Just what I needed

After wrapping some artwork for an up-coming exhibit, I got back into my work area tonight. I guess it seems like it's been longer than it has. I have been VERY busy with a number of things. I cleaned up my work area a little and then put in some Pat Metheny on the CD player and began with some sketches. I'm pleased with the results so far.

additional sketches from Jan. 1

Just a quick post to share some of the other sketches I did to open up 2014. I'm hoping to spend some time in my art work area again today!

sex and politics in art

Yesterday, on the first day of 2014, I spent most of the day doing some reading and writing related to scholarly endeavors. At around 6:00, I headed downstairs to my art work area and decided to do some exploring and some collage sketching. I had actually thought on my way down that it is a weird thing to think about what new artworks will be created in the upcoming year. I have no idea what images and compositions I will create. It's exciting! I spent some time like I usually do just sort of looking around and organizing things. I took down a small frame that I had had hanging in the rafters for quite some time. I had a frame that was the appropriate size for that frame, so I decided to work with these to open up the year of creativity. I did some rough sketches that weren't compelling and then came across a couple of images of sculptures that I recently taken from a magazine. After some more exploration, I happened across the juxtaposition of the sculptural and anatomical images you see below. It is a two element collage. I have only done one other two element collage (also shown below) and wrote about minimalist collage in a previous post (btw, that piece sold). I could "spice up" the composition with additional elements (color contrast perhaps), but I like the piece "as is". The fact the title of this piece is an essential component of the work perhaps mean that it could be considered a three-element collage (?). The title is "The Muscles: Brian and Gerry" (3.5" x 5.5"). You can also see below a sketch of the piece with the sculptural element turned over (the colorful backside). SOoo… this composition has obvious gay allusions. BUT, I certainly had no premeditation about making a "gay collage". I really like the piece because I like the patina of the paper and the monochromatic nature of the piece (as well as the way the frame complements the work). I also like the way the two figures look so much like they are dancing. Overall, it's an aesthetically pleasing piece. I found myself thinking "Will people think I'm gay if I show this piece"? (not that there is anything wrong with that). I suspect that some people sometimes think my surrealistic compositions must  somehow represent "how my mind works". And I suppose at some level they do… sometimes. Other times, I am simply putting together images that seem to "work" together -- aesthetically or otherwise. It seems strange to even be writing this much about this piece. For god's sake, it's artwork (and if you're reading this blog, you are not naive about the various natures of art)! With all this being said, I am truly looking forward to what the new year holds for me and my artistic journey (and to see what compositions emerge from my explorations and sketching)! I also look forward to seeing what me fellow artists create this year!

A sincere, heart-felt "Thank you"!

I just want to say "Thank you" to all of you who have checked-out my blog posts over the past year. I started doing this 4 years ago as a real web log of my work and a record of some of my artistic endeavors. I am grateful that some of you have found what I have had to say interesting at some level. I hope that I have provided some useful tidbits along the way as well. So "Thank you"! I wish all of you a peaceful, joyous and productive new year in 2014!

Time travel

I am spending some time this morning going through some vintage magazines. I have a small stack of the publication "Primary Education" from 1917-1918. I have stated this before, but it is worth stating again methinks. One of the many aspects of collage of which I am particularly fond is the sense of "time travel" that I experience when looking through these old publications. In addition to the main articles are the advertisements. Here are a few that I found interesting.

"85 Years After The Invasion" (4.5" x 6.5")

Here's the finished owl piece with the yellow "accent" elements...

Christmas art by Sammy

I had to give a "Shout out" to my nephew Sammy, who gave his grandmother (my mother) a beautiful "scratch drawing" of a wolf for Christmas. There's nothing like original artwork as a gift. Good job Sammy!