Tag: painting

Stanley

When I first started seriously doing visual work I saved every little piece of sketch ephemera. As I became more serious about it all, I began to woodshed every night no matter where in the world I was or what else was going on.

From a practical point of view, I could not possible save every sketchbook. Philosophically, I have sea changed. Now it is about serving the process and the joy in doing so. I need not save every hand or body part achieved during a session. In some ways I have always seen myself as a musician. A sax player has their horn but what they play is an intangible. The power of their art is bolstered by the freedom of knowing that they (and the audience) can maintain the memory and emotion of a solo but it also is ever dissolving. I started to approach my woodshedding pieces akin to this. The memories, pleasures and process stack up and become an integral part of me.

I work hard to make it easy. few hours every day drawing so that I can peel things off when I want to or when I slow my roll to do a painting, it’s easier.

There is always a pocket pad on me or scrap paper. I also utilize more formal sketchpads of higher quality paper. These I tend to hold on to and will put in drawings that are more than woodshedding. Often, especially when on the road, I combine text (by me) with drawings. These are my jazz, my bop, spontaneous and in reaction to what is going on around me.

Here is a quick sketch I peel off using a lead holder. Immediately upon finishing came text. 5×7 Hardbound French paper. Not for use without permission.

by Wayne Wolfson

Selfie : Swankenstein’s Monster

As my next idea for a Cinefield® slowly forms, I have done another painting. It is a self portrait.

On my last trip I had a photo taken at an odd angle. So many people try to present an idealized version of themselves in photos or art to the point of almost being artificial, it’s not really the person but rather a sort of two dimensional wish fulfillment.

It was the exact opposite of this concept which made the photo appeal to me as an art source. I looked as if I could use a kip and maybe a bit of sun light. The fatigue keeps me from looking overly menacing or brooding. The bags and bruises a beautiful truth.

Despite my mien, as is usually the case, I was nicely turned out. Witness me, staggering through the hotel lobby growling “Fire bad” but in a crisp shirt and jacket.

Watercolor on tan paper 11×17 inches.

A study for painting

by Wayne Wolfson

Lyra

I am well underway with work on my latest Cinefield®. When I first finish a piece, I definitely need to take a break as I reach the point of seeing tiny pieces of cut out paper in my sleep. After a certain amount of time, my batteries recharged, I feel ready to do another.

Upon the start of a piece I am immediately reminded of how labor intensive the work is, and how much space it takes up.

I can’t do paintings at same time as a Cinefield®. The Lyra medium allows me to keep up my painting chops but takes up no more space than my nightly drawing woodshedding.

Getting the painterly (although monochrome) effects with Lyra sticks makes it “easier” to achieve when using my regular paints.

I do view this medium with equal seriousness and enthusiasm as painting. Never a second class citizen, here are some quick pieces while I work on current project.

Always looking for interesting things to draw, email me if you think you have something which might be of interest. Worst case scenario, I politely pass.

by Wayne Wolfson

MF

Well, still have not been able to take photos to serve as raw fuel for my Cinefield® work. Ironically, I have managed to do my fine art photo work, but that’s a different animal.

I am fortunate though, I have enough other mediums to work in as to stay out of trouble. I have been doing paintings, switching styles of paper. The loose knit theme behind the pieces is the portrayal of flesh.

This piece is white * French Cotton paper 5×7 inches.

  • * I had a buddy in Paris who worked at one of my favorite art stores. I am lucky that right around my place are many, each one has different purpose for me: “my pencil place” et al. We would chat & he would give me employ discount, sometimes even more than that. I would load up on equipment.
  • I was reorganizing one of the tabouret in my studio. This block of white cotton paper he gave me had been hidden under yellow legal pad on which I had written an idea for a sculpture.
  • I realized that it had been many, many years ago he had thrown a bunch of landscape sketchpads into a backpack and pursued a boho girl to Ibiza. A few postcards and then even people he had worked with for years stopped hearing from him. I don’t know if he ever got the girl but I still haven’t used up all the stuff he gave me.
by Wayne Wolfson

Reflex

Still in painting mode. I am literally hours away from short trip which in theory will provide me with photographs to use as raw material for my Cinefield® work. Having had an enforced break, initially I chafed, since I was not controlling the tempo. I now see a positive in having had wait what feels like a long time before creating my next one.

The wait has allowed me to have some new ideas and allowed me to approach my Cinefield® work feeling refreshed.

It will be interesting to see what next one is like as photos dictate the flavor of the piece.

In the interim, here is new painting.

Reflex 11×17 inches Watercolor & Tan Paper. I did a study for this which I don’t do with all my paintings.

