Time For a Cool Change

Losing my domain name last month incited me to make a few changes.  I've registered a few new domain names: www.RobertReevesOilAndDust.com, www.RobertReevesArtist.com, and www.RobertReevesPainter.com.  All of them will resolve to www.RobertReevesOilAndDust.com.

This leads to the next big change.  This will be my last post on Blogger.com.  I've exported this blog over to Wordpress and will be hosting my domains from there as well.  I am in no way unsatisfied with Blogger.com.  I just needed to move forward with some different hosting options and Wordpress has the tools I need right now.  After today you'll be able to find my updates at www.RobertReevesOilAndDust.com.  My plan is to get the rest of my gallery site reconstructed in the near future and get back to business.

 Hope to see you there.

Thanks for tuning in.

Cheers,

R

Ghost Crab Hunting

Just put the wraps on the latest piece, "Ghost Crab Hunting".  It was an interesting change of pace as I rarely do any sort of portraiture.  Especially children.  Granted this one doesn't have a face so it's only marginally a portrait.  

And now... back to work.  

Cheers,

R

Chicago Mashup Final

I finished up the Chicago commission a while back.  So after allowing for some drying time I shuffled it off to one of our town's best imaging firms, Beeline & Blue to have it scanned.  A lot of times I'll employ a photographer if I've got multiple works that I need print-quality images of, but in the case of a single painting it's more cost-effective and expedient.  I can drop the piece off whenever I wish and pick it up at my convenience.  Easy. I like easy.

I used to take my own photos, but after a while I decided to trust it to the pros.  It costs a bit more, but I like giving what business I can to local vendors. Plus I have neither the equipment or the space to get decent photos of my own work.  My new studio space is a little smaller than I'm used to.  With the way the lower level of the house is laid out I've had to divide my studio into a drawing/painting space and a framing/stretcher shop.  It works out to be more space on the whole, but the division has some limitations.  I'm glad to exchange some horizontal space for the additional headroom I've gained.  I can actually lift the masts of my larger easels to their full working height.  Which is good because I've recently picked up a commission for an additional painting to be installed at Aviva USA's headquarters here in Des Moines along with the grouping they picked up last year.  They're tall pieces (72") and with my previous setup I wound up crawling around on the floor whenever I needed to work on the lower bits.  Not complaining... just saying. As always I'm glad for the work.

I'm very happy to be done with this piece.  It was a lot of fun, and it was also a major challenge.  It stretched my ideas about creating scenes and putting elements together in such a way as to appear natural.  It gave me a few ideas for future work.  It's coming up on time to start getting some studio work together again and I'm looking forward to employing some new ideas.


Off to pick up a new taboret (read as rolling tool chest I found at the hardware store) and bust out the oils.  Enjoy your day.  I plan to.


Cheers,

R

What's In A Name Anyway?

Hey all.
I wanted to post a quick note letting people know that my domain, www.robreevesstudio.com, due to a cockup with my provider/host has been dropped and summarily picked up by a person in Japan.  One Kazuko Ishida.

Here is the WhoIs info:

Registrant:

   Kazuko Ishida
   6-6 Nishi 19 Jyo Minami 5 Chome
   Obihiroshi, 01 080-2469
   JP

   Registered through: Go Daddy
   Domain Name: ROBREEVESSTUDIO.COM
      Created on: 11-Jan-06
      Expires on: 15-Nov-12
      Last Updated on: 30-Dec-11

   Administrative Contact:
      Ishida, Kazuko  wataru@internal.co.jp
      6-6 Nishi 19 Jyo Minami 5 Chome
      Obihiroshi, 01 080-2469
      JP
      +1.55336344      Fax -- 

   Technical Contact:
      Ishida, Kazuko  wataru@internal.co.jp
      6-6 Nishi 19 Jyo Minami 5 Chome
      Obihiroshi, 01 080-2469
      JP
      +1.55336344      Fax -- 

   Domain servers in listed order:
      SNS25.WEBSITEWELCOME.COM
      SNS26.WEBSITEWELCOME.COM

I can only assume that since he's erected a bare-bones WordPress site on that domain that this is some weak-assed ploy to get me to buy the name back.  I'm sure I'm not the only one he's done this to.  I was considering a change anyway so this seems like the kick in the pants I was needing.  He can keep it.  Good luck to him.  He can kiss my lilly white arse.  

