I think they are fine works of art.

A very special thanks to Adam Hammer for the photo.

Art & Technology

Has technology changed art and the way artists create?

There is no doubt our world, and in many aspects, our way of life has changed dramatically in the last decade. Primarily, computers have connected all of us. Communicating with a person nearby or on the other side of the world has become commonplace. Through a few clicks of the mouse anyone can interact with almost anyone almost instantly. We can get in touch with fellow artists - like you are doing right now. We can, if we let go of fear and pride, collaborate with each other, learn new ideas and freshen our approach. This is vital. We must change along with our world, use every opportunity and experience to give us an edge.

Inspiration and ideas, though not any easier to communicate with the viewer or reader, are more accessible. You can still go the route of hiring models and setting up props, and according to what mode of expression you use; i.e. figurative, narrative, classic; this may be the best route for you to take. You certainly cannot get all the visual information from a photo that you get from a live model. Doesn't even compare. But, there are worlds of possibility via the internet. Take Flickr for instance. What a rich source of visual images from around the world - all for free!

Art collectors can get to know artists, and in many instances follow the creation process step by step. Patrons want to connect with us, get to know the human being behind the art. I know an artist who at her art receptions tells stories about her work. She is a narrative folk painter, and to get her point across will imitate the way a character walks and talks. She always sells at her shows. The more personable and approachable you are, the more you will connect with the viewer.

We can discover new mediums and materials. Now there are new categories, digital art being one, that would not be possible without this new technology. And as our world has changed, we must change and adapt in order to do what we are impelled to do; communicate that which stirs our souls.

"The torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice,
by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by wine." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Digital art courtesy of saidunsaids )

Myspace As Artistic Expression

Been doing a little web surfing lately. I checked out Myspace, just for fun. And fun it can be. It can also eat up a good portion of your day, if you're not careful.
Just for curiosity's sake, I looked up Neil Diamond (I'm a fan, and I thought he might be available to chat with, since I'm sure he has nothing better to do on a Tuesday but lurk on Myspace) and would you believe there are 100 + Neils? Pictured is a screenshot of, I'm sure, the real one. It says right there under the caption Who You'd Like To Meet, " I'd like to meet you, baby!" There's his autographed picture and everything!!!
One thing struck me, though - the amount of self expression and artistry involved in this. You can modify your page to fit your personality, showcase your likes and dislikes, like a page out of an old fashioned scrapbook. There are websites that provide code for animations, backgrounds and the like to be inserted on your page. You can have Beavis and Butthead rocking to Metallica or Jesus appearing and disappearing into graphics that read "The Name Above All Names". You can have a glittery seizure-causing flash background, or a serene lake scene.
One thing for sure, people have an innate need to express themselves. I think that's part of the popularity of Myspace - anyone can put a little or a lot of themselves into their pages. The variety and level of customization is astonishing. Regular people are expressing themselves artistically!
Artists will always use the tools available to them, and the Internet and sites like Myspace and YouTube that allow a high level of user interaction should remain popular. From the earliest cave drawings self expression has been a crucial part of what it means to be human. That imperative, that need, won't go away as our technology increases. Human beings will use the tools available, whatever they may be, to create art and make the world a better place.

When Your Muse Takes A Vacation

I'm in trouble. I have art to do, and can't seem to get going. I know it's in there somewhere, after all I do call myself an artist. That's what I keep telling myself, anyway. And horror of horrors, today I seem to have a waning desire to do any art at all.
I even made a list of what I needed to get done today.
A. I needed to get started on my next piece, which means I
1. Need to get some sketching done, which will help me to
*Work out composition, viewpoint
So on and so forth.
What I got done so far . . .
1. I woke up
2. I had Cheerios
3. I had coffee
4. I did yard work (in Amazon forest- like humidity)
5. Went to The Grocery Store.
Now I'm stuck. earlier in the week, when I was shackled to something else, all I could think about was having today to get to my pencil and brushes. Oh Joy! I thought, I will be able to produce like mad. I will ride the wave of boundless Creativity! I will soar to the heights of Inspiration! Yeah, right.
I am learning, though, that this happens to everybody. The trick is to go on and make yourself take up the pencil. I have, and though it took me doing some warm up work to get going, I did get going. I haven't completed what I thought I would, but making the attempt will carry you further than not making any attempt at all. Having said that, there are times when you just need to relax and give your muse time to catch back up with you. Sometimes you just need to do something else for a while, give your mind a little rest. The more you create, the more in tune you will become with your own unique rhythm. Like waves on a beach that come in and recede, yet the ocean itself stays constant.

