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

Relativity

"Time is an illusion.  Lunch time doubly so"
I know I quote Douglas Adams a lot, but he had such a way of delivering simple, everyday things to you in a manner that made you rethink them.
Like the  relativity of time.

I'm not talking about Einstein.  I'm talking about how time is relative to your amount of engagement in any certain activity.  Ask any child who's been out playing with friends or is wrapped up in a video game and you'll invariably get a level of perceived time dilation rivaling the event horizon of a black hole.  My son will play a game for an hour (max) and will swear that he's only been at it for "five whole minutes, Dad.  Jeesh".
He actually makes a sound like "jeesh" more than he actually says it.
Time flies when you're having fun.  And even when you're not.  I've recently gone from knee deep to eyeball deep in an IT project for my day job.  Embroiled is a good word I think.  It's an enormous amount of pressure that sprung up from a rather unexpected angle.  It's funny tho.  How time flies and slows down all at once when you're in a crisis mode.  Things are flying by at a daunting pace and yet somehow it all passed by you like bullets in The Matrix.
I don't necessarily dodge them like Neo however.  That's how it is when you're not protected by script immunity.  It's a level of engagement that I haven't had in a while.  It's hectic and time is flying, but in a perverse way it's fun sometimes.
Not all the time.
That's come along with a lot of work on the current projects.  There's a soft deadline looming, but the time dilation's kicked in and I'm starting to envision the pieces in a different way.  I've gotten more engaged in them.  I've put down some underpainting on two and am starting to work on the successive layers.  I'm heading down there in a little bit actually.  I'm working in an every-other-night rotation in different areas of each piece.  As soon as I get the next image green-lighted I'll start putting down pencil and will begin canvas number three, Chicago or Toronto.  I'm sure at some point I'll be working on them all at once.

Here's where the fun part comes in.  Looks like I'll be going to Dublin and London to get photos for myself.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I haven't been to London since I was a teenager and I've never been to Dublin, but have always wanted to go.  Simply put.... Fanf@ckingtastic.
Hey, this is a family show.
I plan on taking about a bazillion pics and touring the Jameson distillery.
And NOT kissing the Blarney Stone.
If you live in either of those places and want to get together for a meal or a pint keep your eyes peeled.  I'll be posting pics the entire time.


Cheers,

R

In Development

Every time you think you know yourself you go and do something that surprises you.  I've done that a few times recently.  A complete change of scenery can do that to you.  A couple of the things were good.  One of them wasn't so much.  That's how it is though and you learn and you move on.  Hopefully you take something from it.  In this case, I'm thankful to say, I did.  More proof that at nearly 40 you're still a work in progress.

Becoming involved in a large-scale Art project like the new Aviva building in West Des Moines was a bit step towards changing the way I look at Art.  I'd become so used to my way of doing things that getting involved in someone else's process was an eye opener.  Especially when those people are imagining projects on a fairly massive scale.  The coordination of industrial processes can be an exercise in project management.  I was very glad for the opportunity to get to pick these artists' brains on how it all goes together.  I'll post some links as things develop.

I'm also working on a series of pieces for the same project so I'm seeing it from both sides.  My project has me paired up with the Artist team of Andrea Myklebust and  Stanton Sears who've got a resume full of sizable projects such as this.  I'd better bring my A-game.  I'm looking forward to further collaboration with them on this one.  Right now we're working more or less independently, but there are decisions to be made regarding palette, etc.  Size and subject matter are already solid.  I'm doing developmental charcoal sketches to tweak composition.  My apologies for the awful pics.  I'll post some better ones later.

This has led me to throw my hat in the ring for some public Art projects that have cropped up statewide.  I've put in for one and have got plans to get my submission materials out for one later this month.  I may be completely out of my league, but frankly I don't care.  I'm leading with my chin a bit, but the worst that can happen is that I get rejected.  Eff it.  I'm past worrying about that.  As Agent J said, "Don't start nothin', don't Be nothin'".

So... that was a bit of a surprise.  Two years ago this would never have crossed my mind.

The Not-So-Great thing I did led to a bit of self-discovery.  That led to a bit of brainstorming and Hell, you know what that leads to.  

Cheers,

R

It Begins with a Trip to Chicago

It was time.

Like I said in my last post I've got a lot of work staring me in the face.  It was time to get a good start and I have.  I've spent nights digging through my photo archive (read as seriously huge arseload of pics) and searching photos online.  I've also reached out to some fellow artists who've posted images of some of the cities I'm searching for.  They have graciously given me permission to use their images should I need them.  Old pics are one thing and someone else's pics are another.  Sometimes you just need to get out and get them yourself to be satisfied.  Of the cities I need to represent Chicago is the closest to me both geographically and personally.  So... I had to go.  

