Abstract Art Blog

A Year of Making Art, Day 248: Feeling Bright in Spite of Being Behind

December 23, 2007  Day 248

Laura and Jim left at 6 a.m. this morning to drive back to Kansas City.  Owen is still here, out at the gym now with Adrian.  Tonight there will be nine of us for dinner, as I invited a friend and her children to join us.  I realized ten minutes ago that I am behind in getting my art blogs posted, drawings scanned and uploaded, etc., so I am trying to get that done now before I have to think about cooking and preparing the house for dinner.

We still don't have a Christmas tree up, but there is a little fake one in the basement that Mike and Rachel can put up and decorate later.

In this morning's drawing I was feeling bright, however, and used the colors to match that feeling:

   Drawing #253  14" x 11"

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting in order to give me time to get ahead.)

A Year of Making Art: Day 89

July 17, 2007  Day 89

I made my drawing for the 17th, and did some painting, but I forgot to write about it.  This morning I was tempted to fake it and write the entry as if it were yesterday.  But then I remembered my promise to myself to be "honest" in this art blog.  There are many incentives not to be, but the only one I consider valid is the protection of other people's private lives.

I'm not good at that.  Since I reveal my own life freely, I tend to include those around me.  The families and friends of writers are used to this occupational hazard.  Adrian is accepting of it, and so is my sister Laura.  But others are more sensitive.

My drawing for the 17th is in blacks and grays, which I periodically find is an antidote to all the color:

  Drawing #90  14" x 11"

(Note:  There is a gap between the dates I'm writing and posting because I had to give myself time to get ahead in case we travel and I'm not able to post.)

Introducing Philip Edson

I just discovered the blog of abstract artist Philip Edson at Philip Edson Abstract Artist.  I immediately felt a connection to his work and the things he says about it.  For example, he says, "my real passion is abstract art. It allows me to use my imagination in a way that no other art form permits. I like to think that my art comes from within my soul and reflects a very personal interpretation of the world around me. All of my work is experimental and every painting therefore is a new challenge. It is this challenge that keeps me interested and motivated."

Under his favorite music, Philip lists "Leonard Cohen," who is one of the great inspirers of my own work.  Philip just started this blog, but I hope he'll share more of his art and thoughts about it with us.

Two of the paintings he shows in recent entries that I most relate to are "convivr" and an untitled red painting with very thick, exciting texture.  It is one of a series he is preparing for his next exhibition in Aliante (Valencia), Spain in 2007.

It is so great to be able to find other artists we connect with throughout the world, thanks to the internet. 

Art Blog Preview: Robin Ann Walker

Robin Ann Walker is a professional fine artist living in Dallas, Texas.  You can view her colorful, energetic, always-changing art on her website at Art-Girls.com.  Robin works in acrylics, and often includes her photographic images in her work.  She also combines non-traditional materials and techniques to create her contemporary art. 

Robin's art blog at http://artgirls.blogspot.com/ tells the story of her professional life as an artist.  It's great fun to see the challenges she faces with a new project and to find out how she solves these problems.  She recently completed a commission which involved painting people, and complained that she'd never done that before.  When her client reminded her that they were just "shapes and colors," that took the pressure off. 

Some of my favorite pieces of Robin's are the paintings in her "Abstract" gallery at http://art-girls.com/Abstract/AbstractMenu.html.  Follow this link to view the step-by-step process by which Robin created an 8 ft. by 10 ft. abstract painting commissioned by the Baylor Hospital in Plano Texas:  http://art-girls.com/Abstract/Baylor.html.

There's plenty to see on Robin's website and to learn about her work on her blog, so take a look.

Art Blog Preview: The Thinking Eye

I'm writing today on my notebook computer because the hard drive on my main computer bit the dust.  The Dell technician is due to arrive any minute to replace the hard drive, and then I'll find out how well (or not) my back-up system worked.  Frightening!

But I want to preview Arthur Whitman's blog, The Thinking Eye, today.  Arthur writes insightfully about art on view locally (in Ithaca, New York) as well as nationally.  He has an undergraduate degree in studio art, and his own painting is visually exciting. 

What I like about Arthur's blog is his willingness to tackle art issues in a way that is obviously informed, yet direct and clear.  What I mean is that he can deal with theoretical issues, but his writing is not academic or abstract.  He isn't trying to impress us with jargon.

Maybe if he goes to graduate school, all that will change?  In the meantime, take a look at The Thinking Eye and enjoy.

Art Blog Preview: Karen Jacobs

There are many wonderful art blogs out there with insightful or provocative words and exciting images of art.  As I discover them, I’m going to preview them here.  First, is abstract artist Karen Jacobs at http://kajac2000.blogspot.com/.  Karen is working on a series of Bokusho paintings. Bokusho means abstract sumi-e, she says.  Sumi-e is wash painting with the black ink that is used in East Asian calligraphy.

Karen recently came back from a French art residency at Cat'Art in the south of France.  Karen’s work has always felt contemplative and zen-like to me, with a strong sense of color and composition.  Some of her work also has the feel of an abstract landscape.  You can see more of Karen’s work on her website at karenjacobs.com.