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Freedom of Speech Sketch

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Bordo to Earth

Jonathan Stevenson writes about Canadian artist Robert Bordo’s solo exhibition titled “Paint World.”  Bordo paints multiple versions of the planet Earth.  There is something ethereal about seeing each planet depicted with different color variations laid against sky-colored backgrounds.  Instead of setting the earth against a backdrop of space, it is almost like looking at it reflected in a body of water or seen in the sky as though we as viewers are viewing it from a different planet.  Bordo’s brushstrokes are visible on each piece like fingerprint-laden tangible objects.  His work defines his abstract and metaphorical style as he weaves a landscape of familiarities.

Bordo’s simplistic style is one that I admire since he takes simple subjects and juxtaposes them into common settings.  When the viewer realizes the unusual qualities of his work it begins to take on a new meaning.  I also like how he chooses to leave his marks on the canvas since it matches the idea of humanity’s impact on the world.

Works Cited

Bordo to earth. (2023, July 5). Two Coats of Paint. https://twocoatsofpaint.com/2023/07/bordo-to-earth.html

Robert Bordo — BORTOLAMI. (n.d.). Robert Bordo — BORTOLAMI. https://www.bortolamigallery.com/artists/robert-bordo

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Eclectic Electricity

Article contributor, Clare Gemima, discusses the eclectic and rather electric pieces selected for the group exhibition titled, “Chromazones.”  The gallery boasts of bright and beautiful colors and shapes.  More abstract artists such as Tamara Gonzales displays their work titled, “Jaguar Spirit,” which is a brightly colored mixed media piece reminiscent of childhood creations with a touch of modernity.  Gonzales embellishes the piece with subtle patterning which is just enough to suggest a hint of maturity.

Pam Glick’s piece titled, “Cat, Dog, Car, Sky,” strikes the viewer with bold bright color which is framed by stark black lines.  It borrows the bright Pop Art of Keith Haring and echoes a brighter version of the works by 1930s era Goerge Grosz.  The subtle organic patterning cools down the great big fireball of a piece making it more pleasant to the eye.

I particularly enjoyed how some of the artists used “unconventional materials, such as glitter” (Confrontational color, 2023).  Adding materials like these can enhance a work of art and can either bring even more meaning to it or enhance its current message.  It is something I strive to do in my own work since I think experimenting with different media can lead us down some interesting avenues.  It’s fun to see what kind of creative ways artists can reinvent what goes onto canvas, and it’s exactly what these artists have done.

Works Cited

Confrontational color at Analog Diary. (2023, September 6). Two Coats of Paint. https://twocoatsofpaint.com/2023/09/confrontational-color-at-analog-diary.html

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2023, Acrylic gouache, US currency, ink, acrylic marker on panel, 24" x 24"

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Tower of Blah Blah is a spin on the Tower of Babel which is described in Genesis as an explanation for the existence of diverse human languages. According to Genesis, the Babylonians wanted to make a name for themselves by building a mighty city and a tower “with its top in the heavens.” God disrupted the work by so confusing the language of the workers that they could no longer understand one another. The city was never completed, and the people were dispersed over the face of the earth.

Tower of Blah Blah is a combination of the artistic styles of George Grosz and Marie Laurencin. It explores many topics which plague society found mostly in the news. Designed to mimic the appearance of a building, it is, in fact, not a tangible structure with realistic physics, but rather a metaphor of the bright beacon of the Statue of Liberty's crown. It casts a light across the darkened areas highlighting America's significant priorities of capitalism, environmentalism and women's rights and where they fall within the pyramid of society.

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2023. Graphite, Acrylic Ink, Acrylic gouache, India Ink, on Yupo paper, 18" x 25.5"

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144 Laurel Street is a narrative of the unseen injustices of a prior residence.

