Process

Here's the concept for the new painting I'm starting...quickly composed in photoshop. Like the manifesto that I posted earlier said...none of these elements carry any particular idea or purpose...it's a pure emotional stream of consciousness that I respond to and follow. In order to facilitate the quickness and reactive-ness (?) of this way of working, it's great to have a tool that instantly responds to my design direction. The next step is transferring the drawing onto the surface and deciding how I'm going to balance the color contrasts. The first layer is going to be spray paint and then oils...I think I'm going to leave Acrylics out of this one...hopefully it'll be fully oxidized by Saturday's show.

Here it is...

Finally finished that mural in the health club...actually I finished it like a month ago but whatever. I'm pretty happy with it as far as it's finished and is very consistent for what it is. It could've been more detailed, sure, but for the price I was paid, we both got a good deal. This mural is far better than the ugly sickly white wall which was there, and leaves a good feeling. It's not too in your face, or too subtle...and has a calming yet dynamic effect which is what I was going for. It's hard to please everybody, especially when you're dealing with a low budget. I'm pretty happy with myself as far as pitching the idea in the first place, working under the time limits I'd given myself and delivering exactly what I promised- a finished project that exactly matched the 10x20" mock-up that I painted before hand. Job well done I think...and hopefully this will be the springboard for a future project.

Manifesto

So here's my "artist statement"...whatever that means. I think it's important to throw something out there that will inspire and encourage people to do art. I think people might actually be interested in my viewpoint of the visual world...I know it's drastically different from anything else I've ever heard...



If YOU can draw a circle, a square and a triangle, than YOU can draw anything-
the entire world breaks down into 3 simple shapes.

Due to this fact, The Most Dangerous Excuse in the emotional book-
"I can only draw stick figures" - is no longer applicable.

Our entire visual reality is constructed of 3 simple abstract shapes,
familiarized and labeled into objects from years of conditioning and memorization;
including the letters that are forming the words that you're reading.

Why is a child's artwork so powerful? Why is it so simple?
The reason is because the child works beyond the framework of the mind- unrestricted
from the parameters of thoughts and ideas- the child is working with pure emotion- appreciating that these simple shapes represent FEELINGS:

circle = calm/relaxed
square = stable/solid
triangle = active/excited

And COLORS are connected to the feelings of these shapes:

circle = blue
square = red
triangle = yellow

- - - - - -

A blue square represents calm energy within a stable enviornment,
a red square represents stable energy within a stable enviornment,
and a yellow square represents exciting energy within a stable enviornment.

A red circle represents stable energy within a calm enviornment, a blue circle
represents calm energy within a calm enviornment, and a yellow circle represents
exciting energy within a calm enviornment.

A yellow triangle represents exciting energy within an exciting enviornment, a blue triangle
represents calm energy within an exciting enviornment, and a red triangle represents
stable energy within an exciting enviornment.

- - - - - -

Think of a stoplight... circular, calm shapes that contrast the grids and square
structures surrounding them. The red light stablizes you, the yellow light excites you
and the blue-yellow light both excites and calms you.

A stop sign is a calm and stable shape containing a stablizing color...
And the caution sign warning of children crossing?
A purely exciting color within a purely exciting shape.
The construction sign? Exciting and stable.
And on and on and on...

- - - - - -

Because these 3 shapes and 3 colors represent perfect harmonic contrast
in our world, my goal is to manifest this harmonic balance through a pure emotional, subconscious reaction to the shape and color symbols that contain my physical reality, drawn through an uninterrupted stream of consciousness.

It has been my experience that mental conceptions exist strictly on a material vibration, which is far inferior to the spiritual platform in which emotions and subconscious expression emanates. My intention is to exhibit and glorify the perfect beauty, balance and harmony of the Supreme Truth [ in personal and impersonal form] through the viscereal exploration and application of the visual aesthetics of a contrasted harmonic balance.

Art Show Saturday at Frankie's

This lack of power has made things a little tricky...I have a show coming up on Saturday but no lights or anything, so it's going to be difficult to finish this show. Not like finishing a show is easy or anything, caz I'm never perfectly satisfied...I always see things that can be adjusted. Da Vinci gave the quote, "Art is never finished, only abandoned." I have a somewhat defined perimeter of what I was hoping to accomplish and learn with these paintings, so If I just make them look complete and balance, and not sloppy, I'll be feeling pretty good, I think.

I've created a new way of working...I've found alot of satisfaction creating greyscale concepts in photoshop with my Wacom tablet. It's much easier to work out the composition and tonal scale on the computer than it is to mess around with expensive paint. Granted, it definitely wouldn't hurt, but I particularly like the ease in which I can get ideas out, since intuitive reaction is a major part of my paintings and overall objective and philosophy towards art.