VOYAGES ON VIEW AT THE SEEN GALLERY

I am amazed how wonderful this show ended up looking after it was hung.  Having a store front window, along with great lighting (thanks Bill Bibb!) added to the drama of the work.   I have to admit I am proud of the way it turned out!
The Seen Gallery is conveniently located on Church Street in Decatur, Georgia.   There is ALOT of foot-trafffic along here – this area is a real foodie destination.  The award winning Cakes And Ale  (recently winning a James Beard award, as well as awards from Food and Wine Magazine) and Leons Full Service are loccated across the street.
The show will be up until the end of March, so make Decatur your destination during the next month and stop in and see my solo show!   
Outside looking in

SACRED SPACES Lance Carlson’s Solo Exhibit

Sacred Spaces is the current exhibit at Georgia Perimeter College’s Clarkston Location in the lobby of the Fine Arts Building.   I really thought the work looked great in this environment.  To give some background to this work  – this is Lance’s artist statement for this:
“This series consists of ten 36″ x 56″ (approximately) pieces on paper.  The images and marks on these mixed media pieces are connected (through the artist’s mind) to spaces/places that have traditionally become associated with worship and/or are of pivotal importance to the world’s religions.  Only ten spaces are portrayed which implies that only some of the world’s religions and traditions are expressed.”
I think it works very well.   The paper is from a roll of watercolor paper and he taped the edges and put gromets in the top – a very effective way to present them.   The ten places are:
Friends Meeting House – Houston, Texas
Chartres Cathedral, Chartres France
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem
Pantheon, Rome
Acropolis, Athens
Stonehenge, Great Britain
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Ziggurate of Ur, Iraq
St. Peters Basilica, Vatican City
I was really drawn to St. Peters Basilica, as well as the Dome of the Rock.   There is a reverence, as well as a rhythm about these pieces that are difficult to explain.  I felt the work was personal and reflected Lance’s spirituality.   And the fact that Lance is an architect makes it more interesting to see his interpretations of these places.
While these ten pieces make up the core of the show, it is interspersed with some of Lance’s favorite works.   Above you see him standing in front of his favorite piece in the show.
The show will be up through February 10th.   I encourage you to check it out.  AND, I hope Lance finds another places to display these pieces because they deserve to be seen.

Lance’s work can be seen at DK Gallery on the square of Marietta.

FOUR EVENTS FEATURING MY ARTWORK THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6th!

Some of my work at InSideOut in Vinings
February is usually a slow month in the world of art.   My plans were to organize in January and February, update my website and set up a good inventory system – and then start a new series and experiment with new techniques.   Also, January and February historically is my busiest time in the year for my day job – and I tend to work 50+ hours a week during this time, not leaving me much time for my art!
But something happened, and the week of February 6th has me attending FOUR events that will feature my artwork in and around Atlanta.
Starting with Monday February 6th, which is  the opening of the 30th annual Spotlight on Art, an invitational fundraiser for the Trinity School, located on Northside Drive near the Chattahoochee River.  A weeklong event, it begins with the Opening Reception 6p-9p on Monday and going through Saturday.   It features 350 artists – –  all invited to be a part of this show.   I will have three pieces on display here.
Song of the Moon
24×36

Up next, on Thursday  February 9th.   InsideOut Accessories located in Vinings Jubilee will host an evening with the artists from 5-9p.   This is an artisan boutique that features everything from jewelry, metal sculptures,  glasswares and much more.   This is a good destination to find that one of a kind Valentine’s Day gift, as everything in the store is handmade by Georgia artists.  In addition to what is usually on display in the store, I will have several small original paintings that would make a great Valentine’s Day Gift, as small at 3″x3″ to 24″x36″.

InsideOut

February, Friday, February 10th.  Emerging Art Scene, located in Castleberry Hills will be open 6-9p as part of the monthly Art Stroll.   My work will be exhibited as part of the Valentine’s show!