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Heejoon Lee’s Sights and Sounds of Seoul

Sung Woo Kim recounts the artistic style of Korean artist Heejoon Lee in their September 14th 2023 article titled “Heejoon Lee’s Abstract Paintings Create New Encounters with the Urban Environment.”  He details the way the artist explores form, proportions, and colors depending on the spaces they occupy.  I find it interesting that Lee photographs his subjects from his surrounding environment and adds abstract and geometric elements to them reminiscent of the 60s and 70s pop era.  Lee’s method of printing out digital photographs and pasting them to a stretched canvas for use as a substrate is an inventive and refreshing spin on traditional painting (Heejoon Lee).  He claims the constantly evolving architecture of his hometown Seoul is what initially inspired him to create his artwork.  Kim describes Lee’s work as a new translation of space as he successfully taps into the five senses through his created imagery.

Lee’s use of line and immediate texture is what catches my eye and attracts me to this organic style of painting.  His use of various geometric shapes and careful attention to the presentation of his work is pristine and well-planned.  Merging photography and painting is a way to deconstruct and reconstruct familiarities such as time and space, and Lee does this beautifully and simplistically in his own way.

Works Cited

Heejoon Lee | KUKJE GALLERY. (n.d.). https://m.kukjegallery.com/exhibition/244

Kim, S. W. (2023, September 14). Heejoon Lee’s Abstract Paintings Create New Encounters with the Urban Environment | Artsy. Artsy. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-heejoon-lees-abstract-paintings-new-ways-city

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Clyfford Still—Still Great

The 1950s works of American abstract-expressionist painter, Clyfford Still, feature themes that seem to transcend the postwar-stricken era into modern times.  David Carrier, author of “Clyfford Still: A Missing Link?” writes on the “Award-winning blogazine,” Two Coats of Paint.com their thoughts on why the painter might have delayed showing his work to the public.  Clyfford was an artist known to be very particular about where and how his work was displayed during his lifetime.  Carrier notes that a number of Still’s works have been displayed in the newly built wing of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.  In most of his pieces, Still uses flashes of jagged-edged color—yellows, reds, blues, and more muddied variations, which seem to emerge from darkly-lit canvases.  It is apparent that he has covered the surface in thick layers.  Carrier also questions how Still has applied the paint while comparing it to the works of Jackson Pollock and William de Kooning—something I feel Still would be pained to hear if he was alive today since he cut ties with some of his fellow artists after becoming “disillusioned with the New York art scene” (Clyfford still paintings, Bio, ideas. The Art Story).  Carrier also explains how the belated showing of Still’s works could have been influential to artists of the past had they been shown sooner.  However, they will now have the chance to inspire present-day artists.

Personally, I am an artist who welcomes the dark and light contrasting nature that black paint brings to a piece.  I am unashamed to say that I use it in my own work at times since the color black is a mood all its own.  I feel that most abstract expressionist during Still’s lifetime wanted to explore the complexities of solid blocks of color while using black as a divider in their artwork.  Still incorporated black in ways that allowed the color to ebb and flow across the entirety of the work effectively bringing his works to life.  In a way, his work is timeless since it reflects society at any given moment in time.

Works Cited

Clyfford Still: A missing link? (2023, August 17). Two Coats of Paint. https://twocoatsofpaint.com/2023/08/clyfford-still-a-missing-link.html

Clyfford still paintings, Bio, ideas. The Art Story. Available at: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/still-clyfford/ (Accessed: 04 September 2023).

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache on Yupo paper, Tin Sheet, 20" x 26"

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Freedom of Speech explores the coexistence of mankind and artificial intelligence in a satirical way. The central figure rises above the crowd wearing a suit of armor and feather in his cap symbolizing Yankee Doodle, a traditional American song and nursery rhyme. It poses the question of whether or not the surrounding figures are ridiculing or anticipating the words of the brave speaker. The ideals resemble those which exist in modern times when freedom of speech carries with it the power to offend others and for the consequences which may follow.

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache, Oil Pastel, Acrylic Paint, Fluorescent Oil Pastel, and acrylic Glaze On Yupo Paper 18" x 24"

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AI Diptych holds a few hidden details that are intentionally barely visible from far away. It meshes realism with the artificial. Both eyes are comprised of circuit boards within the irises and they reveal themselves even more under a black light. The eyes also glow in the dark leaving the pupils darkened--a contrast to an actual feline eye which, when exposed to light in a darkened environment, will become illuminated leaving a darkened iris. It exposes the soullessness of AI, the one difference between man and machine.

