Posted by June Underwood on June 8th, 2007
In a small art group that Jer and I belong to, we were given a challenge: for the next meeting, we were each to create some form of art based on “biscuits.” That meeting will be next week. I have to make some art. Using “biscuits” I came up with an anagram: “is Cubist.” I will make a Cubist-style painting, containing biscuits.
I thought the exercise would be simple. I would look at some Cubist works, get a couple books from the library and raid my bookshelves to see what others had to say, decide on motifs beyond the biscuits, and do a few sketches. Then, I would be ready to paint. more… »
Posted by Sunil Gangadharan on June 7th, 2007
The one thing that has always struck me about photography is the fact that a good picture combines both the skill of the photographer and some amount of luck that the photographer has no control over.
The picture below will illustrate my point – in the first picture (taken seconds apart in the vicinity of the destroyed World Trade Center on Sept 27th), the woman is the strong one, the man grieves – in the second the man is strong – the woman grieves. The photographer did not do much other than just chance on these people watching a tragic event. (the artist was there at the right place at the right time – again luck – and got the right pictures).
Photo courtesy: Kevin Bubriski
Don’t get me wrong, I love photographs – I look at photography books for hours on end savoring these moments frozen in time by the power of film. Among others, I love Steve Durbin’s work – but behind it all I have a feeling that great photographs is a combination of the skill of the artist and some element of luck. In some ways, I consider abstract expressionist painters the same way – as long as they get some of the accidental splotches of color to line up right and give the picture a unified whole feeling, it looks good; and luck owes a part to getting that accidental splotch of color in the right place on the canvas as was the skill of the painter…
What are your thoughts?
Posted by Karl Zipser on June 6th, 2007
Painting
From Life vs.
From Photos
Traveling makes one aware of constraints of time and space. If I am in Paris today, but I won’t be tomorrow, I need to make the most of the present opportunities.
Painting in the same studio from day to day gives the impression of being in the same place. Working with the same types of materials over time gives a sense of continuity. I’m realizing how much this is an illusion, in the dimension of the art itself.
I can look at older work and enjoy it, but I can’t go back to the “place” I was when I made it — as much as I would like to sometimes. Depending on the type of work and the progress I am making, “old” can mean a year or two weeks. What I am doing on a given day defines a “place” that I found a path to from yesterday. I won’t be able to return most likely. I need to make the most of the place where I am at the moment, then move on.
On this journey an itinerary is not available. If I try to look back or too far ahead, I risk losing my way.
Posted by Steve Durbin on June 5th, 2007
Yesterday I hiked up a mountain for a fabulous view of snow-covered peaks and dark green valleys for many, many miles in all directions. The only photographs I made were of a waterfall on the way up. The surprise is that I made any at all. Despite — or more likely because of — the clichéd nature of the subject, until a year ago I had essentially no waterfall pictures, even of locations I’d visited multiple times, with camera, where I more recently did make photos. Now I have half a dozen or so waterfalls, and I realize it has become a theme. So I want to start looking at them and thinking about them, learning from them.
more… »
Posted by Doug Plummer on June 5th, 2007
Two recent blog entries, one by Paul Butzi (I’ve been riffing off him a lot lately) on photographing “Close To Home,” and Birgit’s “Dune Quest” have got me thinking about the notational aspects of artmaking. Namely, the daily investigation of ideas and how that relates to projects of “greater” importance.
more… »
Posted by Karl Zipser on June 4th, 2007
Posted by Karl Zipser on June 2nd, 2007
Painting
From Life vs.
From Photos
What is behind the illusion of transparency? How can artists make use of the effect? more… »