AND, finally, The Seen Gallery, located on Church Street in Downtown Decatur will feature my work beginning on February 11th.   An opening reception will be held on Saturday February 11th from 7-10p.
The painting below will be featured in this show.    The show is tentatively titled Journeys.

Hope to see you at one of the events the week of February 6th.   I have not entered into any festivals this year, so this is the only chance you will have for awhile to see my work.  Of course you can always visit my studio!!!!

THE ADVANTAGES OF OWNING ORIGINAL ART

Spring Moon 24×36 on canvas

Now you have a place to call your own.   But, do you want it to be like everybody else’s?   Even if it is just a room, an apartment, or a recently purchased house, don’t you want your surrounding to reflect who you are?   I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my surrounding to look like it came out of an Ikea catalog.   Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I’ve always surrounded myself with furniture and accessories that I felt were unique to me.

Which brings me to the first reason to buy original art – you are purchasing something that is unique to you, it is a one of a kind piece.   It is as unique as you are – there is not another one exactly like it in the world, just like you are one of a kind!

The remainder of the reasons are in no particular order.

You have found something that gives you pleasure, it moves you aesthetically, or moves you on a sensory level.   This gives you a personal connection to the pieces, a connection only you have with it!

You also are supporting an artist and allowing the artist to continue to create.   And, you are probably supporting a small business owner.   If you are buying from a local artist, or from a local gallery, you are supporting the local economy.

Don’t be afraid to buy original art.    It doesn’t have to be as difficult or as expensive as many people believe it to be.   Most galleries are happy to talk to you about their pieces, and there are many places that carry small pieces that aren’t that expensive.   I myself have ornament sized paintings that I sale for under $50, and many purchasers have returned to purchase larger pieces.   And, if you do buy an original piece from a gallery, most artists are happy to talk to you about the pieces.

So, unless you want your home to look like everybody else’s, search our original art in your local area, check out art festivals, check out co-ops.   There is plenty out there!


HELLO 2012!

Because I spent the last several days of 2011 cleaning up my studio, I was raring to go on the first day of 2012.   I am going to document my process better in the upcoming year, and give each completed piece a “story” – meaning I’m going to keep up with the materials used in each piece.

Today I started with a piece I have been working on and experimenting with.   I had ALOT of texture on it, but wasn’t pleased with it.  So – I spent some time burning the texture off with a blowtorch, as well as gunpowder.   As a result, I burned through the canvas a few times.

The piece I’m experimenting with – with my new hand sander!

Below – you will see a sequence of pictures, beginning with the back of the piece to illustrate how much fire I used on it.   I sanded it down and it lightened it up a little bit.   I then added red to the areas on the painting that appeared to be bubbles as a result of the fire.    I started to see a pattern emerged.   I continued to play with it.

the back of the 12×12 canvas

While the piece isn’t 100% finished, i think the progression is working nicely.   It started out today very dark, and actually it was looking a little burnt because I was overzealous with the fire!   A little sanding,  finding patterns in the texture to emphasize, spraying alcohol back into it to dilute the paint has made a big difference.  I would welcome any suggestions on how to proceed!
Next post will be about the mixed media online workshop I am playing around with.   This is where this piece is beginning:

2012 – THE YEAR TO FOCUS

After reading a blog by social media expert and author Mari Smith about selecting one word that will be your overall theme and guide for the year (you can read the blog here).    I have chosen the word FOCUS. One of the definitions of focus is to concentrate vision or energy.   That is my plan for 2012 – to concentrate my vision and energy on moving ahead in my art career.

I believe many creative types suffer a little from ADHD and I’m not immune to it.  In looking back over the past year, I must admit when I have a deadline, I am able to focus.  But, without a deadline I tend to get distracted and go in several directions.  I previously wrote a blog about setting goals for 2012  which I published on this blog on November 13th.  One of my goals is to blog regularly, so I started a file today to begin collecting ideas for upcoming blogs.   Also – I need to get organized, in my studio, my office, my closet, all facets of my life!   So – today I cleaned up my home office and organized my finances.  Last week I organized my closet.

