Thursday, January 29, 2015
Creativity
Recently the president of Pixar, Ed Catmull spoke at my alma mater. I wasn't able to attend but I read the news release. It sounds like it was a really great speech. In the speech Catmull said that "Creativity is about solving problems." and warning there's a possible rant here. I think that quote is absolutely true. I know a lot of science/math type people and they're always talking about the importance of math for problem solving skills, and I'm sure that's true (I believe in these conversations I was questioning the actual use and practicality of higher maths for most people) but I always argued that I had problem solving skills and math is not the author of them. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that while math and science are great, I'm really sick of them being touted like they're the only virtues while the arts get side lined. The arts have such great power and creativity is useful to everyone! Anyway read the article, it's a good one!
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Spiritual and Religious Art Show
So I mentioned that I was fortunate enough to have a piece included in the 29th Annual Spiritual and Religious Art show. It was a great experience, I always love this show and am so honored to have been a part of it. Thanks to all those who came to the show and for anyone who was unable to come see my painting while it was on display, here it is. A big thanks to the Springville Museum of Art!
Home
watercolor
9x9in.
2014
Series: Finding Home
watercolor
9x9in.
2014
Series: Finding Home
Ps, it's the top one.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Ancient Greece and News
So we'll start with the news: my awesome cousin has an Oscar nominated documentary! It's pretty awesome.
Also the other day I got to see some of my friends, one of whom is probably going to be a famous scholar someday in history. He's learning/studying ancient Greek right now and so we got to talking about the ancient Greeks and their amazing art. So we know ancient statues to be plain marble (beautiful marble but unadorned) but we have evidence that that's not the way they were originally, was actually painted marble. I haven't been sure how I felt about that, as all I've ever known are the unpainted marbles and bronzes and I feel they're beautiful as they are, it's hard for me to see how they could be improved by color.
My friend was telling me that a tomb or something like that was recently discovered untouched and inside were painted statues, they were able to document them and find out what the paints were comprised of - crushed gemstones, I would really love to be able to see a picture of what that would look like.
We also talked about how insanely precise the Greeks were, probably specifically in the golden or Hellenistic period, like in pottery they were so precise that they'd take shrinking into account during firing - that's a lot. Anyway my friend tells me that the Greeks didn't have much use for numbers, that's so crazy to me. For sure I'm a believer of compass and straight edge geometry rather than number geometry, but the thought of not using numbers at all for something like the Parthenon? It's way hard to wrap my head around that. Art, it's super awesome!
Also the other day I got to see some of my friends, one of whom is probably going to be a famous scholar someday in history. He's learning/studying ancient Greek right now and so we got to talking about the ancient Greeks and their amazing art. So we know ancient statues to be plain marble (beautiful marble but unadorned) but we have evidence that that's not the way they were originally, was actually painted marble. I haven't been sure how I felt about that, as all I've ever known are the unpainted marbles and bronzes and I feel they're beautiful as they are, it's hard for me to see how they could be improved by color.
My friend was telling me that a tomb or something like that was recently discovered untouched and inside were painted statues, they were able to document them and find out what the paints were comprised of - crushed gemstones, I would really love to be able to see a picture of what that would look like.
We also talked about how insanely precise the Greeks were, probably specifically in the golden or Hellenistic period, like in pottery they were so precise that they'd take shrinking into account during firing - that's a lot. Anyway my friend tells me that the Greeks didn't have much use for numbers, that's so crazy to me. For sure I'm a believer of compass and straight edge geometry rather than number geometry, but the thought of not using numbers at all for something like the Parthenon? It's way hard to wrap my head around that. Art, it's super awesome!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Lessons I wish I'd had more often
There are many lessons I wish I'd learned or learned better while I was in school, but there are also lessons I did get that, as far as I can tell, most students of art either do not get or do not heed.
A while back I was fortunate enough to win a set of 45 soft pastels, I haven't done much with them yet because I haven't had much experience with pastel. Today in getting ready to use the pastels I went through with the research I'd done on the pigments in the pastels; of 45 pastels, there were 14 to 21 pastels that I feel good about using. There are 14 pastels in the set that were both single pigment colors and non toxic, the other 7 are non toxic but with two pigments per color. That's not quite half the set that I feel alright about using.
In all of my art classes I recall one painting or drawing teacher (excluding print making classes) who taught us to be careful about the materials and pigments that we used. This teacher taught us that we needed to be aware of the materials we used for two reasons: the first reason was for our own personal safety (and that of those around us), and the second reason was to make our work of an archival nature, such that it would be able to last for ages.
