New Stuff...

This is just a little something I have been testing out. Thought I'd share a few quick images with you guys.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Accountability helps...

I failed you guys this week. I have nothing to show...zilch...nada...zero.....I did pull my sketchbook out and tomorrow between my job hunting and resting I will be drawing in my sketchbook.

My art accountability partner told me something this week that I totally forgot about sketchbooks. She told me I just need to draw. Even if I don't like what comes out...just DRAW. It also doesn't help that every week she is showing me something new that she started or finished LOL. But that's what accountability partners are for. Well that's it for this week.

Until next week...


-Namaste

The Week that Was...

So another week down,  another week coming up. I am actually starting to lose track of these weeks. I mean did you guys know that this week coming up is the last  full week of August! Wow...

I am going to try and get back into my sketchbook very soon. Me and one of my ex-coworkers are trying to be each other's accountability partners when it comes to art. Trying to make sure that no matter what struggle we are having that we are still as artist creating. You guys know I have been having issues lately with producing work. I'm hoping this jump-starts my creativity. What ever I do in my sketchbook, I will definitely share with you guys. Well that's all I have for you guys this weekend.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Eventually it will happen or GOTCHA!...

Hey faithful few, it's the last day of August(ALREADY, man times does fly!!!) I had a really really good post for you guys this week but I decided to wait to post it until the middle of next week. Believe you and me, it's a doozy of a post. Since I need to do other things before I post it, I figured that I would wait. When I do post it and share with your guys why I wanted to wait, I am sure you'll understand and it will all make sense.

So until next week faithful few...

 

-Namaste

Chūshō geijutsu or The ZEN approach...

So this past week I have had a lot on my mind. Been dealing with some personal things and the other day they manifested themselves into a work of art. I created piece that I used to clear my head. As I was painting I was allowing the paint to do what it wanted. I was freeing my mind of all thoughts and pouring them onto the canvas.

A sort of darkness emerged but a life can also be seen coming through the darkness...a spark...a light rising...

This was a nice piece for me to do because I had no real expectations of what would come out of doing it. I think I might do this little exercise a lot more. I am including a couple of pics for you guys so you can see what I came up with. Enjoy.

Until next time...

 

 

- Namaste

Untitled (A Light Rising)

Acrylic on canvas

18"X24"

2013

 

 

Detail of Untitled (A Light Rising)

 

 

 

Art and Life...

I've been starting a lot of pieces the past week...been feeling inspired a lot lately. It such a good feeling, you know? I am trying to get back into the routine of starting projects even when I'm in the process of working on one already. (Take a moment to re-read that. There was a lot going on in there, LOL) I'm trying not to get stuck focusing on one thing at a time when I'm creating. Usually when I don't have multiple things going on, I start to dwell too much on the one thing and then I end up experiencing a block.

It's all about keeping the creative process flowing for me. It's something I am going to try to keep up going forward. I always talk about needing to focus and staying focused more regarding my life and art. I have gotten to a point in my life where I am more reflective when it comes to certain things. I do a soul-searching and in my soul-searching, I always try to see the big picture when it comes to my life. I find that sometimes I struggle with grasping the bigger picture. I think its a reflection of how hard I am on myself mentally. Blogging has always given me an avenue to release some of that self-doubt. It's really quite therapeutic for me and I am glad to be able to have you the faithful few along to help.

That's all I have for you guys this weekend. Next week I will post some WIP (work-in-progress) pics for you guys to check out. 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

 

 

 

 

Just a little update...

So today I officially sold my first piece of unfinished work.  Now its not going to stay unfinished but as it stands now its in an unfinished state. It felt oddly strange yet refreshing to be compensated for something that will fir sure change before its done. Its as if my buyer has so much faith in what I'm doing that they just know they will be getting a masterpiece.

I totally stand by myself as an artist no matter how successful or unsuccessful I am at this junction in my life but its extra special for me to have someone other than the missus and family/friends have faith in what I am doing as an artist. Hopefully next weekend I will have a finished piece to share with you guys. If not next week, the week after that for sure.

Until next time...




-Namaste

Time...Time keeps on passing me by...

You ever wonder where all the time goes...?  I mean seriously...Every week it seems that Sunday hits and before I know it, I am sharing with you guys.  Which means Saturday is upon us...I then start to wonder where all the time in the week has gone.  Not too mention where the year has gone to.