I guess it is that time of year.   My mother always told me that what you do on New Year’s Day, you will do for the rest of the year.   Case in point – several years ago I woke up early on New Year’s Day and moved to the couch and turned on the TV.   I lay there all day long and watched 12 hours of Law and Order – never getting dressed.   Well, that turned out to be probably the most unproductive year of my life!   Since then, I have always made it a point to feel pretty organized on New Years Day, have my bills paid, laundry done and put up!, refrigerator cleaned out.   You get the idea!

That leaves me time on New Year’s Day to concentrate on what I want to do for the remainder of the year.   I will paint, read, exercise, eat healthy.

I also plan on spending the remaining two weeks of the year organizing my office for my day job – to make me more efficient.

In doing these things, I will be able to FOCUS on pushing my art forward, working on my online presence and learning more about social media!

SETTING GOALS

I am part of a critique group called Shadowline Artist Group which meets every month or so.  We have decided to incorporate a “salon” type element to the group and share both long and short term goals.
One of our members, Donna Orti, did a little research on goals which are listed below.   I found these thoughts so simple and straightforward, I feel they border on being brilliant!   
1.  In order for a goal to be effective, it must effect change.
2.  Realistic goals are beyond your grasp but within your reach. 
3.  Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.
4.  and my favorite – A goal without a deadline is a wish!
With these thoughts fresh in our minds, we went around the room and discussed our goals.   The goals were as varied as finishing a series, finding a regional gallery to developing a website.  There was talk about simplfying, finding focus, and organizing.
With hearing everybody’s goals, I was inspired enough to put my initial goals on paper.  So here goes!
I want to get in the habit of blogging.   I haven’t been blogging regularly, in fact, I had to stop and think about what my password was for my blog today!!!!!  I don’t want to just write about my work, but I want to write about the books I’ve read and the movies/documentaries I’ve seen that are relevant to my artwork.
I need to organize my collage material – and I want that finished by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.  I will be off work for 5 full days over Thanksgiving – and I don’t have alot of commitments.   So – I’m looking forward to a very productive long weekend to get myself organized.
I also want to send out my electronic newsletter within the next 2 weeks.   I haven’t sent one since the summer – and it is time I send another one out.   My last show of the year will be the first weekend of December, so I want to get it out prior to then.
Over the longterm – I want to work on my online presence and expand my mailing list.
I plan on experimenting more and working on a new series.   I’m toying with an idea about destruction and beauty  – – – going to work on making this more than a vague idea in my head!
Because I am in two galleries in town, as well as a shop in Vinings I have decided to get away from festivals.   After much soul searching, I have decided Atlanta is just too “festival crazy” – there are weekends where there are as many as four or five festivals.   The market is just too deluted.  So –  I’m going to choose my venues more carefully.   I feel I am at a point in my art-career where the company I keep is important.   I no longer want to show my work at events that have buy/sell or substandard work.
In the other aspects of my life, I want to get on a strict budget.   I want to eat healthier and work out more.   I want to de-clutter my life, my homes, my wardrobe and my head!!!!   
So – here’s to my goals.   I will refine these by the end of the year and have a good list of goals that I am going to hold myself accountable too!

COLLAGE DEMONSTRATION AT THE ATLANTA ART FESTIVAL

Come out to Piedmont Park next weekend, September 17 and 18!   I will be doing inter-active collage demonstrations throughout both days as part of Creation Station.   I will help with people to do a small 5×7 collage they can take with them as long as supplies last.   To make it simple, I have chosen four “suggested designs” and am putting together the materials for these.

The first design is a dress – and while anybody can put together any type of dress they want, I am using the following as an example.

I have included several types of paper, as well as dress patterns, paper from a player piano roll, a french book amd a few other things.  If this is a design that is chosen, this dress particular dress is just a suggestion.  Any type of dress can be done.  Embellishments can be added with thread, stamps or colored pencil.

The second design I am including is a musical piece with collage put on top of a piece of music.  Below is an example using an old recital piece of mine!

