Sunday, December 26, 2010

Fear of "Normals"

It has been such a long time since I have updated anything. Silly of me I am sure! But I have been working on far too much. In the past few months, I have designed for 2 theater productions, and drawn quite a bit as well as painted a bit. I will work on posting some images soon (I know, famous last words).

I am also pondering on a career change, possibly something in the gaming world. But as always, expense in a constant pondering point. But lets face it, although I throughly excel at paper-pushing (or food service)jobs; they are hardly my top choice. I had a conversation with a friend in which we were discussing our fears of becoming "normals". Definition: one who goes to work (one they aren't most fond of), goes home, eats food and sleeps; aka: A DRONE. It's one of the most fearful things, because it represents an opening for the further death of imagination. No imagination means no art.

I know all that comes across as very dramatic, but art is dramatic.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A Graphic Novel?

So I am always looking for a creative outlet, which can quickly be distracting to... well anything. But as I was working on the graphic novel, "Insurrection" I realized that I was in over my head. I had about 6 pages sketched, which was about 9 pages in the screenplay, and there were approximatly 250 more to go. I was also very action driven, which tends to be an immense amount of work. It was also not allowing me to focus on the general design and color. So I needed to scale down.

I am very fortunate to have access to a very talented screenwriter, and requested a shorter story, which he was thrilled to do. Less than 24 hours later, I had a finished story in my hands and was pumped an ready to go. We talked for hours trying to make a story that would interst me visually and intellectually. So hopefully soon, I will be able to put up some photos of the work in progress. All I can say is "wish me luck!"

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Yet More Paintings

Well, I have a couple of more paintings to post. They aren't completed yet, but I was so excited about them, I couldn't wait. They were made using the PRR theory I have been working on lately, and I couldn't be more pumped!



This piece is temporarily called, "Deeper than Before." It is about 20X30 Acrylic on Cresent Illustration Board.



Temporarily called, "As We Carefully Meld." It is about 20X30 in Acrylic on Cresent Illustration Board.

I am most thrilled about these pieces, as they are composed with the PRR theory that I have been working on, but while also developing my desires of exploring the energy behind the original scenes.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Next Step?

It is always hard to remember that art is fluid, and changing as the individual changes. It's even harder to see these changes, analyze them, and accept them as a part of your work.

I have been working on the recollection aspect of my work lately, aka, pulling out my sketches and re-sketching them, and I keep noticing that I tend to remember the innate energies of the moment I was striving to preserve. Now I know that sounds odd, and slightly new age, but I am serious about this idea of energy. I am not really into all of that new age like stuff and tend to stay pretty rooted in reality (day dreams exempt), but the flow of this natural energy is really interesting.

As I was re-sketching a drawing I had of a wash out, I was less focused on the forms that existed, but became more aware of how the forms were created. I worked to recreate the flow of water that was making these forms, but even that was distracting. I then zoomed into a form and really started analyzing the edge, trying to understand it further.

I have also noticed the same flow of events when I am re-sketching former tree drawings. I am becoming more aware of the creation of that specific tree, trying to feel my way through its entire existence.

The difficult part of this is visually describing what I am innately feeling. I really don't know what this new aspect of analysis means, but I am excited at its entrance in my work!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Artistic Design project

Here are some photos of a "Murders in the Heir". A high school production by Decatur Community High School. I was the set, lighting and sound designer. (But really, my brother in-law did the sound, I just told him what I wanted!)



I was extremely lucky to have a few small, but extremely helpful crews to build and paint all of this. And to those of you who helped, you know, and THANK YOU! I had a budget of $300 for the entire production, and when the gels for lighting cost almost $70, well you can imagine that budgets were tight.



This image shows one of the flash back scenes, that takes place in the foyer. It is hard to describe to people just how different this production was than another, simply due to the fact that we had mobile lighting. Since our theater's creation, which was a slight eon ago, they have been stuck with very few very FIXED light sources. This limited lighting to pretty much being all on, or all off. It was depressing. So with the help of my brother-in law again, we created an auxiliary light box which allowed us to put lights anywhere on stage!!! It was such a big change that it put the current director and theater teacher to tears!



This shows some of the furniture I had to redo for the show, including turning a set of 2X4's into a lounging couch, and redying and refinishing a set of twin chairs found in an abandoned house!



This features the dining area, french doors, and of course, the chandelier. My head almost exploded in joy when I found out that my family just happen to have a chandelier hidden in storage. It is times like these that I praise my family for their collecting compulsions (which I have also inherited!).



This final picture is of the fireplace, which I love. It is made mostly out of paint and cardboard! It was one of my favorite pieces I worked on. In the end, I put more than 200 hours into this production (design, creation, and destruction!) and learned more than I can describe. It is my first production, and I can thank Leigh Davis, the director, for giving me the not only the opportunity to do this, but also such an immense level of free reign over the project! It was staggering to actually see my visions come into fruition! Thanks to all of those who helped, and supported me. Work to encourage the arts in your areas, so people like me, who love to do stuff but aren't rich, can create these worlds for people to enjoy! I am in the end pleased to announce that, as long as I am in the area, I am to be the community's theatrical artistic director!!!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

A few images

Hey Ya'll! So it has been a very long time since my last post, and I do have some images for you. My artwork has gone on a quick hiatus as I am working to finish the set and lighting project for a high school theater production. Images to come!



This piece is temporarily called, "Conerstone Thought". I have to take a while to name my work as the name is very crucial to giving the viewer a bit of perspective, so often times, works are given temporary names till their true nature is discovered. The piece is about 10X15 inches, made with acrylic on hot press Arches watercolor paper.



"Proceeding Towards" is about 24X36 inches,made with acrylic on hot press Arches watercolor paper. I am currently not completely satisfied with this piece, and will be going back into it, but of course all my work suffers that same fate.

I am almost ready to move into my studio, as it is soon to be emptied of its other storage contents. My current projects include (but not limited to): 1)
Insurrection, a graphic novel based on a screenplay by my brother in law. 2) The set and lighting for Murder in the Heir, a high school production. 3) Of course my work in general (really right now I am gathering sketches from my hikes to begin my process) 4) and finally, moving into my studio, and really digging in! Hope you all have a wonderful day and best of wishes to all!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Preservation - Recollection - Reflection is the basis of my work. I recently finished my Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis exhibition, based around the idea of memories and dreams, or rather the recollection of such. Yet as I finished my schooling, and had to work on my art outside of an academic setting, I found my work dry and without reason.

It was on one my my many walks, through the pastures and countryside of the my current home, that I was was introduced with the PRR phrase. I still wanted to work with memories and dreams, but I lacked a framework to create. The idea behind PRR is based on my experience of how dreams and memories exist. First the mind finds a reason to Preserve the experience. At this process, I try to loosely sketch my environment or whatever I am striving to portray. After the Preservation process, the mind finds a reason to Recollect or recall the memory or dream. The recollection is never perfect and flawless, but rather it is generalized and abstract sometimes. This is the moment that I try to portray in my work. I then Reflect on the work and the memory or dream and try to ensure its meaning is appropriate and correct.

I know a lot of this seems rather confusing and jumbled up, but it makes perfect sense to me. I plan to use this blog to, in a manner, showcase the work I have been doing, as well as to keep me constantly working.