Thanks be to Adria, my advisor extraordinaire! Yes, I met with her this morning in order to bemoan my angst-ridden existence as an artist. I wasn’t at the point that I needed to cut off an ear, mind you, but I felt defeated. (I decided to spare her my festering mom-angst complaints…) But THEN…she tells me that such despair is normal, and nothing to fret about. REALLY??? But, I’m so GOOD at fretting. I might say that it’s what I do best. But now… because I understand that struggle is NORMAL in the art world, I somehow feel better. Why is that??? I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that I’m a moron and that it’s obvious that there is struggle in creation. Duh. Let me clarify: I think that there is a perception that renowned artists who are dead had lots of struggle in their life, but that any living artist worth her salt shouldn’t admit to struggle. She should appear matter-of-fact…as if the canvas/paper/clay WANTED to be that way. I remember someone in architecture school used to talk like that…”it wanted to be there/like that/bigger/smaller/etc.” I always thought that was a crafty way of turning what is a subjective statment into one that appears to be objective. My point is that no one likes to admit that they struggle. Right? This gives those of us who do struggle a migraine. Thoughts?
This weekend, I am planning on going to the South End Open Studios. Should be fun! I’ll report next week on my findings. I’ll also let you know who provided the best snacks.
So, my recent drawing is a self-portrait:
That’s it still on the board…closer:
Note the look of thoughtful and mild angst…I tried to be “realistic.” Actually, if I had truly wanted to be realistic, I would have put some crud on my shirt that my four-year old somehow got on me at breakfast time. I’m going to do another self-portrait. We’ll see what happens.
I have no brilliant artwork from my son. He does say the funniest things, though. Yesterday, at the dinner table, he told me that he was “weary and tired.” Such drama. At least he can express himself, and not automatically resort to a fatique-fueled meltdown. Why can’t we harness the energy of preschoolers for our energy shortages? I’m sure that a single classroom of them could power all of Vegas for a day. Or, if you throw in some cookies and chocolate milk…you can power it for an entire WEEK.
But I digress, as per usual.
I’ll end this post with the amazing work of someone who can draw like crazy!
Please watch this video HERE of him completing this drawing. Pretty amazing, right??? I notice that a little hand didn’t come over and put down some little conglomeration of Lego. Hmm. He must have different working conditions from me. I assume that he’s drawing from a computer image, but if that’s the view out his window…then his working conditions are RADICALLY different than mine. (I’m not complaining…just an observation, mind you…obviously, his studio must “want” to be that way…)
Ahh…the summer is winding down. BOOHOOHOOOO! On Tuesday, September4, our quiet neighborhood will become a seething, traffic logjam of irate parents schlepping their sullen kids to school. Gone are the days when kids would walk five miles to school. Now, it seems that they have to get dropped off RIGHT at the door. Maybe I’m grumbling because my son’s school (where I not only bring him RIGHT to the door, but take him in as well, mind you) is next to the middle school. Now THOSE kids could certainly be dropped off on the corner, in an effort to cut down on the traffic backup, right? Why don’t we have school buses you ask? Two words: budget cuts. I wonder how much it would actually cost? Perhaps every parent would be willing to pay an extra $20 in order to avoid the traffic hell created by each kid being brought to school individually in his/her own Subaru/VW wagon? (we’re not quite Volvo territory here…you’d have to go over to Lexington for that) It’s kind of like those Japanese cookies, where the box, the inside of the box, and each cookie is individually wrapped in it’s own complicated packaging. I like the packaging of Oreos, where I can neatly and efficiently grab a whole ream of cookies with one hand. But I digress…what was I talking about before cookies? I forgot.
Look how domestic I’ve become! I used to be stressed out because I had two weeks worth of work to complete in the span of three hours…and now, I’m griping about traffic and cookie packaging! I would have thought that my less-stressed lifestyle would lead to fewer gray hairs, but alas no. I’m actually toying with the idea of NOT coloring my hair…but that idea may not last long when I keep seeing that mysterious crone looking at me in the bathroom mirror. (who IS that anyway????)
