What's wrong with this picture?

Time in: 2:00pm

Sometimes I have a hard time with a piece (have I mentioned that before?) and I have to take a break from it and return to it. Sometimes I just have to start over. I've been trying to figure out what to do with this one. I'm really happy with how Tom (left) is coming along- I think he'll be really good once I tweak a few of the shadows. I really like how the picture of Scott (right) works with Tom, but I'm struggling to capture him successfully. 

I mentioned before that I think the captivating part of these portraits are their eyes. When they're closed or squinty, they don't have the same effect. I really want to make this one work though. I just keep painting and painting though and it's not getting to where I want it. 

TO DO:

Tom- shadows around right eye and mouth, make contrasts more subtle

chin too big? 

Scott- ?? 

Eyes- up the contrast

L Eye, open up more and round out undershadow

left cheek- make more interesting?

Hair- refine

Build frames

PLAYLIST:

M Ward

Thom Yorke - The Eraser

Galactic- Coolin' Off

The Piano soundtrack

New Piece/s

Time in: 1:30pm

I started a few new pieces this past weekend. I'm pretty excited about this one, although I really only have a very rough underpainting done. I plan on developing it much more, but I like the energy it has right now- hopefully I can keep it.  

I went back and forth between using these more serious shots, but I am really drawn to them. I am particularly drawn to the shot of Michele (on the right). Typically, I don't paint people with their eyes closed because the eyes are usually a significant part of the piece. I loved her expression though- it could be pain, sorrow, rapture... she could be singing, praying or maybe just have a headache- it could either be seen as negative or positive. 

And then the shot of Nell (on the left) always grabs my eye too. These are both very pleasant, happy women and some part of me wants to portray them as such, but I think these snapshots are much more powerful at this moment. 

TO DO:

Michele/Nell: 2nd layer

Asher: finish up?

Sarah/Asher: Change background- white out

Finish Scott in Tom/Scott- 

Start thinking about titles

Build frames

PLAYLIST:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Sublime

Mix Tape from Margaret

Laura Viers

Early Start + thoughts on Andrea Fraser

Time in: 8:00am

In checking out some other artists' blogs, I came across this link. Unfortunately I don't remember where I got it so I can't credit the blogger, but here it is:

Craziest Moments in Modern Art 

It lists many of the absurd, controversial, attention-seeking artwork produced in the last century or so. I think it's a great conversation starter as I'm sure many of us have had that "but my kid could do that" argument and have been baffled by some of the more extremely graphic performances and artworks. 

Whatever your opinion on the artworks, you can't deny that they have triggered thought and dialogue and challenged many accepted understandings of Art. I had the opportunity to hear one of the artists give a lecture recently. I heard Andrea Fraser at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and it was one of the most stimulating lectures I've heard. 

She is an artist that is known for her work with "Institutional Critique." It was clear in her lecture that she is dedicated to the field of art while also being conflicted at what it means and how it affects her to be a part of it. While the piece listed on the blog about her selling a sexual encounter and DVD of the event for $20,000 is most definitely controversial, she was making a point that this is what the Artworld asks of you. 

Andrea Fraser was visibly disturbed during her talk while explaining how she arrived at that point. It was hard to tell whether she was upset at the fact that she had done it or that it seemed the only thing she COULD do with the path that being involved in the art world led her in. 

It's still a little early in the morning to be getting deep into this for me, but I remember being provoked by her work and discussion and wanted to remind myself about it. And now back into the studio. 

TO DO:
Start Sarah/Asher
finish Asher single
Work on Scott
Start Michele and Nell? pick images!
Update website

PLAYLIST:
NPR 
The Murder Room by PD James
Lizzie West- Holy Road
Norah Jones
Nick Drake
Chet Baker

Gross

Yesterday I gessoed a new panel and left it on the floor to dry. 

Work, work, work

Time in 1:00pm

I've got to get some work done today. I finally once again feel energized and motivated to work, and even behind on things (in a good way). I've got a lot of projects that I want to get going and a few more to finish up. Just as I hoped, having an exhibition (even if it is just in my apartment) is putting the pressure on, as are tight finances so I've got some side projects in the works to start filling in the empty spots in my bank account.  

I've just cleaned up the basement and have a rat trap down there waiting to be broken in. C'mon rats...

