Saturday, May 8, 2021

I think I want to start a new series on these abandon barn ideas I had.  I want to see how far I can push it.  Some thoughts on this are.
  • I like the idea of something in the past that no longer exist or is in use or disrepare.
  • Like old relationships
  • people that have past
  • Things that are long gone and forgotten about.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

My Generation

So I wanted to hear some Who today.  I turned on my youtube, did a search and started playing video's of songs by The Who.  I was really wanting to here "Baba O' riley" and "Eminence Front".  Then I ran across a few videos of their earlier stuff, which was very much like something by the Beatles.  You could see the influence in the hair style and even the dance moves of the band how they immolated the times they lived in and esp The Beatles.

I'm not a Who fan, but I do like some of their tracks.  It's those tracks that I can clearly say “That’s the Who."  It can't be anyone else.  I think if they had stayed on those early influences, they would have been lost in a sea of wanna be rock groups who had the same influence and we wouldn't have those great tracks we love from them today.

To me this thinking translates over into other forms of art, esp visual.  So Often I see artist that are GREAT at producing art that will sell.  I dare say it, but sometimes it almost seems their art was made to sell.  Now, there is nothing wrong with selling art, or producing art that will sell.  I wish I could, and maybe I could.  Some could say I'm jealous cause I don't sell much work and it could in part be true, but I know it’s not fully true.  Here are two things I think about Influences and selling.

If you’re the Beatles, I do not blame you for being popular and doing what you do.  You make art that the masses love and you can't help but do that.  That’s Great!  You’re very lucky.  In this aspect I think your doing what every artist should do and that is your best at what you do.

If you’re influenced to do art that isn't really you, that is made from a perceived formula of what people want, you could be wasting your time.  Now I'm starting to sound like my old painting instructor who was very blunt, but there is a silver lining.  You must have some skills or talent somewhere that brought you here, so you’re not out yet.  So what do I do?  Can I not paint what I want?  Of course.  Just like I stated before though,  If your The Who, you will never make those great Who songs, if you don't let go of those Beatles Influences.  You can’t be The Who if you’re trying to be The Beatles.  Translated,  You can't be YOU if you’re trying to be someone else, and we would miss out on the things YOU can produce if you do that.

Being YOU will not take you where someone else is.  YOU will have your own journey that will have its own perks and benefits that someone else will never see.  Don't obsess over the loss of what could have been.  When I think of my own work, sometimes I can be in the moment and see the vast field of possibilities to be excited about.  None of these possibilities involve making someone else happy; they only fuel my own interest.  I feel lucky to have such interest.  Be happy with what you have, cause trust me,  if it touches your heart and being and soul, it will touch someone else who was waiting for your art to come to them.

Strike that match and light YOUR candle and shine and sing YOUR song

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Here is a note left by my painting instructor, David LeDoux when I was in College.

I think is says " There seems to be a lot of thinking right now.  You've lost the well, the momentuim, the ability to act. Ruin a few pictures, it'll be all right."
Seems to be my problem alot of times.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Praise the lord!
I got over my hump.  Got in the right mind set and actually did some work today.
One painting was a sketch I was working on, that looked really stupid and going no where.  I dabbled on it just to get in the mood and wahlah!!  I was making sh** look like shinola.  At least better than it was.
Then I was able to tackle a tougher painting that was daunting me.  Woot.

Pat of my process is the "50 paintings on paper" approach.  Basically it's the idea to have something set aside that you can just not care of you make it look good or not.  Then you just paint, just do it and see what happens.  These little pieces may be nice in themselves or they may flop horribly, which is there purpose.  If the painting isn't going to survive on this trial piece , it would have went the same way on a bigger canvas.  Now your fore armed with some known issues and now in the mood to tackle the daunting process of painting.  Really helps.  The only thing I really waste on these pieces is alittle paint but not much.  Right now I'm painting on 5" diameter scrap wooden circles I collected from work.  I have dozens.  So I'm well stocked in the materials.  Any time I'm stuck or have a idea and want to know what it would look like in paint, I grab a circle and experiment.

Learning from Someone else

So I broke down and watched a good artists do a few paintings on youtube.  I tried some of his techniques and it improved my work.  Talk about being open to new sources and information.  So glad I gave others input a chance and I'm starting to imagine what opening myself up to what works in the future will lead to.  :)

Sunday, November 27, 2016

What Did I learn by searching Robert Matta

Today I did a search on Roberto De Matta on youtube and found some things useful in my artistic journey.

- To trust the process. Meaning Let the journey unfold, don't get hung up or too critical.  Trust the follow through.
-Let the work evolve.  Let the painting have a start, a middle and and end.  The way it looks at the beginning doesn't have to be the way it looks at the end.  Changes can be made.
- Painting can be more than representations of the outer world, but also of the inner world and about the painting itself.  Matta used good color schemes and designs in his paintings that would hang well on walls but where not about common subject matter.
-Think about going larger and letting it happen.
-Adjust as you go, don’t let an idea hang till next time.  Deal with it asap and maybe you can elaborate later.
-allow for some areas of the work to develop slowly.  Don't close the door too soon if your not ok with the area just yet.  Leave it alone and come back later
- I notice an artist that comes in with and color and pushes on some areas then black and white, then another color.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Damn! I'm searching for what I already know!

Do it and let it be.  Love it, then leave it.  Do what you need to do and move on.
All the while this is what I've been needing and yet I've been researching, positioning, idea forming and getting ready while not creating, not getting in the studio, and not moving on to new things.  I have a artwork I started 2 years ago staring me in the face waiting to be finished and it's been so hard to finish it.  I've actually been avoiding the studio and really unhappy with my work.  Things seems stale.  You might be thinking, blah blah blah, another artist trying to get over his creative block by not doing, and just needs to do and be done.

You would be right and it took me reading: http://skinnyartist.com/9-warning-signs-of-an-amateur-artist/  In it it points out if your sitting on a piece that's holding you back, you either need to finish it and release it or just move on.  Rehashing it over and over does not help things.

So I hope this helps me in my journey cause I really need to get things going again.  There are several works that need s few finishing touches and be done.  Need to just do it and let it be.