So for the meantime my personal website is down and my domain name is in flux.  If you've got any good ideas for a new one I'm all ears.  In the meantime I'm going to finish moving into my new place.  Take time for some careful consideration and start rebuilding.  Thankfully I keep a sync copy of my web site files so, in the end, nothing was lost.  

If you're interested in a painting feel free to contact me at RobReevesStudio@gmail.com.  Prints are still available online at ETSY.com and FineArtAmerica.com.  

Cheers,

R

Who IS that Masked Man?

I spent a good portion of the Summer working on a number of charcoal drawings.  My studio space, up until the last year has had a lot of headroom and good airflow.  I didn't have to worry too much about dust accumulation in the air.  My current digs, while dry, are a little shy in the area of ventilation.  I'm pretty sure I was about a canary short of a coal mine.  As a precaution I've been keeping my dust masks handy.

Making Art safely is something you're (hopefully) taught when you go to school.  You hear the lectures and anecdotes, but many times you don't take them seriously because when you're taught these things you're typically young and indestructible.  This is not the case.  Ok?  Good.  Wear gloves or barrier cream if you paint.  Wear a mask if you work with aerosols or high-dust materials, and always work with good ventilation.  There's nothing cool about hacking up magenta lunch biscuits because you've been hitting the pastels.

At any rate I really need to get those pieces photographed.  Since I was a little rushed getting stuff framed for the last show I'm stuck with the task of having to pull the glass out of a bunch of frames.  Thankfully this round I stuck with metal.  

Needless to say I'm glad to be back working in oils.  Here's another detail from some of my current work, a mashup of one of my favorite cities, Chicago being created for a client who's on secondment from the UK.  As soon as I'm done writing this I'm headed down for another session.  Mixing all of these landmarks together has been challenging.

I like a challenge.  Hopefully I'm rising to it.  It feels like I am.


Cheers

R

I Keep Trying to Get Back to Writing but...

Boredom is something that doesn't visit my place very often.  With a relatively new full-time day job fixing bleeding computers at a local university, two growing boys, and an after-hours Art career there's not much time for anything else.  Not to mention house cleaning.  Seriously... I try to get a little help from the cat, but frankly he's useless. I keep trying to get a new post started.  I've got loads of drafts, but nothing of note.

So here I am.  Home sick.  No time like the present I guess.

After wrapping up the last show, Oil and Dust, I dove into a handful of commissions that had been waiting.  I'll be posting some more pics in the near future, but here's a small sample.

I'm happy to say that I've landed a couple of other projects and I'm looking forward to getting started.  Funny thing is I've got this idea in my head that I can't seem to shake.  I was sitting up working on my commissions the other night and took a little break to contemplate the over-sized charcoals I put together for the last show.  I got to thinking about the construction and it led me to thinking about machinery.  The boys and I had been watching a documentary about animation and it hit me: I had an idea I had to run with.  All things considered it will have to be a side project that I work on it what little spare time I can muster.  I won't go into details yet since it's only the beginning of an idea, but I think it's a good one.  It's a huge departure and that's something I've been looking for.

Cheers,

R

Allow Me to Correct Myself

I just realized that I had the wrong time listed for the opening reception on the postcard image for my new solo exhibit, "Oil and Dust" opening at the Iowa State University Memorial Union Gallery tomorrow.  The corrected time is Saturday, July 23rd from 4-7.  Here's the updated postcard:

Sorry for any confusion.  I should really wait until morning to post things.  

Cheers

R

Oil and Dust

And there you have it... your own personal invite to my upcoming solo show, "Oil and Dust" at the Iowa State University Memorial Union.  I won't go on too much about it.  You should come see for yourself.

I sincerely hope to see you there.


