One Child's Icon

On the Easel 26

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:23:00 +0000

May 19th

May 18th

First completed flower, about 3" tall.

May 13th

A Little Progress.

March 31st

March 30th

I took some time off to do some Lighting Design.

March 10th

2 step background this time.

March 9th

First Color Layer

After applying gel medium

March 7th

In the Studio: Students

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 15:41:00 +0000

L-R Julie Finn, Susan Veale, Ronnie Shuler
I am grateful for your hard work and your honesty.
Thank You!

"You haven't posted about your class so I am guessing things didn't go well" said my good friend Tommy Baker. I didn't know what to say. Like all the other truly momentous events of my life it is hard to put a handle on it. It's like asking if I was happy when Ella was born. I am happy that Ella WAS born, but when she was on her way into this world the moment was bigger than what the concept of happiness can contain. I was present. I did my small part. I am different now than I was before. I was a man. Now I am a Father. And although I had a lot more to do to fully participate in this event, before the class I was still a student of Art. During the class I was a Teacher, and that feeling has clung to me. I like it and I want that feeling again. I should note that I have taught before. I taught Lighting Design for The Governor's School for the Arts and I am proud of those eight great Summers. Lighting Design, however, has never been intrinsic to how I thought of myself; not the way works with paper have been. I will also add that, for now, I do not feel that I am worthy of calling myself an Art Teacher. I am a proud student of the Teaching of Art.

Here Is what I learned:

Five hours is a long time to do anything. Even if you do like it, but especially if you are passionate about it.

You can't teach feelings. By working on incredibly large works in college, where I was literally throwing paint across an twelve foot piece of paper, the feeling associated with applying pigment is "Big Muscle". It starts in my feet and legs, moves through my body then shoulders and arms and out of my hands with with a feeling of a tidal flow. It is big. The size of the brush stroke or line does not matter now, it can be a fraction of an inch long, but it will always be this way for me because I love it. But I do not know how to teach it short of offering the same experience to my students. But If I could teach it, that sense of painting with pure abandon, I would be a Teacher. I have hope. In this class format ,however, what I could do is only do one flower and leave more open space to experiment with out feeling constrained by the composition. It is not a lot of area but I think it would make a difference. It would help with the amount of time it takes to finish.

The Image is the Thing. I love my techniques for applying color. This is of course why my collages take as long as they do. I love to see ink flow into the paper. I love to feel the paint pass between the tips of my fingers and the surface of my image. For me that living membrane of paint is analogous to human consciousness. The feeling of what passes between flesh and the rest of the world and the beautiful artifact that is left behind. It is how I would describe my life if I were a better poet or a better philosopher. Then I would be able to give that experience to my students. But that is not what they have come for. They have come for the chance to create an image. That is a big thing. It is a noble cause, and I should have had enough respect for that to anticipate and prepare appropriately. I use a lot of tracing techniques to get the image I want. I was afraid, however, they would find these insulting. Most people are of the opinion you must have a level of "Skill" (usually defined as fine motor control) to create Art. While this capability facilitates artwork it is not Art. Why did Vermeer paint all but one of his paintings in the same room? He could not take his Camera Obscura outside.
My students would not have shown up if they didn't believe they had Art inside them. In the future I will approach my duty as creating the widest possible path for them. I could create a couple of templates for the petals for instance. One tool I came up with specifically for this class was a piece of plexiglass they could use to trace either my composition or their interpretation. One thing they had a problem was reinterpreting the design when the initial outlines had been obscured by the techniques we used for the water; this tool would help with that. One student used this for the Koi very successfully and the next time I will have this aid ready for everyone.

The most important thing I learned is this: I need to lighten up. I spent a long time preparing and procuring for this class. Most of this was essential and made a difference in the outcome. The profound sense of responsibility I felt before, during and after, however, had a more dubious effect. The students all seemed to have their own motivations but they all contributed their own part towards a positive experience. We all felt some level responsibility and acted responsibly. It wasn't all on me. This is part of the joy of learning in a class environment. The next time I will be more open this beautiful experience.

In The Studio: My First Class With The Skillery

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 01:50:00 +0000

Building a studio external to our house has allowed me to begin an additional mission for One Child's Icon. I will be teaching a class in collage through The Skillery. I am using one of my earlier works as an image and at the end of the 5 hour class everyone will be taking home their own version of Rowena's favorite work of mine.

