My Blog

JAPAN Calling

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:55:52 -0400

JAPAN is nothing short of amazing. The culture cannot be adequately described in words, but I’ll do my best. The people are not just kind, they are in many ways, what Americans would probably consider selfless. They have a sense of community and social responsibility that is like nothing I’ve ever seen. It also occurred to me... after walking the pup down first street, that I literally did not see a single cigarette butt.

JAPAN still smokes, by the way, and they make it look soooo good. PLUS: they have vending machines EVERYWHERE filled with comparatively cheap cigs. I didn’t indulge, but as an ex-smoker it was brutal. Yes, they still smoke in restaurants.

JAPAN, as it turns out, is also very artistically inspiring. I was fortunate enough to see some of Tokyo’s most important works at their National Museum and Museum of Modern Art. I’ve always loved Japanese art. It is concise yet intricate all at the same time. Before having experienced the country and its people I didn’t realize that this is the hallmark of their world.

JAPAN has given me a lot to think about as far as my artwork is concerned. I have been enveloped by images of beauty from the people, to the landscape, to the loving care that is taken in the slightest of gestures and movements. Every detail is considered there. This is inspiring in itself.

You’ll be seeing Coy and hopefully a new breed of women. I must add that having grown up in Jacksonville Beach and even with my other travels, I’ve never seen so many beautiful Asian women. It was breathtaking. It’s really something to go back to your roots and feel connected to so many people you’ve never met before.

THIS IS MY SURFBOARD

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 12:02:05 -0400

In SHADOWS

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:27:28 -0400

I don’t know what the formal name for this technique would be, but my name for this style of working is shadow chasing. I am tracing my outline in pieces and at different angles to create a sort of template for the form.

Then it’s a project of finding the right motion to attach to the piece and colors and lines to bring out the mood of the figure. This isn’t finished yet, but I’m hoping the next moves I make with it don’t take away from the broad bands of thick gold paint and the bright contrast of the red.

Painting on pavement

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:21:15 -0400

This is actually painting sitting on concrete. I was working this morning in the studio and am getting very close to or am possibly finished with this piece. I am reconsidering some of my canvas selections right now. I love to paint on these smaller, gallery wrapped canvases, but I am leaning towards wider frames. I would like these to have more depth when they are hung.

I’m also in need of some new oil pastels. Our beautiful black lab, Suge, has been strategically eating them. One at a time, they are disappearing... They are carefully removed from the pallet they sit in, devoured, and left as tiny little scraps of color that are peppered into the carpet. This of course, is genius, but rather limiting for me.

More to come.

Good Morning

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:48:11 -0400

Costa Rica seemed to really emphasize my infatuation with “HOT” colors. Orange, Pink, Yellow and hints of Blue. I’ve been thinking about a black and white series and I think our next trip will help me pull it together.

We will be going to Japan in October and I am really looking forward to this trip. My dad is from Okinawa and this will be his first trip back in 30 years.

I haven’t really taken advantage of my travels and applied them to my artwork in the past, but this trip is one that I feel will be very important to my next body of work. I have always loved the Japanese minimalist look and style and I am looking forward to documenting this trip with the idea that I will be able to look back to the people and style and feel for the country for a series in fall.