Jerry Wilkerson was an artist who specialized in pointillism paintings which represents our current time, since pointillism is quite symbolic in my opinion. The idea of insignificant dots (representing each individual human) creating a significant whole (the universe) fascinates me. As the human race expands, so does knowledge, so does art, so does everything. The dots keep expanding. History paintings used to be centered around religion and the higher classes, yet NOWstory paintings are uncentered and accessible to most with the internet. Oils and watercolors were generally only  accepted and only accessible by the wealthy, yet NOWpaintings can be of anything, they can be finger paintings with acrylic or mud, paintings of poetry and collages and everything the mind can create. The one responsibility I can imagine up  is to “do,” since my definition of art is creating something out of nothing.

A contemporary artist whose work really spoke to me is Jenny Yurshansky. Through her work, she discusses themes of otherness, displacement, history, and culture informed by her identity as a Jewish refugee from Soviet-era Moldova. The way she explores her and her family’s place in the complicated web of history, culture, and ethnicity by using powerful cultural symbols was extremely compelling and personal to me. I think that to make history paintings is to put yourself in the mindset of a historical period, but to make NOWstory paintings is to comment on today’s cultural landscape with the historical context in mind. I believe we are responsible for being aware of historical context and how history has shaped our society today. 

I am a senior Art major, IES minor at Chapman and I want to teach art for grades k-12. If I teach a single subject it will probably be photography or painting. I have done art classes throughout all of my education and in my free time regularly. I would like to focus on layering this semester and exploring the new medium of oil painting - how it dries, the color variations, blending. 

Sofia introduced me to the contemporary artist Jordan Casteel. I noticed the subject matter of children, humanity, and equity throughouat their work. The painting Royal, Oil on canvas, 78x60 in, 2021 was so interesting but also haunting for me, because it is the first painting I have ever seen of someone from the pandemic. I have never seen a person wearing a mask in a painting before and it really makes our current time feel real. 

In making a NOWStory paintings it is important to consider history - there is no now story without history. History paintings must be done very carefully and the artist must take responsibility in considering all possible reactions (negative or positive) to their work. It is important to understand that people could potentially have a negative reaction to your artwork. I believe the artist is responsible for all reactions but it is up to them whether or not they feel the need to apologize/take accountability. Example: if the work was intentionally controversial they may chose not to.

For this class, I want to further my understanding of oil painting. I’ve taken oil painting in the previous fall semester. Online and at home….I’ve been intimate with my toxics projects. But a technique I want to build upon is the grisaille method and to build texture with impasto. The grasialle was introduced for one unit but I didn’t continue with the method. As for subject, concept, style, well I want to really use this class to experiment and try harder with my pieces. Some of my work has an influence from Japanese culture, my oil painting finals were sci fi themed, and historic charged pieces are something I’m still trying to tackle. But the execution is what I want to work on so the theme can get across. 

Marc Bradford is an artist that comes to mind as a now story artist.  I was able to see one of his pieces in person, 150 Portrait Tone. The texture and peeled surface, the imprinted text, and the message was very powerful. The painting was inspired by a fatal shooting of Philandro Castilo in 2016. While it is beautiful, it still holds a message and a very relevant reminder of police shootings of the black community. The creation of Nowstory paintings, hold and will hold relevance for the years to come if they are on a prevalent and ongoing issue. There are many many things that can be said about our current times. About now. 

The responses to Nowpaintings are one a different level with social media giving access to wider audiences and their responses. The multiple perspectives and interpretation of an artist doesn’t have a controlled space for their reactions. But that is the role of an artist. We must accept all the positive reactions and all the potential negative reactions. We choose to make the pieces we make, so their existence is our responsibility.