Morning Ephemera

Today is a smattering of randomness from the studio.

First, a notification for all of those who follow the blog or are newcomers. I will be now posting regularly on Sunday, probably evening, so it will be there in the morning to start the week, and again on Wednesdays. Most of the time it will be about my process, however, if I get caught up and don't have something to put on the blog, then I'll post work about an artist I admire or think is interesting. I troll the internet quite a lot in my spare time looking for art and coming across a wealth of talent. As someone who teaches, I often keep a large library for teaching aids, for posterity, my own quarkiness, and subsequently for sharing with students and friends. I thought posting some of this material will perhaps lead you onto an artist you can appreciate and be inspired by. Since I don't follow one genre of painting or adhere to isms or feel unequivocally linked to a certain time period or movement, I'll just put up what I think resonates with me in that moment. What I do feel passionate about is making imagery. I don't segregate fine artists, contemporary artists, video game artists, concept artists, graphic artists or anyone else making a work of art. Often times I just want to be shown a little story I can get lost in for awhile.

Like this one from Adrian Ghenie:



A couple artists who personify excellent narratives are the Wyeth Family; N.C., Andrew and Jaime. While getting my degree in Illustration I like so many others fell in love with NC Wyeth and felt that was the essence of illustration, packed with emotion, drama, like one shot movies unfolding on the canvas.

With Andrew Wyeth I always thought it extraordinary that he paints of a nostalgic Americana that doesn't exist. Like remembering a dream when you wake up. Then rehashing what was going on behind your closed eyelids all night. You know that the impressions you are pulling from are close to the dream, but then again, why we dream is so elusive that the events recalled in the morning are never how it actually took place. As convoluted as it sounds that is my interpretation, anyways. Living for the first time on the east coast and visiting a few other states during the winter months it really dawned on me where Andrew Wyeth derived his palette and subject matter from. As someone who had always lived out West I couldn't quite fully connect with his body of work and it felt alien in a way. Not to say I wasn't moved by a number of paintings. However, once I experienced the stark beauty of the landscape in the colonial states during winter I fully understood. It was my 'aha!' moment I guess.

I am the most unfamiliar with Jaime Wyeth's work, yet as you can see from my sketch below I quite liked his personification of character. His portrait of JFK is the most often reproduced painting of the former president and interesting that at the time it was lambasted for various attributable flaws. He obviously knows about personality whether it be a flock of seagulls, a pumpkin self portrait, or a ram. Anyways, long story long, I drew this montage representing the three generations of the Wyeths' as I read a book about them. I've provided a new narrative from their elements.





Here is a detail of a my last painting based around the theme of Black vs. White. I'll post the full painting and accompanying thoughts, and ask you all a question.




Lastly, I know its Thursday, however, from now on there will be posts on Sunday nights for Mondays and mysteriously throughout the day on Wednesdays.