I applied myself to the business of art today.

Is this not lovely? It is color coordinated with my current favorite palette but not otherwise very arty. I'm pretty proud of it, none-the-less.

It is the application to Allied Arts call to art for 2010-2011. I don't enjoy this part of the business of art but who does enjoy every aspect of their chosen career? But now, I have all my ducks in a row and it should be easier to put together more.

The only thing left to do is write a artist statement. The Squando web site advises that "Your artist's statement can be a moving testament to your creativity and integrity." I thought that my paintings were that testament. What other field has to convince everyone of the validity of exercising their talents?

art journal

I have been interested in art journaling but have been putting it off to concentrate on serious art. I also want to learn how to do figure painting but have been putting that off because producing sophomoric paintings at my age isn't any fun at all. Then I got a big idea, I could do my hard work in a fun environment!

Hence the cheesy paintings in a journal. Who needs serious art? In six months, you can tell me if this method was effective.

My Plan.

The first photo is a random bug on my front door but seeing the photos together, I notice a familiar color scheme.

The second photo is my first installment of my plan to take over the world...of figure painting. It's acrylic on paper to avoid the tyranny of canvas and all it's sneering superiority, for the time being. This is by no means the way I ultimately want to paint but if I want to get any where I'm going to have to be willing to goof up. I'm always willing to goof off.

I also want to be more regular about posting so some of my postings may be a little terse so that I'll just do it and stop messing around.

work day

I got a lot of new projects started today and finished up two small panels finished. I have had some good conversations with my peers (and one small explosion) lately. I feel inspired and energized.

The two main ideas that I have are to a) explore relatively discrete shapes on a passive background that interact in various ways to attract or rebuff the viewer b) find some way to do figure paintings that satisfy me.

I'm really wrestling with the figure and have decided that the only way to resolve my dilemma is to simply slog through a bunch of potentially dissatisfying paintings until I arrive at a solution.

two more steps in the right direction

I have been wanting to add two things to my paintings lately but have dithered for too long because I didn't want to leave my familiar area of competence. I have finally gotten so bored with my self that I am willing to take on the frustrating feeling of been back in kindergarten at the not-so-tender age of what ever age I am.

The second image was the first completed. I was trying to do continue with my "What's New" series but wasn't loving it. Cindy Lauper's new album was on and I scribbled "don't cry no more" on the bottom with water soluble crayon and smeared it. I need to write a new biography, etc. and was advised to talk about why I paint. So I'm wondering, why did I paint this painting? Don't know...it looked neat?

So back to kindergarten, I painted a horse because that's one of the few things I enjoyed drawing but stopped because I hated how stiff I made them. Well, my figure is still pretty stiff but now I know that I have to do this a few thousand times before I get any good at it. Now my critical voice is complaining about how trivial my writing is so I'm going to go drown it in junky television. I'm glad I did these two paintings, worth while in and of themselves or not, they are two steps in the direction I want to go.