Archive for September, 2009

I Could Go To The Archives

Posted in Art, obituary, Toni Tiller with tags , , on September 30, 2009 by Toni Tiller

I didn’t have time to make anything new this week, sorry everyone, it’s just one of those things. Between the usual demands of daily life there has been packing, moving, travel arrangements, and my twice yearly charity event (yes that is me, second from the right) for which I have been promoted (?) to Art Chair. That by the way is just a fancy way of saying I get to organize a thousand Bed Bath and Beyond framed prints and stick price tags on them.

But I digress, point is this week there will be no art from me, however I am going to point you in the direction of an artist I learned about this week from my friend Thairin over at World Of Wonder named Greer Lankton. She made interestingly creepy, sometimes life sized dolls, and I love the work but I was also fascinated by how she seemed to occupy what I think of as “in between places”. She was a transsexual who regretted her choice, an artist who’s work straddled what is for some of us the familiarly blurred line of art and craft, as well as the place between being recognized for both being the creator of and the inspiration for many works of art. She had been the model/subject/muse to artists like Nan Goldin, Peter Hujar, and David Wojnarowicz, plus she made and wore a giant fat suit sometimes and that alone makes me love her. Sadly, three out of four of the people I just mentioned are no longer with us making art, Greer passed away of a drug overdose after years of battling depression, drug addiction, and eating disorders. One of her old friends writer and curator Julia Morton wrote a touching memorial ten years after her passing for ArtNet if you are interested in getting to know her a little better.

-Toni “bunnie” Tiller

If You Dream It You Can Do It

Posted in Art with tags , on September 29, 2009 by jdhastings

I think I’ve heard people say that before.  It’s a pretty stupid thing to say if you ask me.  I’ve never tried too hard but I’m almost certain I can’t fly under my own control. 

But there is something to be said for visualizing, letting the mind wander and day dreaming.  Or, perhaps, Lucid Dreaming.

My friend Darya of Summertomato.com tweeted this article that gives pointers on how to Lucidly Dream.

I don’t know if this talent will lead to world defeating leaps in ability, as the author implies, but who doesn’t enjoy having God-Like powers over their perceived reality?

-JD

Patchwork

Posted in abstract, Art, J. D. Hastings with tags , , , , on September 29, 2009 by jdhastings

The last few weeks I’ve been dragging you the process of working on what I call “mini-frame” based pieces. I started by looking at different combinations, then used some of those in a piece for work. This is what I made up of most of the rest of the pieces:

Patchwork
“Patchwork” 19″ x 27″ acrylic on canvas with safety-pins

After the jump I’ll give you a detail shot and the meaning of life.
Read more »

collages again

Posted in Art, Collage, Daniel Allyn Lee on September 28, 2009 by Daniel Allyn Lee

I made a new collage. I wanted something new for the front of my website. I made a digital collage at the same dimensions, but I prefer this one. I think I’m going to try to make time for creating collages and fine art pieces. I really like these dimensions, kind of panoramic, I think I’m going to do a series at this size.
his talents soon became apparent
His Talents Soon Became Apparent, paper collage, 11″ x 5 1/2″, 2009

Sunday Sidewalk Doodles:

Posted in Art, Miscellaneous, Stephanie Gerolimatos with tags , , , , , on September 27, 2009 by ssstephg

Sometimes we follow a theme through the week, and our doodles form a cohesive set. This week’s drawings include a fairly eclectic mix.

Everyone loves breakfast! (even robot snails) by MarkB

Next is a look at sidewalk doodle headquarters by Taysha. Um, I eat breakfast here every Read more »

Round Things Roll (and I roll with ‘em)

Posted in Art, Painting, Stephanie Gerolimatos with tags , , , , , , , on September 26, 2009 by ssstephg

So I was looking back through some older photos of art I’ve made and I realized I’ve been on this circle kick for a while now. Here’s a handful of roly-poly stuff.

I gave these two pieces to my friends Christine and Sarah a few Christmases ago. They’re both about four or five inches square (the paintings, not the friends), encaustic on all rag board, plus wire in that second one.

The two below are both encaustic and wire on birch plywood, tiny–about 2 inches square. I gave these to my friends Dan and Shana.