We will begin with a canvas I have prepared for each student. They are 11 X 14 and covered in a layer of Paper. Each surface is unique. The paper never goes on completely smoothly. I have found that these imperfections become part of the composition, and by accepting what each piece of paper allows me to do with it makes the process more rewarding.

The basic composition is very simple. A few triangles and a quarter circle. The energy is gathered in the center and flows to the upper right edge.

Amber is the first color we'll use for the background. I am using acrylic ink here and using the dropper from the bottle but watered down acrylic paint works just as well for this as does a bamboo brush.

I am using a bamboo pen to make streaks that reinforce the composition. I like the irregular edges it gives me.

A lot of good edges here. The water in this image will be much different than the original. After I started my own water gardens I became enchanted by everything that was going on under the surface and I have striven to recreate that energy.

Lots of good stuff here. This is where the imperfections in my base surface become an asset.

One problem I don't face in my day to day is a time constraint. But we have to deal with the moisture in the paper and therefore when it can be applied. So after we get the enough happening we can trace our first petal we will do draw and cut out half of them.

For me it doesn't pay to be to precise. A little bit larger than I need works best. The background they will fit into will change at least two more times.

It looks like a great fit now. But your feeling about these shapes may change as the background progresses.

Ink and matte gel medium for the next layer of texture. We want the mix to be transparent enough that we don't lose the nuances of the first layer. If you choose ink for the amber we will have to apply some matte medium before this step to preserve it.

My favorite application tool, my fingers. I want to leave some heavy ridges for the next step in this color.

We'll let the color dry enough that the edges of the ridges are dry. And then with a moist towel remove what is still liquid.

I love this texture technique, but timing is everything. Try an area and move slowly.

Purple is the last color. We'll try a little gloss medium for this one. It keeps a plastic state a little longer.

I call this technique "schmooshing the stuff around kinda willy-nilly" Yes my hands have paint on them often and it usually coincides with a smile on my face.

This technique is not for the weak of artistic heart. I wait till the surface is almost completely dry and squirt water on it. There is no way of knowing what it is going to do with the texture. Art is trusting in your next moment, and this move is about blind trust.

Lots of great lines and layers. None of it planned except to have the edges around the petals dark to offer contrast.

I am obviously back tracking a bit here. The first piece of paper we will add will be the lily pad. It is the source of the energy in the composition so placing it first will give us a solid base for the rest.

Again at this stage precision doesn't pay. Make your shape larger than you need.

I hope you're not disappointed by the quality of the scissors. I like fine tools but they get clogged with acrylic medium before they can wear out or go dull.

I'll have a lot of color options for the lily pad. Ink is nice for this step because it helps preserve the sense of light that comes from the paper.

And here you see why a little larger than necessary is best. Each piece is a negotiation and the paper gets a say it what will be.

Once the surface and the lily pad are dry to the touch it is time for the final placement negotiation. I want to take full advantage of the lines and the subtle changes in composition my layering techniques produced.

The paper we will be using needs a little prep work before it takes color well. This picture of me prepping a petal illustrates why more than a picture of the pad would. You can see one piece curling up. We will spray each and smooth them back into shape. Massaging them in the direction we want the color to flow.

Pure ink for the petals. This is where the work gets personal and interactive. One of the things about using collage for my images of water lilies (I am dedicated to the lilies more than collage), is while I am working on the pieces for the flower they truly seem alive. The object you hold in your hand is very much like the object of which you are creating an image.

For the petals of this lotus the color is on the tips and fades to white at the center. I apply ink with a bamboo brush.

Then comes the water. You get some very interesting effects spritzing it with a spray bottle as the ink moves down the grain of the paper.

Sometimes it helps to break the petal free from the surface of it's support. Every piece is different. More negotiations and discussion with what seems to be an animate object at this phase.

Watching ink flow. Now is the time for patience and getting out of yourself.

Adding a little ink back. You have to be careful with the bamboo brush. They really load up with ink and as soon as you touch them to the paper it flows out quickly.

Another reason I love collage: it is beautiful all over. Some of the pieces I use for support while I am creating pieces for the image are works of art in themselves.

Take a step back and take in what is happening. Not too long however because we have a lot to do.

We use a matte acrylic medium for the glue. Aptly an ample amount to the surface then lay down the petal. You may need to apply a little to the back of the petal. Here I'm also brushing some on the surface.

I don't want to lose all the energy in the background layers, so the exact composition I started with is now optional.

Understanding a 2-dimensional image in this 3-dimensional way will have a big influence on how you draw and paint.

Don't rush to apply all the pieces. Here again is the opportunity to adjust and interact.