Well, thank GOD I finished my 23rd drawing for the series:
That one got a bit crazy. Not to gross you out…but I did find a partially rotten pear in a plastic bag under my desk. So gross. I like to buy them and then have them ripen a bit, before I draw them. Otherwise, they’re kind of hard and not quite so easy to mash with a tool. I just need to keep better track of them…that’s all! Sometimes, I wonder if this blog will be fodder for my admission to the local asylum…
HEY!!! Good news!!! I’m going to be participating in the Artist Professional Toolbox program, organized by Montserrat College of Art and the Arts & Business Council of Boston. What is it? Why, it’s a “A 9-month program for emerging and mid-career visual artists to master business challenges.” See? VERY useful! Anyone out there in the Boston area should look into this, if you’re interested. I hopefully won’t be the remedial student asking all of the inane questions whilst others look upon me with bemused pity. I have a lot to learn, and this program is well-regarded. I’ll learn things like: “Don’t stalk a gallery owner”, or “Sending 30 emails a day to a gallery owner might be off-putting”, or “How not to get a restraining order from a gallery owner”. This is important stuff. Did YOU know that sending an edible arrangement to a gallery owner is NOT the way to get a show? See? There’s so much to learn.
Speaking of learning something new, this is my son’s latest brilliant, drawing:
This is apparently my husband and I talking. If the people didn’t seem to be smiling, I might be concerned about the electricity shooting out of our mouths. I guess my son feels that we talk too much at the dinner table. Hmm. I should keep this for when he goes to a shrink later in life.
So, we’re going to the Cape next week. Yay! In honor of that, I’m posting some vital research done by some scientists at Wood’s Hole:
What’s that, you may ask? Well, it’s the skin of a squid when it listens to Cypress Hill. I kid you not. Please watch the video here. Apparently, this squid was hooked up to a special iPod playing Cypress Hill’s Insane in the Brain. I think that animals will be very happy when we go extinct. In the meantime, we can do crazy experiments on them. Trust me, I’m all for Cypress Hill…I’m just not sure that the squid would agree.
I know. You’re wondering when I’m going to show some actual art. Here is the work of Matthew Shlian.
He does these CRAZY paper sculptures…mostly folded, always geometric. Watch this video of him. So amazing! I’m so impressed with my ability to make an origami frog…he was probably doing that before he could walk. I think that he needs to get involved with fashion, right???
Speaking of fashion…project runway was last night. Eek! Don’t tell me what happened! Yes, I have noticed that neither Heidi Klum or Nina Garcia has any gray hair, thankyouverymuch. Luckily, I don’t hold the bar for myself quite that high. (I’m sure that they don’t eat a ream of Oreos either…hmpf!)
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: andrew kaufman, drawing, roger williams zoo
Who am I kidding? I quit my job to be a better mom. I earn $0…except for the occasional sale of one of my prints, or some graphic design work for friends. Hey, but I’m not sitting around, eating bon bons! Well, actually…if you look around my house, I might as well be. Yesterday, I tried scrubbing our brick fireplace clean (just the outside, thank you). It was a sooty mess…and now it’s only sort of a sooty mess. What do you think…should we paint it???
Scary, right? Yes, I did scrub the hearth as well. Hmm. Doesn’t look like it, does it? It’s such the norm nowadays to paint brick fireplaces. At minimum, I need to get a fireplace screen. Do you think it’s saying, “PAINT ME!”?
This is how I imagine it. Now, it’s adorable, right? Maybe I should just paint eyeballs on it.
Speaking of critters…I went to the Roger Williams zoo with my son this week. He liked it…but what a haul getting down there! Sheesh. I can’t imagine slogging down there at rush hour. Anyhoo…we saw lots of cute animals…
Very sweet. I had to crop out the ugly tarp covered wall in the background. I hope that they have prozac for zebras. Next:
Why is there a big piece missing in his poor ear? No clue. Maybe he had a toddler elephant pull on his dangly earring? I was always paranoid about that. Next:
Isn’t that an idyllic picture, except for the bent chainlink fence in the foreground? It was hard to get a good photo. I guess because I wasn’t on safari, right? Next:
LOOK AT THOSE SKINNY LEGS! I’m so jealous. Seriously, though…they kind of creep me out. They’re like big bendy straws, or something. The flamingos definitely needed some prozac. Next:
Isn’t he cute? He was munching away on the straw above…we could get so close to him! Perhaps that isn’t hay, but hemp…he seemed happier than the other animals. Is it evident that I am not a fan of zoos? I wish all of those animals could be back “home.” Perhaps these are all rescued animals that can’t be returned to the wild? I’m not sure…but I don’t like zoos. Poor things.
