Arachnophobia...

A thread was started at Wet Canvas today which addressed my work, specifically. I had posted an in-progress photo of the "three red spiders" painting, in a monthly "post what's on your easel" thread. A member apologized to the other artists who had posted their images on the same page as my painting, that she might have missed seeing some of their paintings, since she had to scroll down the page really fast, to avoid seeing "the scary spiders."

Then, today, this same person started a thread asking the Wet Canvas Moderators if they could create a "spider icon" so viewers would know, from seeing the spider icon, if there were spider images in a given thread, without having to accidentally stumble across them.

I have to admit, I feel a certain sadistic thrill when people are frightened by my paintings. I created an installation at the Kansas City Art Institute, titled "The Walk", where I hung a new spider sculpture on the ceiling of a long hallway, every day for a week.

I remember one afternoon, watching students walking down the hall between classes. Occasionally, someone would look up, see the spiders making their way across the ceiling, and flinch.

That was fun!

(I remember another classmate of mine who seriously didn't seem to believe that some people really are scared of spiders--and I related the true story of the naked man who was admitted to the emergency room with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his foot; he was taking a bath, and had seen a spider crawling on his foot. Somehow, the idea of using a nearby gun to shoot the spider, struck him as reasonable.)

Anyway, it's interesting when people are discussing my work without reference to me, just the subject matter.

At least, they're talking!

The final artwork of 2012:

I started this drawing, of my step-children, quite a while ago. I had hoped to finish it a long time ago, but art shows, vacations, moving, etc., kept interrupting my efforts.

Nonetheless, I kept working at it, and finished it late in December. I framed it last month, and now it hangs in our home.

Glad it's done (and I'm pretty happy about how it turned out...

Somewhere Between A Sketch and A Drawing

I drew this today, over a couple hours this morning, from several photographic (and anatomical/3-D) references. It's barely a sketch, but it is the correct pose, and it has "personality".

So, although its barely "there", what is there, is very useful...very specific.

It needs a lot of work.

I have two figures in mind for a painting I'd like to make, and this will (most likely) be one of them.

When she's finished.

I've had some of these ideas in my head for a while, and I've really needed to get them out of my head, and onto paper--and ultimately, onto panel.

First things, first, though.

And, drawing is first.

Drawing vs. "Not Drawing"

I don't draw nearly enough (let's get that tiny bit of painful honesty that out of the way right now!), though I am trying to discipline myself to draw more often. I used to draw regularly, when i was attending frequent lectures. Now I find that I would rather paint, than draw--and although it is important to work on the paintings, regular drawing keeps the ideas flowing, helps to "develop" (improve) the ideas, and develops the "chops" (skills...does anyone still say "chops", anymore?)

Keeping a couple of sketchbooks handy, helps. (I probably have--literally--hundreds of sketchbooks. While its easy to just grab one off the pile every time I deide to draw, it's better to work my way through a book or two, since that allows me to build on earlier ideas--and keep track of the good ones.)

Several of my recent paintings, including the three 15x45 inch panel spider paintings, and the small square spider paintings, were created without any preliminary drawing whatsoever (with the exception of "Arachnaverte", which was copied--in paint--from a small original pencil sketch on paper).

And, the results I get from working this way are satisfying--but, only to a point. Lately, I'm finding that if I want to convey more complex ideas (or, more realistic ones), I need to do some pretty involved preliminary drawings.

One thing I've noticed about spiders is that their bodies are opaque, while their legs are quite translucent. This is something I have not tried to capture in my paintings of spiders, so far--but I realize would really like to.

Drawing in paint is fine, and it IS drawing. And, it would probably "do", at least for quite a while, if I wanted only that. But, it does not allow the kinds of revision, rework, erasing, etc. that provides for a through examination of subject (including pose, light and shade, texture, etc.)

So, I'm working on being more disciplined about drawing; drawing more often, keeping track of my current sketchbookin order to "build" up in previous sketches, and really explore my subject matter, to be able to produce the types of paintings I really want to make.

When art shows find YOU!

I had no plans to exhibit my work until I was finished with eight to twelve new pieces, it when opportunity knocks, it's best to answer the door.

A co-worker of mine was asked to exhibit some of his paintings at a hip local coffee shop, and he was also asked if he knew any other artists who ought also like to exhibit.

He asked me if I had anything to hang, and of course I do' so I said, "Yes".

I'm taking three paintings to work today, to give to him, to put up in the show.

I don't even know where this place is, but I'll post more information--here and on FaceBook--when I find out.

Speeding Up!

Last week, I reconnected with a photographer I've worked with for years (longer than I will admit here!), and this morning, I turned over Caroline and Jack, to be scanned.

So, there may be new prints in the near future!

I also want to start work on the next "Invented Faces", to complete the originally-planned series of thirteen.

I'm still working hard on The Presentation of Spiders, along with a couple other paintings, as well as a small wood carving.

I've also upgraded my computer with a terrabyte of new hard drive space, and I am going to be blogging more regularly. I also have a few ideas to help make this space more interesting, and more interactive!

So far, 2013 has already been a very productive year, so far--and I have no plans for that to change or slow down.

Here's a taste of what's coming; the progress (it's in colour now!) on The Presentation of Spiders over the past couple of weeks...!

2013

Five years ago, I had just graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute. I was married,and my wife and I were living in my parents' home, taking care of my father as he neared his ninetieth decade.

Five years later, and I'm divorced for the second time. My father passed away a year ago (today). I have moved twice (same city; different houses) and have now been living with my girlfriend for four (wonderful) years. I have fewer debts, have gotten rid of a great deal of "stuff", and have made some extra money woodworking (something I began doing in college) and doing more restoration work (something Ive be involved in for a long time). I've made new friends, kept most of the old ones, and seem to have found a reasonable "balance" between my social life and my life as an artist.

I've also made some valuable local contacts; with artists, gallery owners, and even some collectors.

As an artist I'm feeling more confident in my work every day. Over the last five years I've (slowly) realized that it is much less important for me to [try] to figure out (especially in advance!) what my work "means"--or should mean, and far more important for me to just make stuff!

I've set a goal of creating 24 new artworks this year, starting with the completion of "The Presentation of Spiders" (which has come quite a long way since the last time I posted pictures of it; new photos--as always--coming soon.)

Thirteen has always been a lucky number for me; my first divorce was finalized on a Friday the Thirteenth, and my second marriage lasted exactly thirteen years to the day.

So, I have big plans for this year, and the timing seems to be right for me to make them come true.

Thank you for your interest.