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Philadelphia! We took a little one-year-together celebration trip down into Pennsylvania this weekend to visit family and art and to see the miraculously talented Yann Tiersen perform at the First Unitarian Church downtown. (Favorite piece of his). The city was most comfortable and I think we'll be returning soon. The Philadelphia Museum of Art was epic and full of fantastic pieces...Alex as my notepad for thoughts and observations, I gathered new inspiration and started looking forward to a few nights of canvas stretching and sketching. There is work to be done. After seeing several of Thomas Eakins' portraits, including the Agnew Clinic (a personal favorite), as well as some Reubens, Cézanne, Picasso, Duchamp, Rothko, Miró, Johns, Degas, Whistler, Homer, Wyeth, and several others, I feel like a changed person. Is this an overexaggeration? No. There is always, always benefit to seeing these works in person, especially as a person who strives to understand and utilize the same tools of language. It's amazing what amount of information and instruction an artist can gain from experiencing the original works with heightened and full senses. You can almost taste the colors. Synesthesia comes to mind. Latest development: Looks like we're staying in Syracuse for a little while. I'll be working on General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry for the next two years, if all goes well, and building up experience with local art conservators in my long-term plan to go back to school for Art Conservation. I've left plenty of room in this plan for my mind to change, if it so decides to, and to redirect, however, I don't anticipate it wandering too far off of this goal. The merging of general history through art history with the sciences and with manual craftsmanship is just about as close as I can get to a perfect vocation. It won't happen quickly, but as life unfolds, it appears clearer and clearer ahead of me, even if it is far away. And though Syracuse isn't exactly a hot bed of artist activity, it is home for a little while. Life is long. And I'm glad for that more and more each day.
Another print! One day, I would like to have a French Bulldog. Or any dog, in fact. In the meantime, however, I can have a print of a dog that sits on my desk and makes me happy.
And here begins my venture into stationary! There's not much more to say about it, other than I'm finding this all to be really enjoyable...which means there will be many more editions and perhaps an effort to sell locally.
So very much has progressed since last year. However, one thing that always remains constant is the randomness...I came across a group of photos from January 2010. Some of them were taken before/at Chelsea's birthday party. I made a squirrel cake to celebrate the event, as only a squirrel cake would have been appropriate. I thought I would bring a photo out from hiding.
Latest plans are to make stationary! These plans will move forward as soon as I make it to the art store. However, this endeavor proves surprisingly difficult due to a number of unfortunate recent events and circumstances. Sooner than later though, I'll have something to show...and maybe sell...
Money is never the object. The object is the therapy. And sometimes, if one is lucky, the object makes someone else happy too. Sometimes, people buy things that make them happy. This is my latest Art Theory and Artist Statement. Deep.
I've always liked Chicago. Flying into and out of this city always makes me feel comfortable, like I can map my progress on a grid-patterned Earth. I like its order and I like its people. I think I could make the midwest my home for a while. We'll see what the northwest has to say about this. I've returned with a desire to get back into painting and drawing more traditionally. A few projects in line and plenty of drive to see them through. So here's to a New Year and the continuation of creation!
One of my favorite parts of having time off: pets.
Another part: travel. I'm headed out to Colorado tomorrow to celebrate New Years in snow and mountains. I'm crossing my fingers for decent weather in Chicago as I wrap up some last gifts and pack up, and I'm counting down the hours until arrival at DEN.
Happy New Years everyone!
If I ever were to do an installation piece, it would be inspired by the tree across the street, behind the house one over to the right, as seen from my third story windows. And most importantly, my materials would be nothing more than light and air.
One day, I may dream in art again. But not right now. There are other dreams right now.