Peaceful Discussion

Met with our local sketch group today for our monthly meeting. As always, it was good to see everyone and talk about what's going on in each of our lives and careers. Today we had quite a spirited discussion on politics, religion and abortion. Now, in today's climate, the combination of any one of those subjects could become quite explosive. You have to be careful, folks are stressed out and sometimes a little crazy. I've been around a lot of different people, from all socio-economic and educational backgrounds, but I have to say I believe artists, as a group, are some of the most socially conscious and intelligent people around. No, I did not agree with some statements that were made, but we were able to discuss, not argue. I am appreciative of my friends' point of view; I understand but don't have to agree.
Maybe it's because artists, in the process of creating, have to think broadly. I don't think it's possible to be an artist and be narrow minded. Of course, I could be incorrect, I don't know all people of the earth. But I think I'm more right than wrong.
Artists can change the world, one sketch at a time.
Oh, I did get a little work done - here's my sketch of a wood duck nesting box on the river^^^

I Have To

Do you ever feel just, well, beat up?

Have you ever had a vision of a piece - an idea, an inspiration that comes with unexpected force? You dream about it. Maybe you need to research how another artist approached certain elements. You go to the library, or look online. maybe you sketch out your composition, maybe you go directly to canvas; the one you painstakingly stretched and primed. You mix your paints, prepare your cleaning solutions, turn on the answering machine, load your brush and make the first stroke.

After soaring highs, basement level lows, much cursing, your piece is done. If you're lucky, and have gallery representation, your piece goes there. You wait and hope someone will understand your struggle, hear your voice, and pay money for the privilege of having it speak to them in their home. If you don't have a gallery you still wait and hope, maybe put the piece online, hit the streets with it.

The beat up part comes with the waiting, waiting, hoping, praying, critiques from friends and family who overnight have become art experts. Why continue this self torture?
Speaking for myself, the answer is simple. Maybe too much so. I have to.
The smell of the paint, the feel of the brush in my hand - the work that sparks to life. . . this is in the cells of my body. Even if no one else appreciates or can see what it is I'm trying to express, I must try, I must.

For more years than I want to admit to, I denied the artist within, and was miserable. I was like a fish thrown up on a high bank, gasping, struggling to get back into the water.
Of course, I still struggle, but in many ways the path is much smoother. Art has done that for me. Given me a voice, my voice.

(Image courtesy Darwin Bell - Click to see his fantastic photos)

Noteworthy Blogs

OK, I've been "tagged". I'm it. Got nominated for the "Thinking Blogger Award". My mission is to nominate five other noteworthy blogs that make me think. Here's some that I read regularly and enjoy:

Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog - this guy is very positive and really makes a lot of sense. His blog is full of great advice, from starting your own business to how to cook brown rice.

Arts & Stuff by Susan Borgas - Susan is an Aussie artist who gives step-by-step instruction on how to create art, and when I say step-by-step I mean really detailed and helpful, like how she arranges her pastels to enable her work to flow, which causes her to not waste time looking for a certain color, as well as the struggles we as artists all experience. She has taught me to look in unexpected places for inspiration.

Art News Blog - I'm a news addict, but in todays world, and with today's headlines, being a news addict can drive you batty. This is a good alternative. You learn about what's going on in the world of art, the latest trends and what some of the major galleries are showing. Just don't let that Damien Hurst skull get you down . . .

Finding Yourself Despite Yourself - This is just plain good, funny writing. The author is a mother of 3 and writes about her life and thoughts. Think Erma Bombeck of the 21st century. Sometimes you just need to laugh - this fits the bill.