Cheers

R

New Work for the Portrait of the Artist Exhibit this Weekend!

This Saturday night, June 18th from 6-9pm the Ware Haus in Des Moines will be featuring the works of numerous Artists from around the country who were asked to do one thing: paint a portrait of an Artist that has inspired you.  The response was phenomenal.  People chimed in from all over eager to pay their respects to their many influences.

The idea got started when I drew a portrait of my friend and fellow Des Moines Artist, Brent Houzenga.  His tenacity and invention has been an inspiration to me and after seeing a particular shot of him I was moved to attempt something I rarely do... portraiture.  Brent saw the piece and immediately had the idea for a show.  The concept took off and very quickly received support from Artists around the US.  It gave us all the chance to tip our hats to the people that have given us direction along the way.

It gave me the courage to attempt a second piece.  A portrait of another fellow Des Moines Artist who has been a great influence on me, Larassa Kabel.

Here they are together

I won't be able to attend the reception and that's a major downer because from what I saw of the Art that had already been dropped off... it's going to be a great show.  Definitely stop by the Ware Haus, 1718 East Universty Ave, Suite A in Des Moines this Saturday.  Enjoy the show.  Meet the Artists.  Have one for me!


Cheers,

R

Prepping for July

I've gone and gotten myself booked for three shows this Summer.  I'll be posting dates and times, but for now I'm doing a lot of prep work.  I've got plans for some large scale monochromatic drawings.  Drawings big enough to crawl around on.  Additionally I've made a bit of an adventurous materials purchase and it's time to make sure it was money well-spent.  While I was waiting I hit the charcoals and dug out my old litho crayons to get the process moving.

They're just ideas, but you've got to start somewhere. 

 Litho crayons are an old standby of mine.  They can take a bit of patience if you're not comfortable working with water-based mediums.  You can attain some great variations in value if you spend just a little time though.

 Charcoals are still a personal favorite though.  I really need to try out making my own.  If you've done it let me know how it went.

Lots to do... lots to do.
Keep up your momentum.


Cheers,

R

Some Unexpected Guests

I've been very delinquent in my writing these days.  It seems like there's never enough time.  That would seem to be my sign that it's time for some reorganization: mental and otherwise.  Just another form of Spring cleaning I suppose.

Amidst all this mental flotsam and jetsam every now and then you get a gem.  A real treasure.  In this case I got two.  I don't typically spend a lot of time on faces.  I'm more interested in gesture and the figure itself as a general rule.  Sometimes though you just find yourself doing something for no apparent reason other than it seemed like the thing to do at the time.  In one case I had no intention of doing that drawing when I started working.  I just turned around looked at the paper sideways and started drawing.  I'd say it's a step away from my normal fare.  I didn't have any models or photo references so I'm looking to do it again.  I'd toyed with this idea a while back and even went as far as taking a few shots with a model (who bears no resemblance to this woman), but it was never right.  I hadn't really thought about it lately until Saturday afternoon while I was working on some cleaning in the studio and picking at some other sketches when I just started drawing.  When I stopped I had her...

I'm calling her The Smooth Talker.  She'll join the rest of the miscreants around the table having cocktails w/ the Crimson King and The Numbers Man.  I'm still not 100% sure what or who they all are so when they show up I try to be accommodating.
I'm really enjoying the illustrative style that's coming through with these charcoals.

Did I mention I love charcoals?

The next is a piece I was wanting to do, but wasn't considering getting started on it until later this month.  I was rather taken by a still frame from a video made of my friend, Brent Houzenga while he was working on a piece outside of the Hive Gallery in Los Angeles recently.  You can check the video here.  See if you can pinpoint the time of the still I was working from. Also if you would, please, take a second and zoom in on the photo.  The reduction of the image in this post takes a lot away from the eyes.

In both cases I was a little taken aback by my sudden urges to work on these piece and even more  so by the outcomes.  Even though I feel a little divergent at times I think there's a place where these styles of mine will come together... Make something new.  I think this is a good place to be right now.