And this next one I gave to my sister, Sam. It’s about, oh… I dunno. Let’s say it’s about 7 Read more »

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Never Enough Tunng!

Posted in Art, Stephanie Gerolimatos, video with tags , , , , , , on September 26, 2009 by ssstephg

This cartoon animated video is super cute and who can say no to a little Tunng?

from Youtube:

Directed, animated and produced by James Bates
http://www.jamesbates.com
http://www.atomweb.net
http://www.tunng.co.uk
Made with love, magic and woodland secrets
www.myspace.com/thisistunng
www.fulltimehobby.co.uk

Steph to the GGG…

Posted in Art on September 25, 2009 by Jason Gray

Thought long and hard, and I’m pretty sure you are a rock and roll girl thru and thru, but I came up with this…:

…Bunny

Posted in Art with tags on September 25, 2009 by Jason Gray

Toni Tiller’s club-kid track ala 1994-5:

Happy…

Posted in Art with tags on September 25, 2009 by Jason Gray

Daniel is a bit difficult because of his background MAKING music (yes, he’s amazing; think A.I.H. meets Richard D. James’ “Selected Ambient Works” series). I took his collagist background into consideration….basically, this is about his collagist background/currents:

..Batty

Posted in Art with tags on September 25, 2009 by Jason Gray

Screw it; I’m handing out dance music videos to all of our Darteboard favs tonight. Tom Bennett, this one’s for you:

I Got Nothing

Posted in Art with tags on September 25, 2009 by Jason Gray

Nothing new, artwise anyway.  But, here is another Friday Night Music Video, especially for J.D.

Friday Night Music Video: Drew Toothpaste

Posted in Art, Miscellaneous, Stephanie Gerolimatos, video with tags , , , , , , on September 25, 2009 by ssstephg

New vid by Drew Toothpaste–Yay!!!

And an old favorite of mine featuring Charles the pugdog and his phenomenal tongue! It’s like one of those paper party horns that honks and unfurls when you blow it, minus the honking.

See Drew’s Youtube channel for more hits such as Comb Your Beard (At Night) and other fun stuffs.  And if you don’t know of Drew Toothpaste and his webcomic Toothpaste For Dinner, his and his wife Natalie Dee’s webcomic Married To The Sea and Natalie’s webcomic Natalie Dee, then go acquaint yourself immediately!

Dork Alert: Science Art

Posted in Art with tags , , on September 25, 2009 by jdhastings

Please read the title in a fake robot voice. Thanks.

The New Scientist has a cool and pretty exhibition of of Astronomy photographs up right now. Not so much amazing Hubble images as shots of night sky phenomena, usually in the context of their location.

I always think its interesting to see people with science backgrounds dabble in art and vice versa. Scientists tend to have fairly result-driven minds. Their artwork therefore tends to be very literal and clear. “This is my focus. This is what I am ‘saying.’” If they are photographing a bird, the bird will be centered. It may still be a lovely shot, but there is no sense that the possibility of showing the bird in its environment, not as a focus is considered, or that composition, method, etc. might be their own ends. Not that I’m criticizing them, I just find it interesting how they perceive things relative to many other artists. And I’m sure the feeling is mutual, where they laugh at artists’ more lazy focus.

Anyways, stereotyping aside, here’s an unrelated photograph posted by the Argonne laboratory today, of extremely radioactive nuclear fuel rods stewing in a pool of water. Toxic yet lovely. Like me.

-JD

SF Moma Hits the Art Lottery

Posted in Art, collection with tags , , , , on September 25, 2009 by jdhastings

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art announced this morning that they have reached a “hand shake agreement” with Doris and Donald Fisher (founders of the Gap who, coincidentally sold me the shirt I’m wearing as I write this) to have the museum show their gigantic collection of 20th century art.

Of course, this still could go awry. A bunch of jackasses already scuttled the attempts to house the collection in a new building in the Presidio. Similar problems could occur because of the need to clear space for the voluminous new collection to be housed. As the article above states, installing the new space, “involves city permits, an environmental review and design plans, and the removal of a century-old building and a fire station. The process could draw neighborhood and political opposition and most likely would take at least two years.”

But I assure you (please pardon the language): if the San Francisco Idiot Parade screws this up, I will personally slap the shit out of every resident of the city. You heard it here first.