Winsome Gunning Artwalk - OK, if you want to think, I mean really give those neurons a workout, this is the one for you. This blogger thinks deeply about art and life in general, and connects art with the spiritual side of things. She uses poetry and images to get her message across.

Well, there you have my five. I could list more, as I'm discovering great blogs everyday. I'll do an update from time to time.

So, numbers one through five, I'm passing it to you! If you accept your mission, your task is below.

Oh,

and I have to break the rules and list one more: Artsails1 - This blog has become absolutely indispensible for up to date news and info about everything art related in South Carolina. It makes me think of different venues and ways to promote myself. Any artist anywhere can benefit from this blog, not just Sandlappers.

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn’t fit your blog).

Risking It All

To what lengths would you go for art? Do you live, breathe, exist for art?
I saw a piece on television about a group of men who, during World War II, risked everything to preserve great works of art and keep them out of harms way during Hitler's nefarious reign. There is also a book written by Robert Edsel called Rescuing Da Vinci (there's the picture at the right) I haven't had the opportunity to read it yet, but it has some really good reviews. These approximately 400 enlisted and civilian men and women formed an organization called Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Program, or The Monuments Men for short. Comprised of members from the countries of France, Russia, China, Britain and the United States, they sought out priceless works that had been stolen by Hitler's army or hidden away for safekeeping. Upon finding a treasure, they spent countless hours cataloguing, removing and packing, and safeguarding the works. Some of the plundered pieces include works by Michelangelo, Jan Van Eyck, Da Vinci, Bellini, and Botticelli.
Can you imagine not having these master works to receive inspiration from? I can't.
If not for the bravery of these men and women, we may not have the privilege of looking upon a Da Vinci or Van Eyck. Can you imagine never having seen David's veined hand or Mona Lisa's smile?
After the war, many members became employed, and became involved in building, some of the greatest art museums in the United States. The National Gallery of Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art are just two such institutions.
So go out on that limb, take a risk. It will probably not be required of you to go to the incredible lengths The Monuments Men did. But you can do little things; teach a child watercolor, show an older person how to take a digital photograph. All these things add up, and can have a positive impact on our world.

Want To Achieve Your Dreams?

Want to achieve your dreams? Start by shunning negative thoughts and deeds. Yep, I think it's that simple.

I'm firmly convinced nothing of any importance will be gained through negativity. Say, for instance, you work hard at a job you hate all day, or night, one that sucks the life right out of you. When you come home, what do you do with your time? Sinking in front of the TV, vegetating for a while, though tempting, will not get you away from where you are in your current situation, to where you want to be. The only thing that will put you on a path to a better life is to use as much of your free time as possible to get positive. What do I mean?

One thing to do is to break up your free time into blocks, say 30 minutes or one hour, and in that time do something positive that will get you where you know you need to be. Take 30 minutes a day and sketch a tree or a face, honing your skill. Take 30 minutes or an hour to read a how-to book on a subject you're passionate about; take 30 minutes or an hour to connect with people online who know more than you do about a chosen subject.
You will immediately feel better about yourself. Notice I didn't say soon or someday. The reward of doing something positive, no matter how small it may seem, will have an instant effect. You can't get that kind of satisfaction from watching "Desperate Housewives". And the really neat thing is that one positive thing leads to and attracts other positive things and people to you, just like a refrigerator attracts magnets.

Three years ago I was in a dead end job, thinking there wasn't anything better. Someone put "The Purpose Driven Life" in my hands, and it was one of the things that changed my life. I began to think differently, began to abolish negative thoughts. Maybe I did have value - maybe my talent and love of art was no accident, it could become my vocation. My best friend had a birthday coming up - I drew her house as a gift (positive step) She liked it and told alot of people (positive leads to positive) Other people started giving me commissions (like refrigerator + magnet).

Amazingly, your dreams will begin to come true. You can have the life you want - it's right there - ready for you to take hold of it.