I've got loads of pics of Chicago.  I try to get shots whenever I'm in town.  It's a city that likes to be photographed.  It really does.  It'll even pose for you, but you've got to keep your eyes open.  Last weekend turned out to be a grand opportunity to get out of town and go in search of iconic Chicago.  I took a lot of shots.  Many of which I was well aware would not go with my current assignment.  Sometimes an image speaks to you.  You just go with it... shut up and take the shot.  I imagine I'll have need for those pics soon enough.  I've got some ideas you see... Ideas I can't act on right at the moment because I've got a deadline.  We're filing them away for later.  

It was exactly the kind of weekend I needed to get me on track for this project. It got me on my feet and moving.  I've been working on studies for some other cities, but I hadn't really felt "Started".  That and some other news got my creative mojo workin'.  I'm too tired to go on tonight and for once I think I'll give in and go lie down.  Like a toddler who won't admit he's tired I'll fight sleep until I fall over.  I'm not sure if it's virtue or vice just yet.  Perhaps it's a bit of both.   

I won't post everything here.  Not all of these are on my list of possibilities...  Some of them I just like.  If you find me on Facebook you can see the rest.

At any rate... I think Chi Town can wrap this up well enough on it's own.  

Cheers,

R

Ps: The man playing the clarinet is Kaliq Woods.  He was brilliant.

Time Flies

I looked up today and realized that it's been a month since my last post.  I've been a little preoccupied you see.  I just took another step in reconstructing what I perceive to Me.  I've moved into a new place and shortly thereafter moved my studio as well.  It's been a busy 4 weeks since I moved in, but I'm incredibly happy about the way things have gone.  I've made a concerted effort to stay optimistic throughout the process and have been very lucky to have had a lot of support from friends and family.  Moving, as you all know, can really blow goats.

That being said I've taken it as an opportunity to restructure the way I do things.  Due to financial constraints I've moved out of my space at Northland Studios.  I will miss the atmosphere in that place, but I will miss the other Artists most of all.  What moving means however is that I can go back to being able to paint when I have my boys AND when I don't.  I'd love to have them in the studio with me, but I'm not the kind of person that can paint with a lot of distractions.  A little conversation is one thing if you're in the right frame of mind, but little boys can be demanding of your attention and I don't like to split time in that way.  They should get my full attention so long as we're together.  One day they'll have to take care of me and I don't want them thinking, "Hey, he used to lock us in our rooms while he painted. Phil Spector style.  What a dick... SlummyView Acres it is".

Once I get the studio reassembled I'll post some pics.  Looking for an alternative to the chalkboard-paint wall.  The new space doesn't lend itself to that.  If I could find one of those old slateboards like my Grandmother used to have that would kick ass.  We'll see.

I've recently become overwhelmed with new work and I'm wondering how I'll do it all.  I've been spending a lot of time simplifying and reorganizing.  Re-acquiring my discipline.  I let it go during the move, but now it's time to get back on the horse and get moving.  No time to be resting on imagined laurels.  The fun stuff's just starting and I'd better represent because this feels like a turning point and I'd better not eff it up.

Lastly... since I don't have any new pics to post I thought I would take the opportunity to pimp a friend's work.  I recently acquired a piece from this amazingly talented artist.  One of my first non-trade Art purchases.  I just brought it home and can't wait to get it framed and on the wall.  I'll let you guess which piece I got.
Without further ado I give you Larassa Kabel: One of Des Moines' most skilled Artists.  If you haven't seen her work up close and in-person make it a point to add her next show to your calendar.  Her level of prowess with pencils and oil paints will knock your proverbial socks off.
http://www.larassakabel.com/








Cheers,

R

Submerged

Greetings and salutations

I justed wanted to post one last reminder about the "Submerged" exhibit at Instinct Gallery this Saturday from 6-10pm.  If you haven't been there before it's in the Des Moines Social Club right across from the sculpture garden at 1408 Locust Ave.  The show will feature the Art of John Bosley along with Luke Elliot and myself.  Should be a pretty good exhibit.  I'm anxious to see how it looks.  They were hanging work on Monday and I was pretty happy about what I saw.  Hope to see you there!
If, like most people, you weren't up at 7:30 on July 4th you (and I) missed an installment of KCCI's "In the Artist's Studio" featuring little old me.  I had a lot of fun doing the interview although the studio was unpleasantly hot that day and I was painting in my work clothes.  Like most oil painters I wouldn't dream of painting while wearing anything I actually wanted to keep clean.  It was a good time and I enjoyed seeing the different camera shots that were taken.  All in all a very good experience.  Check it out here: http://www.kcci.com/video/24155503/index.html .

