Collaborative Projects

Heres a few pictures of an armature in progress with Ms. Worths art class:

Collaborative Projects

Working with Ms. Worth’s class has been a lot of fun.  The students really seem to like to work together and we can see how they are pulling the project together.  Ms. Worth has been great about making sure they are doing this on their own.  She told me about a project she had them do with a totem pole for homecoming. They did this a couple of weeks before our collaborative project and I think this got them in the right path of working through problems and dialogue.  At first she said, they all had trouble with not have just their own work take place.  This probably really helped get them in the right place to continue with working as a group.

Collaborative Projects

There seems to be a lot of collaborative things happening on the internet.  I was looking at a CNN tech article about 50,000 animators divying work up with amateur videographers for a project call Live Music.  The article pointed out that the traditional ideas of ownership for artistic is changing.  When I started my grad seminar I thought that the collaboration idea was somewhat of a isolated thing but it appears it is unavoidable.  The good news is that it makes the creative mind work harder and hopefully have better results.  The bad news is that there are lots of amateurs and there is a lot of poor quality out there or just a limited audience that follows these things.  Sometimes, too many people being involved makes things chaotic.  

Aesthetics

The definition of aesthetics according to wikipedia is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty art, taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty.   "critical reflection on art, culture, and nature"  Since society changes, it is reasonable to expect the definition to become broader in society. Aesthetics "studies new ways of seeing and of perceiving the world".  Not just the old look at my work and what do you see idea.  Art evolves.  Each viewer perceives or senses what they see and feel.  So art is sensory. Art is in the eye of the beholder seems relevant.  I have had to rethink how people look at my work since I came to PSU.  This semester has changed me.  I am more open to others and my own work.  Never thought of some things.  Constant reexamination is necessary.

Completed Paintings

I just completed my first commission this past week.  The customer wonted five paintings of a summer  cabin.  Here is the finished product:

("Cabin" 10" X 22" Watercolor)

Completed Paintings

When I was exploring this one old factory I walked into this huge room with only one piece of equipment in it. I was immediately taken back by the isolation of ladder in such a vacant room. So I thought that it would be interesting to single something out as well with the process I go through when painting. Basically what this meant is that I decided that I would leave out all neutrals (browns) from my pallet. 

(Side Note: In this piece I continued to leave the paper show through in some areas.)

("Untitled" 30" X 20" Watercolor)

Completed Paintings

When exploring one of the old factories I stumbled across a room with an old cabinet that still had different medicines in it.  In doing some research to find a title for this painting I found strange word.  I was looking for something that meant "small box"and I came across the word "pyxis".  Curious to find its meaning I checked a few online dictionaries. According to the online website thefreedictionary.com, Pyxis is a Latin word which means a small box used to hold medicines.

("Pyxis" 30" X 20" Watercolor)

Work In Progress

Here is an updated photo of the 180 view of a basement that has partially collapsed.  (Size 30" X 123") 

(Left and Center Panel)

(Center and Right Panel)

Blue-Print Collaborative Project

OBJECT OF THE PROJECT

To help students use dialogue and brainstorming to come up with ideas on how to make objects that are laying around outside and would typically be looked at as trash or not useful and make them into something useful

TARGET GROUP

High School Juniors and Seniors from Coatesville School District (ages 16-18)

Type of school: Suburban/urban large public school

Type of class:  Art Class

PROCESS

1. Contact Ms. Worth at Coatesville Area School District to discuss setting up a schedule to present the project to the group
2. Suggest various objects disposed of that they may want to collect 
3. Have the group start to dialogue
4. Group will brainstorm to see what direction they want to go in.
5. Documentation of ideas placed on index cards for easy reference
6. Give students deadline to collect objects that will be used in project
7. Have objects photographed as they appear, continuing to create and record dialogue
8. Document the process through video recordings and digital photos
9. The group will decide on the results they are seeking and map it out
10. Throughout the process the students will have a written record of the steps they are taking
11. A binder will be kept with the written record and photographs
12. The students will use Home Access Discussion Board to discuss ideas while away from class.  This will become a blog.
13. The class will work as a group on  making the objects into useful items
14. An exhibition will be planned at the school for students and teachers from other classes to participate in dialogue about what they are viewing

NOTE: The project will develop according to the direction the students take it in 

MEDIA USED

I am planning on using video recordings of the process as well as written documentation that will be displayed.  Photographs will be used to show before and after as well as the actual display of the finished objects.

READINGS REFERENCED

Grant Kester’s book Conversation Pieces was used to guide me through the process.  I looked at some of the ideas discussed in his book in which groups were used.  I wanted to use a group that could benefit from looking at things differently and finding creative ways to reinvent things.  The idea was to impact on this target group in order to help them look at the items and be creative in recycling them into something useful or aesthetic and to create dialogue that was evident throughout the process.

