Today...

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Today, simply a nice picture by a fellow called Hashimoto. I'm perfectly happy today to leave aside any consideration of art criticism, symbolism, or gender issues and simply take this one at face value. Enjoy.

Just a Little

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I am finally starting to get the hang of mums. It is taking longer than I would have hoped (but not longer than expected) to develop my skills with the sumi brsuh. I guess it doesn't help that I'm making myself do it the hard way, but that's just how I roll ^^

Still, I am developing my arm, slowly but surely, and hopefully I'll continue to come up with better strategies for improvement.

Right now I'm working on a lot of traditional stuff just to develope form and technique, but eventually I will have to create my own style, and that's what I'm looking forward to.

How to Fail as an Artist, Painterly Edition 2

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

So we have already established that painting is dead. What, then, is a painter to do?

The answer, it turns out, is remarkably simple. If painting is dead then you must revive it by painting in a way that no one else has.

Although the answer is simple, finding a method of painting that no one has ever used before is pretty hard when you consider what has already been done.

Pollack hired some models to roll around covered in paint in front of a watching group of the wealthy and well known. Painting with models took on a whole new meaning, and I kinda wish I had a picture ^^

People with physical disabilities have been painting with their toes and mouths for years, so that's out.

In the 90's some people started painting with their asses (see photo). That was amusing enough to make it on to MTV if I recall.

Someone also made a splash by painting with poo, but I have to burst their bubble - poo was tried in paint going back to cavemen. Tre passe. And forget Pee - you don't want to copy Warhol.

One of the most interesting recent innovations is a Chinese painter who uses the fiery stuff they put in fireworks to paint with. I haven't been able to find video of it yet, but if you go through Art 21's youtube channel, you might find it and will definitely see something interesting: http://www.youtube.com/user/art21org

SO, if you just toss out all the normal methods and some of these more outlandish ones, you get a good base to start creating your very own patented painting method. What will you try? You could cover yourself in tin foil, call down the aliens, and start painting with planets. You might find a way to alter local water supplies so that you can turn people different colors (evil genius cackle can be inserted at any point there.)

Whatever you do, do it fast - or someone else will do it first and you be back to square one. Because painting is dead, and the only way to be a painter today is to do something completely different and call it a painting.



New year's resolution time

Tuesday, January 6, 2009



Well, another years has come and gone, and it is time once again to make a Resolution.

My resolution this year is all about painting. I have been working with traditional Asian painting materials for the past few months and really enjoy it. I will sheepishly confess now that I was never able to like oil painting enough to do it every day, but this time it's different.

I like these materials enough to paint with ink every day, and my Resolution is to double the amount of time I spend working on it. Right now, I spend about 3-4 hours every day, but there are some barriers to conquer before I can double it.

Firstly, this type of painting is much more physically demanding than Western painting or drawing which can generally be accomplished seated comfortably. Sitting properly (with one's legs folded under the bum) *and* leaning forward to paint can get quite painful, so I am currently putting a table together that will allow me to sit straight. Hopefully, that along with certain exercises will help me to double the amount of time I can stay in position and keep painting.

I'll post a picture when the table is sanded and stained. I hope it heps, because I really like this kind of painting to want to do more everyday until I get really good at it.

And what is your resolution this year?

Visit me on Etsy

 
ZephiArt. Design by Pocket