You Will Only Get Honesty From Me

I recently discovered the winner of the Hunting Prize for 2010 while reading the Chronicle online. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Sometimes I get so tired of the 'art establishment' and their attempt to control what is and what isn't acceptable art. Who are they to determine this? What are their qualifications? Who knows better than you what you like? Is visual art any different from music? Could any amount of B.S. discussion convince you to like a particular kind of music that sounds like two cats fighting to your ears? It wouldn't work on me. I am generally a very pleasant, and optimistic individual, but lately the quality of art that is being pushed onto the public as 'the best' is really quite pathetic. I have to keep the art world at a certain distance from myself to maintain my own sanity. It's much like art school. You have to be guarded enough so that your own vision and aesthetics remain intact or you take the risk of allowing your individuality to melt away into the pool of bland boring sameness that the establishment keeps promoting. To be unique in our culture is difficult. It takes courage and it takes bravery. To be a unique artist with a unique voice is even more difficult. You are fighting a battle on two fronts: You are trying to get seen and appreciated by the public, while having to battle the very intricate and political world of the art establishment. I have seen far too much work lately that is just flat bad. I'm not sure if these folks just didn't have proper education, or if they are just so lazy that they'd rather try to pawn off a poorly thought out and executed 'concept' to a gullible crowd. This is what I refer to as 'mental masturbation'. Everyone has the option to either dazzle someone with brilliance or baffle them with bullshit. Baffling people is easier. I can only speak my truth through my life experiences. I consider art to be VISUAL COMMUNICATION. When you fail to communicate, you fail as an artist. My concept may be simple, but it's compelling. Not only is it compelling, but it's authentic. It's not trying to wedge it's way onto the boring art bandwagon. My art, like myself, is real, bright, and straightforward. Expect nothing less from me.

A HUGE Compliment

Last Saturday I met with my friend Melanie Pang to discuss a request she had of me. Melanie asked me to develop a tattoo design based on my bird works. I can't think of many higher compliments than when someone appreciates your art at such a level that she wants to wear it on her body forever. I am truly humbled. Be looking out for the design(s) for it. I'll post pics here.

In other news I was invited at the eleventh hour to participate in an art show fundraising event held at Meteor Lounge for The Osito Foundation last Monday night here in Houston. I donated three pieces, but none sold. All the money raised, however, went to a great cause.

Renewed Inspiration

Over the past several days I've become more and more excited as my motivation levels have increased higher and higher. My mind is busy with new ideas and when I'm in my studio I feel energized. My eyes are once again becoming accustomed to appreciating the beauty in things and places that are often overlooked by others.

Inspiration

I must respectfully disagree with Ms. Annie Lennox. Love can indeed
show up in pavement cracks.

ORANGE

Today I was contemplating the color orange because it is the background color of my latest painting. I asked my friends on Facebook to share their thoughts on the color orange. Most of the comments I received were positive associations. Some said it was a happy color that exudes warmth and energy, while others associated it with caution. Orange tends to be a very assertive color that demands your attention. Orange has only been recognized as a color in and of itself since the 17th Century. Before then oranges were either described as reds or yellows. Historically orange has been associated with disparate concepts such as harvest, novel ideas, and spirituality. Artistically, I find it to be a very challenging color. It must be dealt with carefully in a painting or it will steal the show and overpower all the colors around it.

Yellow and Red make...

Upcoming work

I am starting a new project that should be done in a month. Right now I will call it 'the coffee project'. In the last decade or so we've seen the rise of the coffee shop around the country. People going in and out the doors and through drive thrus of local coffee shops are as ubiquitous in urban neighborhoods as cracked sidewalks. It's become an accepted and even encouraged way of life. They have become modern community centers, business offices- daily destinations for millions of people every day. This is the inspiration for my new project.