Jun 8, 2008

Sunday afternoon








Just some sketches from my sketchbook. virtually everything I do creatively begins in the sketch book. I also use to experiment with different techniques. It is also my constant companion when traveling. But not quite as constant as my main squeeze! It is predominantly black and white and most of it is in black ballpoint pen, usually those freebies you pick up at motels. Recently I have started using pencil, since i have found hairspray (I use it as a fixative) in a small travel aerosol. The color work is either in watercolor or water soluble markers.
Some of the stuff is just absent-minded dreaming with a pen in my hand. The center page is a preliminary sketch done plein aire for a painting. The sketch is a year-old and I haven't been able to do a big piece that has the spontaneity the the color sketch has. The page on the lower left is exploring a cactus form. I was stylizing the simple form and abstracting it. And now off tho the sketch book? Where is my MOTEL6 pen? Is the light on for me?



Jun 2, 2008

2DAY

It has been a while since I posted. Sometimes the electro-mechanical devices don't work exactly right.
One good thing about low tech is that there are few problems. The expression of visual creativity can be extremely low tech. For example, this new piece was made of newspaper pen, pencil and glue stick. I was watching television when the creative urge hit me. I grabbed the old sketch book (9 x 12) and some newspaper. I wanted to create a design with a variety of textures. I also wanted to have a three dimensional element. The work was created intuitively, no sketches were involved. I used cut and torn pieces to get the variety in edges and the overlapped pieces give a sense of depth. The line work adds a bit detail of primitive symbology. Am I "saying" something with this piece? Maybe... television is boring?

May 18, 2008

just stuff



There is always something good about posting an original image. Something that only existed in the neatherlands of your mind. The above seems organic to me: growing, expanding, morphing. The act of creating is itself sometimes intoxicating but different from Two Buck Chuck. As you become a part of the process not unlike ink and paper or binary code or spray of the transparents something happens. Almost euphoric.




I continue to explore the craft of creating the mono print via conventional and contemporary ways.


May 4, 2008

Greed vs. Humanity



I haven't posted for a while due to some technical problems. I've been enjoying watching the political scene. The whole thing is such a facade. I have come to believe that greed is the common element in all socio-political endeavors today. Politicians say the things that will get them elected. Once they are elected they vote and create the legislation that their financial supporters desire. Greed is responsible for many of our woes. Our automobiles get poor gas mileage so that the oil companies and automakers can make more money. We are poisoned by over-processed foods that have been genetically altered to produce higher yields and therefore more profits for the giant food conglomerates. Our children are becoming the "obese generation" as consumers of the fast foods as taunted by Madison Avenue. All in the name of profits.

Apr 23, 2008

intelligent design and other things



This drawing of the cat has nothing to do with intelligent design. Or does it? Anyway, I'm probably thinking of doing a series of cats doing different stuff. It just seemed like a cat would like to go skin diving. They do like fish, don't they?
I had a most unfortunate experience recently. I failed a guinea pig! Or, perhaps a guinea person. But that doesn't sound really correct either. Perhaps, test subject, is the proper term. That does sound very clinical. It was very clean there and the people had on white lab coats. I have experienced many failures in my life starting with being rejected by Nora Jean Thompson in the third grade. I thought I could out grow it, but, alas, over 50 years of effort have been to no avail. And now in my 63rd year I am rejected as a test subject! What's a guy gonna do? The advertisement in the Post and Courier made it sound so easy. At first they said that I was overweight. And they that too many of the hair follicles on my head were dead. Then there was the possible reaction with my drugs. It's very hard for a man to earn a quick hundred fifty bucks.
Back to intelligent design. I pick intelligent design over Darwinsm any day.