See you soon!


Cheers,

R

Endurance Tests

You can always count on Iowa weather.  It can be really beautiful watching a storm come across the rolling hills.  Not so much when it heads downtown on a Friday at 5 dumps torrents of rain on your reception.  I think, however, that it didn’t affect the attendance at the Visiting Artists exhibit reception last Friday.  After the rain the evening was beautiful. There was a very respectable turnout.  I got to chat with some people I hadn’t seen in a long time, and I am, as always, very grateful to my friends who came out.  It was a genuine pleasure to be featured with such a talented group.  

To see work from the other artists in the show click HERE

No sooner had that ended than it was time to engage myself and others in the “Found And Donated” project for the Des Moines Arts Festival happening this weekend.  Each of us was tasked with creating a design on pre-made wood panels featuring found or donated materials.  As I mentioned before I chose CDs because of their prevalence in my life as a techy, but also because they were readily available thanks to several generous donations… and they’re shiny. 

Many many thanks to the help of a wonderful friend and human being; to whom I owe one of my kidneys; who stood by me in the toasty-hot studio smashing CDs and gluing them to boards.  By our estimation we used around 1200 CDs in all… or 840gb of data.  It took roughly 4-5 hours per board once we got a system down.  It was an unpleasantly hot, muggy week here in good ol’ Ds of M.  It was exhausting and fun and the second June I’ve gotten myself (and others) into a grueling ordeal for the sake of Art (see last June’s posts).  I love it.  Wonder what we’ll do next time…

One mooooore thing and then I’ll go for now.

There’s another group show coming up at Instinct Gallery in downtown Des Moines.  John Bosley contacted me a few months back about this show and I’ve been looking forward to seeing more of his new work.  Plus Luke Elliott’s work looks pretty intense.  I’m anxious to see it in person.  We’ll be seeing you at the reception July 10^th!

Cheers,

R

Pew! Pew! Pew!

Greetings, True-Believers!  Why "Pew Pew Pew!"?  The show at RayGun was a real success.  Get it?  RayGun?  it goes pew... oh forget it.

This has been a banner couple of weeks at the Reeves household.
First and foremost: my youngest son learned to tie his shoes. I'm extremely proud of him and take a lot of personal joy in his accomplishments. Especially the little things.  I mean how far can you get if you don't learn how to tie knots?  I know. I know. "Velcro", you say but c'mon.

Secondly I got to spend an evening in the company of some great people by way of my solo show, "Finding a Place to Stand" at RayGun last Saturday.  We had a lot of people through and I, for one, had a great time getting to chat with friends and getting acquainted with a few new ones. My friend, Michael's bacon-chocolate cookies were so good they very nearly brought one person to tears.  Ah, the power of bacon.  Thank you, sir.  Thanks to everyone for coming.  Maybe you only stayed because of the brief, but torrential rain, but I'll take it. 
I'm happy to say there are a number of other things going on, but I won't go into them at this point with the exception of one.  A group of local artists are designing large recyclables containers for the Des Moines Arts Festival.  We were each tasked with coming up with a design and then creating it from found or donated materials.  I work with a lot of software in my day job.  A lot of useless, excessively-distributed software.  CDs are like shiny, round cockroaches.  They turn up on your desk.  In your drawers... So with the help of a number of generous people I'm going to try to turn them into something new.  I have a lot of CDs to shuck (ie: remove from the little, paper sleeves).  Then I'm going to find a way to wholesale smash or shred them.  I've got a few options.  If you've got any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Cheers,

R

A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to the Drawing Board

I was up working on some pieces for the show at RayGun opening next Friday and I was struggling.  I'd been given a very helpful critique and was trying to work through some problem areas, but I just kept missing the mark.  I often take pics of my work in progress to help give me some perspective.  Taking a step back only does so much.  

I've recently updated to a camera phone.  It's handy when I want a few quick pics.  So I stepped back to get a shot and noticed something through the view finder I hadn't noticed while looking at the piece directly.  I reached out my hand to make a small, finger adjustment and had a little bit of a revelation.  I got the benefit of perspective with the ability to touch the work directly.  Like having very long arms or a video touch screen with perfect, instinctive control.  

Hmmm... There's an idea.

When that happened I was suddenly able to realize the solution to my problem.  It was a little awkward at first, but the results were surprising.  I'm not sure if working through my phone's view screen is a good solution, but it was a bit of a revelation at the time.  Then again it's amazing what can become a revelation at 1:30am when you've got to wake up for the day job at 5:45am.




Cheers,

R

As of Yet Untitled Solo Show Coming Soon!