Cheers

R

It Is Finished

It took nearly 8 months, but I've finally managed to finish the 6 large-sized paintings I've been working on for Aviva here in Des Moines.  I'm pretty proud of my accomplishment and can't wait to see them paired with their sister pieces being created by Andrea Myklebust and Stanton Sears.  The entire installation will be nearly 50ft across and will include 12 pieces in total.

In truth there's just a leeeetle more tweaking I'd like to do on a couple of them, but I'm calling it good "for the most part".  I'm trying to get them out of the studio before I do something rash.  You can only look at finished work for so long before you start to find more fault than I already have.  Just looking at these photos makes me itch to go downstairs and start picking...

I've got a truckload of work that's been coming in during my tenure working on these pieces and some that's dropped into my lap since.  I'm not complaining because it keeps me busy and is giving me the opportunity to try some new ideas.  Also being really really busy keeps me from getting too caught up with little things and from dwelling too much on some other things.  Idle hands and all that... So I'm happy for the work and as always grateful for the opportunity to be doing something I love.  

Here's to keeping up the momentum.

Cheers,

R

The Red Wheel Barrow

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

William Carlos Williams

I've always liked that one.  It speaks to me about the moment of inspiration.  That time when, after a seemingly endless period of effort, something happens and it's the jumping off point of something very important.  Although I'm not necessarily a religious person anymore I can't seem to get over the fact that things sure do have a funny way of coming together at just the right (or wrong) time.  The last few weeks have been a good example of this and some very unpleasant things have come to pass.  But as things seem to go other doors have opened juuuuust a hair and because of that additional light I have been shown other possibilities that I had lost sight of.  You toil and toil and you get desperate and then you see a picture or hear a song on the radio or an old friend comes up in conversation...  BANG!  You see the logic in it all just for a second.  Best to go with it.  It's how my painting The Numbers Man came up last year.

I kinda like that guy...

And it's how I came to a conclusion today.  There are details that still keep it from becoming more than a conclusion.  They balance everything on the head of a pin.  I'm not sure which way things will go, but it gives me a larger sense of purpose and a more open playing field. Sometimes it's hard to see in which ways you bind yourself.  I really realized today. While I've been thinking about making a change I hadn't really taken it far enough.  It's funny how you can say things to others and it makes perfect sense, but you don't automatically apply it to yourself as well.  I know I've been harping on this topic on and off for a while.

Simplify Simplify Simplify.

What could be more simple than a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens?

Bawk Bawk


Cheers
R

Something to Cleanse the Palate

Every now and then you have to take a step away from what you're working on... and work on something else.  This is a piece I've been wanting to do for a while, but I've been so wrapped up that I haven't had the time to really explore the idea.

I painted a piece a while back and I was fairly happy with it, but I always felt like I'd missed the mark a bit.  I was trying to get a feeling across, but it really didn't solidify in that piece.  Later on talking with a friend we came across a print of the same piece after the first application of paint.  He said, "I wish you would've stopped painting right there".  So did I.  Every since I've been wanting to go back and try again.

So there you have it.  I do prefer it to my first effort.  I think it's a step in reconciling some of the more figurative, monochromatic work with the architectural stuff.  It's like when your left brain and right brain touch.  Little flashes go off.

Cheers,

R

In Repair

Maintenance.

It's one of the many joys of owning anything large enough to have more than a few moving parts (or software).  We as humans have both.  We need maintenance too.  Not to mention the occasional reboot and system flush.  That second one usually comes somewhere after the holidays.  The funny thing about it is that when things go wrong or break they usually tend to do it all at once.  All of this time floating around and things always seem to happen all at once.

But I'm getting out on a rant here...

So as I take my relatively high-mileage car in for a laundry list of issues of differing severity I also had to consider doing a bit of the same for myself.  I was past due for my 40,000 mile checkup and there was work to be done.   

It's also been a good time to catch up with a few commissioned projects in-waiting.  As I'm nearing the completion of the Aviva work I need to get my ducks in a row.  I need to figure out how to juggle making work for upcoming shows and commissions. I'm looking forward to the studio work because it will give me the opportunity to start exploring the path I started down last year working more figuratively.  I've got a few other ideas bouncing around in my head that I've been waiting to pull the trigger on as well.  I'll be getting the chance soon and that's exciting.  