Time management then becomes something of the essence.  For me that has always been a struggle.  There have been a plenty of times that I have let time slip away because of poor time management.  The  past few years I have gotten better, definitely this year.  I have found that by setting reminders and goals for myself have really helped me to keep on track...usually.  Its not a perfect system but its been working out for me.  Especially being tethered to technology:)

Last couple of years I have been trying to steer clear of setting New Years' Resolutions but this year if I have to have one; I would say it would be "To wisely take advantage of improving my time management" skills.  I have too many mechanisms at my disposal not to be more cognizant of time.  I believe that its just one of my holdover traits of being a procrastinator.  Gotta work on shaking it.

Well, faithful few, that's all I have for you guy this week.  Until the next time...


-Namaste

What The Duck...

I think on a somewhat "subconscious/conscious" level I am afraid to make the work I want to make. I told my girl this the other day. When I think back to the sort of self-discovery I had back in my junior year of college to where I am today, I often wonder why my work took such a drastic turn. I mean I went from making work that could have become quite provocative to making work that in my own honest opinion, sometimes viewed as "being safe". What happened along the way...

I guess it's associating with and being around people who, now don't get me wrong have been cool people...it's just some of them either wouldn't get it or find it offensive. That's not to say that I diverted from the work because I cared about what people said but I believe it had more to do with my self-defined ideal of those closest around me.

Its like in my mind I have this internal struggle between myself and being the artist I could/should be. Whenever I endeavor to create work like I used to do its like I self-destroy that motivation and then do something that I know people will fill its pretty or pleasing to the eye. I really need to defeat that demon in my head and get back to create work for me. Need to break down that wall in my mind that has been put up. I know what you are going to say. "Why don't you just do it and not care about what people may or may not think about it?" I mean it seems easy enough right? But when your personality is like a guardian to your subconscious mind and forces you to think of others before yourself; it gets tricky. And don't even get me started on how it stagnates "Art for Arts' sake".

At the end of the day, its about taking that leap and not looking back. Its getting yourself into that mindset that you have something you want to say and who gives a hell whether or not people like it or whether they feel like your "treadging" up the past...or if they feel like you are talking about something that's never effected you. In some ways, you have to be sort of selfish when creating. In any event, it's easier said then done my friends...easier said than done...

 

 

-Namaste

 

Black History Month...does it still exist?

 Is Black History month still relevant? Think about it a sec...How many of you actually remembered that it was Black History Month? Here we almost halfway through the month and it doesn't feel like Black History Month.  I have seen a few things on the interwebs  related to Black History Month but nothing major. Its like it has been eradicated from the lexicon of our collective brains. I remember when I was a kid it was everywhere. There was commercials, shows and promotions geared around Black History Month.  Now not so much. 

Is it because it is ingrained in our heads to celebrate the history of our people not just in February but every month of the year? Is it because supposedly "the American black" has increasingly advanced beyond where we used to be? What do you guys think? I wonder if because we are placing so much emphasis on the financial downfall/public outcry towards the government the last few years to pay attention to "any" of our history months, I.e. Black, Women, and Latino. Again, I wonder what you guys think about that

Well I for one will be doing my part this month.  The last two weeks of the month I am going to try and have my post geared towards African American history from an artist perspective.  I am still going to probably post pics of what I am working on right now but I will also talk a little about artists that have made a difference to me and artist that have influenced me.  I hope you guys find it informative.  

 

-Namaste

The mind of a child can truly hold the key...

 I recently watched a bit of an artist lecture that Kerry James Marshall which I found quite intriguing.  In the brief clip that I saw, he talked about getting to a point that his work was where he wanted it to be.  When he got to that point he was older than I am right now, which for me gave me useful insight into where I am and where I am going in my own work.  I am always worried about when I'll reach the moment when I feel my work is really clicking.  Every year when we turn the calendar year, it seems like I am going to myself; "This is the year".  I think I get too caught up in the "...it's now or never" to see that I can't try and force the work.  When I try doing that I end up getting to caught up in over think and over analyzing my work, which leads me to be overly critical and eventually abandoning a concept that has been good for me up to that point.  

I need to focus more on finishing the work and not wondering too much on whether or not I have made that piece that will make or break me as an artist.  Most artist will know what I mean when I say this but "I need to get in a childlike mindset" when creating work.  For those of you who might not understand that statement, kids when creating art tend to make work that makes them happy or they make work where they don't fuss to much over details or getting everything perfect.  For them it's all about making something that they can be proud of or something that they can take home and hang on the fridge for all to see.  Kids are great at creating things more out of love because they haven't got that handle on color schemes and juxtaposing images and/or marks yet.  To them any mark they make is a work of art and they are pleased with it.  Having that great childlike innocence is something that helps them to stay honest in their magical little creations. It's something that a lot of us artist try to maintain as we learn and become more self-aware as artists.  It's so easy to get caught up in over thinking and analyzing our work, that we get lost in why we started creating in the first place.

