New...the need to be loved and "Scoping"

So. Have you guys tried this new social site linked to Twitter? It's called Periscope. It's a pretty good social tool. It allows you to connect to others all round the world via a streaming video broadcast. I have done a few myself. (Every time I do one though, I feel like such a noob!) 

I've been finding out more and more about this site the last couple of days. One thing Periscope allows you to do is give the broadcasters ❤️. The hearts is like the same system of favoriting a tweet or "liking" a post on Facebook except that I just found out the more hearts you get the higher you rate and get featured on the front page. 

To me so far, the biggest draw is the voyeuristic nature of Periscope. You can hope around all over the world and view people's "Scopes" as they call them. It's that almost immediate connection with a total stranger which draws you in. You can also interact with the broadcasters. A lot of people also grow their list of followers by scoping everyday and often. People hold church, webinars, tutorials and they even livestream performances and shows. 

I think you guys should check it out. But be  wary, it can be quite addictive. If you follow me on Twitter, you can get notified when I do a Scope @ArtstarV9 is my Twitter handle. See you there. 

That's all for this week. Until next time...

-Namaste

New Work...

Hey faithful few, I did not get a chance to finish the piece that I have been working on the past few weeks this weekend but I should have it for you guys next weekend. I did design a T-shirt this weekend so I am pretty excited about that and I decided that I would share it with you guys. Hope you enjoy.

 

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

 

 

Naysayers or The Boy Who Cried Wolf...

Today I want to talk a little about naysayers. For a long time I have known people or met people who have doubted things that I say I'll do or the things that I plan to do so to speak. I don't really look at it as a bad thing though. Most of my life I have feed off of obstacles and naysayers.

A lot of times it comes(came) into question whether or not I am going to do something or be able to do something because of my hesitation. I consider myself a thinking man so I am always "looking before I leap" and trying to make sure I am absolutely certain that things will go as planned before I partake. It's one of those "Catch-22s" though because in some instance because I'm "thinking" I tend not to take a lot of chances.

I'd like to believe that for most of my life I have been successful with making the right decisions and choices because of my careful planning. Recently I have had friends/people who either can't believe or find it amazing that I ACTUALLY plan on doing the things that I plan on doing in the second half of this year. I have already set things into motion. Right now it's just a matter of making sure there is a smooth execution of plans. Once I do these things will I tell the naysayers that they were wrong? Will I come back here and roast them? Probably not for I know that for me it was meant to be. No need for "I told you so's" or "you should have believed's" because "I" always knew I would and that's really the only thing that matters...

I hope this didn't come off a little harsh. It's not my intent, it's just been on my mind a lot lately and I wanted to address my feelings on the matter. That's all I have this weekend. I will try to post some art that I've been working on in the next couple of weeks. Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

Getting it done...

I have a lot that I want to share with you guys but not this week. This week I just have another image of the piece I sold a few weeks ago. It's still a little rough around the edges though. I should be finished it tomorrow but I wanted to show you guys where it's at now. Also next week I'll post images of the work I am putting in the 6X6X2013 at Rochester Contemporary Art Center in Rochester, NY.

I got a couple of blog posts that I have been writing on and off for the past couple of months. One is a blog that I am writing for my tech blog but I want to post it here to share with you guys so come back for that soon.

Until next week...

 

-Namaste

 

 

 

 

New WIP...Partie Deux

I have a few more images for you guys of the piece I showed you last week. I still got a little ways to go with this but I still wanted to share.

I had a pretty busy week this week work-wise and today so I didn't have a chance to finish this weeks blog for you guys. Definitely going to get it out there though. I haven't forgotten. Until then...

 

 

-Namaste

 

 

 

RANDOM SNAPSHOTS...

So faithful few as I promised you guys last week, here are a few photos I took this week. Next week I will give you guys a roundup of a couple of programs I just installed on my computer. I haven't played around with them much yet but I am pretty excited about. Also see if you guys can notice anything in the photos that might seem odd or strange. Something's are obvious and some you really have to "GAZE" at to notice. Enjoy.

So until next week...

-Namaste

 

 

 

 

Emotions make you cry sometimes...

I just recently started watching this documentary about artist Beverly McIver. Its called Raising Renee. I am not to far in it yet but some far its pretty good. It has the makings of being a real good film. As I was watching the film, it made me reflect on my own work.  I have always noticed that I tend to leave certain emotions out of my work. Sadness, pain, resentment, etc...these are just a few of the emotions that I have felt in the past couple of years. And yet, if you look at the work I have created in that time span you.will see none of that in the work.  I referenced the documentary earlier because its about her work and her raising her sister while creating this work.  Her sister and family has always been apart of her work. They are the subject. I constantly shy away from including emotions of pain and hurt in my work.for fear of exposing my personal life. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with showing emotions...its just the way that I was raised that has me guarded against showing certain signs of emotion. My personality is also a big part of it as well. Those type of emotions I try my best not to wear on my sleeve. For me I believe that if I portrayed them in my work, it might paint a picture of a fractured "boy". I also believe my work then might be viewed as being created by someone who is reaching out for help or maybe it would invite people in who might believe that they "know how to fix me". Could my way of thinking be extremely way off base or extremely assumptive? Maybe...but it is what it is in my mind. At some point and time, I believe I can and will muster up the courage to attack more personal subject matter in my work.  As an artist, I can not be afraid to put all of my emotions into a piece for fear of letting one get to close.  I should be able to pour.my emotion into a piece and feel like I did that piece justice because I had no worries about the viewers perception or gaze when it comes to my work. That's all I have for you guys this week. Thanks for letting me share with you. -Namaste

RHINACORN...The beginning

So...I have decided with help from others that I need to create a complete origin story for the Rhinacorn.

I have been thinking about it for a while now. I have discussed it at work ad nausem. So I think its finally time to put something down. I have been brainstorming preliminary ideas for an origin story for the Rhinacorn the past couple of days and I am torn between a short story or a novella. I have been using this character a lot lately so its only natural that it is taking up a big part of my "mental capacity" to function as an artist. (It may not seem like it but I did say something, LOL) I start one thing and somewhere along the line or should I say along my artistic process, I am drawn back to the Rhinacorn. I don"t want to get to deep in thought right now about exactly what he means to me as for fear of spoiling the work to come. In the next couple of weeks I will have a brief summation of where I am going with this for you guys. And as always I look forward to sharing with you Faithful few -Namaste

New work...

Hello faithful few... I have begun a painting which over a series of weeks,  I will continue to build up layers on.  This painting,  which every time I add a layer to,  I will share with you guys.  I will incorporate you the faithful few into the actual process.  I will turn you guys into my actual piece.  I don't quite understand yet where you guys will fit in.  My thinking behind this piece is using my blog,  the blogosphere and my work in a progression of documentated images and written statements to you guys.  Whereas I could video myself creating this piece or I could just post a picture of every time I add to it but I want to engage you the viewer as I am adding layers. I want to make it feels as though you are not just seeing what I am doing as I add layers but have you visually involved in a way that I am creating this for you guys.

Where the piece goes will be determined solely on how I feel like presenting it to you guys.   Now you might say how is that different from me posting a picture of what I am working on now or in the past.  Well as the weeks come and go it will all seem clearer.  I look forward to working with you guys;)


-Namaste