Studio work

This month has been busy, with little time in my studio. I have been working in a studio, though, just not my own. About a month ago I emailed Paul Klein, who I had met at an event at the Hyde Park Art Center, to ask for some assistance. He had generously let me know back when I met him that if I ever had any questions or needed help, I could ask him. So I did. The idea had recently sprung into my head, or maybe rather just came finally came together in an articulate thought, that I could gain a lot from being a studio assistant to a successful artist. I don't really know any successful artists, so that's always been the problem.

I emailed Paul and told him what I was interested in. Specifically I told him that I was looking for a successful painter that I could assist. In exchange for my assistance, I would like to learn from someone who has survived as a painter and had a successful career that I could learn from. He connected me with Wesley Kimler, a painter here in Chicago that has been a significant part of the Chicago art scene as well as having a successful career in painting for many years. Wesley and I talked on the phone and arranged for me to start the following week.

So now, twice a week, I help Wesley out in his studio- cleaning, straightening, preparing canvases and we also talk quite a bit about art, painting, and stories about the Chicago art scene.

So far I think we've been able to help each other out- me helping keep his studio in order and he providing insights that he's learned over years of experience as an artist. I'm hoping also to meet people in the art community here as well. It's been difficult or me to find a place that I "fit in" so far with the various cliques that I've been introduced here in the art scene. I haven't found terribly many people interested in developing more of an artistic network and community. I'm hoping that through Wesley, who is known for not accepting any BS and making it a priority to be in the presence of people with integrity, I can meet some artists and creative people that are perhaps can become part of a community for me.

So, from my show to becoming a studio assistant, my time has been getting used up pretty quickly and I'm making more of a point to get some focused time to work.

TO DO:
Finalize images for Will and Matt commission
Study on paper- oil
Work on Scott piece
Check deadlines for submissions
Update website

PLAYLIST:
Sheryl Crow
Tom Waits
Tom Yorke
My Morning Jacket
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Stan Getz

Panorama

Here is a picture of my new studio....sort of. Look at all that natural light!

Yesterday I dropped two submissions off in the mail. One submission to a gallery to be considered for exhibitions, and one to New American Paintings, Midwest Competition. Today on my to do list is to continue with my application grants.


I think I have the CAAP application very nearly complete and need to spend some more time on the IAC application. This morning I had someone reviewing what I have so far, but we were interrupted by the Chicago Revenue people putting a boot on their car...

New Studio

My new studio space is almost all put together. It's one of the corners of the dining room and the opposite wall is almost completely windows. I am thrilled to actually have natural light! 

To Do:

collect Fermilab materials

CAAP grant application

Northeastern submission description

Submit to "Perceptions"

Still raining, still dim

Time in: 9:00 am

TO DO:

Bio/images for Leaf Garden Press

Continue with Nell/Michele tasks from yesterday

Nell (eye!) Michele (give face volume!)

email AC about commission

frame another piece- pair? (need more wood)

PLAYLIST:

Shivaree

Built Like Alaska

Camera Obscura

Music from "Aspects of Love" by ALW

Bob Dylan

Velvet Underground

Time in: 4:30 + Tom Robinson

It's dark and rainy today. While I love the rain and quite often wish I lived in Seattle, it reduces the natural light in my already dim basement studio. I'm trying to decide if it will even be worth going into the studio today. I need to get better lighting for down there, but have so many higher priorities on the shopping list. 

Over the weekend I went to the opening of a show being held in Tom Robinson's studio space. He is an artist that, among many things, is making these amazing wooden portraits. You have to check them out. 

TO DO: 

frame "Joking"

finish E.G application*

finish exhibition emails

finish White Columns registry submission

Nell- right eye- what is going on?

her right nostril seems high

Michele- get back expression between eyes

mouth/chin area needs work

Brighten shirt color

Earings on both

PLAYLIST:

June Tabor

Niko Case

Bad at Sports podcast Episode  214: Constellations

Chopin's Nocturnes

One big check on the to do list

Time in: 1:30pm

I finally finished this piece of Tom and Scott. I've titled it "You think I'm joking?" and am so pleased with how it finally turned out. Scott's facial expression, as I mentioned, was challenging and I thought about changing it completely but I'm glad that I didn't. It feels good to complete this one- it's one of those that's been in progress for too long. 