I am finished applying gel medium to the petals in these two images. No matter how much you try to flatten them with a brush this is what they will look like when they are wet. They tighten as you dry. This has been an issue for me when I select canvases; they have to withstand intense stretching. When you are finished your surface will be as tight as a snare drum.

The stamen are a simple shape. 8" long about 1/8" wide at the base a tapering to a point. I always cut more than I think I need and always use them all.

If there are imperfections in that shape so much the better. They sometimes flare just a tad close to the tip.

Ink is best for color. I will coat them more than once. You want spectacular color. Artists choice here about the mix.

These required a third coat. This time with an acrylic paint wash.

Deciding when to take them off the surface they are drying on is tricky. Wait too long and they stick; lift too soon and they tear because the moisture makes them weak.

Smooth them out with your fingers. Lay them out in a fan shape that reinforces the energy of the petals.

Start with the center.

Work your way out.

Trimming will be the last step. Again don't worry too much about lumps and bumps in the paper.

They have to be coaxed a little to lay down around the edge. The thin acrylic medium is best but it takes several applications.

Set one, trim one. This step is more fun than it looks.

Think hospital corners.

If we are way behind this may be a stopping point. The Koi is not an after thought but the composition should work without it.

I did this fantail as an homage to the Koi a foul beast took from my garden this Winter.

One long cut.. Feel free to cut off excess as you go just like you would with a jig saw.

This is water color pencil and Derwent water color sticks. Acrylic medium dabbed on with a sea sponge will help save this texture.

We will use the sponge to layer in some color gradations like this raw sienna.

Ready to place on the canvas.

Cutting the fish in several pieces can give help the illusion that the fish was underwater. However this was more effective with the traditional Koi shape.

Carefully cutting a space for the petals.

Here I am drying the Fish piece with a hair dryer. Please bring you own dryer if you can. I think knowing the output of your personal dryer might be helpful.

The last step is layering on glazes with the sponge or brush. What we want is a similar layering effect to the one we use for the water.

Done! This took me around 4 hours and 15 Minutes. I am prone, however, to both lolly gagging and navel gazing. And if you get me started talking about art, someone in the group will have to be the designated border collie to get me back in line. If we go over, we go over. You might not want to promise your attendance at evening church.

On the Easel 25

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:24:00 +0000

November 25th

Done

November 23rd

November 21st

November 6th

On the Easel 24

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 15:04:00 +0000

October 6th

Presented to the world in a Sunrise Ceremony

August 27th

August 25th

With all that has been going on with the construction of the Studio it has been hard to paint.
But I found the inner lotus this morning

July 16th

July 15th

July 9th

July 8th

June 7th

July 6th

I used the Payne's Grey ArtBar to give an outlined edge to the flora and use a lighter wash. I like the feel of light in this so far and I would like to keep that.

4th of July!

Light ink wash.

I am using Artbar to load pigment where I want it the most.

July 3rd

July 2nd

July 1st

June 16th

Gonna make some believe all up in it!

On The Easel 23

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:58:00 +0000

June 6th

Presented to the world this day.

June 5th

Done! Hope it's Sunny tomorrow morning.

June 2nd

First layer of color in the lilies.

May 28th

May 26th

Ready for some Lilies.

May 21st

Last layer of pads. Went s little crazy with line on the previous layer.

May 16th

May 5th

Ready for the next layer.

In my garden this morning.

May 1st

April 28th

April 14th

Work from the last Two Weeks

March 30th

March 26th

March 16th

March 13th

A new work. A new technique!

Ella helps prepare the canvas.

Back on the Easel 21

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:22:00 +0000

February 26th

Sunrise with Angel

February 25th

Done. Ready for the Sunrise!!

February 2nd

January 29th

Now to finish the other side of the diptych.

January 22nd

Cat tails go with lilies I guess/

November 26th

More Holiday Prices for your Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:10:00 +0000

We are having a Christmas Open House Sunday, December 18th from 3 PM until 6. I will be showing my Paintings and Collage and I will be offering some special prices. I will negotiate whatever terms make it possible to give them to people you love. Make an offer on your favorite! If you are out of town I can ship any where in the US via UPS ground for $10.

10" X 52" 2010 Truly an Icon this represents our Family. Left to right Me, Rowena and Ella. $350

30" X 40" 2011 A collage. Some works just do not photograph and this is one. Peaceful and power I had this in my office at work for a while it became a good friend.
$300

   36"X48"
This one brought me a lot of heartache. All the flowers and pads are rice paper. I would be working on one and just when I had what I wanted it would dissolve before my eyes because it had become too wet.   3 hundred off what I was asking - $400.