I love Possibility.  It's one of my favorite things.

Speaking of which the possibility of a new year is upon us if you believe in that anymore.  I'm looking forward to it.  I'll be interested to see how this one pans out.  I've got a few things in mind.

In the meantime keep your eyes peeled.  This round of paintings is due to be completed soon.  You'll want to see them altogether when they're done.  6 canvases of this size (36" x 60") paired up with equally-large wall sculptures... it's going to be a damned sight to behold if I do say so my damned self.

Cheers,

R

An Updated Timeline movie

Just a quick note to show you the latest updates on one of my current commissioned pieces.
Aviva Commission: Chicago in-progress

Cheers,

R

Equivalent Exchange

Enthusiasm.  As a child and even into adulthood my level of enthusiasm for certain things has been a source of inspiration to some... a severe irritant to others.  If you get me on the right topic I'll latch onto it and run it into the ground and beat it into a fine pulp.  I remember one evening after a particular instance in college in which I'd been put down a bit for over-talking a subject I was particularly jazzed about an older friend said, "I hope you never lose your youthful exuberance no matter what anyone says about it".  I heard that loud and clear not only because it in some way validated my total geekdom, but because it was the key to something.  It took someone else to confirm for me that there was value in what I'd been led to believe was a character flaw.

If you've ever watched a child do something they love you've no doubt noticed the way they throw themselves into it without reserve.  That abandonment to the thing that engages oneself can get lost as time goes by.  It's an easy thing to lose... like car keys or drunken friends.  Life gets hectic.  Sometimes projects take longer than expected or you hit a point somewhere in the middle where you've lost your enthusiasm for the piece.  Enthusiasm is hard to come by when you're up in the air about how to proceed with something or you're exhausted from the daily grind.  

It's at precisely that point when your enthusiasm is at it's lowest that you have to persist.  Maybe you put the project in question off to the side for a bit and work on something else, but whatever you do don't stop.  Momentum is an easy thing to lose and a hard thing to regain.  Bull-headed determination has always come through for me in times like those.  By way of making the decision to see something through to the end we solidify the act of completion in our minds.  Being stubbornly adherent to a cause may not be youthful exuberance... it may even be a bit quixotic, but it'll carry you through when your inner child is too pooped to pop.

That's where the good things happen in my book.  When you're beat down and looking for answers (or worrying about deadlines) you get creative.  You're inclined make decisions you might not otherwise make.  You take chances.  You look for new perspectives.  Your wheels get to spinning.  Next thing you know you're excited about it again.  

I've floundered a bit on my current project, but the simple fact is that I have work to do.  I made some big changes and I'll be showing them off soon.  In the meantime I'm taking some time to put time into some other pieces.  Giving myself the opportunity to get perspective and to recharge.  The new work's got me excited again.  

I watched my youngest son tonight with his new paints he got for his birthday.  He painted and painted until the table was covered with canvases and streaked with colors.  Seeing him do that was a great reminder... 

What you put into something you get back out.  Equivalent exchange.  Between the enthusiasm and conviction and a hell of a lot of hard work you get the best out of yourself.    

It's 11:15 in the P of M.  I'm going to go throw down in the studio.  

Cheers,

R

 

A Note on... Things

I feel like I'm always trying to get myself organized.  I do all sorts of things to try and keep myself on the straight and narrow, but it seems like once I get a system set up for myself something comes along and changes things in such a way as to ruin the relevancy of said system.  I'd like to say that it's the fault of the Universe, but ultimately it's probably a testament to my inadequate organizational skills coupled with a sheer lack of time.
We're working on that "time" part.