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache, Oil Pastel, Fluorescent Oil Pastel, and acrylic glaze on Yupo paper, 18" x 24"

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AI (Left-Eye)

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Tower of Blah Blah Sketch

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache, Oil Pastel, Fluorescent Oil Pastel, and acrylic glaze on Yupo paper, 18" x 24"

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AI Close-up

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SWANA Women Artists Deserve Better

Natalie Haddad writes about the exhibition “Women Defining Women in Contemporary Art of the Middle East and Beyond” at the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA).  Forty-two Female artists from Southwest Asia and North Africa are celebrated as the gallery displays work from a lesser-known demographic of those born in Islamic, Israelite, and Arabic societies.  It is no surprise that the first work Haddad covers depicts two gun-wielding figures caught in a duel as most of the geographical area is historically known for its heavy political and religious conflict.  Artist Kezban Arca Batibeki’s 2020 piece titled “Feud” depicts two figures in such a position. Both figures are clothed in traditional feminine clothing which is juxtaposed against their more masculine poses.  It is an interesting way to bring gender-based hardships to light.

My favorite piece from the gallery would be Sara Al Haddad’s 2011 piece titled “Self Portrait” constructed of yarn, pins, and cotton.  It is a textile piece depicting a hot-pink headless female figure completely woven from yarn and filled with cotton as though it were a disposable stuffed animal.  Like a corpse thrown to the side or like a ragdoll, the figure is torn to shreds, helpless and motionless as we are unable to assist in any way.  This speaks volumes about the situations some women are forced to deal with in their daily lives.

Works Cited

Haddad, N., & Haddad, N. (2023). SWANA Women artists deserve better. Hyperallergic. https://hyperallergic.com/845552/swana-women-artists-deserve-better-lacma-women-defining-women/

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache, Oil Pastel, Fluorescent Oil Pastel, and acrylic glaze on Yupo paper, 18" x 24"

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AI Close-up

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Patricia Piccinini: encounters of another plot

In an exhibition announcement by Hyperallergic.com, the work of artist Patricia Piccinini takes center stage.  Her work features life-size sculptures placed in artificial natural settings in a diorama-like manner.  The figures are evolutionary visions as they depict new species, which makes them all too real considering the recently discovered species in the news due to climate and environmental changes.  What makes Piccinini’s work particularly striking is her use of color and recycled material.  The creatures themselves seem to mimic human form in such a raw state and are composed of silicon, human hair, and fiberglass.

Using recycled materials in art is environmentally friendly and using actual human hair strengthens the bond we as viewers have with the artwork.  It is as though we are looking into a futuristic mirror or one of the past.

Works Cited

Center, J. M. K. A., & Center, J. M. K. A. (2023). Patricia Piccinini: encounters of another plot. Hyperallergic. https://hyperallergic.com/845016/patricia-piccinini-encounters-of-another-plot-john-michael-kohler-arts-center/

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Bob Ross’s First On-Air Painting Could Fetch Nearly $10M

Rhea Nayyar discusses Bob Ross’ first painting completed for the television series The Joy of Painting titled “A Walk in the Woods.”  The beloved one and only Florida-born Bob Ross died in 1995, but his legacy continues on as his painting has been put up for auction at $9.85M.  The price alone is a testament to how powerful a figure Ross was during his lifetime.  Nayyar writes that Ross’ painting should be displayed in a museum instead of bought by a private buyer, and I couldn’t agree more.

Bob Ross was everyone’s art mentor growing up, and he still is through the videos of his art lessons that continue to be shared across the Internet today.  It is where my own teaching pedagogy was born—that anyone can paint if they practice enough and apply themselves to the craft.  He made it look so easy.  I feel that posthumous work that is worth more than it was at the time the artist was alive is pretty sad.  Oftentimes work isn’t celebrated until after they pass on, which feels incredibly unfair.  Hopefully Ross’ family will be able to benefit from the great legacy he leaves behind.