Annnnnnnnnnnd I am off. Always looking for interesting things to draw & paint email me if you think you have something to offer.

by Wayne Wolfson

Cap

I was reading an article by a modern thinker or what some would label as a philosopher. He pointed out that in modern society happiness has now become largely defined in North America as when things go 100% one’s way. Everything coming up roses with zero effort, resistance or work required is not what one should aspire to. The rare if not impossible occurrence of such a state existing aside, a little bit of tension, setbacks, challenges, these things foster evolution. Grit creates pearls and pressure diamonds and to avoid these aspects of life is to miss out.

The weather has still not been on my side for traveling and getting new photos for my Cinefield® work. I continue to use the time I would have spent creating my next Cini to paint and do various experiments with water soluble graphite.

I was initially a little annoyed at having to back-burner working on my next Cinefield® but it has allowed me to add to my painterly technique. It turned into an opportunity even though I had not initially viewed it as such.

In about two weeks I will be on the road and hopefully getting some photos to utilize.

Here is latest painting. It’s 11×17 Watercolor & tan paper.

I want an audience not customers. Social media platforms more and more force artists into being merchants or coming across as attention starved with “the numbers game” of chasing likes views et al. I have been getting emails asking what pieces I have for sale which is nice as it’s not info that i bombard people with. For anyone interested:

http://www.waynewolfson.com/works-for-sale

by Wayne Wolfson

Vibe

The short trip I had planned to take photos for my next Cinefield® had been put off. I took the time that I would have been working on that and painted. For two plus weeks now my area has been in the grip of triple digit heatwave. Getting more photos further stymied, I have continued on with painting.

I usually switch between Cinefield®, painting and other visual project, so working on so many paintings in a row is novel for me.

To keep it fresh, for each painting I change the type & size.

This one had an unique compositional balance to it. I find beauty not necessarily in what is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but what is real.

This piece is 7×10 French Cotton paper & watercolor.

I am always looking for interesting things to paint & draw, if interested send email.

by Wayne Wolfson

Terrible Beauty (for Laurie Lipton)

I was supposed to do a short trip as to take photos for my next Cinefield®, but circumstances beyond my control pushed it back. With no raw fuel for next Cinefield® I have spent some of my time painting.

As to keep things fresh, I keep changing the size and type of paper but also the subject matter. With so much time before I can get my shots, were I to just keep doing portraits it would start to become mechanical or feel akin to putting together Ikea furniture.

My last painting was a traditional portrait with straight up compositional balance. When mulling over what to do next I decided I wanted to do something beautiful but sort of off-putting too. I was very pleased with the results.

I dedicated this to Laurie Lipton. I have been into her works for about a year. What makes her special aside from her massive chops is that in her oeuvre the medium of pencil is the star. It is not second class citizen nor merely something to train with between painting.

Although nowhere near her level, viewing her works has made me up my shading game (which definitely improved).

Often her pieces have a mordant bent to them but you have to do a double take on some of them before this is apparent. Existentially tortured housewives and queues of skeletons conjured up by her hand are beautiful but also induce a sort of dread.

My piece is not an image taken directly from her body of work. Laurie’s work was starting point for me, the inspiration for having dichotomy of terrible but beautifully done.

Terrible Beauty is 7×10 watercolor on French cotton paper.

by Wayne Wolfson

L

Among my greatest pleasures is to portray flesh with paint. It is not a salacious thing, it need not be a nude. I’ve done many hands and other body parts. I have done closeups on things so that they verge on abstractions, the viewer initially not knowing what they are looking at.

This is an aspect of painting which consistently keeps me engaged. The wonderment of it, one starts with a flat two dimensional square or rectangle. With pencil & brush you conjure up not only volume and mass but the suggestions of warmth as blood rushes to the surface in areas or through the veins. It is akin to a sort of magic trick and no matter how many times I do it, I still marvel at it.

I switch the types of paper I use as to avoid lapsing into mere mannerisms. With everything else that I do creatively, there are still times that certain types of paper or pencils fall to the wayside temporarily.

This piece is 9×12 and on a white paper which was main one I used to use most of the time. I have finally circled back to it once again. After such a long break, the one which had been the de rigueur found itself the new-thing challange.

I was very pleased with results.

L 9×12 Watercolor & Paper

I am always looking for interesting things to draw/paint. If you think you have something email me.

by Wayne Wolfson

Times of Trouble

The news is bleak. One can take their pick as to why this is an apt description. It is during these times that artists in every medium have a duty, do your thing. You need not insert political message nor program of the zeitgeist into your work.

Creating something for others to experience via one of the senses serves as a reminder. It’s easy to forget that there are things worthwhile outside of the current strife, there are things bigger than ourselves which are more important, culture in all its forms. Culture seems almost to be an insult now in some quarters, it’s now wedded to elitism which is a different thing.

Things which seemingly are not one of life’s necessities, such as art, offer the chance to get out of our own heads. At a minimum, art & culture can be a brief respite from the grind of daily life. It’s always my hope to be able to offer this via my work.

“B” Watercolor & French Cotton Paper 5×7

I am always looking for interesting things to draw/paint, drop me a line if you think you might have something.

by Wayne Wolfson