Open Drawing Group

Okay, in the beginning of most artist educational path you are required to draw the figure from life. The reasons for this is to teach the human anatomy, different techniques, and exercise are skills. From the start we are taught the gesture, contour, line quality, perspective, positive and negative space, and the list goes on and on. Though as a mature artist you must still practice, this is harder at times to do. Personally I have taken up with using a mirror to get the experience I need to keep active. I love gesture drawings and those quick sketches that can become very lovely in of themselves. They are simple, have a moment in time captured, emotion, freedom. Last night I was given the privilege to attend an open drawing group, I knew one person there merely by name, another I had met during a sale of collective works, the others were new to me, and the executive person who set this up I only had met through Facebook, so again this proves that networking is so important to an artist. We gathered, shared some wine, shared the cost of the model, and were completely free to do what we do individually as artist, charcoal, conte', pen, pastel, oils. A relaxed evening of conversation, beginning with a number of gesture poses, to a long pose at the end. I felt very lucky to have participated in this group and to be a part of a collective. Yes, we all have many friends but at times to be with our own is comforting. We all have the same struggles, trying to sell, produce what someones aunt Martha is not able to, and understanding that this is not only what we do, it is who we are. I am looking forward to the next time, but for now, its back to the studio.

Pondering de Kooning

This piece took on several entities before I felt okay with it. I think the one thing that I felt restricted by was the size of the canvas. I have worked on a much larger scale in the past, thought I am getting a feel for the smaller size. I think that this size forces you to use more control and of course less paint. But seriously, I think I may be looking either stronger glasses or a magnifying lamp to attach to my work table. Alas, I digress, while trying to figure out what to do with the background of the self portrait, I looked and the it was, a copy of one of William de Kooning's artwork. As I looked through it I saw many of his nudes and the presence they had. I was inspired by the colors and line work. At any rate, here is the piece, and as always, it is FOR SALE.

Thank you W. de Kooning, it was a pleasure working with you.



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Art or Porn...

As an artist, I have come across a good many of people that somehow, though they are very educated people, still look at my work as sexual. Yes, I love the nudes, but not always for the reason some do. I see the body as one of the greatest works of art ever created. So I do not see the figure as a sexual work, I see it as many would look upon a urn filled with beautiful roses or mums, a flowing landscape that covers acres of ground, a bird with gorgeous plumage. I have been drawing, painting, and sculpting the nude figure for years, Is is not that I am not connected to the piece I am working on, that in of itself is a almost love making relationship, but what inspires me to use as a model or figure does not. I suppose my education came to understand the difference between art and porn. And this has always been involved in raising my children. No, I would never allow them to watch as I use a model or be a model myself at there age, however what I do is to teach them that there is a HUGE difference between what I do as an artist and what some publications present. That there are breast and then there are boobs. The line is what I would label as excitement or arousal. If you can look at the sculpture of David or a Bernini and be excited, my suggestion is you need either to get educated or talk to a therapist. If that is what you are looking for at a museum, WRONG PLACE. Go down to your 7/11 and buy a Playboy. Now that my soapbox rant is over I again will say, what I do I do for the love and admiration of the figure, what I see in the body, what I can reproduce from its inspiration, what the colors and canvas allow me to create. So please, not only take the time to educate yourself, but also your children. For there is a difference between ART and porn. Do not allow the beauty to be taken away.

Muse

This piece has been a true struggle, partially because I wanted it to show a specific person, and partially because I wanted to express what I see. My MUSE, the one who inspires, motivates, whispers to me the words to place in paint on the canvas. Art is created through having a relationship with the piece, in a way I suppose as artists we make love to each work we create, it is that intimate and personal. This is a beginning to this piece I think, though signed, I do not think it is finished, merely able to be in the studio to be a reminder she is there with me to inspire and light my way to create.
My Muse

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A new piece in the works

I am finding out that since an actual model is so difficult to find and work within the retrains of time, location, schedules, I am using the timer on my camera, a wonderful Christmas present from my lovely wife, so I can have several poses to choose from. But it does give me the freedom I need to produce what I need. I still work from many books for female models, though they do lack emotion and a connection between the model and the work.

Here is the beginning of a new piece.



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Another Exhibit - NOT

Well, this was about as scary as it gets. I think this "juried art show" puts a lot of pressure on one, not merely to be seen, but to be put in a situation more that just your peers to be judged on your work. I myself always tend to be fearful of what someone will think of my work, if it even qualifies as art to someone with extensive training and knowledge, it is like slicing open your soul to permit someone to see inside and say your not good enough. However, at the same time I have to remember something I saw this morning on a friends blog, "An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one. Charles Horton Cooley. So with that said, I do feel that I not only have the right to participate in this exhibit, but whether or not I am lucky enough to be involved in the show, I am a SUCCESS. The way I see it now is the time I can be what and who I was created for, I AM AN ARTIST, it is what and who I am. Therefore, I am in very high hopes of going to Bloomington later this year.

2013 Juried Art Show

The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University works towards advancing sexual health and knowledge worldwide. For over 60 years, the institute has been a trusted source for investigating and informing the world about critical issues in sex, gender and reproduction.

Self Portrait

Conte and charcoal on black stock.


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