Works Cited

Nayyar, R., & Nayyar, R. (2023). Bob Ross’s first On-Air painting could fetch nearly $10M. Hyperallergic. https://hyperallergic.com/845134/bob-ross-first-on-air-painting-could-fetch-nearly-10m/

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AI Right Eye sketch

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache, Oil Pastel, Acrylic Paint, Fluorescent Oil Pastel, and acrylic glaze On Yupo Paper 18" x 24"

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AI (Right-Eye)

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Pursuit of Happiness Sketch

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The Way to Cape May

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2023, Graphite, spray glaze, spray paint,  Acrylic Gouache, Acrylic paint, Oil Pastel, Ink, on wood panel, 20" x 25"

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Pursuit of Happiness is a demonstration of freedom. A zombified hand is risen high above a grungy, squalid, and grimy metropolis. It holds a torch in the shape of the nasal spray Narcan in a response to the overuse of opioids in the United States and the effects they have on both the users and those whose lives are directly affected by the users' choices in life. It contrasts the need for personal freedom and the acceptance of the responsibilities closely associated with it.

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Author Katie White discusses Cuban-born artist, José Parlá ahead of his show “Phospehene” in London.  The name alone suggests the “experience of seeing light through closed eyes—colorful flashes or swirling dots appearing on the eyelid.”  Parla’s abstract style is almost reminiscent of that of Jackson Pollock spliced with drippy overlays.  His inspiration was derived from his near-death experience with Covid-19 in 2021.  In their interview with Parla, White prompts a few questions regarding the artist’s studio.  Parla notes the importance of sunshine and his gratefulness for the simple pleasures in life.

I share many similarities with Jose Parla especially when it comes to living an easier-paced lifestyle.  I feel that major life-changing events such as the Pandemic changed the perspectives of many people including myself.  I also share similarities with how Parla experiments with his artwork.  I like to experiment with different media and I know that a work is finished when it makes me feel happy that I was able to achieve something I was unsure of initially.

Works Cited

White, K. (2023, October 10). In his downtown Brooklyn studio, artist José Parlá follows the sun in the skylights to paint vibrant, colossal works. Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/studio-visit-jose-parla-2375316

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Author Katie White discusses Mumbai-born artist, Sahana Ramakrishnan and her solo exhibition titled, “An Ocean of Time.”  Ramakrishnan quotes, “The ocean is a much better metaphor for time than any of the geometrical associations we have.”  Her work reflects on the idea that everything in life is connected.  The Great Barrier Reef served as a major inspiration for her work with its diverse and colorful life forms which seems fleeting due to environmental factors.

I like the fact that Ramakrishnan brings forth important ideas regarding the fragility of our oceans in her artwork.  As someone who has been experimenting with bioluminescence in my own art, I feel a connection with the colors she chooses—bright vivid blues and oranges.  It casts an important light on these environmental issues.

Works Cited

White, K. (2023b, October 16). Artist Sahana Ramakrishnan’s Fantastical Worlds of Wild Animals and Ocean Life Reveal ‘Moments of Universal Truth’ Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/up-next-sahana-ramakrishnan-2376820

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An A.I. Has Created Interactive Portraits Showing Uncannily Humanlike Emotions

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In their article, Jo Lawson-Tancred discusses an interactive A.I. portrait that has been created to “mimic eerily humanlike emotional states and movements.”  The project was launched in London.  The creators are attempting to get the A.I. to model human behavior as closely as they possibly can by using complex algorithms.

Living in a technology-driven world, it is commonplace to find A.I. projects coming to light in all avenues of life.  It is also common for questions to arise regarding this kind of rapidly advancing tech such as the intentions of those who will be both using it and (re)programming it.  I feel that the incorporation of A.I. in the art world is inevitable and I try to see it in a positive light.  There is always a downside to any kind of tech, but I feel that fear can only serve to inhibit those who will just get caught up in the strong current of the evolving world eventually.