While I’m on about zoological things…look at what my son made this week:
Can you guess what that is? IT’S A JELLYFISH, OF COURSE! This is also a priceless creation that I somehow need to keep and cherish until he is married. I will bring it to the wedding reception and talk about this as evidence of his early genius. Well…if they let me out of the asylum, I’ll make that speech. Actually, if I make that speech, they might put me in an asylum. Hmm.
Great news! I had more of my drawings photographed. You can check out the whole series here on my website. You already saw these…but these photos are MUCH better:
and:
and:
Woo hoo! I only have one more to finish so that I’ll have 13 drawings for the show at Wheelock College this Fall. But enough about me…take a look at the work by THIS artist:
I LOVE THIS. It’s sooo amazing. I love the blend of abstraction and realism. I love the rough edge of the paint on the canvas. I love the space that it creates. You MUST take a look at his work. Here is his website again, in case you missed it first few times I linked it. This painting is from his “Constructed” series, but his other work looks great too. So talented! I may have to have a bake sale in order to raise money for one of his works. How many bags of $0.50 cookies do you think that I’d need to sell???? A lot. I know. I’d probably just eat them all anyway.
OK…keep me posted about other great new artists for me to check out. In the meantime…I’m going to go gaze at my son’s styrofoam jellyfish masterpiece whilst I eat bon bons…
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: Jessica Liggero, mail art
Well, another balmy day in Boston. Right now it’s 74 degrees. Not bad, right? But it’s 91% HUMIDITY. Ech. I’m breaking out a sweat just from typing. I may have to buy one of those silly fan hats. At least some of them are solar powered…but that pretty much guarantees that you have to sit in the baking sun for the feeble fan to work. I’d be better off sitting in a bucket of ice…ANYHOO, I’ve recently starting sending “mail art” back and forth to a friend in Santa Barbara. Mail art is nothing more than just elevating a simple correspondence to more than just words on paper. I find it really fun, as it doesn’t matter how horrible it turns out…it’s always fun to get personal snail mail. Here is an envelope that I did for her:
So, folding that odd shape becomes a homemade envelope. SO FUN. She recently mailed me her own version of “performance art,” which entailed a handmade envelope…a decorated scrap of newspaper, and a pile of sand/dirt from her living room floor. BRILLIANT! Has anyone ever send you an envelope full of glitter or confetti? It’s kind of like that, but worse. Luckily, her California dirt just blended in with my Massachusetts dirt. I’m sure that her dirt was horrified by the humidity here as well.
Here is the latest brilliance by my son:
All of the dots are flocks of birds. We recently watched some of Planet Earth, narrated by David Attenborough. The whole thing is full of amazing footage…like birds by the billions migrating somewhere. This must have made an impression. I can’t remember what the other things in the drawing are. Yes, there is a person on the lower left…but I can’t remember who he is. He has that telltale Edward Scissorhands look. I will be sad if my son ever decides to draw a hand differently than this. What I also love his how confidently he draws all of these lines. I hope that he never stops drawing. Just as long as he goes to college and doesn’t end up camping out in my living room at 18…he can keep drawing…
My own work is plugging along. I do have a new drawing:
It helps to photograph your work on a bright, sunny day. I’ve started another one, and it feels as if it’s going to take forever to do. I have no idea how people do large, pencil drawings. They must be hermits who don’t have to go shopping at Stop & Shop, be at the beck and call of a four year old, and sleep. I noticed that my DECAF latte from Starbucks yesterday had a bad effect on my ability to draw a smooth line. Clearly, those pencil wielding hermits must only drink water. I’m not sure if I’m willing to give up Starbucks for art. I may have to settle for wobbly looking drawings.
My art advisor has organized a small, public art project on the bikepath here in Arlington. People have taken forgotten chairs on their way to a trash heap and refurbished them in creative ways. Here is the website. My son and I visited the chairs on Wednesday.