18" X 24" 2010
Saved the best for last. A collage. I think this one is simply charming. I enjoy spending time with it. It was what I was working on when I wrote My Artist's Statement.
$150

Our Christmas Open House

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:04:00 +0000

We are having a Christman Open House Sunday, December 18th from 3 PM until 6. I will be showing my Paintings and Collage and I will be offering some special prices. I will negotiate whatever terms make it possible to give them to people you love. Make an offer on your favorite! If you are out of town I can ship any where in the US via UPS ground for $10.

11' X14" 2011
These are both framed. $100 each or both for $150. I had a great time working on these and I think it comes through when you see them in person.

24" X30" Unframed with wrap around image. $200 This is a lovely piece and even more vibrant in person. I would like a friend to have so make an offer of what you can afford.

12" X 24" unframed but has a wrapped image. Orientation is optional as well. I just like it in this direction, but that changed as it progressed. One of the first that I used my own lilies as a model. $175.

On the Easel: 22

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Thanksgiving Day

Sunrise Ceremony

November 20th

Touch ups and a Sunrise then I'm done.

November 19th

November 17th

I love Collage! My relationship with paper is quite different than and separate from my relationship with paint.

November 13th

November 12th

STUDIO CAT SEZ "NO PICTURES PAPPARAZZI STALKER!"
It's fuzzy because he has his paw in front of the lens . In the detail below you can see his legg crossing my hand to ge a swipe at the camera.

Collage Petals

November 5th

October 29th

I've away studying for a work related test!

October 16th

October 15th

October 14th

A new beginning.

On the Easel 21

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:30:00 +0000

October 9th
This Isn't Working!

It's not awful, I think it has promise actually, But so far it has been a product of my head and not my heart. I will put it aside until that can be reversed.

The Yart Show was a huge success for me. About 50 people showed up. In this case 50 brilliant, passionate, articulate people. There were so many great insights and thoughts that it has been challenging to put them all into perspective. The most important take away was that no matter how important the concept internal to my Artists Statement that concept is internal to my experience and will never be intrinsic to what is received by those that view my work. And while this is sort of baseline aesthetics it is easy for artists to forget and I was trying to be too literal in my interpretation of what my stated goal is with this series.

Another reason for my over thinking may be that I did a sketch. I don't know that I ever did a sketch of the final image, ever. I have used them to create a feeling of where I'm headed but not of a finished idea. Perhaps I should put the sketch pad away and the painting may get more of it's own life.

I haven't talked much about these as a finite series. But I have 65 or so left in my 100 image goal. I hope to finish this within the next 2 years. I am at a point, however, where I am thinking about the next thing and how I get there from here. The reason I had a sketch pad out in the first place was I was reviewing some imagery loosely based on my big free flowing collages I did 30 ago, before I got into theatre. No rectangles , free floating and completely non-representational.

Working in theatre gave me a love of narrative,

and giving the audience something to hold onto that is part of the universal experience. But there was an energy to that old work I would like to reclaim. Perhaps this is a foolish wish, based as much on a wish for regained youth as a regained aesthetic.

These two figure studies may be my a better thing for me to look back towards however. They are ten minutes studies. Here is some of the energy I like in my work. But :

I was working every day.

I was working very fast.

Both of these things seem to be essential to getting where I want to be. This makes three time in as many months that I did not want to finish a piece. I don't know how that fits in with other Artists. Please leave a comment about you own experience about this. I feel this is just a bump in the road, and all this musing about where my images should go will have a purpose. I just need to trust in myself and remember:

More Painting - Less Thinking!

October 2nd

You're right Studio Cat, getting 3000 pageviews in our first year is pretty cool!

September 22nd

Shoreline drawn. Conceptual sketch hidden in the clutter.

September 20th

Got caught in the old "Painting Leaves of Grass" trap.

September 18th

Too Pretty to paint inside!

September 17th

The Shoreline is taking shape.

September 10th

(Sung to your own melody)
He's a Studio Cat
Yes he's a Studio Cat
Oh, he's the kind of cat that likes to play in a studioooo!

September 9th

8 AM

6 AM

5 AM

September 7th

Fresh Start! the Canvas below is the one on the right.

August 31st

I think this one is asking to be a collage.
Update: I enjoyed the thought of this image. But I couldn't hold on to it SOOO

August 18th

No Easel: College Days

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:49:00 +0000

1981

Gives you an idea about scale, I'm 6'2"

YArt Show!

