First Installment of the Show

 I wanted to show you folks my progress thus far on my first installment intended for the show.  This project is based around portraiture and components of pattern.  I have been experimenting with these two concepts for the past two years and I now see this as a sort of culmination and application. What I find most interesting about portraiture specifically is that it has been used as composition in painting and drawing for over 1000 years.  The presence and resonance that still holds firm and lasting in Dutch and American Folk Art portraiture is a testament to the captivating power it possesses over the viewer. Is it the transparent glare or possibly the questions provoked concerning the viewer's participation? In any event I can undoubtedly state that there is a strange presence captured in portraiture that cannot quite match anything in my work to date.  The components of pattern, design and decorative adornment integrated into this series of portraits serves as a catalyst for containing both the figure and the viewer's eye. Drawing floral, organic 

pattern is a practice that has been utilized throughout centuries of art-making. However decorative pattern making became a regular facet in early advertising from 1880 leading into the early 1950's. This is where I tend to draw most of my inspiration and resource foundation. 

Other than the series of 7 portraits I plan to employee 3 more projects. Those 3 being a larger painting illustrating a geometric alphabet I created, a mobile composed of birdhouses and painted wood, and a few on-site paintings. The on-site paintings will be small and sporadic, most likely small figures/characters whose location in the space will be determined later by site specifics. What I mean is that I want each little painting to be at home in it's area to the point where it would be "home-sick" elsewhere in the room.  Anyways I've gone on long enough. I just wanted to share some of my ideas with the group. Feedback is, as always, welcome and also I would to see what everyone else is up to, although I understand that there are a lot of you graduating soon and time has been constricted. 

Andy

Junkyard Dogs

I just bought a brand new moleskine sketchbook the other day. It's really nice. The paper is a heavy weight watercolor type. I am considering similar concepts of drawing like this one for the show, minus the watercolor swashes and insert thicker acrylic bodies to accompany line work.

drawings on the plane

Almost Finished

This is my almost finished painting for the Day of the Dead show at the Shadowlounge. I think I'm going to call her Isabella. 

- Jaycen

First painting from the break

This thing has claimed the last two days of my life. As some of you know, one of my bad habits artistically is being too anal about rules when I'm working on something, the result being correct perspective and value, but a dead image. So I've been working toward loosening up these last few months and hopefully capturing more vitality.

- Jaycen

These are some works in progress from this week...(and really bad photographs, sorry). They're pretty small - 11x15". -Maura

a few things from andy scott

here are a few paintings, drawings, and such that i have doe in the past. thought that i would share some of this with all of you so a better perspective may be gained. following is a link to a bunch of my other work, aplace-forall.blogspot.com

Max's work

Here's some stuff I've done recently, both finished or otherwise.

Criticism is welcome, positive or otherwise.


-max

'Nother Work in Progress from Jaycen

This one still needs a lot of work on the figures and pillar (that damnable foot), but I figured it has enough shape to share among friends. Feel free to crit my shit. Get mean if you need.

Works in progress from Jaycen

Here are examples of my most recent work. The one with the horseman is finished, the other two are more or less halfway done. I have several other pieces that in their infancy, and will post when they have more definition.

This is by Picasso...it's a little work in gouache.

Okay, a start...here, instead of posting notes or plans - is a work that may evolve (or may not)...lately I'm using pattern, sometimes birds. I like these blocking effects - as if it's hard to get a plain view. And I'm going to post the reference for the fence - although it also connects to other ideas. My favorite museum in Paris is the Picasso Museum. Last time I was there I saw a work in gouache that I thought captured the stunning sense of the Rivera - or any sundrenched view of the water from inside (and if you've read Hemingway's 'Garden of Eden'...there it is again, and more). But it's the fence that I've lifted, from Picasso - and really Matisse, especially in his 'Piano Lesson'.



So, there it is to start.

First Post

Hey guys. I just set up this blog for us to post project info, updates, questions, etc. about the show in January. You should all be receiving the information for this and the group e-mail soon if not already.