April Showers Bring May . . . .

April Showers Bring . . . . Still More Showers 

April was a difficult month and May might be even more so. Here are some images of what I have been working on. I am exited by the combination of fluid paintings on mylar and drawings. 

Base for something . . .

In progress 

In Progress

Detail 

Detail 

 Some Drawings on Mylar that I began today, I am plaining/have started to add color to them and will post more pictures once they are dry. 

3 different layers of paper and mylar, I like the confusion 

I started playing around with painted mylar and drawings on paper and mylar, I had a lot of fun combining them. They are small but they combine my new uses of paint on mylar and my old funny/strange cartoon sensibilities. 

Mylar in a New Light

Today I started playing with paint and ink on mylar. Artist Julie Evans uses paint and ink to create beautiful organic looking collages. Once these dry ill be able to flip them over and see the second side. I intend to cut them out and combine them with other drawings and possibly painted backgrounds. I am loving how the ink and paint react spontaneously together creating unique effects. The dripping and placement of ink and paint are controlled while the effects are unpredictable. This dichotomy between control and loss of control are ideas I am very aware of currently, both personally and artistically. The pink and red colors create a bodily or medical feeling which I am also aware and attracted to right now.
I am exited to see where this takes me.

Discovering Discoveries . . .

My last meeting with Mira was, I feel very productive. She gave very insightful feed back on the work I have been doing and further challenged me to create both physical resistance with material as well as resistance in the ideas I am trying to convey. While in the meeting with Mira I realized what my amorphous shapes mean to me. Once back in my studio and looking at my work from this and last semester it makes sense for me. An aspect of my life that at once creates paralyzing fear and incomparable joy. I hope that this realization will bring the depth and necessity to my work that has been lacking.

Other suggestions include creating larger work again. Many of my mylar drawings are quite small, some only 6in x 6in. I agree that small images while they can initiate intimacy can also be 'easier', simply because they are less outright, or in your face than larger work. However translating the small mylar drawings into lager work is proving a challenge. Some slowly created details do not translate well into my larger cartoon forms. Also translating my forms into 3D was suggested, to add more meaning and give greater understanding. I eagerly look forward to trying this out.

My hope is that I'v got it right and that this new discovery really is at the heart of my interests. I feel this month will be pivotal in this discovery as I continue to work.

Playing with Bread and Glue . . . waiting for the real clay to arrive 

In progress 

Simplicity in duplicates 

I feel like I am putting a puzzle about myself together. There are many facets, I do not just have one idea in creating art, I think it is more cumulative to me. Containing everything from childhood until present day.

Layers of Paper, Layers of Meaning?

I am continuing with they mylar and layers playing with different colors, backgrounds and ways of creating and breaking space. Continuing to add hints of the real, or cartoon real with abstract shapes. I feel like I am gaining momentum. I do not usually spend so much time working small but for the moment it feels right, and that there is more to explore here.

I have continued to ponder and deliberate the question of why I make art. It is on my mind constantly. And although I do not have a fully articulated response, I feel like I am getting closer.

It seems that for me making art is at least partially about control. The ability to have complete control over something, from start to finish. I seek to control the uncontrollable in life, which is of course an impossibility, in art this is possible. It is also, I believe an attempt to create or provide for myself an escape, a fantasy world where things make sense. But in my art, like in the real world things do not make sense. There is always something distorted or wrong.

I am simultaneously representing the fantasy world of childhood cartoons in which I wish I lived or could escape to, and the nonsensical, terrible and disturbed nature of real life.

I will continue to ponder the question and my response to it.

3 layers - watercolor paper, old colligraphy paper and mylar  

Work in Progress

I intend to cut out each of these shapes, partially revealing the drawing beneath 

Experiments with under layers 

Little Layers Part 2 . . .

Over the last week I have been playing more with the mylar, and experimenting with the different types of backgrounds that can be used with them. Today I created a few small two colored "paintings"or drawings with paint which is probably more accurate. Wall paper and photos are other options I have explored and will continue to explore, as bases. I am also playing with limited color on the mylar. 

The thing I find most interesting about these little guys is the potential to play with the layers. To move and change them until they feel right.  I have included a few that I feel are complete along with several in process, that I will probably play with more. I have also included several of the same images in different orders/ with different backgrounds. 

I plan to experiment with building some simple frames this weekend and getting back into installation. 

Bases, drawings with paint 

Same drawings different background 

Many different versions all with the same base