Artist Looked At

Painters:

-Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

-Robert Raushenberg

-Edward Hopper

-Antonie D’agata

-Enrique Santana

-Morgan Craig

-Jenny Saville

-Nicholas Simmons

-George Shaw

-Peter Doing

-Donald K. Lake

-David Dewey

-Keith Jacobshagen

-Dean Mitchell

Photographers:

-Waylon Brinck

-Eric Holubow

-Ian Ference

-Christopher Payne

Sculptures:

-Joe Pogan

-Duane Hanson

Drawers:

-James Winn

-Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

Other:

-Gordon Matt-Clark

Long Term Goals

-Work on larger scale paintings.

-Produce at less one painting a week.

-Learn how to professionally frame my own work.

-Start a group of still life's paintings in a “Rembrandt style” of old car parts and decaying metal, with dramatic lighting.  Started this series of found objects in etching for printmaking.

-Learn how to weld to make custom frames.  

-Start out with a series of small rust studies and try to match the colors from the frame in the paintings.  The largest dimension of the paintings will only reach 7 inches.

Work In Progress

This frame started off as just an piece of rusted sheet metal.  It is not 100% done yet.  I still need to mount the wood to the frame, stain the wood, and rust up the welded spots.  Pushing around the idea of using a dark red for the wood stain.  More pictures to come.

Long Term Goals

-Work on larger scale paintings.

-Produce at less one painting a week.

-Learn how to professionally frame my own work.

-Start a group of still life's paintings in a “Rembrandt style” of old car parts and decaying metal, with dramatic lighting.  Started this series of found objects in etching for printmaking.

-Learn how to weld to make custom frames.  Start out with a series of small rust studies and try to match the colors from the frame in the paintings.  The largest dimension of the paintings will only reach 7 inches.

Enjoyed Quotes

-”The job of an artist is to always deepen the mystery” by Francis Bacon

-”Those who do not want to imitate anything produce nothing” by Salvador Dali

-”Art is thee most intense mode of individualism that the world has known” by Oscar Wilde

-” The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.  It is source of all true art and science.” by Albert Einstein

New Idea

Working on a new painting for the upcoming months.  After a studio visit from one of the painting professors here at PSU, I had a few ideas we bounced off of each other.  I ended up with the idea of doing a 180  degree to 360 degree view of some of the rooms that are in old buildings.  The first painting that I am going to do is 180 degree view of a basement that has partially collapsed.  I will also be making up almost half of this painting from past drawings and reference material to add another challenge.  The end product will be 30" high x 123" wide  The same as 2.5' x 10.25'.  I just completed a sample line drawing in a small scale 7.5" x 30.75".

(Sketch For Painting)

(Preparation For Painting)

Work In Progress

For this painting I plan on keeping as much white from the paper as possible.  There is an artist by the name of "Dean Mitchell" that leaves a portion of his watercolors the stark white of the paper.  There will be a touch of cubism due to the irregular perspective.  New pictures of this painting will be posted through out the week.  

Completed Paintings

Just finished these two paintings this week.  Both are on 300 lbs. Archers Cold Press watercolor paper.  Professional pictures of these paintings will be posted on my website in a week or two along with titles.  Hope you enjoy.

Visiting Artist James Wines

James Wines was amazing.  I thought his work was very impressive and his designs creative.  Examples of his work show his artistic talents.  I read up on him and he was first a successful sculptor and graphic designer.  His use of lines shows with this background.  His green sense was beyond most. 

I am impressed with being able to be exposed to someone like this.  He is passionate and inspiring.  Architectural art and design really interests me. My work with detail and lines in old buildings helped me feel connected with his work. Like his concern for the "EARTH" What an asset to Penn State!

I am really getting into making my own frames to fit in with my work.  They are part of the piece.  Rusty old metal, scraps.....getting into junk yards, trash cans and other treasures!  Exciting.

Feeling a little taxed with all the Art Theory and trying to get the dialogue down. Lots to process.  Working on understanding relational aesthetics.  Kind of like relationships.  Have to break it down. 

Readings/News/Work

Conversation Pieces:
At first, conversation pieces was difficult to read.  It was hard to process some of the information and some of the vocabulary slowed me down.  Eventually, it started to make sense.  Just using dialogue in a way to grow is interesting.  I need to get use to collaborating.  Noticing, that I need to be more outgoing with who I am as an artist.  It's ok. That's why I am here.  Looked at tons of articles today.  My Art History class and this grad seminar seem to be discussing some similar things.  Kant is new to me.  Like the way he thought about things.  Ahead of his times.

America: Now and Here:
Read this today, september 11.  Perfect.  The public forum is nastier.  Still seems unreal what happened in 2001.  As artists, we can make change.  The Interstate Highway exhibition is a great example of dialogue art.  Need to fix our identity crisis as Americans.  I wonder if that nut really understood what burning the Koran would do to the world.  So much for hospitality.

Upcoming Ideas:
Went in search of new materials for a still life today.  Found some great background material for a back drop.  It will create a great contrast to the old rusty motors and such.

Work in Progress

This painting is still in progress.  I am using watercolor on a 30" X 22", 300 lbs., archers watercolor paper.