Random Inspiration (Clara Bow)

Pulled out my old costume standby, the 1920's flapper dress. As Tim Gunn would say (WHO IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING AT USF ON THE 4TH, OMG!), "With a dress like this, styling is everything!" So, I looked up some silver screen starlets for makeup tips.

I went with Clara. I just. love. her.

Random Inspiration (Melissa Moss)

While at the Julie West show in Hollywood, FL, I came across a couple prints by Melissa Moss. We were on our way out the door and I didn't get to stop and examine them closely so I wrote her name down to look her up later. I'm so glad I did! Moss is an Asheville, NC based artist who has studied color psychology and utilizes this theory in her awesome work.


too happy
Acrylic on wood


the party's over
Acrylic on wood


ebb
Acrylic and gouache on wood

I ADORE that last one! I want a large print of that and I think it will probably factor heavily into my inspiration for the mural I'm doing on a friend's wall.

1 Song, 3 Pieces

For the 3rd major project, the song I will be using is by my favorite cello-rock band, Rasputina. For the initial song => inspiration part of the project, I decided to use another of their songs to get into the right mindset.



AntiqueHighHeelRedDollShoes is the first and from there I also considered the song Gingerbread Coffin. Both of these songs use imagery relating to dolls. I understand why people often find dolls creepy or unsettling but I think that is what I like about them.

I like the dramatic lighting on this one.

Gift Wrapped Doll #37
James Rosenquist
Oil on canvas
1997

I'm a big fan of buying handmade and I love sites like Etsy and ArtFire. This handmade doll reminds me of drawings of medieval plague doctors which are both frightening and fascinating.

Birdman from woods
Ree Gurova for Lime in Moloko
Polymer clay and fabric
2009

My friend Brigitte is the artist behind a line of custom dolls called Zombuki. I really like her pieces.

Eulalia Dia Zombuki
Brigitte Coovert
2009

Mini Project #2

I was surprised how effectively some of the other students in the class were able to convey the meaning of their chosen pieces/artists. I tried to guess who the artist might be during the performance and I guessed right on Katie's John Cage performance and Lauren's Mark Ryden performance. I was curious to learn more about Taryn's artist, Subodh Gupta, because I thought his kitchenware mushroom cloud sculpture was really fascinating. I was also interested in Caitlin's artist, Robyn O'Neil, and her methods.

As for my own performance, I think it would have gone much better if my glasses hadn't fallen apart because that was just upsetting to me. If I had more time, I would have tried to memorize the part that I read or rehearsed reading it a few more times so get the pacing right. I also think I could have been clearer about the connection between my performance and Suzanne Lacy's work. Overall, I was happy with my performance.

Julie West at Pink Ghost gallery in Hollywood, FL

Road tripped with a good friend over to Hollywood, FL, to meet Julie West at her solo show in Pink Ghost's gallery. She does beautiful work. Her colors are well chosen, her shapes and spaces are gentle while remaining definite. It's impressive that a lot of her work which requires a lot of geometrically correct shapes is hand done in acrylic and then mounted on brocade fabrics. It's really quite impressive. And it's all just so creepy-cute! I picked up some cool swag, a signed "chubby" book by the artist and a cool blind box Dunny so I'm happy. Plus I got to spend a lot of time with my friend Brigitte whom I had not seen in ages and who is now making a living as a working artist which is so inspirational I can't even begin to express. I'll post some of Ms. West's stuff later but for now it is goodnight.

Update!
Here are some of West's paintings:

West signed a postcard of this in my chubby book, under the bats with a text bubble coming from the girl. Awesome!

Want

think-make-think
Clifton Burt

I'm not usually into text art but this one has the right elements. The haiku used, by John Maeda, is inspiring but not cheesy, and the road sign font is engaging without being totally abrasive or illegible, which is usually the case with text art.

In any case, I want a print of this in my face at all times. I think that would be good for me.

Project #2 Proposals

For our second project, on "range", I have a few ideas that I have been considering and might possibly need feedback on.

The first idea I had was to do a single image several times with different media. This could be a still-life or a portrait/self portrait, and would probably include graphite, chalks and charcoal, oil pastel, and possibly paint(?). I have also considered repeating an image several times with the intention of abstracting it to a greater degree each time.

My second idea was to do a series of expressionist portraits of a single person in oil pastel and depict a range of facial expressions. This may also be self portraits.

My third idea was a figure study in which the subject would begin fully clothed and remove one article of clothing for each successive drawing. If I thought I could handle it I might even include a drawing of the human body's muscular structure and then skeleton to add as further steps after the final nude. I don't know if I have the patience or skill to complete a project like this, however.