Luckily, they are for SALE…if you are a MetroBoston local…you can stop by and take a look! The proceeds benefit a larger public art project here in Arlington…the Spy Pond Mural project. This project will create a huge banner of artwork done by highschool students to adorn the side of the local Boys & Girls club. (or…if you have enough furniture in your house, you could just make a donation here, and specify “Spy Pond Mural project”)
I definitely have enough furniture in my house…it’s just decrepit. I don’t think that I can rejuvinate our hideous couch with a coat of paint, though. Or, maybe I can? Take a look at THIS and THIS. SERIOUSLY! Someone painted their couch! I think it helps that their couch was sort of “firm” and not “mushy”, like ours. I mean…our couch is sort of like a dirty beanbag with legs. How easy is it to paint a bean bag? Not easy. How ugly would it be afterwards? I get indigestion just thinking about it. Just don’t let this happen:
I don’t know who those kids are…but I’m hoping that their parents had a healthy dose of Zantac that morning…
Has anyone out there ever painted a COUCH? If so…let me know.
So, a local artist is going to be in a group show in NYC this month. Here is her website. Her name is Jessica Liggero, and her work is really great. She does large paintings/collage on paper of glamorous people gone ugly in a limited color palette. I think that her stuff is great. Anway…I always stop by to see what she’s up to when we have our Somerville Open Studios. But now…you too can see her work in NYC! Her show will be at Rush Arts Gallery from Aug 16 – Aug 31.
She seems like the type who would throw caution to the wind and paint a couch.
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: boston, First Friday, galleries
So, tonight is “First Friday” in Boston. As you likely know, this is when the galleries are all open late for people to come, look, socialize, and feel inadequate…(kidding, sort of…I may need to do some laundry today and locate a hairbrush…). Most people head to 450 Harrison Avenue, where there is a glut of good galleries. It’s kind of a fun and festive atmosphere…but it’s actually not great for seeing the art, as it tends to be crowded. Because I spend too much time in the ‘burbs, I’m going to go ANYWAY. I’ll try to conceal my suburban housewife-ness by NOT having any loud discussions about how my four-year old could do that, or how expensive Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers have become at Stop & Shop. Are you depressed yet? I just had to share the wealth…anyhoo, here’s what’s happening:
Bromfield Gallery is having works by Linda Klein and large scale prints by artists from Zea Mays. I have taken a couple of printmaking workshops at Zea Mays (print studio in MA), so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing this show.
Linda Klein
Howard Yezersky Gallery has an interesting show titled, Material Abstraction. This is a group of “paintings” that hardly use any paint at all. Hmm! Sounds cool.
Carter Potter
Samson Projects is having a show of Steve Locke’s work. These works seem interesting…almost like broken people scattered about a room…
Steve Locke
I’ll hopefully give you an update on what I liked…stay tuned!
As a side project, I’ve been helping a friend with some graphic design work. Yes, I have some knowledge of Adobe InDesign. No, I’m not helping you with your graphic design project…I’m pooped! Here is the postcard that we made for his upcoming show in NYC:
And the back:
Yes, I know that his name is not centered on the grey rectangle…the card needed a bleed, and will be cropped slightly. Sheesh! Or, maybe you didn’t even notice that? If so, I like you and need to have you over to my house more often. You would likely be able to overlook the general chaos and disorder. I suppose as long as you didn’t trip on anything /injure yourself /get a rash, my messiness could go unnoticed! AND…I could put you to work by forcing you to wear THESE:
How did I manage to get that image into TWO blog posts? I’m amazing, that’s how. I plan to sew my son some pajamas made of Swiffer sheets, as a means to get more lazy housekeeping done.
ANYWAY, George’s show will be at Agora Gallery in NYC, with the reception on November 8. I’ll post this again when it’s closer to the date. (George, be thankful that I’m not doing your PR). You’ll recognize me at the opening because I’ll be the one wearing the plaid duster/slippers and sporting a Swiffer maxi dress.
My own work is chugging along. I still can’t seem to take a decent photo of my drawings. Either my head is casting a shadow on the drawing, or there is a glare from the light on the graphite. Hmph!