TO DO:

gesso paper for Asher portrait

Get board for Sarah/Asher

Start Michele/Nell piece

Continue Tom and Scott

Title for Dyptich?

PLAYLIST:

Ray LaMontagne

Nick Drake

The Raconteurs

Bob Dylan

Time in: 1:00pm + Mathew Cerletty

Every once and a while I check out Painting People, figure painting today  from the library. It has both portraits and figurative work with a wide variety of styles. One of the artists that I am always drawn to is Mathew Cerletty . Maybe it's because his portraits have a similar minimalism to them as mine do, and he often paints himself (like me), but  his have a distinct oddness to them and seem to reflect more specific inner narratives.

I'm probably also drawn to the patterning in a lot of them- bedsheets, wallpaper... if you are familiar with my work you know that I did a body of work titled "Ornament and Silence" using only decorative patterns as the subject matter. I blew the patterns up large scale and combined patterns from many time periods, styles and cultures.

As I'm reaching my goal for how many double portraits I've wanted to do, I've been thinking about what I'd like to do next- if I would like to continue with another portrait series and if so, how would it be different? Keeping it simple but with some added information is what I'm leaning towards. I have a few ideas that I'm bouncing around and after mulling them over there's usually one or two that seem to stick and I feel they are worth pursuing. 

TO DO:
Clean up studio
white out scott?
gesso paper for Asher portrait
Home Depot? - board and traps

PLAYLIST:
The Murder Room by P.D. James
Tegan and Sara - The Con
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
The Books - The Lemon of Pink

(Images are of Mathew Cerletty's pieces entitled The Faux Pas and Last Chance Dance)

Private Viewing

I've been out of my studio for a week or so and as a result have not had much to post here. The few things that I've been doing are not very exciting- priming panels, sweeping, applying for some competitions... nothing worth writing about in length. 

There is one event on the horizon though that I am really looking forward to. Every time I photograph someone, I thank them and let them know that I will be having a party once I complete the paintings  to show them the finished piece. This is a way for me to promise it to someone else which in turn means that I need to follow through with it. 

I'm excited to say that I've finally set a date (and sent out invitations- so it's real!) for a private preview of this series I am working on. It will be on October 17 and if you are in the Chicago area and would like to attend, please email me and I will send you an invitation with all of the details. 

This week I should be back in the studio and working hard. I've got three new pieces I'll be starting, and there is one that I've been working on which I might make a significant change to. I'm in that undecided place where I keep looking at the painting and I think it could be okay in the direction it's headed, but then again, it could be better. 

I'm also launching a new project that I'll be working on which I'll go into more detail when I've actually got something to show. Blogs are so much better with pictures. 

I'll be gallery hopping tonight...what will YOU be doing?

Tonight is a big night in Chicago for art. It's the start of a new season and it seems almost every gallery in the city is having an opening which means hours of gallery hopping, cheap box wine and cheese cubes, if you're lucky.

If you aren't already in the know- there is a blog that lists the openings in Chicago every weekend called The Gallery Crawl and So Much More. Check it out and maybe I will see you at some openings tonight.

New face to work with

Today I photographed a new person for my portrait series. I met Michele at my critique a couple of weeks ago and she approached me about being photographed for the series. I'm very excited to have some new references to work from and to get going on the last couple of pieces. I've been waiting for someone to pair with another woman that I photographed a while back (Nell) and I think they would make a great combination. 

Starting a new painting is always exciting and I can't wait to get back in the studio and get back to work. I've been giving my studio the cold shoulder the past few days in response to its tendency to be an inviting place for rats. 

(Latest in the rat saga: the tail that was found in the basement disappeared a day later so I didn't actually have to clean it up... although I hope it doesn't turn up again in another location!)

Not the 80's hairdo

I just went down into my studio to check on my current painting (I do that occasionally to see if there is more I need to work on) and did my routine scan the floor. If you've made your way around my blog, you know that I have my studio in the basement and have found clues that with careful deduction have led me to believe that there are rats in the basement. Each day when I go down there I scan the bare concrete and dust floor and look for anything unusual. There have been some mysterious items such as peanut shells and disturbed tools as well as some not so mysterious clues like squeaking, pellets, and oh yeah, a dead rat that have all contributed to my belief that there are rats down there.