Final Thesis Review

The past has helped me to create a dialogue with the artists I look at. For example, I look at much of DeKooning, Picasso, and David Park's work. There is something about the energy, composition and application of paint, which speak to me. In turn I look to translate the way I see their contributions and make them my own. In a sense it is an appropriation and a homage to the work that has been done before me, but also it is a dialogue that I hope to continue. I received wonderful advice from Hanneline in which she asked me to look at the artists related to the artist I have chosen to create my dialogue with. This simple idea opened the door to a whole world of ideas. And with Beth's and Westfall's advice to just keep painting, and statements that I've laid out a groundwork to continue painting from for years to come was the most welcome news.
In terms of figuration as an excuse to work with paint, it is not so with my current work. that attribute may have been present in my earlier work (See Studio journal Nov 26, 2010), but I feel that my newest work is more of an equal partnership in terms of how, what, and why I paint. The brush strokes are not arbitrary to any particular figure, nor are the colors, or the use of paint. each has its defining reason. I paint because because i embody Edvard Munch. I personalize my work according to my life, but not in such a way where I am simply expressing myself and only working for myself. I believe anyone who is simply painting for themselves, just to express themselves, has no place in a higher art education. Art is not about oneself, it is not simply a form of therapy (though it can be used for such). Art speaks about the moments around us, the events going on around us at this very moment, the past, and whatever we can predict in the future. So my figures are not used just as an excuse to work with paint. Not in any way, as it describes a language and radiates a presence from each figure I paint. I am sure you would agree each figure has its own personality, mood, setting, and narrative.
The technical approach relates to the content in that it helps to define the above stated (personality, mood, setting, and narrative,). Nothing in my work is arbitrarily done and everything has a purpose.
In terms of my subject matter, "everyday natural life" should be constrained more to  my observations of natural events. the things we do not think about. the candid moments someone captures with a camera but executed in such a way that a camera cannot express. A camera might express a literal representation of a moment, but it will not know the mood of the room, it will not know the story behind the picture, it cannot change the colors of the room on its own. I suggest a camera for me is more of a sketchbook which needs to be worked out and solved like a math problem. It needs to be  manipulated and worked out in order to find the right answer.  For me, the answer are the paintings I have shared.
In terms of conflict in my subject matter, the conflict is not always so dramatic as a teenage drama. Do not misunderstand, these pieces are not simply angst and reflection. They have more to do with even the smaller inner conflicts we feel everyday. Feelings that subtly dictate our direction and yet it seems there is not much thought or reasoning behind most of the normal everyday things we do. Sometimes we just feel bold, or we feel confident, sometimes we wake up and feel like its the beginning of a new life, a fresh start, but sometimes we also wake up and don't feel like getting out of bed or doing anything productive. My work can cover this broad range of subject matter but still be very specific in the execution of each painting as i hope I have portrayed.
The intended audience of my work are those who have the capacity to understand and appreciate the ideas implemented. I will say that I am not painting simply for the sake of painting or making something pretty. I try to avoid kitsch artwork and try to separate my ideas based on the advice given to me by the respected professors at Mason Gross as well as by the research and history which inspires the execution of my work. My work is not directed toward any sort of individual, rather those who have an understanding, if even just a minimal one, or those who look for artistic enrichment through the technical and formal ideas I have implemented. In no way does this mean I have a complete understanding of the artistic world around me, but I highly believe that art is a higher form of education which must be studied and understood. It is a realization that took me four years to reach. I cannot believe how often I painted in order to please others. I used to paint to make something pretty, or worse, simply for commercial reasons. It has been a long process in which I can only hope i continue to grow and learn, and hope those who see my work are those who can appreciate the ideas. (Notice it does not necessarily mean they like or agree with my work, but I would hope they are not looking for it because of simple aesthetic reasons. My hope is that my audience are those who have an understanding of what they are viewing and then they can criticize as they wish.)

Seminar in Printmaking Final

Thesis Show

The Thesis Show was an amazing success. i feel as though i accomplished what i had wanted in terms of my thesis paper. I found my dialogue and i've made a great starting point to continue and guide my work for years to come. i will continue to build upon my ideas. Upon the advice i've received from the faculty and visiting artist, they've helped me to develop my ideas further. Instead of simply concentrating on the artists i had mentioned in my paper, i was given the advice to look at the artists they looked at and the artists who followed them. This is what is going to allow me to work and conceive ideas for years to come.  I received great advice in terms of the way i paint and the ideas behind them.  what to paint and how to paint. The visiting artist critic Beth and Westfall both gave me the same advice, "Just keep painting." There is nothing more pleasing than this as they believe my work is strong and i can just continue to work.

THESIS

The Perfect Thank You

"Landslide" Think Dixie Chicks or Fleetwood Mac
4' x 5'
Oil On Canvas

"Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Well, I've been afraid of changin'
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes bolder, children get older
I'm getting older too,"

Hopefully this is the culmination of all of my other efforts and vocabulary of painting

"Little Red Riding Bitch"
24" x 30"
Oil On Canvas

 "The Idea of You" Think Dave Matthews Band
16" x 20"
Oil On Canvas

"I fall so hard inside the idea of you
That's why with you I can't say what I mean
Wana stay but I think I'm getting out of here
I fall so hard inside the idea of you"

"Raven" Think Edgar Allen Poe and Dave Matthews Band
12" x 15"
Oil on Canvas

"Bold As Love" Think John Mayer or Jimi Hendrix
16" x 20"
Oil On Canvas

"My red is so confident he flashes trophies of war 
And ribbons of euphoria. 
Orange is young, full of daring but very unsteady for the first go 'round. 
My yellow in this case is no so mellow. 
In fact I'm trying to say it's frightened like me. 
And all of these emotions of mine keep holding me 
From giving my life to a rainbow like you. 
But I'm a yeah, I'm bold as love," 

 Leftovers but work nonetheless.

 

 

Some Final Thoughts (before the show)

Before the show and before the installation I have to say the pressure is on. Between my own priorities, (work, 4 academic classes, seminar and of course thesis) personal conflicts, and time management struggles, I feel very disorganized. The pressure of trying to graduate on time, trying to do well, and looking for what's ahead is all a matter of growing up. Maybe for me personally I should have waited a semester to take this course, god knows i could have focused more. I wonder if it is at all correct to have college students delve into so many different areas in such a short amount of time but it is too late for that now. I have worked on over thirty new paintings over these last two semesters. much of it was experimenting and continued learning, but I am proud of those experiments and lessons none the less. I hope the next few days while we install the work i've done can speak for itself.
It seems time management is the most important factor now before the show.  

The Other Side (continuing work)

The Other Side, continuing off my last series of more personalized work.
Influences: Edvard Munch, David Park, Pablo Picasso, David Beckmann