Hmm…do you think that I need to make it generally darker? Perhaps so. Or, is it just a lighting issue? (I think it’s the glare on the pear that puts me in despair…yuk…yuk…yuk… clearly, too much My Fair Lady or Dr. Seuss on the brain.) Actually, I think that I’ve just eaten too many wasabi peas today. The drawing looks better in person, so I’m going to assign blame to the camera, and not my drawing. I know. I should run for politics. But, who would vote for a suburban mom? Wait…OTHER SUBURBAN MOMS! I might be onto something here…I’ll start collecting signatures at Stop & Shop, shaking hands, and giving out bags of Goldfish crackers (which, will hopefully be on sale…score!)
Now, if I can just dig my “mom jeans” out of the closet, I’ll be all set for First Friday…
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: baraka, drawing, Ink, tools
No…I have no reason for my “woot woot-ing.” I also have no reason for this post, but I’m not getting bogged down in a search for interesting content. I’m just going to wing it. Notice, there is no “unsubscribe” button on the left. Hopefully, this post won’t make you wish that there was!
Actually, one reason for a “woot woot” is that the filmmaker, Ron Fricke, who did “Baraka” has a NEW film. CHECK. IT. OUT.:
Did you watch the trailer? Doesn’t it look AMAZING???? “Baraka” is also an amazing film. It does make you marvel at how limited one’s world is…unless you’re Ron Fricke, of course. When I need international exposure…I head over to Trader Joe’s. You know, frozen vegetable masala patties…dried seaweed…frozen veggie gyoza. Hmm. He’s probably never even heard of Trader Joe’s.
I think that I’ll go have a wasabi pea…
(Do you think that people in non-Western cultures go “woot woot!” like we do? Probably not.)
Speaking of non-Western cultures…I wish that I could go see this show at the Asia Society in NYC. Has anyone seen it? It is the ridiculously stunning ink paintings of Wu Guanzhong. Here is one of his works:
I loved that painting…and THEN I saw the title. SO brilliant, right???? Look at those sinuous brushstrokes!!! Look at the seemingly haphazard splotches!!! Lovely. Don’t you think that this is amazing? (btw…you must agree with me.)
So, I finished another drawing in my new series. Here it is:
I’ve “pixelated” the hammer. See:
I like where this is going…so I’m going to keep on this series for a bit. Actually, I have to take a slight detour, as I need at least three more drawings from my last series for the Towne Gallery show is October. STRESS! I’m trying to decide if I draw a tool that I’ve already done before…or, get a new tool? The challenge, of course, is finding a tool that I like the “look” of. Suggestions? Like one of these?:
But not this:
Does this count as a tool?:
Sort, of right? Actually, here’s a tool that I like:
Brilliant!
No, seriously…send me tool suggestions to draw. You’ll spare me an embarrassing trip to Home Depot where I refuse assistance because I’m shopping based on appearance only. No, I don’t care if it’s rechargable, has extra drill bits, a lifetime warranty, or an adjustable handle. I ONLY care if it will look INTERESTING with a mangled pear.
These wasabi peas are making me thirsty…
(Seinfeld reference…anyone? Bueller?)
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: boston, Dick Blick Art Materials, drawing, Wheelock College
I have no new drawings to show. But, what I am missing in my own work…I plan to make up by my entertaining photos. Guess what I bought this week???? Only the coolest thing on the planet:
Do you know what that is? (besides the obvious…) IT’S A PURSE! I kid you not. Can you see the two zippers? Whoever came up with this idea…truly spoke to my soul. Here it is OPEN:
Come on. You love it, right? It doesn’t NEED to open…but it does. BRILLIANT! Where did I get this fabulous item, you may ask? From Dick Blick. Seriously! My kind brother and sister-in-law got me a gift certificate. I’m sure that this is not what they imagined I would buy…but, in addition to some art supplies, I felt that this item was calling my name. No, I’m not really hearing voices, but hasn’t a hamburger ever spoke to you? Did I mention that I’m trying to be vegan? Hmm. Actually, it is kind of making me hungry looking at it…
Yesterday, I met with Erica Licea-Kane. Besides being an accomplished artist, she is ALSO the director of the Towne Art Gallery at Wheelock College in Boston. Do you know WHY I met with her? BECAUSE I am going to be in a TWO person show this fall AT this gallery! I kid you not. I’m very excited. Here is what the space looks like:
Pretty cool, right??? I’ll get the wall on the left. I need thirteen drawings for this show. Although I currently have twenty…the Concord Art Association is going to have ten of them at the time of the Towne Gallery Show. SO…I need three more…PANIC. I literally could not sleep last night stressing about this. Why am I writing this post instead of drawing? Who knows. Screwed up priorities, I guess.
