busy sketching

 I haven't posted in a while, but I have been busy in the studio. My time lately has been spent looking through magazines for interesting elements and doing some sketching (exploration and experimentation). I have one piece that is nearing completion, and several pieces which are still "emerging". Here are a few of the works in progress (which may or may not end-up ultimately being created and "put done" on the substrate).

Two elements

Once again, for this piece, I was compelled by collage "minimalism -- a two-element collage. When I am exploring/experimenting I "let" the combinations of elements guide me. Once in a while, the combination of only two elements is compelling enough for me to think that nothing else is needed. It is true that I sometimes think that a viewer (or juror) might "want more" in a collage. But adding more elements, simply because it seems necessary, just doesn't seem reason enough. When I placed these two elements together the other night, I was struck by the way they interacted with each other. I "recognized" that it was enough, for me, to create what I think is a beautiful and compelling composition. I need to point out the essential importance of "proper" placement of each element, when you are using just two elements. SO here is the finished piece. I really like it, and I hope that others do too. It is entitled, "She enjoyed the warmth, but found the conversation boring"

Subliminal influence?

Here's another experimental sketch I worked on this week. I had a bunch of interesting green elements leftover from a number of previous projects. I thought I would just try something a little different, for me -- more abstract than surreal or narrative. I really like the different greens together. And I always like a slash of contrast (the red, in this case). Interestingly, when I got into my office the following day, I was struck by the similarity between my sketch and the cover of the textbook I use for my statistics class (I will provide the name of the cover art artist as a edit to this post). I had no intention of trying to emulate the cover of my stats book with the sketch. And I am not even convince that it influenced me explicitly. But maybe deep-down in my subconscious, the image influenced my sketch. Or perhaps, it was a "great minds think alike" kind of a thing (although I would consider it more of a "artists think alike" phenomenon). It does raise an interesting issue regarding the influence of a lifetime of exposure to visual stimuli. Do all of these experiences get "stored" somewhere in memory? Do all of these experiences have the potential to influence artistic exploration and production? I think that perhaps more likely, is that the total accumulation of life sensorial experiences help shape our potential to create new, integrative, synthetic compositions/images. This "coincidence" I found particularly noteworthy.

new sketch

I have been working on finishing-up some sketches (i.e., completing the composition) and on some new sketches. Here's a new one from last night. The saturated colors in this vintage artwork of a motor I find quite compelling. I think the sculptural elements fits well (I need to do more micro-cutting, of course). What I am "struggling with", at this point, is what to do with the textual part of the background element. If I leave it as it is, I think the balance of the overall composition will need some work (i.e., adding other small elements)... I think. I was also contemplating leaving the overall composition a bit "unbalanced" to create interest/tension (i.e., "does a composition always need to be 'balance'"?). I could also obscure the writing/text with another element. The element shown here is certainly too big; it is just an example. Of course, that creates its own balance issues for the overall composition. I will continue to enjoy experimenting with elements and the overall composition, and of course, will eventually post the finished piece.

Shadow and light

At one point while I was working on sketches in the studio last night, I noticed a weird effect within my shadow. This has GOT to be one of the weirdest photos I have ever taken! It's a "selfie" of my shadow. BUT... it is disrupted by the light that refracted through the lens of my glasses. This image is "raw"; that is, there is no manipulation. Weird.

"Venn: Creative Intersections" at Kirkland Arts Center (Clinton, NY)

The opening reception for "Venn: Creative Intersections" was yesterday afternoon. It was a wonderful event! We ended-up selling 10 pieces (out of 40). It's nice reinforcement for the creative endeavors we pursue. Much appreciated.

backside

As part of my activities last night in the studio, I was microcutting this element and at one point turned it over. It's an interesting look. Something all collagists should consider (i.e., "what does the back side of this element look like"). Especially with such an identifiable image.