As the work's started piling up I'm rehashing my routines to fit my current situation.  I think that's the key although obviously I'm no expert. Perhaps it's supposed to work the other way around.  A solid routine is important.  It helps bring order out of chaos.  Not to that I'm altogether against a healthy dose of Chaos.  I do have two sons.  I'm trying to set aside certain times for certain activities although at this point I'm trying to stay flexible.  When I had the studio outside of the home it seemed easier for some reason.  I'm willing to bet it has something to do with the presence of the amenities of the Home itself.  At the studio I didn't have a computer, television, refrigerator... Only the materials, a stereo, a coffee maker & some seats.  It wasn't necessarily comfortable.  That kept me on the move and probably kept me more focused.
I have issues with focus.  Ask anyon....
Holy Mother of Pearl! That potato looks just like Richard Nixon!


Where was I?  Right... Focus.  See what I mean?

I think what got me to realize this was the sheer amount of work I'm looking at right now and how much more I'd like to do.  It's a wonderful problem to have, but it made me realize just how unfocused I'd become.  It made me consider just how much I need to further simplify my life and my processes.  A good little bit of self-realization that I keep coming back to.  We could all use a dose of that from time to time.  I've got three pieces in the works on my current commission list and three more to go.  I've got ample time, but that's no reason not to keep moving forward. One mustn't lose momentum.

I'm on the last nit-picky bits of the Singapore painting.  About 3/4 of the way through the NYC piece and 1/3 of the way done with Chicago.  I'm starting preliminary drawings on the rest.  I'm also blowing through paint, brushes, and carpenter's pencils at an impressive rate.  Perhaps if I cared for my brushes a bit more... Mostly I just use them to death and move on (I know a few people like that).  I'm rotating the current three pieces on and off the easels allowing them a bit of time to dry and allowing myself a bit of time to contemplate my next steps.  The process is working well enough so far although by the end I'd like to have all six up side by side.  In my current studio that pretty much means looking at them in the round.  You do what you can with what you've got.

So here are the updated shots.  I'll let you know when I've made my final decisions about the rest.

Cheers,

R

A Little Jaunt Across the Water

I've just returned from a great week in Dublin and London.  My camera's full.  So's my imagination.  I'm exhausted.  I'm probably sick.  I'm not overly thrilled to be returning to the day job.  I'm so glad I went and I'm just as glad to be home.  I'm even more glad I had good company along.  Good traveling companions are hard to find.
Thanks, Monica.

I've got a ton of pics to sort through.  Most of them won't be useful to my current project, but there's always future work to consider.  I'm hoping to get the field narrowed down by the end of the week.  I desperately need to get back into the studio and start digging in.
If I keep digging like this I'll find myself in China.
(note to self: find a better way to get to China)


I'd love to post all the shots I took and tell the stories of all the wonderful people I met, but there's just no time.  Let me sum up one of the more entertaining evenings: 17yr old Jameson, Irish hotel owner, Italian restaurateur, glass eye, plans to save a night club at 4am.
Yep... Only in Dublin.

I loved it.  The people were fantastic.  The food and drink, amazing.  The history overwhelming.  Everything a good vacation should include.  Some would add warmer weather and sandy beaches... to each their own.  Give me full pint, a good story, and a hot meal and I'm in Heaven.
Plus they have the Francis Bacon studio in the Hugh Lane Gallery.  Each little dirty odd and end reconstructed meticulously to give you a little insight into the mind of a true original.  He definitely had a screw loose, but you've got to hand it to him: He was brilliant.
See for yourself Francis Bacon Image Search Results

London was much as I remembered it: Stately, crowded, fast-paced.  Not for the timid.  A definite must-see.

At any rate I've got a ton of thinking to do about which of these shots will fit the bill for the Aviva commissioned pieces and which ones I'll be marking for future reference.

I've got a web album posted if you want to see more: London - Dublin 2010



Cheers,

R

Number 3, Chicago. Getting Started

This might be fun if I can keep consistent.  I've always wanted a time lapse movie of my painting process, but I was never disciplined about taking the pics.  We'll see how I do.

So here it is in-process: Number 3, Chicago.  This would probably be cooler if I weren't standing there muckin' up the shot.
The embedded video quality wasn't great so here's the link.

Number 3, Chicago

Cheers

R