rik-rat corn pile

Friday, June 1, 2012

A Painting in Progress. Warning. Slightly Motivational Speechy.

I've been diligently working on a new painting.  I'm happy with the colors, composition, content, etc, etc, etc

In 2009, I received my MFA from Northern Illinois University.  Shortly after graduation I moved to Iowa and found myself in a pickle.  I was not inspired.  Everything I painted was shitty and I didn't know what to do with myself.

The whole thing made me really depressed and I decided to put painting off to the side for awhile and concentrate on pen and ink drawing.  The process of drawing was good for my brain.  I had to focus on the basics again.  Composition.  Value.  Line variation.  Content.  My drawings began to do all of the things that my paintings were not and my confidence returned.

It was time to paint again.  I am happy to report that I am finally back.  This is my 4th painting (in about 3.5 months).  I'm on a roll.  After three years I feel like myself again.  I learned something important over these three years, don't feel sorry for yourself.  If you start to feel sorry for yourself, draw.  Or do something else that makes you happy.  Just don't wallow.  Wallowing is for suckers.  And hogs.

15 comments:

  1. That was a good motivational sppech. Now put your soapbox away :) Seriously though, I do like that thought... wallowing is for hogs. Happy Friday Flux.

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  2. Happy Friday, friend! SNEAK ATTACK!!!!!

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  3. How do you feel about the Denver woman that punched, scratched, and rubbed her butt on a painting? She received 2 yrs of probation, but no jail time. Apparently she was drunk, and part of her sentence was to complete an alcohol rehab class and undergo mental health rehab.

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  4. I think they should have made her take a year's worth of art appreciation and art history so she could understand that what she did was terrible.

    Actually, that's not too bad of an idea. I should email that judge.

    good question. that got me thinking.

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    1. That actually is a really good suggestion. Also, instead of just punishing people, it helps them to understand what they did was wrong. Discipline, not just punishment.

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  5. hey, what have you got against hogs and suckers?

    And i'm thinking, next time I'm depressed i might punch scratch and put my butt on a blank canvas to make a painting. It will be AWESOME

    (not as awesome as yours, tho)

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    1. It would be the awesomest, tom. The next time I'm depressed I'm gonna scratch and rub my butt on the woman that scratched and rubbed her butt on the Clyfford Still painting.

      http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45881755/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/cops-colorado-woman-punches-rubs-her-buttocks-against-million-painting/#.T8kEoVLl83g

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  6. Great painting and great realization, friend-snack!

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  7. Lovely painting friendo. :)
    Glad to see you are back at it!

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    1. thanks, cassie! I feel a lot better. I'd like to have an art chat with you eventually. I can't wait to see photos from your show.

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  8. thanks, pal. I can't wait to finish it. I poked around a bit on it the other day but didn't make toooooo much progress. I suppose its about the journey.

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  9. i like this new painting! i'm excited to see new work, and hopefully when i get back from sweden i'll be able to buy a few more of your pieces - brian's work is starting to take over my collection and i need some more of your presence

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  10. I just bought a piece from brian. A rainbow wolf. Its pretty badass.

    I've got a piece in mind for you. It hasn't even been painted.

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