TO DO:

mock portrait for Janneke

Continue with Nell/Michele

West Prize submission

Choose references for final piece

Sarah/Asher: Asher- forehead needs work

eyes

Sarah's cheeks- smooth and shape

PLAYLIST:

The Shins

The Velvet Underground

My Morning Jacket - Z (new favorite song: Wordless Chorus)

Jessie Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter

I am Sam movie soundtrack (Beatles covers)

Time in: 1:00pm + Sandor Private Collection

This morning I was able to take a tour of the Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Collection here in Chicago. It's one of the largest private collections in America and focuses mainly on photography. We spent about 2 hours there and there was so much to see that it was overwhelming, to say the least. Photographs filled the walls, floor to ceiling, in every room, hallway, cabinet door and anywhere else that would hold a picture hook.

Although there was so much work that was amazing and it's hard to even begin to list the artists I saw, I particularly enjoyed seeing Man Ray's photography and the photograph he took of Rrose Selavy, Duchamp's alter ego, after having recently read Man Ray's Montparnasse. I also enjoyed seeing some of Diane Arbus' work (inluding a painting) as I've been doing some research on her. 

On the right are some "in progress" shots of the Nell/Michele piece I'm working on currently. The first picture is after my first session on the painting, and the other two are from the second.

TO DO:

Michele/Nell- Keep developing

build frame

Work on Sarah Asher

Think about images for next piece

Get photographs for new piece

PLAYLIST:

The Murder Room

My Morning Jacket

Ray LaMontaigne

Laura Cantrell

Cat Power

Time in 11:00am

TO DO:

Tom- Left eye- black line in crease too dark

Eyebrows- to painted on, make to look more like hair

Lips- bottom lip color needs highlight and to be toned down (too pink)

Scott- highlight on left cheek too "L" shaped- check reference

Nell/Michele- develop 2nd layer

Asher- chin

Sarah/Asher- work on Asher's face, 

background?

New project: Start large Scott? 

Submit images for Banner Art on CAR

Work on West Prize and EG Foundation submissions

Think about email newsletter

start working on submissions; goal of 1/week?

PLAYLIST:

M Ward

My Morning Jacket

NPR

The Murder Room by PD James

Norah Jones

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

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)

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.  

Untitled but getting close

I'm hoping to finish up part 2 of this diptych that I've been working on. This is the piece that I recently whited out the face and started over on because sometimes you just need a blank slate to work from. Here is a picture of the two pieces together, although the color is way off in the one on the right (Rebecca) which is the one that is not quite finished. 

I've been asked whether or not how well I know a person affects how easy or hard it is to paint them. It's an interesting question, and while I'd be quick to say that it doesn't make a difference, that's not entirely true. There have been portraits that I've been working on where the person I'm painting (in real life, not the painting) has said or done something that has bothered me and put me in a foul mood. This does make it difficult as it usually makes me not want to look at their face and I'd rather slather paint all over it.  (By the way, I'm not talking about this particular portrait!)

Time in: 3:00pm

To do:

Adjust angle of right eye

Widen side of face by right eye

bangs- highlights a little too much?

varnish

think about title

Get paintings ready for tomorrow's critique

-buy bubble wrap

lips- too much shadow on left upper lip? expression

Playlist:

Bad At Sports podcast- the Stockyard Institute and the Cafeteria Sessions

The Murder Room by PD James (audio book)

The Raconteurs

Ray LaMontagne

Nick Drake

Today's Special

When I was a kid, there was this show on TV called "Today's Special" which took place in a department store after hours. As soon as the store was closed and all the customers gone, the mannequins would come to life and the puppet rats would come out and they'd have lots of educational fun. I loved this show! 

