Printmaking

      I have been working on a series of intaglio prints, like the one above, for a show that invited me to submit some work. It's a printmaking show, and while I don't normally use that medium, I always try and submit work for exhibitions that contact me unsolicited. I have no guarantee that my work will be accepted but I think it is a very positive thing when they seek me out, rather than the other way around. We'll see what happens!

      I really need to get back in the habit of posting here once a week. I don't think I realized that the last posting I did was for Surreal Salon V. That was so long ago, that when I just went to find a link to that show there weren't any to be found. It's over. It was a pretty good show though. I found the work to be lacking from the previous year. Which is why there are no pictures (or probably a wrap up of the show on this Blog). But it was fun. New Orleans Bingo Show was excellent. I danced with one of the dancers when she came out into the audience, so that was fun. All-in-all, it was good.

That's it for now. I will try to start posting every week again.    

New Year, new art

   Happy New Year! It seems a bit odd to be saying that this late. But as this is my first post for 2013....Happy New Year!

    So far, 2013 has many things happening. Of course, here in Louisiana it is Mardi Gras time. This season tends to bring out the creativity in may people. The excitement, energy, and expressive nature of the costumes, colors, and festivities are a bit intoxicating (heheheh). But that is not all that is happening.

   One of the events I am most looking forward to is the Surreal Salon V sponsored by the Baton Rouge Gallery. You may remember my mentioning of Surreal Salon IV last year.  That was great. The photo above was taken during those festivities (I'm the one on the far left).
   
    The show features pop and surreal art from across the country. The quality of work is excellent, but the big fun comes during the soiree. You are encouraged to come in a costume, and many of the costumes are very elaborate. In addition, there is live music. This year The New Orleans Bingo! Show will be the featured band. It's going to be very fun. I'm not going to be costumed this year, but the fun will still be had! The show is currently open, but the soiree is next Saturday (1-26-13) at the Baton Rouge Gallery in City Park. If you are in or around Baton Rouge next weekend I highly encourage you to attend.

    Anyway, I have also been busy painting. I have mostly been continuing with the locomotive series, but I have also been working on some figure studies. Here are some samples:

New works

This will most likely be the last post of 2012....so, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Last week I attended a seminar sponsored by the Art Library Society of North America (ARLIS-NA). It was very good. The main topic was creativity in the library and how to integrate more creative programming into your library.

Among the many take-aways I got from this discussion was how to stay motivated and creative. This point was reinforced by the description to work on something everyday. This is a philosophy that I have tried to practice since art school. However, many distractions over the years have pushed me away form actually practicing this idea. I then resolved to paint something everyday.

Two themes emerge if you look at my art work over time. Railroads and the figure are two topics that I have returned to many times when practicing, and it was these ideas I returned to for my daily paintings. The image above represents one of the figure studies I have been working on. Below is one of the railroad:

And here is another:   

I like these images, but so far I think I like the train pictures better. What do you think?

Taking Stock

      It's pretty funny how I wrote that I was back... and then didn't post anything for a month. Whats up with that? I don't know. I don't have any real answers. As you may recall, I recently moved. And my studio is not back up and running yet:

      I have been spending time organizing, moving boxes, and getting things ready. Anyway, one aspect of this has been to take stock of what I have, what supplies are available, etc. I have been looking through my paint supplies and compiling a list of hues I will need to restock.

      I went home for thanksgiving, and stopped by the 710 Bookstore. This was the store I used all throughout my undergraduate and graduate art studies. It is actually a very good art supply store. I never fully realized or appreciated this fact until I moved someplace that lacks a good art store. I have had to rely on mail orders.

      Ordering supplies works, sometimes they are even cheaper than buying from the store. I confess that I never purchased all my supplies from 710. I have always relied on ASW as a back up ( I have been known to have them on speed dial). They are good to work with, but there are other possibilities. Jerry's Artarama
and Dick Blick come to mind. Although I don't recommend Dick Blick. I have not had a positive experience with them. If I am in  hurry I'll shop at Hobby Lobby, but I don't really care for this store either. Where do you buy your art supplies? Can you recommend somebody new?

     

The weekend before Halloween

                                                       Image from Louisiana State Library

     After an illness which included a brief stay in the hospital (bleh), I'm back! And seems that I am just in time to enjoy some of the festivities the weekend before Halloween. Halloween brings out the creativity in people, and many events and parties reflect this.

      The major happening this weekend in Baton Rouge was the 9th Annual Louisiana Book Festival. This event takes place on the  grounds of the state capitol building. There are events in the capitol, the state library, the state museum and all throughout the capitol complex. It doesn't do it justice, but here is a picture of the entire event taken from the steps of the capitol. You can kind of see all the tents and events happening in the background.

 

      You might be saying to yourself "What the heck! I thought this was an art blog! What's all this nonsense about a book festival!?!?" Well...let me just tell you, there were plenty of art happenings at the book festival as well. The most notable was an exhibition of works by the established Louisiana Artist George Rodrigue in the state library. Rodrigue was commissioned to paint a portrait of each of the distinguished authors who spoke at the event. A sample and guide to the images can be found below.

Image from Louisiana State Library

      I think books and art represent a winning combination. In addition to this, the Halloween parade in downtown also took place. This event brought out the costumers and the fun! There was a zombie lown mower club, the Ghostbusters, and a Voodoo N' Tutu's float. All very creative and all very fun.

Zombie Lawnmower club

Ghostbusters Float

VooDoo "n" Tutus Float

     

                                                     


     

      

Weekend Update

   These images were posted previously on this blog. However, they are now framed. I am applying to a gallery, and as part of the application process I must submit two original works of art in a framed presentable format. It always amazes me how a simple thing like a frame can tie an image together and make it feel more complete.

   The past two weeks have been total mayhem. I have once again made a move, and although this one was across town, instead of across country, my living space (including my studio) is in total disarray. It will be some time before I am up and running again. I'll keep y'all about what happens. Wish me luck on the gallery application!   

The importance of sketches

      The above is a watercolor sketch of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I think it nicely captures the vibrancy of the French Quarter particularly found at night. I'm not sure what I will do with this yet, but I think that represents the importance of making sketches and getting your ideas in some sort of tangible form.  I don't think one has to have a specific plan  when making art and sometimes random experimentation produces amazing results. 

      My sketchbook is never very far from me, and I will very often pop-a-squat and start sketching a random building, scene, or natural object. Sometimes, if I am in a very crowded location, people will stare and look at me funny. I have yet to be confronted or told to stop, however. This practice of random sketching has resulted in a number of sketches that I have later used in finished works and is good for brainstorming various ideas for further development.

      My sketchbook is more a sort of mini studio which has a compartment for the sketchbook itself, but also has pockets, and storage for pencils, pens, erasers, and a portable watercolor set. It is made from scraps of canvas I had and is pictured here:

    
      Some other sketches that I have made and later used include the image below of a cathedral in Shreveport, LA which you may recognize from this painting. 

And this sketch of a garbage truck:

for this painting:

      One other thought before I go. As I was scanning my sketchbook, the scanner actually picked it up upside down. After seeing it from this point of view, I think it is just as interesting as right side up!

     
     So that gives me something else to think about.