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:06:00 +0000

Yart Show!

1210 Howard Ave

37216
6 PM
The Show was a great experience. We had about 60 people.
Everyone was engaged in the Art and each other. It was a wonderful and beautiful night.

There's going to be an YArt Show!(sung to Conga Line beat)

There's going to be an YArt Show!

In the Show #1

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:42:00 +0000

“Icon 2” has been selected for inclusion in the

13^th Annual Renaissance Regional Art Exhibition!

At The Renaissance Center

Icon 2
Collage 24" X 48" 2010

It is the first juried competition I have entered since college and I am thrilled to be exhibiting.

On the Easel 20

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:23:00 +0000

Her second painting of the day.

On the Easel 19

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:33:00 +0000

August 14th

August 13th

August 10th

August 7th

Number 2

August 6th

August 5th

2 because they're small.

On the Easel 18

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:48:00 +0000

July 31st

Family Icon 2

July 30th

Could not bring myself to paint while Rowena and Ella were away. Just about done now.

July 23rd

Subtle additions. Now it's time for Flower Power!

July 17th

July13th

Day 1

On the Easel 17

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:28:00 +0000

July 11th

Done, and presented to the world.

July 10th

July 9th

July 8th

July 7th

July 6th

July 5th

July 4th

Day 1

On the Easel 16: Struggle

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

I'm not happy about it.
It started out happy. One of the most important Teachers of my life, John Warren Oakes had found my blogs and written to me. I was thrilled by his approval of my writing on http://asinapicture.blogspot.com/ and my Art work on this blog. At a crucial time in my life he gave me confidence that Art was an essential part of my Self, my Being, and that I could live confidently with the knowledge I would create good things. I went on to design lighting for Theatre and I was an Artist in that endeavor.
But since I knew that he might be watching, painting took on an increased importance, I wanted to create something sourced from a time when my Art was more free spirited and of the moment - The Past. This my friends was a trap. If my work was that way when I was young it was because I accepted my momentum. I had faith in the the next moment.
I know now this is my present's promise. I must have faith in my new ways forward. I must paint with abandon.

Too learn more about me, please visit John's Blogs:
http://www.etherealpub.com/
http://www.oakesart.blogspot.com/
Great Teachers help others create great lives.

On the Easel 15

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sun, 29 May 2011 22:33:00 +0000

May 30th

May 29th

Perhaps it should be "On the Table"

In the Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sun, 29 May 2011 13:04:00 +0000

I was Wife and Daughter to create my own Water Garden!

Having the in their own ecosystem where I can be at eye level has taught me about the lives of these creatures and how our distinctions between plants and animal and everything else that lives are purely subjective.

On The Easel 14

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sat, 14 May 2011 16:56:00 +0000

May 25th

For My Mom.

Presented to the World this day!

May 22nd

With a Collage I place the last petal and Ta Da! With a painting you're done when you Summon the courage to Put the brush down and face your work unarmed.

May 19th

May 18th

Going with paint for now.

May 15th

Details from my present Work in Progress

May14th

I used to assume that all of them were Collages. Now I have to figure that out. But you can't just ASK them. You got to hang out with them and buy them wine by the glass and listen to their child hood stories and all about their dreams of being rich and famous models on the runways of fashion week in Milan. Sheesh!

May 12th

Felt a lot of joy in the studio this morning!

May 8th

Dedicating this one to Mom

On The Easel 13

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 15:47:00 +0000

May 1st

Done?!

It's been a busy morning. Thoughts of my Mom jolted me awake very early -4AM.

April 30th

Painted outside this morning.

April 29th

Paint?

April 23rd

Morning Session

April 22nd
After taking time off to do a Lighting Design.

April 17th

On The Easel 12

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 15:35:00 +0000

From My Texas StageLight/Artist Brother!

Gentry McManus

On The Easel 11

noreply@blogger.com (Rudi) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 12:33:00 +0000

Done!

April 7th

This one has been good company. I will mis working with it.

April 2nd

10 Flowers to go.

March 27th

March 25th

Early Morning

Still Life with Studio Cat

March 24th

Studio Cat sez "Haz a Flavor"

"Lookz Hitler Moustache"

March 22nd

My future supermodel "Legs" making herself at home.

March 20th

Feeling the flow

Day 2 Morning

March 19th

3' X 4' Should keep Studio Cat and Me busy for a while.