Sometimes I wonder what happens in my studio (which is in the basement) after I clean-up, hit off the lights, and head upstairs after a day's work. I wonder this because when I come back in the next day, there are sometimes things that seem strange, like drips on my papers from an unknown source or missing tools. 

What's today's special? Peanut shells littering the floor. 

I'd like to think that there is a mannequin hidden in the dark part of the basement that is used for storage that comes to life and eats peanuts while contemplating my latest masterpiece when I'm not there. However, I am afraid that it is more likely that it is the rats that come to life and eat peanuts while scurrying around my art.  

Starting Over

When you've put a lot of work and hours into something, a painting for example, you would do anything to salvage it when things go wrong. You can't imagine all those hours wasted if you were to give up- you have to make it work! You keep forcing it, working at it, waiting for that moment for it to gel thinking "One of these days I'll get it right!" Sometimes it works out. 

Sometimes you just have to start over. 

Time in: 1:30pm

To do:

Work on Rebecca's face

draw out features

complete underpainting

more shading on shirt

Finish up David and Eric

varnish

Research Fiberglass

Playslist:

Bad At Sports podcast- Larry Rinder part deux

The Raconteurs

Jack Johnson

Shivaree

The Band- Music from Big Pink

Time in: 2pm

I feel like I made some progress on the David/Eric piece yesterday. Still needs some more work, but it's getting close. I need to start thinking about the title. I also did a quick piece on paper of Perry. Just a touch up or two and I think it'll be done. 

To Do:

David and Eric:

 

David: 

• Lips? Chin
  
• Hair on left side- finalize
  

Eric:

• finish shirt
  
• shading on cheeks- balance cheeks
  
• Right eye- too much contract on upper lid? 
• Right eyebrow- good shape but too dark

Perry (Mint One):

• Eyes- do they need more work? Review in mirror.

Pick out references for next double.

Gesso board- prep for next piece. 

Playlist:

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals- Nothing But the Water

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS  by Sara Gruen (Audio book)

The Books- The Lemon of Pink

Ray LaMontagne- Till the Sun Turns Black

Time in: 2:30pm

Currently I have work on display at Wicker Park Grace which is located at 1741 N. Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647. The pieces that are exhibited are all portraits, mostly from my series titled "I live in a duplex."

The series, when completed, will be made up of 12 double portraits. This series is developed around a simple idea: housing two portraits on one surface to tell a story. The idea of a duplex references two-in-one, parallel lives and a location for stories and interactions.

The information in these paintings is intentionally limited, allowing the viewers to create their own narrative. The series is about interactions- both real and fiction, ambiguous and evocative.

The series is still in progress, and being documented here on this blog but you can see the pieces that are finished (so far) here.

To do:

Update website

work on Tom and Scott piece:

Scott-

• develop skin tone
• neck
• eyes?

Tom-

• refine skin ton
• finalize eyes

Playlist:

The Books

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter

The More Shallows

Time in: 2:30pm

Lately my artistic drive has been incredibly low. I've been pretty productive in the studio, but I think I'm experiencing that "I've been out of college for 5 years and what have I accomplished?!" sinking feeling. This "diary of my studio practice" is an attempt to keep myself going forward. 

Here's what I'm working on now:

To do: 

research fiberglass backing for hanging system

Rebecca (right half of diptych): 

• Hair- looks plastic and fake. so does t-shirt
  
• Skin- work on shading, both sides of face
  
• mouth placement- what's going on?!
  
• Nose- right side is totally crooked

Eric: 

• skin tone- refine
• develop eyes 
• Shirt- needs development

David: 

• Lips look funny
• Chin? 
  
• Smooth forehead
  
• hair needs work
  
• left side of face- too flat and dark
  

    

Playlist:

Harry Nilsson

Thom Yorke

Holly Golightly

Nick Drake