Speaking of drawings…this is the creation I made this week with my son:
He is obsessed with building demolition. Every drawing that he makes is a building being demolished. How did he get this idea, you ask? Because, like the brilliant mom that I am…I show him videos of building demolition on You Tube. This is one of his favorites. Did you watch it? I have seen that probably forty million times. Anyway, it kind of leaves an impression, right? So, those images are burned in my son’s mind. Hence, this is what he draws:
Let me describe to you some of the objects that are falling off the side of the building: a square table, a round table, four table legs, plates, a pizza cutter, a mattress. My son doesn’t know that people usually EMPTY a building before taking it down. He imagines all of the contents falling out. One drawback to this subject matter is that he tends to scribble all over the drawing to show the “dust” from the crumbling building. I feel that too much “dust” on a drawing covers up all of the other brilliant things, so sometimes I have to try to distract him so that he won’t scribble all over the drawing before I can get my hands on it.
Here’s something that I keep thinking about. I look at this drawing, and realize that his drawing ability (compared to other 4.5 yr olds) is not conventially “good.” BUT…he loves drawing, and I think that his drawings are GREAT in their non-conventional way. I fear that he will someday have an “art teacher” at school who will crush his enthusiasm by pointing out how is drawings aren’t “good” (i.e. realistic). There are SOOOO many people who have had that experience. I will have to have a heated parent/teacher conference if that happens to my son. Heaven forbid. Let’s hope that antiquated way of thinking has gone the way of the tsquare. (btw…they still sell those at Dick Blick, just not in the same aisle as the hamburger purses…)
Just so you know…for the next two weeks, I’ll be in Seattle. I can’t guarantee a blog post…but MAYBE if you’re LUCKY…i’ll post some Seattle pics. That is IF I remember my camera…and IF my son does not smear saliva all over the lens again. (btw…did I mention that it’s my birthday today? Hence, I treated myself to that hamburger purse. You know you want one.) Happy 4th!
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: boston, Boston Public Library, drawing, Mixit Print Studio, Somerville
So, today was another oppressively hot day in Boston. Yesterday, it was 104…today, a mere 98. I know. The Sahara Desert is hotter. BUT…do they get 48″ of snow in the winter? Noooooo. (Remind me again why I live here???)
ANYHOO…I went to see the “ReThink INK” exhibit at the Boston Public Library. This exhibit showcased the work of printmakers who have been a part of Mixit Print Studio in Somerville over the past 25 yrs. WELL…the work was so great to see. I have actually had classes with many of the printmakers who were included, such as Catherine Kernan, Jan Arabas, Deb Olin, Annie Silverman, and the list goes on. It was also a treat to see people that I am not familiar with. I’ve got photos of some of the prints from artists that I was not familiar with:
This work by Nona Hershey is titled, “Branches, Spring.” I love the soft green areas behind the strong tree boughs. My photo does this print no justice, but I loved the texture of the bark, and the three-dimensional quality of the interlaced branches. I also love all of the scratchy black lines in the background. It is soft, yet hard. Here is her website. (please look) Next:
Mongezi Ncapheyi
This print is titled, “Migrant Workers’ Hostels.” I loved the repetition. The lines were so delicate. Here is a closeup:
I thought that this was really beautiful. I’m a sucker for lovely lines. Isn’t it so simple, yet so beautiful??? I can’t seem to find his/her website, though. (You’ll just have to see the show in person to take a look at the work…hee hee!) Next:
I loved this as well. This print is titled, “Compressed Crawling.” The rhythmic texture and subtle greys…ahhh. Dreamy. Doesn’t it almost look three-dimensional? Love it. Makes me want to run my sweaty hand across it. (Don’t worry! I didn’t.) Next:
Valda Zalkalns
I can’t find a website for her, either. This print is titled, “Corn Print #1.” There is actually corn embedded in the print. Fascinating! Here is a closeup:
Isn’t that cool??? Maybe I’m seeing a theme here…I guess I like work with TEXTURE. I realize that’s so odd, when my own work is so “clean”. I know someone who always jokes about the fact that I love Cy Twombly, and yet my stuff is nothing like his. I think that this same person was surprised to find out that I’m a messy person. I guess that my clean drawings imply a certain amount of fastidiousness. That’s sort of true…but that’s about as far as it goes with me. Martha Stewart would sob into her monogrammed handkerchief if she stepped into my house…actually, she’d probably keep her face covered like that the whole time! (but no matter) I just make friends with the dust bunnies.