I will help people with a simpler design of this, and I have been busy busy punching out different butterflies and birds for this.   I will make copies of the actual music, as well as adding a piece of music called “Yellow Bird” and one called “Dragonfly”.   I will bring a stamp of a butterfly to use as embellishment.

The third design is much smaller.   I did a series several years ago using Tarot cards as the base.  See below for an example.

I am bring a regular pack of playing cards that can be collaged on.  I will bring some sand paper because I like to rough up the surface a bit, as well as some sequins, thread, stamps, envelopes to name a few things I used on these.  I also liked melting crayons on these!  I am bringing a stack of magazines too, so images can be found in them also.   
The fourth design is an abstract piece, using primarily white and neutral pieces of rice paper.   A sample is below:
I will also demonstrate dying paper, using Nev’r Dull on magazine pages, and layering paintings and using a blow torch to work with the layers.
So, come on out – and take home a collage that you have made!!!!!

WAITING FOR THE PAINT TO DRY……

I have a deadline – I was given around 4-5 weeks to complete 40 paintings in various sizes, but all in my “dress” series.  The challenge is to keep it interesting and not keep painting the same thing over and over again.   And, at the same time, to make sure they will hang well together,   
So – I have been working in groups.  Because I layer my paintings, I have some downtime.   This is one way this heat wave has helped me!   But, today it is overcast and very humid and drying time is VERY SLOW.
So, I began experimenting.   Below is  a small canvas (5×7) with a very wet red wash over several layers of paint.
Then I covered the canvas with gunpowder (rifle gunpowder BTW).
Then, I lit a match and watched it burn – of course with a spray bottle of water handy, and of course I moved anything flammable away!!!!
It easily burned with no problems, but it was exciting!
It just burned itself out – and of course, it managed to dry the canvas.   I love experimenting, but I don’t know what this experimentation with fire really says about me.  I have been kicking around some ideas about doing a series on destruction vs. beauty.   I also have a very stressful job in the advertising business, so I think this destruction and danger is a stress reliever for me.   I used to work out to relieve stress……
Well, that solved the problem of one canvas drying, but I have 14 others drying – as you can see in the next couple of photographs.
Here are 5 10×30’s that are drying  with their 2nd layer.  They have been gessoed, but now I’m adding other elements to create more texture, things such as a fondand, bubble wrap, material.   Right behind these  pieces are 10 5×7 canvases drying.
The three closest to the camera were all burned with gunpowder.   I have put medium on top of them – so they should dry quickly.   There are 7 more behind them – most of them are in their 5th or 6th layer -they are moving along.
So, now I’m waiting for the paint to dry.   I thought I’d be productive and  write this blog, but now what?   Should I clean up and run some errands, go to the grocery store and plan menus for this week, or just relax and read????   I think I’m going to relax and read, after all I am reading a book about art, so I’m not abandoning my artday totally.   Presently, I am reading STEALING REMBRANDTS: The Untold Story of Notorious Art Heists.   Few of these heists are new to me, but it is interesting  – and I’m learning alot of Rembrandt at the same time.
From this end of my table, you can see my completed pieces – yes, I stacked them up for show!   There are 4 20x24x, 12 6×6, and 12 9×12 – which I began on 7/22.   Well, actually they aren’t 100% finished, they still need the edges painted and the wires put on.   And, I want to finish everything with time to spare so I can relook at all of them and make any changes I feel necessary, and make professional looking tags for the back of them with the materials used and maybe I’ll even name them all.

PLAYING WITH FIRE – A VIDEO OF BURNING PAPER WITH GUNPOWDER

What you are looking at is a sheet of Okawaru Japanese paper that I have burned using gunpowder.  I lightly spritz the paper with water  and lay the gunpowder on top of it.  For this experiment I used smokeless rifle powder.  I found gunpowder is harder to find than bullets – most gunshops don’t carry powder.   Even Walmart carries bullets.  But Joel found a guy in a gunshop that had gunpowder at home so we took it all off his hands in the name of art!
Click here to see the very short video of burning paper – and I keep water handy!!!!!