Backlog

I have a digital dumping ground of images from events and activities I meant to archive on my blog so I'm going to start uploading them one grouping at a time.

The first was hanging and installing for artist Nick Pena. He has really awesome work that deals with the foundations and security of the domestic. His visual vocabulary for his work is beautifully worked out and elegant yet simple enough to leave the audience room for interpretation. Here are some images of the show and our process of finishing the two large installations (disclaimer: photos taken with a phone). Please google him and check out his WEBSITE

Failures

I am a failure of a green thumb. I have had no success in keeping the moss green and vibrant. I figured that much of the issues I was having was because inside of my studio was too dry. No matter how many times I was able to water it the moss was always dry the next time I would come back to it. So to fix this problem I talked with a biology professor about using the greenhouse on campus to store my moss, then I would also have better access to it.

My efforts were in vain though. Even with it being in a more convenient location and me visiting it even more often it has discolored, dried, and shrunk. So this will just need to be excluded from the show and I'll have to revisit it at a later time.

I most likely will not be creating a larger piece because that would be for one expensive, but also a colossal waste of time for me considering. Good thing I did a smaller study first! Studies are important.

Before I Die

Kori and I helped the Batesville Area Arts Council install the "Before I Die" wall in Pocket Park on Main Street Batesville. This communal installation is made to be shared. Started by Candy Change in her New Orleans neighborhood it has since been installed on over 400 walls world wide. Her motivations are found on her website:

"After Candy lost someone she loved, she went through a long period of grief and depression. With time she felt gratitude for the time they had together and eventually she found clarity in her life by contemplating death so much. But she struggled to maintain this perspective. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget what really matters to you. She wanted a daily reminder and she wanted to know what was important to the people around her. So she painted the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood in New Orleans with chalkboard paint and stenciled it with a grid of the sentence “Before I die I want to _______.” Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public space."

This is a great way for people to connect with their community and realize that the people around them are worrying, dreaming, and wanting the same things from life before it all ends. 

Half way there

So it would seem as though my track record with successful encaustic studies is half and half. Each time one turns out very well, and the other is some sort of failure. I'll just have tomake these failures ones I can learn as much as possible from. Here are some images of my second set of studies. Let me know what you think.

It is also crazy to think that we are already halfway through the semester next week. Dustyn is having an artist come talk to us for individual critiques. I'm stoked because he says this artist worked with encaustics I'm the past so he can really give me some good advice.

As promised...

So in my previous entry I promised you some pictures of my encaustic expiraments. Now that I have finally been able to upload them here they are. But first:

I'm again excited because I've ordered some more encaustic colors, beeswax pellets, damar resin crystals, and several sizes of encaustic board so I can finally get to painting on a harder support. Hopefully these studies will be successful enough to use as pieces. I've done two more studies in addition to this. I'll get pictures of those ones two soon. Most of these pieces I'm using to try and directly experiment with the techniques that I have been reading about in my text book. Oh! I should really get the name of the book that I'm reading. Rankin wrote a wonderful book, and it is a great first introduction to the medium.

Today was a WONDERFUL encaustic painting day!

So today I finally got to do some real encaustic painting experimenting with paper. My very first attempt was not very great because I discovered that I forgot to get a heat gun and a regular old lamp doesn't really get the job done. I had more medium today as well.

I did these to on paper just like my first attempt. With one I really experienced balding and the wax was absorbed almost all the way into the paper. Apparently that was too much heat for too long from too strong of an air current. In the end though, I built the wax back up and worked with some color. I used it to experiment with controlling the current to my advantage by blowing colors out in an intentionally organic way. The other one (I not only practiced colors and trying to make a smooth surface) I also embedded some lace within the wax.

Now I'm almost ready to jump into doing it on wood panels and really knocking out some painting. I really need to order more colors and medium though...

The moss box is almost ready. After it dries today I am going to get some dirt; hopefully for I can find some free dirt since I only need a small amount. From there I plop in the moss, fluff it up, and it is ready to go. The big challenge of this piece is going to be maintaining the moss for so long. I've never been terribly good at taking care of any kind of life, especially plant life.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share soon!

James Turrell

So last week we read articles and discussed "artists as researchers" and of the two I found the article about James Turrell more inspiring as far as researching as an artist. My initial interest in his works was triggered by his use of light. Turrell is a man who looks much like Santa Clause. To look at him he could fit in with ancient philosophers.

His work often utilizes the manipulation of physical space and projection of light in the space. His installations are said to be a psychological experience.

I was very impressed with his work because of how dedicated he has to be in his research. His works are definately not created just for himself, but for the experience of others as well.