Works Cited

Lawson-Tancred, J. (2023, October 13). An A.I. has created interactive portraits showing uncannily humanlike emotions. Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ai-interactive-portraits-humanlike-emotions-2377579

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William Van Meter poses this question to their readers as they take a look at the works of feminist artist Judy Chicago.  Her 1979 piece, The Dinner Party, a permanent installation at the Brooklyn Museum, stands the test of time as women artists continue to play an important role in the art world—and Chicago wants the world to continue learning their stories.  Van Meter discusses Chicago’s show “Herstory” which opened at the New Museum in New York.  Chicago’s work can be seen alongside the works of other female artists such as Hilma af Klint and Frida Kahlo.

Judy Chicago’s energy is apparent throughout the show and it is exciting to see female artists given the recognition they deserve.  Women have long been purposefully overlooked throughout history, which is unfortunate since so many had voices that should have been heard.  My art reflects the notion that I also have my own set of messages to send to the world regarding my perspective of where we as a society stand and how much of an effect the actions of others has on others and the world around them.

Works Cited

Van Meter, W. (2023, October 13). What if Judy Chicago ruled the world? A sweeping survey at the new museum proves how Ahead-of-the-Curve the feminist icon really is. Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/what-if-judy-chicago-ruled-the-world-2376371

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Paint, Acrylic Gouache, Oil Pastel, Fluorescent oil pastels, 36" x 48"

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There is an interesting Eastern superstition that follows the number four since it is homophonous to the word meaning "death." The Statue of Liberty mainly represents freedom and is an instantly recognized icon in the United States of America. This take on the statue's image is imbued with hope for an end or death of ignorance and the acceptance of Black rights, women's rights and acceptance of those within the LGBTQ+ community. If we are to claim Lady Liberty as our symbol of freedom, then we would be hypocrites for withholding freedom from anyone who resides within the confines of the USA.

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An Yvette Mayorga Work Is Unmistakable. A New Survey Explores Her Unique Inspirations, From German Lithographs to ‘Mexican Pink’

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Taylor Dafoe discusses Mexican-American painter and sculptor Yvette Mayorga as she opens her new exhibition titled, “Dreaming of You.”  Her work is often mistaken for feminism since it boasts bright hues of pink and ornate design-work.  Dafoe writes, “In her world, colors can’t be reduced to stereotypes.  Nor can people.”  Mayorga takes the connotation that surrounds the color and transforms it into something tangible for everyone.  I think one of the most interesting aspects of her work is how she pipes the acrylic paint onto her work with a cake decorating bag as a nod to her mother who worked in the business.

Mayorga’s theme of “the fallacy of the American Dream” is a topic I often revisit in my own work.  I like to pull the blindfolds off of those who may have become disillusioned by the not-so-innocent world in which we were all born and raised.  Her repetitive motif of mirrors is something I also like to incorporate in my work.  I will sometimes choose a reflective medium to convey a first-person perspective which allows the viewer to assume their role in a work of art.

Works Cited

Dafoe, T. (2023, October 31). An Yvette Mayorga work is unmistakable. a new survey explores her unique inspirations, from German lithographs to ‘Mexican pink.’ Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/yvette-mayorga-aldrich-2385739

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Stuart Semple Unleashes His Final Superblack Paint in His Long-Running Art Supply Battle With Anish Kapoor

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Sarah Cascone discusses the almost comical battle between Anish Kapoor and Stuart Semple who are trying to create the blackest black paint.  They are on an ongoing mission to see who can come up with a hue of black with the highest level of light-absorbency.  So far, Kapoor has come up with Vantablack and Semple has created Black 4.0 which absorbs 99.96% of light.

I am an artist who appreciates the science world and I love to experiment with different media in my work.  I feel like it opens up a lot of doors when it comes to conveying different meanings in art.  Vantablack is my favorite shade to add to my work since it creates this wonderful illusion of infinite space.  It symbolizes whatever you want it to and contrasts beautifully against brighter and bolder colors.  Black is also a shade that teachers will often tell their students not to use since it tends to make an image feel “muddy.”  I have always felt the need to challenge any idea in art where people tell you not to do something, so it is only natural for me to explore it.  I feel that using black paint in artwork is a concept worth embracing since it is often the most underrated conceptual stand-alone medium and it's just plain fun to use.

