Fall is unarguably here. I am once again in process of becoming familiar with when the ambient sunlight is where I need it to be for painting.
As I continue writing my novella I paint, changing up the size and style of paper for each piece. This one is done on Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches .
As I am in the middle of writing my next novella, sometimes I day dream which is an articulation of extraneous ideas that I will not use as to be able to concentrate better.
I day dream as I clean my studio. There’s a vague idea that I have had of an artist who has all the equipment he needs to do his thing and in variety. In his mind’s eye, this makes him “rich” as he let’s slip at a bar (This leads to trouble).
When I first started doing visual work, I used the pages of the newspaper (for the youngsters: this was like a twitter news feed but accurate and truthful, made from thin slices of a tree, which showed up on your doorstep every morning) I used black and red markers as to be able to see my drawings.
I then graduated to blocks of cheap paper filling every page on both sides.
Slowly, I worked my way towards legitimizing the need of good equipment. Initially, i was thrifty out of necessity, i.e using pencil extenders as to squeeze every drop out of a pencil.
Fast forward, I can now afford whatever I want for equipment, i can buy things merely to experiment with etc. I still use pencil extenders and observe other economical practices, not because I have to or even because I am cheap. It is a sign of deep affection for serving the process.
When working on a painting, the amount of paint which I use at most only takes up two ten slotted porcelain palettes. Not much but I often find myself when a painting is completed with a little bit paint remaining.
I started the practice of doing a smaller painting with remaining paints in my trusty Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches. Nothing is wasted and it often presents some manner of stimulating challenge for me. It’s my version of what great chefs like Paul Bocuse did in their every part of the animal philosophy.
The Mark Watercolor & Rembrandt 9×12 cold pressed fin paper
Gerd Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches
I am currently working on a novella and so will devote my allotted time for visual works towards painting. At the end of the day of working in full sized painting currently underway I had a little bit of paint left in my palettes.
I used it to do a smaller work. I did this for same reason I use pencil extenders when down to nubbins, not out of cheapness but as further sign of deep affection for serving the process. (I will say though, for someone who is constantly drawing etc, it does add up)
“Reflexive” This piece was done in my trusty Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches
Also few spontaneous photos I took as I worked, the poetics of the everyday.
Addendum: “How not to Look Like an Ass While Living History”
Yesterday, regardless of what side one might feel they are on or even what country residing in, was historic. While I do not begrudge someone not wanting to make a statement or gesture via their social media sites, in such cases the best thing to do is silence.
It looks tonally weird (and deaf) for some huge thing to be occurring and in the midst of it trying to rack up likes or views for what one does as if just another day.
No one’s career has ever been made via one blog post nor tweet. It can wait a day, I assure you. To think it doesn’t matter if one does not live in the country in which a thing is occurring is to get it wrong too. We, all of humanity are connected. Ironically, this notion seems to be forgotten more and more even as it becomes easier to interact with those afar from us.
It is not our duty necessarily to provide commentary or messaging on an event as it occurs, but it definitely is weird to ignore an event by acting as if it’s not happening. Years down the corridor of time:
“What were you doing when the regime fell grandpa” or “What were you doing when this huge thing happened Grandpa?”
“Me? Well Billy I was trying to get at least fifty likes for my latest blog post/I was trying to get people to listen to my band’s cover of a cure song on youtube.”
Finally finished my latest Cinefield®. For each one, my ambition is to make it better than the last in some way. In this case, it is my most rhythmically complex.
I seek to engage the viewer via creating works which offer new things to be noticed with every view. Ideally, I inspire (and maybe even awe) but if I only offer a momentary respite from the unpleasant aspects of daily life, then it’s all well worth it.
Aside from the labor intensive aspect of each Cinefield®, other information:
Each piece is comprised of one or two photos which I personally took. There is no digital magic, I use the old school method of my trusty tiny scissors and adhesive applied with brush on an 11×17 inch piece of heavy paper.
I always see the design in my head ahead of time. However, what piece is put where is in the moment improvised. I do a basic schematic on the paper the fine details reside within my inner eye. I also put a phrase which ultimately becomes hidden by the mosaic. The inspiration for this was the beautiful movie The Phantom Thread in which a master tailor did similar thing with his couture. There is such a call for meticulous detail in what I do and it’s so painstakingly executed that I have always likened it to the little old man making amazing shoes on Saville Row type of thing so these two things inspired me.
I cut up the photos into tiny, tiny pieces and they are carefully lain out on sheets. I look at the sheets as I work selecting what goes where in that moment. Do not ask me how i know, I just feel it, each selected piece seems right for where it is placed. The entire thing is very labor intensive, i see tiny paper snow flurries in my dreams often when halfway through a piece.
