epic disappointment

figures for thought....

and then....


Dearest bloggers,

there are not many of you so suffice it to say I am not really that sorry that I didn't make it to any of the places I said I'd make it to and didn't. Life is insane and between my birthday, everyone else's birthday and graduating of course I am biting off more than I can chew! I have come back today to talk about a matter of proportion.. how do you feel about it? Personally I feel like figure drawing is a challenging math problem that you just want to get right. Sometimes I don't really care enough to get the proportions right because I'd rather show my style. I'd argue that none of them are succesful as finished figure drawings because personaly i find the selective nature of many figure drawings what makes them so compelling. however I find the styles of some of them very interesting. So I guess here starts the epic debate how important is proportion? Must you have an epic handle on the proportions of the body to make a beautiful human form? I keep getting arguments from both parties, and if you know what you want go for it! I think the best one I've heard so far goes like this... "Your drawing is the only way to communicate your style effectively". That said if you don't draw well no one will appreciate your style. If your composition sucks no one will appreciate either. Just for the record. I would also like to state for the record that part of the last figure is cut off, which is atrociously cropped to make it look like i cut off part of the breast.

does anyone have any arguments regarding the issue of proportion?

can we christen this blog?

Open Studio roundup

Dearest bloggers I have not forgotten you! Graduation, art and birthday shenanigans have been keeping me busy! I've been checking out open studios the past few weekends. Once I reconvene with my collection of postcards and art genius I'll post more specifics.... Being an art scenester I found a few things worth mentioning sooner than later though:
Lesley kids stuck to what they are good at and not trying to do the whole painting gig, but instead making a huge ass collaboration piece. For the record, Me, Reva Loudermilk, Steve Fraone (the great strong man arm candy of Ms Loudermilk), and Leigh Champagne contributed to the work, which will make it of incredible value one day (shame they are cutting it up to give to everyone). Must say that my small clique of talented artist types really enjoyed the mindless and therapeutic application of painting without purpose (isn't that what I do anyways? This is where I can piss off not only the art critic but also the collector and the fellow artist, whoops).
Most of the art I came accross (admittedly not much, once I attended my famed professor's shindig we found the big ass collaboration piece and refused to be pulled away from neon paint and a brush) was a disappointing turnout of weekend painters making predictable abstract and mastering sucking the soul out of the still life. However, my esteemed professor Kofi Kayiga participated, and if you made it to his home in the most desolate region of the open studio...he was probably on the phone with one of his colleagues and you may have ran away promptly. If you were so kind to digest in some good art while without being bothered while he was otherwise occupied you were in for some kind of treat. His complex abstractions are practically vibrating with feel- good vibes and abundant energy. With the way Kayiga moves the paintbrush you don't wonder why he has to be laid back in the classroom sometimes! Listening to the marketing guru- his wife, he created some of these awesome crazy painter abstract scarves. As a fellow crazy painter, I totally want a giant Kayiga Scrawled over my neck (with the way he signs his scarves and paintings I'm speaking quite literally! haha). He recounted the tale with us of how managed to go to a party and sell a grand worth of these beautiful hand made scarves in one sittings! Dearest Kayiga- we don't wonder why!

Next on the list I hung out at the Somerville Open Studios this weekend. Me and my art appreciating fellow tragic female groupie absolutely fell in love with the Mix it Print Studio. From Mathmetician turned artist to Egon Schiele and Victoria Secret mixed into a woodcut the Mix it Studio was like Disneyland for my eyes. The upstairs was just as lovely featuring some great watecolors and oils that I'll talk about next week when I redeem the postcards I hoarded and then forgot to grab back from my friend later (of course).
Another site worth mentioning is Outside the Lines Studio, just opened a retail store in Union Square. Jean Debuffet would have creamed his pants if he saw the awesomeness created by this art brut crowd. Perhaps I am biased because I'm a Saturday Studio volunteer, but this is raw art mecca. Originally opened as an alternative program for adults with developmental disabilities, this shindig tried countless ways to get these folks some meaning and happiness in their lives and guess what? Art did the trick! The real studio in Medford is giant car garage turned art camp. One look and instead of disabled, you long to say thisis no disability- this is some kind of gift. These people mean business, kid art without predictability, fine art without the fine or the pretentious pricetag to go with it. Art for the sake of art. Artist's get an 80% comission on work sold- these folks can make a living on their art! Saturday these folks are installing some large scale sculpture from the workshop in a Medford elementary school teacher's lounge. If we take pictures I'll post them, it's going to look tasty!

This weekend's itinerary also includes:
SOWA art walk- visiting Andy Woodward again, The crowned prince of 50 State Animals. Finally, a reason for the artist to learn some random facts!
BU Graphic Design Senior Show- Where my long lost love, Doria Nathanson is showcasing some of her work in hopes maybe she'll be able to laugh from her penthouse while I continue to cringe at the sight of a computer design program.
My Birthday Party- If scandal ensues and we all end up breaking open the edible body paint maybe we'll talk about it in the blog next week (just kidding!)
If you are unable to attend my birthday party but are looking for something art related to do other after SOWA 80 Border Ave in Boston- The Atlantic Works Gallery is having an opening- The Misplaced Bride... I urge you to check it out if you are feeling taking artsy to the next level after SOWA