Tag: organic

Two Pieces

I paint by natural light and learn for each season when ideal painting time is. In the summer, early mornings are better and by the afternoon I switch to giving my pen a workout.

To start my day I do early morning walks right up until dawn starting too late and it is too cool to be enjoyable. The way it has always gone is that starting in the last week or august or so, every few days/weeks dawn comes five minutes later, air feels little cooler. This year was odd in that it was as if someone just flipped a switch and the conditions which signal the end of my early walks until spring just appeared over night.

I am in process now adjusting to new light situation.

Two new pieces:

Mister Paul 5×7 Watercolor and paper

Ahhh 9×12 Rembrandt Cotton paprt

I have always greatly admired Elliott Erwitt’s photography. He often managed to organically include humor/visual puns, things he saw by complete happenstance. Sunday I was taking all books off my shelves for annual dust-behind. Before i put everything back for one section I saw an unintentional Erwitt-like opportunity for a photo.

by Wayne Wolfson

Almost Blue: August 9 Selfie & Blue Pullover

The ever present phones in everyone’s hand has ruined the casual museum goer’s ability to enjoy a painting. Now, a painting must look photorealistic to be “good” because everyone is used to viewing art via their phones. No one wants to see an artist’s brushstrokes or any evidence of a thing done by human hands.

Phones allow people to capture the minutia of their lives instantly. It has almost become de rigueur, even for the most informal of photos for people to do a sort of post-production tweak. Skin is smoothed, other imperfections sanded down. Just as people do not want to see evidence of an artist’s hand in a painting or drawing, photos now may only vaguely suggest one’s age. Unless it is the point of a photo (like those amazing black and white photos of aged people whose crags make them look akin to sculptures) wrinkles, imperfections et al are verboten.

One of my greatest pleasure and something I never tire of is portraying flesh with paint. I did not feel like dealing with anyone but wanted to indulge in my raison d’etre, showing the gooniness of flesh. August 9th, I am looking in the mirror about to shave. Monk’s elliptical patterns float through the half open door.

Gazing in the mirror:

“Wow, good thing I am talented.”

Almost Blue: August 9 Selfie 9×12 Rembrandt paper (this is one of my personal favorites of all my paintings)

Blue Pullover 11×17 Tan paper

by Wayne Wolfson

Painter in Exile: Heatwave Series

It has been triple digit heat here so of course my AC broke. They ordered the part I need which is syrup time in getting here. Even with windows open, ceiling fan and free standing fan, my studio has been in the 90’s (and hard to breath in). This was no mere discomfort to be countered by having a large travel mug of ice water & wearing sarong as i have encountered in the past.

Exiled from my studio

I had a painting which would have been done in two more sessions, now laying on table in anticipation of our reunion. In meanwhile I have been able do my daily drawing. I only used one pencil a large Kimberley 525. The book is a hard backed lay flat 11×14 which i found while reorganizing my tabourets pre-inferno.

Here are the drawings done for my own amusement dubbed The Heatwave Series

by Wayne Wolfson

Stacy Says

I am in the middle of two bigger projects, editing my novel & my latest Cinefield®. I do not have studio space to do full sized paintings. In the interim I am doing pocket pad pieces which allow me to pint without leaving palettes of paint out.

The methodology of this is different than how I usually paint and I enjoy the challange.

 Stacy Says Watercolor & Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches

by Wayne Wolfson

Menagerie

Drawing is the basis of art. A bad painter can’t draw, but one who draws well can always paint. Arshile Gorky

Drawing is the intellectual basis for painting. Matisse

As I continue to work on my novella & paint, i also draw daily. This always gives me great joy. It need not be a work others will see nor even one i will keep. A pencil nubbin on a scrap of paper, serving the process in this humble way excites me as much as one of my serious framed works.

I have a mission in what I want to do, convey emotions so that the viewer comes away feeling something. However, there are not specific parameters of what I will draw/paint to meet this goal.

