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Random Stuff

Took a break mid-painting. Rallied myself, getting back to it, back to life.

If one doesn’t agree with something about a company, chain store, product or social media platform anything short of not interacting with it is meaningless. If you hate watch a show, the network doesn’t care about motive for watching, they just go by the count of eyeballs on it. For a platform it is the same thing. The worth of any platform is the number of people on it. If you are on a platform for whatever reason, you are contributing to its worth to advertisers et al. (this is support. whether you are in agreement with ideology or not. Same can be said for a fast food chain that contributes to a cause. Saying that you are against cause but like the food, it’s money they receive and spend as they want, not you)

There is a saying which is sadly apt for today:

If you are in a parade and there is a nazi float, then you are in a nazi parade.

I am in middle moving one my social media pages to Blue Sky

@waynehwwolfson.bsky.social

And of course, I remain here.

Here are just random quick sketches and photos as I finish painting:

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

Sasha

Back from the road. I finally had success in getting raw fuel for my next CINEFIELD® pieces. The amount of time it takes to do them combined with all other things I also work on means that I am now fully booked as far as they go until December.

It sound weird to say this in the tail end of August but it’s matter of time to actually creating plus all other things I will work on concurrently. It does not bother me.

With social media and the internet in general, whether its work being seen or responses, it’s easy to get instant gratification. My work would have grown stronger quicker back in the day had I actually gone slower.

I know this seems counterintuitive and definitely hard to do with the temptation of all those eyes available to check out a work immediately upon completion. My advice to anyone up and coming, let the process come first, let the process add to the chops then start to really worry about site numbers etc. Long run your work will be stronger and you will be able make longer term schedule which lends to work growing organically (chops too).

Even though I can now start a CINEFIELD® it will be a bit before its ready. This space will show what I am doing concurrent to that work.

Sasha 9×12 chalk

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

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