Showing posts with label automatism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label automatism. Show all posts

Monday, January 27, 2020

Ephemeral Conversations - to Stimulate the Universe!

Well, I'm on a word kick. Or rather, an "Ephemeral Conversations" kick.

"To Stimulate the Universe" 11" x 14" “We are poets! Our function is to stimulate the universe, hunting for warped songs and tertiary spacetime music.”
My latest mixed media/visual poetry experiment! This started as a DEMO piece for my materials and process students. It got me all excited to play with materials. ____________________________ I am continuing to work on a new body of work called "Ephemeral Conversations" - A playful merging of mixed media and ephemera that I've been collecting over the years, including images for art collages collected by my late mother who passed in 2011. The themes of the work dive into dream states, psychology and contemporary myth and fantasy.
It is also a play on words. Not only am I using the occasional ephemeral materials from found papers (old pharmacy notes, stamps, pamphlets, bits of wallpaper), but I'm also using words from reading materials. Some of the words are direct and meant to be viewed as a message from the artist to the viewer. Some of the words are subdued and half hidden by other media, meant to add visual atmosphere - reflecting the way you might hear (but not quite understand) snippits of conversation in a public place.
My collection of materials began when I in college. At that time, my mother had boxes of materials she would use for her own collage and assemblage work. She collected old and damaged books on medicine and industry, vintage magazines, childrens books, maps and pamphlets. I witnessed her thought process of during this time of collecting, sorting, cutting up and using these items. When I cleaned her studio after her passing, I kept every scrap she had saved. I have the same desire to hunt for items I can use in art, and continue to add to this collection. When I use materials both myself and my mother had collected for her own art, I feel I am having an (ephemeral) conversation with her spirit as I create.
"The Tempest Whisperers" 8"x8"
I have about 8 of these 8"x8" Ephemeral Conversations now, but I need to get good photos of them! Some of the Ephemeral Conversations (And Much More!) can be seen at the Columbus Learning Center in Columbus Indiana until may 7th. I am currently involved in a show called "A Look at Relative Art; A collaborative family exhibit" with art by my Father Robert, Mother Catherine and Myself.
I really need to make a separate post about this and talk about the art of my parents.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

My Bisquick is Expired and some colorful bizarre DOODLES


What did I do today my fiends? Did I fall into the lazy haze of the couch to watch shows or complete a jigsaw puzzle on my iphone, or did I stand up and reach for the paints?! I tell you, dear fiends, I did both!

Hannibal makes me GIDDY:
I tend to fly through a tv series with Dave because we bond over an episode of ~something~ during
mealtimes. I never thought watching the tv would be an engaging and fun experience - I always viewed it as a soul sucking device that kills brain-cells - but with the right person, watching shows can be exciting and inspiring, especially when you can pause the show and discuss theories, or parallel themes, or how an actor's certain facial structure confuses and delights you. We are currently watching Hannibal, a spectacular and maddening series, making me giddy with obsession. I am inspired by the surreal vision sequences - and the spectacular master plan of the show's path.
I can't help but think that mom would have loved this show, and I feel a little closer to her spirit when watching it. Is that sick? No, that's just us.
Other shows crossing our dinner plate lately are the new episodes of Bones and Sons of Anarchy. All of the shows we watch pretty much confirms the sneaky suspicion that our culture is obsessed with violence. Perhaps I should include more violence in my art? I have the sick surreal stuff down for sure.

SO. ART! 
Thats why I'm writing this daily thing right now.

Today I --
- finished the buttons I started yesterday. We don't need a photo of that.
- Colored two 4x6 drawings I did the past few days (on Stillman & Birn sample papers)
Medium: Bic Pen, watercolor, white ink. Both started as automatic drawings.



First one sold. The second is available at $35.


- I also cooked home made soup. I was considering putting dumplings in it, but my bisquick expired in 2011. *pout* I wonder if Hannibal would ever consider using bisquick. Probably not, unless he was challenged to.

Its only 11:15, I know more art will happen - I plan on working on some commission work, and looking at grading some student drawings, and doodling more.. I'll save anything truly interesting for tomorrow's post!

As always, Comment, Share, Rave, Dance if you are so inspired to do so by this post!  What do you think of Hannibal? What do you like to paint watercolors with? Is your bisquick expired?

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Daily art # 8

My wacky schedule had me wake up at around noon, and I didn't do ANY art until 2:00 am.
I am now writing this at 5:21am.
I am surprised how much happened in that time span.

Yesterday I concentrated so hard on the master copies.
I think today I needed to just loosen up and create things purely from my imagination.
Automatism is the best way to get started for me when I'm feeling uninspired, and I really like how things turned out.


"Chaos Bliss"
6" x 11" on Yupo. Available for $75.


"Paradise Dream Women"
6" x 11" on Yupo. Available for $65.



While I was working on the first piece, I also did a small ACEO / artist trading card.

2.5" x 3.5" ACEO (artist trading card) on bristol. Available for $9.

A Word on YUPO
I LOVE yupo. It is the SMOOTHEST surface I have ever worked on, and yet it seems to work with everything I throw at it so far and it DOES NOT WARP. It is a little more expensive than regular paper (bristol for example) but it is COMPLETELY worth it, and I think I'm hooked. And well, its not 'paper' anyway, its plastic. (but fancy plastic! and apparently it won't yellow.) I have yet to try oils, but who knows! Perhaps I'll have to try it out soon. so far I have tried various inks, watercolors, bic pen, colored pencils and acrylic.

Random Art Question of the Day:
Have you tried painting with something other than your dominant hand?
how about your feet?

I have even gone so far as to draw with my belly. (I taped a pencil to my belly, sticking the end in my belly button... it was a hoot.)