Plants & Organs

Its just as frustrating as it is a waist of energy to think about why i haven’t produced more work. The closest I’ve come to establishing a routine is to make myself do at least one B&W drawing a night. If I have any amount of drive and remaining energy at the end of my day, I can always crank out at least one. It provides enough to keep my mind working on visual ideas. These two came about in thinking about how its not always necessary to use the entire surface area. Also through letting my hand wander I started creating shapes that to me felt like plant parts merged with organs. A few weeks ago I actually watched a friend slaughter 2 chickens and was struck by the color and shapes of the internal organs. Of course I started seeing Soutine paintings in my head and wondered where I could find a sting ray in southern Arizona.

A new painting in progress. Working in B&W helps me find ways to break habits and hopefully repeat myself less often.

Not a label but an attempt to focus

I saw a mention of Dorthea Tanning today that erroneously (I hope) said she had passed away. I couldn’t find anything to support the claim so I’ll assume it was a mistake due to the fact that she is 99 years old. I’ve looked at her works over the last few years and found inspiration in her use of paint, color, and form. Then just to add a bit more mystic to this great artist is the fact that I graduated from Knox and then later moved from New York to Arizona, just as she did. Of course I can put much real value in these biographical facts but I still look just a little longer for a glimmer familiarity in her use of light or composition.
Anyway I’m no expert on surrealism as I obviously lean more towards abstraction. But thinking more about Tanning’s paintings made me think that I could characterize some of my paintings as abstract surrealism. This may have absolutely no real significance but I will think about whether or not I can use this term to clarify the direction I want to take my work. Sometimes I want to bring clarity to my work by defining shapes and removing anything too ambiguous. I think if I took this idea to its end I would end up with a more recognizable type of surrealism. But then the other side of me thinks that doing so leads to an over worked canvas and the loss of that instinctive drive and expression that was my original intention. So while I know I’ll just go plodding along at this very slow pace, I will at least consider for a little while whether or not to adopt Abstract Surrealism as a theme for my portfolio.

A few paintings are nearing completion.

Packed up what I could and headed west

Since my last postings much has changed in my life. Through a series of circumstances and sheer will, my family blew out of New York. We now find ourselves building a new life in southeastern Arizona. It has been a positive change in many ways and we are all happier and healthier for all that has come out way. Now that I have extracted myself from the stresses of life in NYC, the question of my art looms larger than ever.
Right now my paintings are moving towards shades of gray. I think the pale winter desert landscape combined with a new life is causing my paintings to loose all shape and turn into muddy colors. When I’m still trying to understand how my new life is defined, its hard to find definition in my work. While I haven’t been working outdoors as of yet, I definitely try to observe as much as possible about the light and new shapes I see everyday. I think as I become more grounded in Arizona, I will find the path I’m seeking for taking my art to new places.
Here is a sample of what I’ve done most recently.

Update

Progress post of the two paintings I’m currently working on. The first one might be done in which case I’ll add it to my etsy shop shortly.
Night Sand

Rising Fossil

Posting is productive or procrastinating?

Is it helpful to post every stage of these paintings? It gives me an interesting perspective and let’s me think about them at times when I can’t be working on them. It might also be interesting to document the works so I better understand my process. In the case of the painting below, I saw how the composition was coming out so much like another painting. If I’m working on auto pilot, I would just paint the same composition over and over again.

I needed to change the direction of this painting. The composition was strongly similar to the last painting I finished. Things have been rough lately and I seem to be taking it out on this painting. I feel like I need to open up more and be less precious with the works.

I don’t think I’ve changed the direction of this painting as much as the other. Its a large painting so I’m trying to build up areas but also work the entire canvas so it has more of a history. The initial gestural painting was interesting but I could never have left it alone. There is way too much stuff for me to work out through painting to ever leave a minimal painting alone.

New Painting Series

I usually think paintings come in series of three.


Only the top painting do I consider finished. The other two are getting close to being resolved.

A real update will be on the way

Like I’ve said before, the main purpose of this blog is to keep me on track. Its easy to see that I have not posted any works recently finished or in progress. I hit a lull but this weekend two pieces have started to take shape. My paintings are just as fragmented as my thoughts but I’m trying to find ways to tie it all together. A posting with pictures will be coming in the next few days.
I also intend to make some updates to my etsy shop with new works and reduced pricing. I’d rather get the work out of my apartment even if it means earning less than what I would ideally like to get.

Update on show at Kush Cafe

It looks like my show at Kush Cafe will be extended for another month. I can’t take any credit for the extension but I’m happy for the extra time. Apparently the artist for April was unable to do his/her show so that works to my advantage.
Anyone able to make it to Clinton Hill in Brooklyn, I hope you will stop by. Everyone who has gone has really enjoyed the food (and the art).
map of Kush Cafe

painting update

Its too late to write much but i needed to show some progress on this painting. i don’t paint just so i have an excuse to blog, but it is a motivational aid. not that i love blogging, but i hate blogs that aren’t updated often.
this weekend i plan to finish priming a new canvas, working on finishing this painting, and adding a few pieces to the etsy shop.