Supporting Other Artists

Jan 25, 2014

Being part of the art community means supporting other artists. There are many ways to be involved in the community. The primary way is to participate and engage other artists. Go to their studios. See their work. Ask about their concepts behind the art and their inspirations. Attend their gallery openings and exhibitions. See art museum exhibits together. Find out where they studied art and ask about the teachers that inspired them the most. Exchange art work with them and start collecting. Discover who are their most creative students and proteges. Discuss art, artists and art events.

Recently I decided to purchase two wonderful drawings by Ted Houston. http://www.tedhoustonart.com/

He has been drawing all his adult life and his talent at figure drawing shines through. I put these two drawings in the hands of a skilled professional framer. The figures now jump off the page with sensual form even more so.

We support and encourage each other. But most of all, I admire his talent, his persistence at his craft and the way he sees a figure in a sensual, artful, yet gentle manner. His eye is fine tuned resulting in fine organic lines; not linear and jagged. I appreciate the years of study, long hours and hard work represented by these beauties. Keep making your art, Ted. You have my support.

Collaborative Painting Studio for 3

Nov 27, 2013

2013 has been a very fulfilling year, for both art and business. I am taking on a new urban venture starting in December. It is an interesting change: starting a collaborative painting studio with two other artists in Dallas.
Like going to the gym or going to work, we will have a collaborative art space to go to paint. Sharing the space, creative vibe and painting process will take us all in a new direction. There are other challenges that come with sharing space, but that is part of the urban adventure. I look forward to supporting each other and seeing the differences in our work. We can encourage  each other and be supportive during the struggles of painting. It’s an opportunity to accept our differences, share lessons learned, painting tips and new discoveries as well.
My hope for your 2014 is that you also take on a new adventure, even in your backyard.

Drawing and Painting

Oct 26, 2013

What is drawing? What is painting? How are they different? How are they alike? How can one help improve your creativity of the other? We wrestle with these questions and realize how similar drawing and painting really are, especially to the emerging artist that depends heavily on them both.

Of course we use sketches and drawings as a preamble to our paintings, sometimes. In this example, I am using a drawing abstracted from Nature, with oil pastels, to enhance my color sense. By layering the oil pastels, I achieve more meaningful and sophistacted colors. I spend a lot of time layering the pastels.

Then when I paint the image, each attempt to reach the color by mixing my oil paints requires taking more time than I have in the past to carefully mix and try to match to my pastel drawing. I am slowing down, being more patient. I am looking more. I am feeling my way toward the complex color.

This was a breakthrough exercise for me and pointed out my colors are too simple; too much like “out of the tube”. They are too easily recognized when I do not care to have them be recognized. I want the complexity that Nature brings to color: vibrant and dull, transparent and opaque qualities with indirect ways too achieve the color, i.e. not a straightforward mixture from a spin of a student’s color wheel.

What else about my painting can I learn from drawing?

Challenge the Boundary Conditions & Break Rules

Oct 20, 2013

In art and science, or generally in life, the old and new ideas overlap for a considerable period of time. Tensions exist between the rationale and theory for why the old idea was adopted and held strong, while the new premise has to bubble up through our culture and into our psyche as knowledge and then embraced, as subjectivity. It takes time. Adoption rates, for example of new products, can be tracked. Typically the adoption rate of a new consumer product, such as a TV, phone or iPhone follows an exponential curve. The tail of the curve overlaps the new product for sometimes decades. The multiple generations of products must coexist and be supported in the ecosystem.  The new does not drive out the old exclusively.

 

The contradictory nature of many generations of ideas coexisting simultaneously creates a complexity and yet, an opportunity. Similarly our beliefs about race, classes, and ethics all change rather slowly over time; however, they do surely change. Many beliefs overlap in time, creating disagreement between minority and majority groups. As the size and influence of the various groups change, so do the acceptance of the majority and ideas relative to the minority ideas, the acceptance of new versus old ideas.

 

The question arises, how does one rescue the old idea into present times with a revision or spring lose the historic script that keeps us attached to old ideas? The attachment to the old and the resistance to change, perhaps because of fear of the unknown, are where we, as artists, focus to make change happen.  Here then is the opportunity for art and artists to ‘strike preemptively’ working at the ‘nexus of aggravated psychic and social forces’.  We can challenge the boundary conditions and break rules, discerning them from laws.

Irving Art Association Winners Exhibit 6/8-7/7/2013

Jun 8, 2013

Presented by Irving Arts Center and Irving Art Association

There is a piece of artwork by Julie England in this art show.

Schedule:

Jun 08, 2013 – Jul 07, 2013
Award winning artwork from the IAA’s annual juried member show.

 

Gallery admission is free.

Gallery Hours:
Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00-5:00 p.m.

http://www.irvingartscenter.com/Performances/EventsCalendar/EventDetail.aspx?id=509

 

IRVING ARTS CENTER
GALLERIES AND SCULPTURE GARDEN
3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 300
Irving, Texas 75062

Phone (972)252-7558

Scored

Mar 27, 2013

It is a great feeling to sell your first piece of art work. You know how that feels: the satisfaction and payoff of many hours of concentration and work. No, not an attachment to this outcome, but rather a celebration of a milestone reached along a path. It is a feeling of Mission Accomplished.
The best part is – it was a real sale to a an acquaintance. Not gifting a piece of art to a family member. Although it is a pleasure to do both. There is a distinct difference that makes this a reward. Second, there is the knowing that it went to a good home of someone who cares and wants it on their wall. And maybe I can go visit it if I want to do so someday.
Now, what’s next today? What can I do with this creative spirit that I have not yet done?