In spite of the fact that my son has created numerous drawings this week, I have decided to show his collection of “rusting iron thingys”, which are sitting in front of the house:
This type of thing typically migrates into the house somehow, but then I have to migrate it back out again (the dust bunnies get scared). That enormous “nail” on the right is about as long as my forearm. Why can’t he collect pebbles, instead? Sigh. I’m hoping that the family’s tetanus shots are up to date…
My own work continues at a snail’s pace. As you have seen with previous posts, I’m experimenting with what direction my work should now go in. Here is my latest drawing:
I’ve drawn the hammer as blurred, or “pixelated”. I’m wanting to have the tool blurred, as if to create anonymity. I also had the hammer beginning to slip off of the edge of the drawing. I was pretty happy with it. My advisor suggested that I reconsider the negative space. HMM! Well, as a result…I’ve been pondering and pondering. I haven’t even STARTED another drawing. Hey, at least I did the laundry, (finally!) Everyone at my house is less grumpy when they have clean clothes to wear. Such fusspots. Go figure.
So, your homework assignment is to go and see ReThink INK at the BPL. If you wanted to…you could also GUSH about my brilliant drawing, but I won’t put that as homework. Think of this blog as OpenCourseWear, much like that of MIT’s…except that I have nothing intelligent to teach you, and I won’t email you a certificate either. Hmm. Maybe I should get back to my art cave in the basement…I think that the heat is getting to me…
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: art, Cambridge Art Association, Claybord, Cy Twombly, drawing, Visual Arts
So, this past week has seen the opening of two, group shows that I am participating in. The first show is “Community of Artists” at the Danforth Museum, in Framingham. The other show is the “11th National Prize Show” at the Cambridge Art Association, in Cambridge. I have one drawing in each show. Here is my drawing in Cambridge:
Can you see my wee drawing? Here it is again:
I’m happy with how this turned out. It would look better with ALL of the other drawings in the series, but then it wouldn’t really be a group show, now would it? You should also take note that I took this photo with my messed up camera. Luckily, the people at the camera shop were able to remove the maple syrup and saliva that my 4 year old graciously smeared all over the lens. I somehow felt that if I told them exactly what I thought was on the lens, this might help in their cleanup operation. I believe that this makes me a “helicopter customer” as well as being a “helicopter parent.” Two words: micro. manage.
I want to show some of the other works that I saw. I only have photos from the Cambridge show, as my camera was still out of order when I visited the Danforth. Here’s an interesting sculpture:
I can’t seem to get into her website, but I like the little house. I think that it spoke to my inner architect. I’d like to see a room of these dilapidated houses. I used to always dream about having a little cabin (with no doorbell, on the other side of our front lawn, mind you), where I could escape. This little house made me think of that. I’m going to also say that the Cambridge Art Association should reconsider it’s choice in flooring material. It hurts my eyes. Just sayin’.
I think that this is speaking to my inner architect again. I like it. I don’t know why. Something about it feels kind of dated, but I like the space that’s created…especially in the right hand side. I keep wanting to crop it into a square…with the lighter side becoming just a slim rectangle next to the darker side. Maybe that’s just me. If we were in architecture school, and a critic felt the same way…(s)he would likely get a hacksaw and start cutting the canvas to show you how much better it would look. Actually, because this series of paintings is based upon airports, this symmetry and landscape orientation makes more sense to me conceptually. (not that it didn’t make sense before…)
Yes, I finally have some amazing artwork by my son to show you. Ok…this is the point where anyone seriously interested in art can basically sign off. Now, begins my “Refrigerator Front Gallery”. Here is his latest creation, co-created with Grandma:
Don’t you LOVE it???? Or, is this the kind of scribble that only a mama could love? Should I mention that the house is on fire? Should I be worried? As long as my son does not know how to use a match, I’ll try not to worry. Maybe we should get rid of our “strike anywhere” matches? Hmm. And another:
I imagine this as sort of a Cy Twombly hopped up on froot loops.