I prefer the real, which to me is always beautiful, over the conventional notion of beauty. I am fortunate to have a stable of people who model for me, trusting me so that what I get is not the studied, academic poses but rather the more real.

Mostly I used Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches This is a mix of pencil pieces and water soluble graphite.

by Wayne Wolfson

Blue Pillow

Unfortunately with my last trip, I did not get any photos which would serve as the raw material for my Cinefield® work. I legitimately miss working on them, which lasts until I am two weeks into one and I start to see little pieces of paper confetti in my dreams.

I continue on with painting. This piece is 9×12 Rembrandt paper which was given to me by Royal Talens. It is professional grade cold pressed 100% cotton. I have often used French cotton paper and that absorbs pigment quicker which makes it less forgiving in regards to blending or correcting a spot. As with all professional grade equipment, it becomes less which is better and more a matter of personal preferences.

Blue Pillow Watercolor & Paper

Detail

by Wayne Wolfson

Delight

I currently have no new raw material (photos) for my next Cinefield®. I do not mind as I am enjoying painting. Portraying human flesh with paint continues to give me the same pleasure as when I initially was able to do it well.

Here are two new pieces. Both are watercolor on paper. One in my pocket pad 4×4 inches and the other a new paper I recently discovered 5×7.

There is a great quote by author Paul Auster along the lines of “Do a thing simply for the beauty of doing it.” As an artist, I came up pre-internet (this was when I also had to have a string of terrible day jobs) A buddy and I would do literal Xerox-staple ‘zines. We would run all over town bullying, pleading & annoying Bookstores, Record stores anyplace, to carry them.

If two people saw them, you felt like you were one hundred feet tall. But, this was the bonus as it was about serving the process. It was a calling, a romance, which I am still swept up in. There was not the worry of social media numbers, likes. reposts etc.

I have noticed that many Parisian artists sort of have this attitude. Of course it has become a necessity to maintain an online presence no matter where in the world one is, but you do not see heads bent in prayer to screens in the same way you do stateside.

Do a thing for the beauty of it and the rest will follow, it may not be as immediate as posting and then getting a “like” but it will be more lasting and meaningful.

by Wayne Wolfson

Shimmy Shimmy Ya

I am in the process of getting the release of my next collection ready. And, I am few weeks out from returning to Europe, so I can not devote massive amount of time required by Cinefield® work. The actual work involved in creating a piece aside, I can’t have my studio take on the inevitable sprawl of sheets of tiny cut out shapes which is part of the process.

Instead I have been doing paintings which is different but as rewarding for me.

Each Cinefield® has been different from the previous and sometimes, time between creating them actually can help. As does going to different places to take my raw material photos.

Here is my latest painting. French cotton paper 5×7 inches & watercolor.

by Wayne Wolfson

Evelyn

The release of my next collection is roughly two weeks away. Because of this and wanting to take different photos to serve as Cinefield® fuel/raw material I am mainly painting right now.

As to keep myself engaged, I keep switching size(s) and types of paper.

My latest is watercolor on French cotton paper (cold pressed) 5×7 inches. I was very pleased with this piece which is now a personal favorite. No matter how often I do it, the portrayal of flesh in my work always gives me the greatest pleasure.

I am always looking for interesting things to draw/paint. Feel free to email me if you think you may have something of interest.

by Wayne Wolfson

Drawings

Full ahead into my next Cinefield®. Of course still drawing every day. I do not seek out things with a specific vibe. I would like to think that when not portraying someone from within my circle, I am a sort of spokesmen for those who have slipped through the cracks, the lonely, forgotten and outsiders.

My regular subjects intuitively know I enjoy that sort of convulsive beauty. I am fortunate that they trust me to present me with such honesty.

Poet laureate of the forgotten & ignored or from within my circle, either way, it’s raw reportage. I do not seek to beautify nor take down any subject.

All pieces are quick sketches in my trusty pocket pad.

I am always looking interesting things to draw, email me if you think you have something.

by Wayne Wolfson