Artists through history have a reputation of being weird and crazy, some probably came by that naturally but for many it was the result of the media they worked with: lead poisoning from their paint, etc. There are so many toxic or potentially toxic art materials out there, from the pigments themselves, to paint thinner, etc. An example in my personal experience was when I was able to use a shared studio space I happily worked there, but if one or more other person was working in the studio, the fumes from their paint or paint mediums started giving me a headache and I had to leave. There are a lot of potentially dangerous things used to make art, it's important to be informed so that you can use something safely (something may be dangerous in one form but not in another, or may be safe with the use of an air filter etc.).
The consideration of the archival nature (or lack there of) is a very important one. Paintings (other media as well but painting is what I know best) have the ability to last for hundreds of years if the right materials and techniques are used and they do not suffer any undue misfortunes. On the other hand, some of the most beautiful paintings can be lost or greatly altered before their time if not done archivally. As much as I love Leonard daVinci, The Last Supper is a perfect example of this; daVinci used an experimental technique which unfortunately was not a winner and as a result there has been a very real struggle over the years to preserve this masterpiece from itself. Making something archival comes down to the materials you use and one consideration is pigments, and the possible chemical reactions between them. If you happen to unknowingly combine two pigments that have a reaction, it could change the coloring or look of your finial product.
Check labels, do your research, be safe!
A while back I was fortunate enough to win a set of 45 soft pastels, I haven't done much with them yet because I haven't had much experience with pastel. Today in getting ready to use the pastels I went through with the research I'd done on the pigments in the pastels; of 45 pastels, there were 14 to 21 pastels that I feel good about using. There are 14 pastels in the set that were both single pigment colors and non toxic, the other 7 are non toxic but with two pigments per color. That's not quite half the set that I feel alright about using.
In all of my art classes I recall one painting or drawing teacher (excluding print making classes) who taught us to be careful about the materials and pigments that we used. This teacher taught us that we needed to be aware of the materials we used for two reasons: the first reason was for our own personal safety (and that of those around us), and the second reason was to make our work of an archival nature, such that it would be able to last for ages.
Artists through history have a reputation of being weird and crazy, some probably came by that naturally but for many it was the result of the media they worked with: lead poisoning from their paint, etc. There are so many toxic or potentially toxic art materials out there, from the pigments themselves, to paint thinner, etc. An example in my personal experience was when I was able to use a shared studio space I happily worked there, but if one or more other person was working in the studio, the fumes from their paint or paint mediums started giving me a headache and I had to leave. There are a lot of potentially dangerous things used to make art, it's important to be informed so that you can use something safely (something may be dangerous in one form but not in another, or may be safe with the use of an air filter etc.).
The consideration of the archival nature (or lack there of) is a very important one. Paintings (other media as well but painting is what I know best) have the ability to last for hundreds of years if the right materials and techniques are used and they do not suffer any undue misfortunes. On the other hand, some of the most beautiful paintings can be lost or greatly altered before their time if not done archivally. As much as I love Leonard daVinci, The Last Supper is a perfect example of this; daVinci used an experimental technique which unfortunately was not a winner and as a result there has been a very real struggle over the years to preserve this masterpiece from itself. Making something archival comes down to the materials you use and one consideration is pigments, and the possible chemical reactions between them. If you happen to unknowingly combine two pigments that have a reaction, it could change the coloring or look of your finial product.
Check labels, do your research, be safe!
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Studies
I'm trying to brush up my skills, I've been focusing so much on paintings and geometric designs that some of my drawing skills have slipped. In an attempt to reverse that I've made some attempts to do some studies of master's works, like daVinci and Durer. I'd fallen off of that some but I've recently had some renewed efforts. As I've mentioned I've started a drawing group and I've been making studies when I visit museums or when I see something I like. It's a small step but I'm hoping it will something I can keep up.
Friday, January 2, 2015
New Year
It's a New Year, I don't get into New Years resolutions much but the new year is a wonderful time to review and to look to the future. 2014 was a pretty good year, I've been privileged to participate in a lot of shows this year.
I'm excited for the future, I'm working on big plans for the new year and some fun ones too. I started a drawing group with some of my friends, we'll take turns sitting for one another so that we can all get practice drawing, the first one was fun, I'm excited to have more. I need the practice.
I'm also renewing my efforts to attend gallery strolls. Usually I have intention to go, but by the time it comes around, I would rather stay home instead of making the effort to go out. Well see how it goes.
Here's to art in the new year!
I'm excited for the future, I'm working on big plans for the new year and some fun ones too. I started a drawing group with some of my friends, we'll take turns sitting for one another so that we can all get practice drawing, the first one was fun, I'm excited to have more. I need the practice.
I'm also renewing my efforts to attend gallery strolls. Usually I have intention to go, but by the time it comes around, I would rather stay home instead of making the effort to go out. Well see how it goes.
Here's to art in the new year!
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