Gratitude

What is gratitude and why do we need it? Here's the dictionaries' take:

"Gratitude - 'gra-t&-"tüd, -"tyüd Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin gratitudo, from Latin gratus grateful: the state of being grateful : THANKFULNESS " - Merriam-Webster

It's very easy to get out of "the state of being grateful"; there are always bills to pay, and sometimes not enough funds to pay them, demands from family and friends when all we really want to do is get started or get finished with that piece of artwork, maybe a boss from hell is jumping on your last nerve. The days fly by and it seems we get nowhere.
But if we can put the brakes on for just a moment, take a breath, there is something in each day we can be thankful for. A child spontaneously putting their hand in yours, the first rose bloom after a bleak winter, the light in a loved one's eyes when they see you again.
As an artist I am thankful to be able, although inadequately, to express my feelings visually, to be able to connect to another human being in such an intangible way. As Picasso so eloquently put it, "The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape..."
Now, to my mind, that's something to be proud of, a special gift. Each experience in life can transform us, our art, into an ever changing kaleidoscope, a beauty to behold.

When To Stop

How do you know when you're finished with an art project?
I normally don't have a problem in this area - I stop when:

1. I don't have anything else to say
2. I am so sick of it I can't stand to look at it anymore
3. I run out of paint and don't have the $ for more
D. All of the above

Lots of artists agonize over this. I think it's comparable to a locomotive gathering steam going up a steep grade, when it goes down the other side it gains speed and momentum and it's damn near impossible to stop. We think (I'm putting myself in this, applies to me too) "Just one more color here" or "I need to flesh this out a bit more", but if we're not careful, very careful, we can lose the whole message we were trying to convey in the first place. Like bread, like pasta, there is such a thing as overdone. It is helpful to step back from it for a few hours, a few days, take a break and come back with fresh eyes. Here's a neat thing to do - if you can, turn the piece upside down. You will see it with whole new eyes, and thus using the other side of your brain will help you to have more balance in your piece. This has helped me many times, I'm sure it will help you, too. Listen to your inner creative voice, don't second guess yourself. (Image courtesy of Kevin McCarthy)

A Jackson Pollock Find?

Saw a documentary about Terri Horton, a lady truck driver who found a piece of art at an antique store. She bought it for $5 as a gift for a friend, who thought it godawful ugly, was insulted, and didn't want it. So Terri put it in a yard sale, where it was spotted by an artist who suspected it could be an undiscovered, authentic Jackson Pollock. Terri, who had no idea who Pollock was, hired art experts, contacted dealers and everyone else she could think of, to try and prove it's authenticity. She has been told if it is the real deal, it could be worth upwards of 3o million dollars. She has been offered 2 million, 9 million, on up, but she has refused these offers. 15+ years have passed, and the argument continues.
Why won't she take the money, move out of the trailer park she has lived in for many years, quit driving the big rig; live the good life?
Terri Horton did something unusual. She took another look at what she once thought was unusual, confusing, ugly. Whether or not is a genuine Pollock, it looks like a Pollock, and something of the artist communicated with Terri Horton. This truck driving, trailer park dwelling grandmother did something we can all learn from; she has listened to her heart, taken a second look, a deeper look.
A part of the artist is embedded in his/her art. The layers of life, the emotions felt when creating a piece, are all there. It is imprinted in each color, stroke of the brush, each texture. This truth, this soul of the artist, can and does communicate with those of us who are the viewer. With some who view a particular piece by a particular artist, that voice becomes a shout, the communication a warm embrace.

Getting There

Got some work done on my latest painting this weekend, thankfully. I had some good music going and just soared!
I began adding shadow to the can, fleshing out the depth, thinking about it's spatial relationship to the other objects around it. I'm giving a lot of thought to the light source and reflections at this point, planning where they should be. I couldn't use sunlight, which is what I'm showing, because it was an overcast day, so I tried to make do with direct lighting. At this point I think that will be OK, because I'm just planning where the lights and shadows will go. The final color choices will come at a later point. Next comes the fun part; the detail work on the can, painting the crackers, further establishing a mood, doing all I can to make it live and breathe. That's the gravy part!