Friday, February 29, 2008

A Couple More Paintings

These two paints are both about the same size. The blue one with hands is around 5'x2'. The second one is about 6'x3'. Each painting is tempera and acrylic on cardboard. The second painting has the addition of charcoal. So the question is..."what's the point?"

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Another image to ponder.





Here are two versions of the same idea. What do you take from them? The one in green in yellow is tempera on cardboard. The one in brown and yellow is oil on luan. I started out using oils but quickly changed my mind. One was cost and two was the amount of drying time between layers. Although I give my students a hard time about being impatient with their projects, I too fall into that catagory sometimes as well. I suppose I am a victim of the culture. Instant gratification...stupid dial-up connection....when can I get high speed?

The First Attempt




This is the image that started it all. After reading the book True Faced I began to look at my surroundings in a different light. I started to slow down a bit and take more in. I started thinking about symbolisim and how it could be used to convey purpose and deep meaning. I also wanted to use some of the most simple, basic and inexpensive materials I could find. This painting (6'w x 5'h), which was created using tempera on cardboard, is my first attempt at a new type of art for me. It deals with the two sides of a person. Not going to go into a detailed description right now. So just take a look. Interpet it. Let me know what it says to you, the viewer. As far as titles go....I have yet to decide.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Upcoming Show of Recent Works

On Saturday, April 5 my brother Jeff and I are having a small show at The Good Book in Rushville, Illinois. This has been a show he and I have been working on for about a year. Although we are both artists, we are certainly polar opposites in our styles of art work. Most of the work Jeff creates has a bit of an Abstract Expressionist feel and mine is more along the lines of illustration with a graphic style of heavy outlines.

Our work does have a few similarities. Both of us create work that focuses on our Christian faith. And hopefully both of our works will entice the curious viewer to ask questions. Not only questions about the art work itself, but about themselves personally.

One thing I have been struggling with is the poster for the show. Currently the poster makes no reference to Christianity. It is somewhat of a push-pull relationship with this issue. Although I create Christian themed art I don't want to be placed in the Christan Artist box. I don't want to alienate people either. Why you may ask? Well.....my work is not just intended for the Christian audience. If it were than I feel I would be doing a disservice to the art I am creating. The work I create (which I feel is totally guided by God) is meant to challenge the Christian and seeker.

Chalk this one up in the category of "yet to be determined".

Friday, February 22, 2008

How it all started...

a little over a year ago I began to think about different ways I coud start to create artwork with more depth, more meaning and ultimatly with a purpose bigger than me. Thus began the process of prayer and sketching and seeking direction on how I could accomplish this. So I have started painting again and have been trying to create a body of work that forces the viewer to question and think.....

So now I need some time to think as well.