woodcut, etching, or drawing...

this, obviously, is a drawing. I often draw with printmaking techniques in mind; not so much as an intention to make a study for a print, but woodcuts and etchings are a favorite medium of mine because of the resulting aesthetic. Therefore, the techniques are in the back of my mind when drawing.

Buried Treasure

When the sun is high, sky is bright, and the water clear, you can see shapes in the depths. Sometimes the shapes are floating just under the surface. Other times there is something special lying on the bottom.



As Fall approaches, I am reminded that the treasure could be the glimpse of an orange/red maple leaf gently floating beneath reflective surface, dancing in the lazy whirlpools that spin off rocks in the river. For anglers, the treasure is the distorted sight of a prized fish. Children (and me too sometimes) become giddy with excitement when they spot a shiny stone beneath the currents.

Treasures are not always easy to spot. The water's surface reflects light and color of the surrounding world. Sediment and life cloud the water. The water itself distorts our vision. But, if you look closely, you can still get a glimpse of treasures in the water.

Archaeology and record-keeping

Even with the best records and notation, future generations will not be able to see the entire picture that describes our story. We can note every moment, comment on everything we experience, and still only create a summary record of our existence. In many instances, that is exactly what artists are addressing. They are making notes. They are creating records; creating artifacts for the future. Text has a limited ability to describe experience. Visual artists make attempts to describe experience with a different vocabulary and still can only describe pieces.

Archaeology attempts to assemble the pieces that they find and create a larger picture that will tell the story. They make assumptions and guesses as they gather clues and find more artifacts. The most comprehensively told story, with the largest, most complete record is still far from being absolutely complete. The problem is exasperated by the low-fidelity with which most messages are transmitted through time.

I have a sculptor friend in who's work Time plays a major role. His constructions fall apart easily. He does not seem to mind. Further, he seems to enjoy the decay and chance to change the work while holding onto the original idea. It is a recapitulation of an idea, but not a copy. I have watched him work like an archaeologist as he carefully disassembles parts of the deteriorating artifact (sculpture), attempting to remember his original intent and inspiration as he reconstructs the piece.

My work, lately, has relied heavily on keeping a record of the work as it progresses. Each layer of paint has varying degrees of transparency so that the earlier layer can still be seen (if only partially). With each succesive layer, no matter how transparent, the earlier ones fade and become part of an ever-increasingly cryptic message.

the process continues

Here are the same four paintings after some time and more work.....

This one is not quite this dark, but you get the idea. I've added accents to the peaks of the liquid medium, and placed more acrylic on top of the left side to bury the orange part in some more turbulence. It will grow increasingly transparent and you'll be able to see what is underneath much better in a month or two.



Here is the one that had a big blob of medium dropped on it in the last post. Notice how it's cleared and become translucent. It will not be totally transparent because of the metal flakes suspended in it, but the colors and some vague shapes from the underlying layers will still be revealed. Next step is to dull down the orange ground so it is not so overpowering, but I still want to do that in a way that allows the brightness to peak through in some spots.



Below, the medium has started to clear,and I've added a red transparent paint to fill in and accentuate the troughs of medium, emphasizing the movement and flow of the painting.



And here is the "reef rash" one that has been covered with another layer of paint. I am thinking of the process on this particular work as a healing wound. Now the protective scab has formed. Next, more flexible liquid skin will grow.

A process in painting.

these four paintings are in various stages of development so my process is revealed. Moving water is still the stepping-off point for these paintings, but elements of my own wonder about the universe as well as my personal belief in the connection between water and flesh slip into the work as they are made.



ethereal light, transparency, movement, the cosmos in the water



this one is purposely rought, and the photo was taken just after some acrylic was dumped on it. Kind of looks like vomit. The acrylic will clear and crack,and make an interesting texture.



fresh paste, that will become transparent as it dries. sometimes the water feels this thick, so I like that the medium is thick and opaque at the beginning, and with more time, it becomes clear and more gentle



some reef rash looking stuff that will heal and eventually turn into a lovely deep wave after layers and layers of work and acrylic are added

Grad school messes with everyone

http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/cas/art/watkins/gallery/2004-05/MFA/barnes.htm

check this out! it's the statement I was forced to make about 3 months before my MFA show in 2005. I made an effort to be a little bit confusing because I was just fed up with all the B.S. in school. Of course I had to stay on target, and if you read it carefully it does speak to what I was working on at the time. I have re-read my fellow classmates statements and most of them are confusing and egotistical. This makes me wonder how much of that is on purpose and how much of it artists force themselves to believe.

At any rate, check this stuff out because it's a bit funny.

All In The Family: a juried show of American University alumni

here are the dates for the show I was talking about in the last post.

September 4 - Ocotber 28, 2007

The Katzen art center at American University in Washington D.C.

artist's reception September 8th 6-9pm

gallery talk October 6th at 4pm

juried alumni show at Katzen Center

http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/cas/katzen/museum/upcoming.cfm#07sep

The Katzen Center was completed the summer immediately after I graduated. I watched the building being built from the grad studio windows, knowing that the MFA students who were one year behind me would be moving in to the new huge building. It's is quickly becoming a big deal in D.C. so I am honored to have one of my paintings selected for the alumni show. It might be the excuse I need to visit some people in D.C. I have not been back down there since graduation in in 2005.

here is the piece that was selected
http://artandwater.100waves.com/portfolio1/w8407.jpg
and the portfolio from which it was selected
http://artandwater.100waves.com/art1.html

my new niece, Samantha

Here she is, a beautiful baby girl.



looks like she is making friends already with that soft blue bear



proud parents, Derek and Lauree



my other brother, Ryan, holding baby Samantha along with his super cool girlfriend Danielle



and one more photo of the cute little baby.....

Baby Girl

My brother and his wife just had a baby girl. I'm so happy for them.