The more I try to get back to basics in my work, the more I feel like I am letting the work resolve itself.  And that makes for good art-making...

 

-Namaste

Tech -to- Art

So I couldn't decide on whether or not I wanted to do an actual post this week or do a video.  I decided to just let you know what's on my mind via letters. So for right now I am going to "Occupy" your eyes;)  I picked up my new IPad this week and right out the gate I was amazed with it.  It was as advertised.  Lightweight and fast.  Zooooooommmmm.  I have had some processor unfriendly apps on my first gen iPad that when ever I opened them they would immediately crash.  Even ones that weren't as powerful would crash.  I can remember always having to open safari back up because it crashed; what a pain!  Sketchbook Pro, was at times extremely unusable.  I could probably get in about 5 minutes in with it and it would crash.  Very frustrating "don't you know!"  I was using it a few hours ago on my iPad 2 and no problems whatsoever.  At some point I am going to purchase iMovie and begin to do some video editing.  So look for some cool little things by way of video from me in the future.  But enough about my tech obsession.  Next week I will finally take a vacation this year.  Its been a long year. I am not going anywhere so it will be a "staycation".  I plan on catching up on some reading, some movies that I have stockpiled and also making some art.  I was telling one of my co-workers how I am going to try and do a lot of drawing next week.  I have been getting a little lax and rusty lately there when it comes to drawing, so what better time then a staycation then to make it happen.  I am actually pretty excited about my week to come.  I should have a lot to talk to you guys about next week.  Probably if I can too bored and feel like I have too much time on my hands, I might end up blogging earlier than usual.  In any event, I look forward to sharing with you guys. -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

I sometimes ramble...but So What..."Who Cares..."

Hello Faithful few, how are you guys doing this week? So today a I did my first in-depth YouTube video(Check out my channel, my YouTube username is ArtStarConfidential.) I intended for it to be a quick video on what I have on my IPad at the moment but as I was shooting it the time got away from me. It is close to 13 mins long! "Lord, I was born a Ramblin' Man..." One of the weirdest things is to hear yourself talk. I have people who tell me all the time I like to run my mouth but when you record yourself and actually hear yourself you might be amazed at sometimes how much you DO actually run your mouth. I guess you never know how much you truly have to say until you actually open your mouth...LOL.

I am currently working on a drawing that I am hoping to finish by end of next week or the beginning of the following week. I will have some progression drawings for you guys maybe next week. I really have been trying to get back in the habit of creating. Don't want my head to explode from all the ideas I have in it;) Well that's all I have to say this week I think. I look forward to sharing with you guys next. Until then...

-Namaste

If I must...I must...

Konnichi'wa minna-san! Today I read an interview that Emory Douglas did in JUXTAPOZ magazine that I found to be highly informative. Emory Douglas is a revolutionary artist who was also the Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party. He designed the majority of their literature and propaganda. He also designed the iconic image of the party, The Panther. He, in the article talked about the relevance of race in our modern society. He did this piece of Obama where Obama apologized on behalf of the United States for Slavery. This was a powerful piece of revolution art in that its meaning could be viewed as quite controversial. Whereas Shepard Fairey and others were creating empowering works of art incorporating Our newly elected, Mr Douglas on the other hand took the opportunity to make you question the the state of the union as it stands now. To me this work was spot on. Its a piece that makes me look at where my work has evolved(or devolved) from. I recall being back in college and exploring race in my work and how informative and enlightening that was to me. The last few years of I have gotten away from that subject matter. Apart of that, I believe is because I questioned whether or not race is still relevant in art. I mean we still have issues of race and race identity in today's society but I wondered/wonder how deep it runs in art. How I can get away using race in my work and not come off as angry black man. Reading this interview gave me hope. It gave me that good feeling I always get when I see someone out there making work that makes you question the status quo and whether or not race still really matters. This article really has me excited about the prospects of creating work go forward. I look forward to having you guys along for the journey.


-Namaste

Gin and Juice

Hello faithful few, as I sit here typing this to you guys I am hyper-multi-tasking. Let it sinking in:)

I am watching Edge of Darkness, on my computer, texting this blog on my awesome smartphone(Samsung Vibrant running Bionix Fusion 1.2) & partaking in a glass of Seagrams Gin and Everfresh OJ. Good stuff.

Today I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. It was pretty good to see the book portrayed on the big screen. It was a lot more darker than the previous 6 movies WB has presented to us. I mean in my opinion book 7 is the darkest so its only fitting the cinema portrays it as such. I highly recommend that you guys go check it out for yourselves.

I have been drawing a little more so I am feeling pretty good about the direction I am heading in when it comes to my art. Now if I can only get the job thing going:)

Namaste