Mountains
Experimenting
Blue and gold, ah the colors of the university I graduated from, the colors of the Warriors and the color scheme I am into painting lately. The first painting is a sort of unintentional compass. I knew I wanted to use a variety of shades of blue and add gold. I started with the circle and kept adding freehand lines. The second painting started with a sky and then I decided to add gold mountains. I loved the purplish shadows over the gold. I definitely want to try that again, where the gold is the background of the gouache.
Airplants
I also painted this little group of airplants. I love how intuitive this week's art making feels. I had this not-so-exciting sketchbook page with a little writing in the corner. I then thought I would paint over it with Payne's Gray and made several other blocks of gray. I sort of thought over what to paint, thinking that white would look good and maybe I could paint several objects. My eyes drifted over to my airplant, which I thought desperately needed to be watered and voila!, I decided to paint a page of airplants.
Listening
I heard a great interview with Geoff McFetridge on the Occasionally Awesome podcast. I'm often really interested in artists who do design work mixed in with fine art such as Maira Kalman, Nathaniel Russell, Karen Barbour and Geoff McFetridge. I love the idea of making books, illustrating for the NY Times and making original art, all as one career.
By listening to the Art for Your Ear podcast, I recently discovered the work of Brooks Salzwedel. He does layers of nature so well. Those misty mountains sure are pretty, aren't they?
Reading
I found this article, Why Boredom is Good for Your Creativity. It's a good reminder that we have so little down time to let our minds wander and that could be hindering creativity. We no longer wait in line bored, but entertained by our phones. I try to not look at my phone in every spare moment. I think it's unhealthy. I think we need to stare off into space and people watch.
In the last Weekend post, I referred to an article about the changing Bay Area. This week, I read this article, Resisting Erasure in San Jose's Silicon Valley. It's sad to see the changes and see people leave this crowded, expensive valley. I honestly don't think I could live here anymore if my fiancee didn't already own a house (bought when the market was really low). Concerning art and San Jose's reputation, I do think one thing San Jose could do is treat itself seriously and then everyone else will follow. We have so many amazing creative people here.
Tim Lierman
Seeing
Tim Lierman's show at Seeing Things Gallery. I have to say I think Tim Lierman is one of the best artists you probably haven't heard of. He seems to keep a low-key profile around San Jose, but he is an incredible sign maker, painter and filmmaker. This show of his paintings will be up for the month.
Watching
I'm pretty much obsessed with documentaries. Especially ones that relate to nature and this planet. This week, I watched Life After Chernobyl. Ever since I saw the first collection of The Vice Guide to Travel I have been interested in this strange place. It amazes me to see the effects of radiation destroying, yet animals are also adapting to the environment. Trees aren't decaying because of how the decomposers have been affected. You should really watch this.
At the end of the day, I have been watching The Office. I loved the show at the time, but watching it again, it really does have so many good subtle jokes. It's a great way for me to "clock out" and stop thinking about art.
Until next week...