The work is copywritten and not for use without permission.
Still deep into working on my latest Cinefield®. Locked into a groove, my studio has been overrun by sheets of paper upon which rests tiny confetti like pieces of paper.
In the interim, I continue to draw every night. I have mainly been using my trusty Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches while also finishing the other pads in varying states of completion I have on my desk.
Here are some of what I have been doing, the joy for me serving the process even if only with a pencil nubbin on a scrap piece of paper:
In case you missed it I got a nice showcase which goes into my modus operandi:
I am deep into working on my next Cinefield.
It is a pleasure to find myself the featured artist on Doodlewash. This pretty much gives my philosophy and evolution as an artist:
Just back from a trip where I was able to take photos to serve as fuel for my next Cinefield®. I lucked out and was able to get so much raw material it will allow me to do two which will lead me right up until next spring ( I won’t work on them back to back, taking a well needed break between which accounts for some of time frame)
While working on my Cinefield®, of course I will still draw every day and do my water soluble graphite work in pocket pads but this will be last painting for a while as my studio will become dominated by tiny confetti like pieces of paper laid out on sheets.
For this piece I wanted to try something a little different. I made the flesh appear without the volume and mass letting the lines tell that story of the body. I was very pleased with the results and enjoyed the challenge of going against my usual preference. That is one way for an artist to avoid falling back on pet-licks for a piece.
9×12 Rembrandt cold pressed paper 140lb
“Color always occupies me, but drawing preoccupies me” Delacroix
“Drawing is the basis of art. A bad painter can’t draw but one who draws well can always paint.” Arshille Gorky
I always have a pocket pad on me, usually 3×5 inches, and then a slightly larger one in my ever present book bag. When I travel, what pads and accoutrements I have depends on length of trip, location and what else I will have going on while on the road.
It took me many years of trial and error but I have my trip equipment selection process down pat. For the past month or so I have been writing about equipment given to me by Royal Talens. My current go to pad is by them, but I had discovered it long before they had sent me anything, Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches
You can read my initial impressions:
I have never looked at drawing as a second class citizen in comparison to painting. No matter if I have spent the day painting or doing some of my other visual works, I draw an hour a night, every night. This woodshedding is akin to a musician practicing scales, but also one of my greatest pleasures in life.
I initially discovered water soluble graphite by complete happenstance. Once I had the mechanics down, I was able get painterly effects. When I work on my Cinefield® pieces, I can not draw as an under construction Cinefield® piece slowly dominates the space of my studio. But, I also do not want to let too long go without painting, which I end up missing.
Water soluble graphite work is the same as painting but in all greyish black tones. I can use my witting desk and do a piece in one session. I may not be able to paint but this was very close. Unexpectedly, I found that as I added to my graphite technique it helped my painting and vice versa.
I was just on the road and while it was a short trip, I had a lot going on. With this is mind I knew I would have no opportunities to paint. I brought my water soluble kit. Another important aspects of this medium which I like it how compact it is. 2x graphite sticks, a sharpener and one watercolor travel brush. I can literally put it in a coat pocket. If at a cafe I use a mineral water cap, in hotel one of the plastic cups to be found by the gratis bottles of dasni for water to dip brush into.
Here are some latest pieces:
Just in time to once again hit the road, I have now integrated the new paints which I had been trying out permanently into my studio & travel palettes.
Of course I have note added all of them but that is just matter of color preferences in what I use for my work. I have found that once a thing, be it whisky, paint et al is of a certain quality it is not a matter of which is better but more personal preference.
Certain brand’s colors are better for specific things than others i.e one brand’s red or pink better for base coats in showing skin while another better for showing bruises, capillaries et al.
Now that I know the new paints, i have started experimenting with them on all different types of paper.
Annabeth first time using tan paper w/my new set up. Strathmore Toned Tan Mixed Media Paper 11×14 184 lbs
Croc Clip Talen Art Creations Multi Media pocket Pad 4×4 inches
If interested in what comprises my new paints see previous four posts which give details
It is a little early this year as I am going to be on the road, this year’s Cakettes Cake. As is always the case, musically inspired.
Some info about this year’s cake:
11×11 inches
No Portion of the cake was made with pre fabricated components.
For instance – homemade raspberry fruit leather hand cut for brick & letters.
Cake: Vanilla thyme sponge, raspberry filling with Drambuie Italian Buttercrem
Quasi: Honeycomb candy with raspberry fruit leather and chocolate accents.
Last year’s cake & multi-year retrospective:
I forgo candles because I would not want someone blowing on piece cake I was going to eat!
Paper Life Painting 