Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Sisyphus Revisited

So, the art making game has been pretty busy as has the exhibiting. Lately I was part of a couple of interesting competition/exhibitions. One in Ashtabula, the Tikkanen Painting Prize. I had two pieces make the first cut and one piece made it into the show. Unfortunately, I did not win, but it was an interesting show. I also have a piece in the NPAA Biennial, which opens tomorrow at the Erie Art Museum. Getting ready for a solo show at 1020 Holland in January/February, figure paintings. So that will be a first.

Below is the Beachwork for the year. Much of it survived the last Winter. Most of the right hand side of the structure is new. My goal was capping the window on the right side. I didn't get much new stone this year, as the beach topography was a bit unusual. Much of the old beach was covered by one or two feet of  sand and cobble, covering much of the stone that I would usually gather.


The image below is the piece that I put in the Biennial. Based on photos taken from the kayak in the lagoons at the 4-mile mark, it is one part of a planned three piece altarpiece. I have been working on several pieces using this technique relating to mechanical/geometric objects and  in these images, applying it to organic subjects.


Playing around with it below, combining color and monochromatic areas. Turned out OK. May continue to play around with the concept.


The other area that I have been playing around with recently is figure painting. I've arranged an exhibition at the 1020 Holland Collective. A great space that I have had works exhibited in the past and look forward to putting together a show of about 80-100 works. The Birth of Venus works and a frieze of 25 dancing figures will be the backbone. Below are two recent works that are exploring the relationship between the body and drapery of some kind. So, that is what the state of the art is. Also working on a couple of commissions. So I have been busy.