New Painting

"Desire"
Resin on Canvas
30"x30"

High Days, Low Days

I thought that having the pressure of "having" to create a certain number of paintings by a certain date was overwhelming. In all actuality, it isn't. Intellectually speaking it is a lot and I feel a sense of accountability but when I look at my actions day in and day out, I'm on a steady pace towards completion. Some days I work and several pieces, on others, only a few. There have been days when I don't touch any of them. Those days still bother me. But overall, I can seem to create on demand knowing that my level of inspiration will vary from day to day. Therefore it is becomes important that I recognize the "high level" days and push them to their maximum. Those are the days the contain insight, creative surges, inspiration, and energy. On the "low level" days, my actions are more mechanical in nature. Fortunately, one the inspiration has hit and the painting has started there are often several days of pure "implementation", the mechanical, mindless actions that are required to complete the project or at least push them forward. It becomes very, very clear when I reach a point when more inspiration and/or creativity is needed to continue. At that moment, I stop working. I wait for the next "wave".

Where to Begin?

Has anyone ever told you to do something that you really had no clue how to do it or where to begin? I know I have. But somehow I always found a way. Maybe not the best way but the project always got done good enough. I feel like this often when creating too. Here is an example. I was asked to submit a piece to the GLAAD OutAuctionNYC in New York. The auction is in November. I had submitted and was accepted before with a piece I just happen to have on hand that fit that year's theme. This year however, I will have to create a piece from scratch.

At first I deleted the email since I didn't want the hassle of creating something special. Then the other night I was thinking about this, my stomach churned and the acid reflux began. This auction pressed a button. I dug out the email and read it again. I still have time to create something special just for this event to match its theme. I was getting excited by the idea of it. But, I had NO idea of what to do. So, I repeated the theme of the auction (btw, it is "In/Out") in my head a few times and went to bed. I woke up the next morning with nothing.

All through the day I began to notice the theme of in/out here and there and all the different ways it can or may apply. The potential is limitless. So there went my acid reflux again. It is limitless. Again, what to do? Where to begin? This is even bigger than I first thought. Before I went to bed last night, I commited to submitted a piece to the auction. I repeated the theme again and off to sleep I went.

This morning I still had no ideas! The frustration was mounting. As I began my creative portion of the day, I found myself looking for distractions. I had no ideas, no approach so I didn't want to start. I refocused and began by finishing up a piece I started a few weeks back. Now I had some momentum. Then I got out the blank canvas. A blank canvas, a blank piece of paper, a blank anything is intimidating. Fortunately, it isn't overwhelming. I told myself that I wasn't going to finish it today and in fact, I have two weeks to complete the painting. That is more than enough time even if I have some setbacks. So all I had to do today was to commit to begin. Not to paint for a certain period of time nor applied so many brush stroke or heaven forbid, finish it. Given the medium I selected, resin, and a layered approach, it is physically impossible to finish in one day. That was my out! It all fell into place. I can't finish it today so I don't have to try to do so. I just had to start. So I did!


Here it is! It took me 20 minutes to develop the first layer. As for the second layer, well, I have no clue. That is something for me to tackle tomorrow.

New Ideas Take Time

I have an idea for a series of pieces. Actually, I've had the idea for a while now but just recently started moving on it. It is like nothing I've ever done before. Part painting, part sculpture. A vague description, I know. That is mainly due to the fact I myself am not quite sure how to do it nor how to describe it.

This past week, I made drawings of the idea. That seemed to work. So I moved on to paper minature models. After four attempts, the paper model worked too. I had some balsa wood lying around from an old project so I took that and some duct tape (gotta love duct tape) and created yet another model. I think it worked. I'm not sure. The geometry of the wood pieces wasn't as accurate as I was hoping for and duct tape, although good for adhering the pieces together, lacked the overall structural integrity the piece requires.

It is interesting to see how my past lives are creeping into my art work. I'm so geeking out on this project. My engineering background is coming back with a vengance. In addition, I'm in the process of rearranging my studio for greater effeciency. That would be my process improvement side kicking in. All in all, I'm feeling everything coming together.

I guess that is why that even though I don't have a working prototype of the new painting/sculpture and frankly have no idea how to construct it, I know that with time and perserverance, I'll get there. Now, I just have to remind myself of this on those days when not much is moving in my favor.

I'm Back!

After a brief hiatus, I am back! I took a short consulting project which recently ended. This means that I am not 100% dedicated to art creation again. And I am very excited and enthusiastic about the new few months.

One of the galleries I have shown at over the past few years, the Black Walnut Gallery in Chicago, has offered me a representation contract. This is big! This means that my sales are exclusive through them but they act as my promotion and sales team within the Chicago Metro area. It frees me to spend more time in the studio and less time pounding the pavement looking for perspective buyers. And, if by chance I miss looking for clients, I can focus on other markets. Right now, I'm not sure which direction I will head towards next. I'm sure time will tell.

The other things about a contract is that the gallery has expectations about my work, that is, it has to be strong, and on production, one piece once in a while won't cut it. Currently, we have scheduled a large show, possibly a solo show for February 2010. 10-20 original pieces are required for the show. Keep in mind, not all the work I do I feel is at the caliber to be hanging on a gallery wall. Therefore I want to create more than 20 pieces so the strongest work will be exhibited. I'm now looking at 30+ pieces over the next few months. Now that is pressure! Thank heavens I work well under pressure.

So, going forward I will post pictures of some of the pieces I'm working on. Please send me your comments, critiques, suggestions and support. I've started climbing a very steep hill. I'll take all the help I can get to make it to the top.