Weekly Update

Here is a quick update on everything I have been working on during the past few days. 

I have finally finished the book that I began cutting into. The whole concept behind this work is the idea of the unexpected. On the outside this looks like an old book filled with ghost stories but once it is opened the viewer realizes it is not what it seems. The ghost stories cannot be read because the pages have been cut into creating something that is visually pleasing ultimately challenging the idea that this book is suppose to evoke fear in the reader. 

Also this week I have been working on trying to understand and visually represent the concept of what uncomfortable is and how it feels. Below are just two of the three sketches/paintings I completed in hope of portraying uncomfortableness. In the first image I tried to portray a personal feeling of uncomfortableness. This feeling of being uncomfortable is a feeling of not being 100% on track, being stressed, feeling confused and feeling of being inept. I tried to paint/sketch what my mind was going through at the moment. The constant effort to try and be comfortable and calm, but those moment of not knowing what to think are portrayed at the same time. In the second image I tried to portray a physical uncomfortableness. I painted a simple object, an apple, with my less dominant hand. For someone to try and complete tasks with their non dominant hand is difficult and physically does not feel comfortable. My hand it not used to holding a paint brush in this manner. After completing these sketches took note of what I felt and was thinking at the time and after while evaluating my work. For example when looking at the first image I felt more uncomfortable because the image turned out ugly. I would have been embarrassed to have anyone else look at this piece and even try and understand it. 

After exploring the idea of being uncomfortable and getting individual responses, which were interesting, I began to think more about it and where I could go next with this idea. And I was stumped. What is this feeling of being uncomfortable and why does it matter to me? I began this project by thinking of putting myself in a situation that I am not fully comfortable to allow myself to be challenged and grow. So I began questioning if my project needed to be about uncomfortableness specifically or could I place myself in a situation that I do not feel completely comfortable in to gather my research and ultimately create something I learn from that interaction. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but somehow in my mind it all makes sense. 

So I began looking at some of my past work for inspiration. I specifically looked at these pieces below. 

This is a sketch that was later turned into a stippled print. It was a project for my printmaking class and probably one of my favorite pieces I have done. First of all I love the details of it but most of all I love the concept. It is something unexpected in the idea of why feet would be growing from flowers of why flowers would be growing from feet. I choose two object that are complete opposites, something beautiful and something ugly and combined them in a way i saw visually pleasing. 

These three images were apart of a project titled "Insecurities" . For this project I look physical aspect of the body and against common societal beliefs portrayed them as something beautiful. This project again touches on the idea of opposites and reading further for a deeper meaning. I still love the idea of what is not immediately evident. Where is outside is viewed different than what is really on the inside.  


So I think after thinking about all this I am leaning towards going in a little bit of a different direction than the whole concept of uncomfortableness. I am not completely changing directions but I want to further explore this idea of what is not immediately read and begin looking at relationships. So who knows what will come of this. . . . .

For this Week . . .

 I can finally say that I think I am starting to figure things out and my big question for the week has been:

“What makes you Uncomfortable?”

I have been thinking more about how one can define uncomfortable and what makes people uncomfortable. So at the beginning of the week I sent out a message to a number of people asking them to define uncomfortable and give me an example of what makes them uncomfortable. With these responses I have been compiling them on a sheet of paper hanging up in my studio. (So if anyone wants to add to the list feel free to stop by!)

It has been interesting to see the responses from people though. There are many unique answers as well as a lot of repetition, all focusing on both physical and mental feelings of being uncomfortable. Another thing I noticed that is how many of the responses are about a situation when a second individual is around, such as public speaking.

These responses have also got me thinking more about the brain and how human’s think, judge and interact. So another thing that I have started this week is I have began reading a book called Blink, written by Malcolm Gladwell. So far it has talked about how individuals think without thinking. It’s about the snap judgment we as humans have no control over when looking at other things and people.

Also this week I have spent a few hours working on the book that I started cutting into this past week. I am not sure how this idea will tie into anything in the future but I still like the whole concept. I love the idea of not knowing what to expect and even though it is a tedious and somewhat time consuming art form I am excited for the final project. I will be putting up final images in the next few days. 

For next week . . . .

