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.