So, I keep experimenting with different drawing substrates. (is that what it’s called, or am I slipping back into architecture?). This week, I experimented with Ampersand’s Claybord. Here is my experiment:
Now, all was going well until I tried to make DARK marks. Then, it was like trying to draw with a candle on Teflon. The soft pencil just slid across the surface, and didn’t really work. Here’s a closeup of the shadow:
See how scratchy it is? I almost feel that the only way to work on this board is to keep the pencil very light, and think of it almost as a silverpoint drawing. I know that the two people out there (yes, you’re one of them) who read this blog never respond, BUT:
Have you ever used Claybord with pencil? Did you like it????? (Bueller?)
If it wasn’t 9am and trash day, I would probably hear crickets about now…
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts..., painting | Tags: architecture, art, drawing, Pencil
You know that it’s going to be a snoozefest if I can’t even come up with a title for this post. Why bother with a title, you ask? Or, why bother with this post? WELL…if I asked myself THAT question too often, I wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning. So…why not? (has anyone out there been to “Perche No” in Florence, Italy? two words: bacio gelato…but i digress)
So, this week, I’ve been slaving over a drawing that I’m not sure is really turning out too well. I’m trying to use a different medium. Normally, I use graphite on Duralar. THIS WEEK, however, my advisor suggested that I coat some cradled plywood with absorbent ground, and draw on that. WELL. I think that if I was better at PAINTING…and could have applied a SMOOTH layer of absorbent ground…then this might have been more successful. (notice how I deflect the cause of the problem to the board, and not me) Here it is:
Okay…it’s NOT done yet. Still…I think that it still may be a bit off. I’ve changed the vantage of my usual still life subject so that you can better see the impact of the hammer on the pear. Do you think that it’s effective? Or, is it just weird? Actually, don’t answer that. Nevermind. Perhaps when I finish it, it will feel ok. Here is a side view, so you can see the board that I’m drawing on:
HMM! It’s so different than the thin and translucent Duralar…
We visited some friends over the long weekend who have a fantabulous house on Cape Cod. Yes, it’s true. Not only do they have a HOUSE there…but it’s dreamy as well. In all honesty…after just three days in that house/with those friends/at the Cape, I felt so refreshed. That’s amazing when you consider that my 4 yr old son and their 4 yr old son played the entire time. In other words: shrieking laughter whilst the boys throw things at mating horseshoe crabs, etc. Luckily, we weren’t thrown out by the Audubon “crab copulation” police. If there are fewer horseshoe crabs next year, it’s because our kids distrupted their love-fest. It’s so refreshing to take a break from helicopter parenting, and just say “who cares?”
ANYWAY…that weekend made me fantasize about my own dreamy house. Here is what our house looks like:
Pretty typical, huh? It has painted white shingles…a stone foundation…brick steps…original, dilapidated windows…you know, the norm. It’s a very sweet house. (“sweet” is a euphemism for “tiny”) But, I’m NOT complaining…it’s really lovely. We’re sooo lucky to have it. BUT…wouldn’t it be NEATO to live in a more modern house, like THIS one???
Servie Boetzkes and Jeroen Helder
Isn’t it GREAT???? No, I don’t think that it’s Darth Vader’s European hideout, thankyouverymuch. This house is designed by Boetzkes and Helder. OF COURSE, it’s in the Netherlands…not the ‘burbs of Boston. Here is a closeup of the metal panel exterior:
DREAMY! Or, as I used to say when I was working as an architect: BUTTERY! (that’s not a technical term, fyi)
I have no artwork completed by my son to show you. I know. That’s why you read this blog, isn’t it? If that’s not why, then I’m not sure what’s left, honestly. ANYHOO, here is the work of an uber-talented artist you should look at:
This is the work of German street artist, EVOL. Umm…that’s a painting…on a piece of scrap cardboard. SCRAP CARDBOARD…for Lord’s sake. Here I am, whining about working on cradled plywood…and he’s making crazy paintings out of cardboard. Here’s another:
Are. You. Kidding. Me.
Sigh. I’d love to have that on the wall of my Darth Vader house at the Cape.
slightly wonky 