Works Cited

Cascone, S. (2023, October 31). Stuart Semple unleashes his final superblack paint in his Long-Running Art Supply battle with Anish Kapoor. Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/stuart-semple-anish-kapoor-vantablack-alternative-2386510

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache, Oil Pastel, 18" x 24"

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Continuum is set on Mars after the planet has been established and is left in man made ruin. It illuminates how humans leave a trail of destruction regardless of the circumstances. Our sense of entitlement acts as a ticking time bomb and it truly is humanity's fatal flaw.

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache, Oil Pastel

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Ai Weiwei Speaks Out on Cancellation of His London Exhibition

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Author Hakim Bishara discusses how the Lisson Gallery canceled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s show which featured work based on the Israel-Palestine conflict.  In response, Weiwei called it “soft violence aimed at stifling voices.”  Weiwei is one of my favorite socially engaged artists who has gotten entire communities involved in the artmaking process for his art installations.  His conceptual pieces are always thought-provoking and his current exhibition is no different.  This particular quote from the article strikes a nerve in me, “When asked if he’s reconsidering his future with Lisson Gallery, the artist replied: ‘I don’t have any plans. It’s very hard to have any plans. Everything is quite uncertain … It very much depends on their decision.’”

I don’t exactly know how to feel about it since it’s understandable why the curators were afraid to put their names behind the artwork depicted.  However, at the same time, I feel like there needs to be braver curators who are unafraid.  Maybe it’s just too soon since the conflict is still unfolding and is the reality of those who are stuck in the crossfire.  I can relate to this since my more conceptual artwork is not always accepted by everyone who views it.  I guess if anything, it makes one wonder, how soon is too soon?

Works Cited:

Bishara, H., & Bishara, H. (2023, November 16). Ai Weiwei speaks out on cancellation of his London exhibition. Hyperallergic. https://hyperallergic.com/856763/ai-weiwei-speaks-out-on-cancellation-of-his-london-exhibition-lisson-gallery/

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Iraqi-American Artist Vian Sora Evokes the Splendor of Eden and Ancient Assyria in Her Paintings

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Katie White discusses Iraqi-born artist Vian Sora and her show at New York’s David Nolan Gallery.  Sora describes her work as “unpredictable.”  Her use of experimentation in her artwork is something I do in my own work.  It’s the driving force behind new concepts and inspiration.  Sora’s work is more abstract and she works with an array of wet media such as spray paint, acrylics, ink, and oil.

I find it interesting how many of her works are documentations of her personal experiences of witnessing the aftermath of explosion scenes as a member of the Iraq press.  She also rebels in her work by using spray paint.  Graffiti is “an act punishable by disfigurement in Iraq.”  I cannot imagine living in a society where capital punishment is so widely encouraged for such small crimes.

Works Cited:

White, K. (2023c, November 17). Iraqi-American artist Vian Sora evokes the splendor of Eden and Ancient Assyria in her paintings. Artnet News. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/vian-sora-david-nolan-2395358

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2023, Tile Cement, Acrylic Gouache, Acrylic Paint, Ink Marker, Ink, Oil Pastel and glitter on multiple panels, 28" x 24"

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Point of View is built using multiple panels and tiling cement. It is two different views of the same scene which can be seen in the beam of green light emitted behind the bridge. It poses the question, are we closer or further away?

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2023. Acrylic Gouache, Fluorescent Acrylic Marker, Oil Pastel on Yupo Paper, 18" x 24"

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Mona Lisa Smile is a juxtaposition of activism next to reality. It is a light reactive piece when viewed under UV light.

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2023, Graphite, Acrylic Gouache, Fluorescent Acrylic Paint Marker

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Unlucky Charms highlights one's involvement with the destruction of the environment. It is also a light reactive piece under UV light.

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2023, Acrylic Gouache, acrylic paint marker, oil pastel on Yupo Paper, 18" x 24"

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Welcome to the New Age discusses current events in the news.