Let's say I've been a little preoccupied lately.  I'm pretty sure the days are getting shorter.  I know that's contrary to common logic, but I've been keeping track.  I swear.

I'm proud to say I have a solo show coming up next month at RayGun here in little ol' Des Moines and I'd be knocked out several times if you would join me with Des Moines' best and brightest.  The sexy and savvy.  The willing to come and grace RayGun and myself with your presence... You can nibble, mingle, look at Art, shop for clothes that say funny things about living in Iowa.  You can shop for Art too.

In all seriousness I would love to see you there.  I've been working on some new charcoal pieces as well as a couple new paintings.  I'll be burning some midnight oil to get ready, but I'm looking forward to it.  Doing the charcoals has necessitated some changes to the way I work.  I've enjoyed the immediacy.  My sinuses aren't so crazy about it, but they'll have to deal.  I like the way they've been working for me.  I'm still looking for the perfect paper.
Also still looking for some suggestions.



Saturday, June 5th from 4pm - 7pm
RayGun
400 East Locust
Des Moines, IA
50309


See you on the 5th!

Cheers,

R

Of Hindu Gods and Plane Rides

I've never been all that keen on flying.  I find the entire experience somewhat distasteful.  Hauling around luggage, slogging through security checks (God knows I couldn't possibly pack several 3oz containers with the same explosive substance.  Sorry TSA, but it's true), being packed like sardines into metal canisters and tiny seats.  Don't even get me started on turbulence.  The only parts I rather enjoy are liftoff and touchdown.  These days, however, it's a necessary evil.
I had the opportunity to spend some time this week on plane rides to and from Chicago for my day job.  I'll chalk the trip, for the most part, as one of my worst experiences ever.  I was in Chicago, but I didn't get a chance to enjoy the Windy City.  Being one of my favorite American cities this was a big disappointment.  It wasn't Chicago's fault, however.  I was there to help move an office from one building to another.  While the final outcome was good for the office workers the experience itself was nothing short of hellish.. or at least Purgatory-ish.  I was raised Baptist.  We didn't have Purgatory so I'm guessing here.  I'll have to arrange another trip this Summer to wash the taste of it from my mind.

I was able to find a few distractions, however.  I like to draw while flying.  It helps to keep my mind in a happy place: concentrated and lost in my work.  Some potential clients have inquired about me doing an image of the Hindu god, Ganesha.  I've always been fascinated by Hindu imagery.  Frankly I find mythical imagery from nearly all cultures completely enthralling, but that's a topic for another day.  So with the plane sitting on the tarmac I started doodling.  At the end of the trip I had this. I like his eyes.  They seem a bit weary, but peaceful.

It was short flight and I was doodling with a ball point pen which makes mistakes a bit hard to correct.  Is it a masterpiece?  No, but it IS a start.

I'm all about starts. 

Cheers,

R

Access

Access... It's an all-encompassing word, but it helps to describe one of the bigger benefits of moving into a studio space.  I have access to all sorts of things and people I didn't have while working from my basement.  I've been able to connect with people from a number of other artistic disciplines: Photography, Architecture, Music, etc.  It's been an enriching experience thus far.

It's that level of access that has allowed me to do a bit of growing lately.  I've now got access to other points of view.  Other impressions of the work I'm doing.  Other people's work.  It's hard to get a decent critique working from the bowels of your own home.  Sure you can post items online, but most of the commentary you get is overwhelmingly positive with little or no critical observation.  The remainder is overwhelmingly negative with little or no supporting discussion and the ubiquitous anonymity the Internet provides.
For the record: I have zero problem with negative criticism so long as there is an intelligent, well-thought discussion that accompanies it.  I'm looking to get better at what I do.  Not just hear how talented (or talentless) someone might think I am
BTW: Thanks, Mom!

One of the other great things about being in a shared studio environment has been having not only the space to bring in a model, but easy access to people who are willing to model.  If you've been following this blog you'll know I've been spending more time focusing on the human form.  Easy enough if the subject is male.  I can always look in the mirror if no one else is willing.  It's a different story if the subject is female.  I don't always set out to do figurative work, but some nights the opportunity just presents itself.  When that happens you go with it. The result of which has been a lot of development in my figure drawing abilities and my ability to stage scenes the way I want.  I always equate creating Art to problem solving.  Having models in easy supply is a big problem solved especially since I'm starting to envision works featuring a larger number of figures.

Got some good figure sketches from one of last week's figure drawing sessions.  I had a photographer in along with the model to take some pics at angles from which I just couldn't work. I'm looking forward to seeing those.  Hopefully tonight.  When things have gotten a little farther along I'll share.

Promise.

Cheers,
R