Go team!
-JD

Advice From Other People

Posted in Art with tags , , on September 24, 2009 by jdhastings

I saw this interesting article from Frank Chimero, whose art I am not familiar with. As such, I can’t tell you whether the efficacy of the advice is proven in his work. In fact, he seems to hedge his own bets with the title of the article “10 Principles That May Make Your Work Better or May Make It Worse.” Most of the advice sounds good from my experience, though.

I do take exception from the idea to sketch on crap paper. I hate crap paper. Not all cheap paper is equally good, but “Sketch Pads” that you can buy at an art store are atrocities. As though it was custom designed to make sure nothing worthwhile could ever be produced on the sketch pad. Typing paper is better. This is a source of some bitterness for me. Let’s move on.

Otherwise, I’d say the advice is all very good. I found Number 2, “Consistent voice is more important than consistent style,” particularly useful, as I sometimes feel reticent to try certain things for having too much awareness that it was outside my usual oeuvres.

Anyways, hope it helps.

-JD

Cave Painting

Posted in abstract, Art, figurative, monotype, Tom Bennett, work on paper with tags , , , , , on September 23, 2009 by Tom Bennett

One of the things I like to do is partake in the age-old pursuit of re-imagining the old masters, usually dead white men. Only because there are more dead male painters than dead female. JMW Turner has been a big, but quiet influence on my practice of slapping the paint around. His powerful, athletically abstract designs are breathtaking, if I may use a slightly overused cliché. Here are a couple of monotypes I envision as sort of a “sleepwalking in caves’, with thoughts of Joseph Mallord William. represent any specific painting or series by Turner These are both 12′ x 18′, printed on rives BFK paper with etching inks, oil paint, turpentine and using rags, fingers, razor blades, pencil tips, and brushes as tools.
I am working on a series of these. Thanks for your time.

Rumbling
Rumbling, monotype, 12′ x 18″
detail:
rumbling(detail)

Favotcave
Deep South, monotype, 18′ x 12″

Getting Off The Couch

Posted in Art, Toni Tiller with tags , , , on September 23, 2009 by Toni Tiller

I decided to put my little internal art crisis to the side and go outside and play. I had a yard full of sticks that needed picking up and neighbors that I don’t much care for, so I put the two together and started building things that will provide screening from them as well as add natural structural elements for my chaotic garden. In this instance I opted to leave a “window” on to one of the nicer views, a field of wild flowers. It looks a bit diminutive in the photo, but the top bar stands at about 8-9 feet high and about as wide. I used some of the vines that were laying around to create the arch and I am probably going to continue to add to this as I find the right pieces.

Getting On The Couch

Posted in Art, Photography, Toni Tiller with tags , , , , , , , on September 23, 2009 by Toni Tiller

A few people have seen this back when I first made it and wasn’t sure what I thought of it. I’m still not sure what I think of it, but I am sure that I need to post something new today.

Being unsure seems to be a general theme for me in recent weeks. I am unsure about what I want to work on, or if I want to work on anything at all. New ideas seem good while they are fresh but then when I sit with them a bit they begin to fray and I reconsider, some of them are labor intensive and I’m uncertain what role that has in my ambivalence when time for large projects is scarce. I make images because they help me feel connected and as I move through a period of tautness I wonder how much I have left over to give to that, how much do I really feel like sharing at the moment? It is more appealing to go into a bubble and I wonder how much of the urge to withdraw and recharge is genuine or am I just being a big chickenshit? I’d rather get lost in mindless physical activity, move boxes, clean toilets, dig holes in the garden, anything except think about art. Did I mention that I wasn’t breast fed as a child?

I see we are out of time. Same time next week?

Its Time For The Post Lunch Art Video Minute

Posted in Art with tags , , on September 22, 2009 by jdhastings

I was looking for some good art videos to post here and came accross Wayne Tully’s ” How to draw Fantasy Art” Channel on Youtube.  The way I see it, how can you beat a mild mannered UK resident (I can’t place the accent- Irish?) discussing how to draw sketchy demon heads.  Its like Bob Ross narrating a Butthole Surfers video. 

Part 2 After the jump!

Read more »

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