Starting this weekend I am going to continue this idea of being uncomfortable and based on some responses I have received I am going to put myself in uncomfortable situations, both physically and mentally while I create art. I am going to draw, sketch, paint whatever comes to mind while trying to portray what I am feeling at the time. So wish me luck with being uncomfortable this weekend!

I am going to also continue reading Blink. This book makes you think and view things in a whole new way. Along with reading I also want to continue researching and reflecting on my own idea of what being uncomfortable is.

Finally my plan is to finish cutting into the book within the next few days as well as do more research on the whole concept of being uncomfortable. 

Inspiring Artists

As an artist I have always loved to draw and a lot of the times I try to incorporate some element of hand drawn imagery into my artwork. A lot of hand drawn artwork and paintings have inspired me in many ways and one particular artist that has always been a favorite of mine is Norman Rockwell.

Rockwell is most famous for his covers of The Saturday Evening Post. He created paintings that portrayed his view of American and the people that shared his same spirit towards life and the country. I love how each image in itself can tell a whole story, and each dialogue is intriguing and relatable.

Besides the messages and stories that Rockwell portrays through his paintings, what first caught my attention and to this day I still love, is the quality and detail of his work. Some of his paintings are so intricate while in contrast his simple paintings look like they could be hand drawn.  Also one thing that I admire about his work is how realistic the characters look. When I am drawing that is the one element that I have always tried to accomplish but it’s not as easy. His more simple works have actually influenced some of my work. Specifically last year I took one of his covers from The Saturday Evening Post, 1925 and recreated it using colored pencils.

  

Personally as an artist over the past few years I have become more and more interested in graphic design and one artist that has influenced that is David Carson. Being a prominent graphic designer in today’s design world, his process and work is based on typography. He was a large influence for the dirty-grunge movement in the 90s and redefined what is means to use typography to portray a certain message to the viewer.

Carson is inspiring in numerous ways. Not only do I love his work but as a designer he has inspired the idea of taking risks and thinking unconventionally.  Design is always changing and as an artist we need to always be thinking one step ahead of the next guy and Carson is a perfect example of this.

Specifically with his work is he not only using typography in an unconventional way but I love how he creates, and transforms typefaces to portray a message. It is also interesting to see how he thinks about what he is designing. As an artist he tries to design, choosing typography and imagery that portrays a specific message even before the type is actually read by the viewer. His type of design is not only about pretty images and text but it takes into consideration how the viewer’s brain works. This concept is very intriguing to me. 

Here is one example of how the brain works:

THE PAOMNNEHAL PWEOR OF THE HMUAN MNID

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm.

Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Here are some examples of his work:

Book of Probes   

Marshall McLuhan & David Carson

This week I feel like I have been all over the place. Trying to figure out everything from narrowing down my topic to mediums that I should look at and want to work with. So a lot of my week has been spent doing some research and reflections.

As of now I have been interested in the whole topic of fear and what makes an individual uncomfortable. The whole psychology of one's brain makes me curious so this week I have spent a few hours looking at links and artist online that focus on the idea of making people uncomfortable. What makes one person uncomfortable compared to another individual? Why does it make us uncomfortable? Is it possible to get over something like that?


To start to answer some of these questions I have been talking to more people about what they consider to be uncomfortable and what this feels like to them, what situations they consider uncomfortable, etc.

One link led me to a video showing an art gallery showing. The title of the show was “Uncomfortable Conversations” and the artist we asked to create a piece of work that would evoke the audience to start up a conversation that is uncomfortable. 


http://www.uncomfortabledesign.com/

Along with this research I have been experimenting with a new medium and creating a book that is cut into. I have never tried this before and I really like the attention to detail that is needed. It becomes relaxing after a while. One particular artist that I found that created book art is Brian Dettmer.  I really like how he takes a book and by cutting into the pages and the text he begins to create a whole new image and message. 


Here are a few examples of his work:

Brian Dettmer  The Family Health Book 2007

Brian Dettmer  Brave new world 2008

As for this week my goal is to try not to focus so much on the final project and just take the whole IP process step by step.  My plan is to make a day by day schedule and continue researching, exploring and talking to more individuals. Also I will post images of the book I am working on in a bit.

The Beginning

It has officially started, the crazy, scary, and exciting year of IP. I don't know what to expect but I am ready for Anything and Everything and this is just the beginning!