Letterpress

I've been taking an art course. A three week intensive starting 

last Monday. Robin Price is instructing and the course concerns

constructing artist books. We are also working with chance 

operations, think John Cage. Old fashioned letterpress

with plenty of quirks. Midway through the second week. I

have to admit that learning the fundamentals takes a bit, but 

the results are not only a feast for the eyes but a feast for touch.

For those of you coming of late to this blog, I have a master of 

arts but love to continue my learning curve at Wesleyan

University, because of the caliber of visiting professors.

Plus in the world of art why not think of ourselves as

beginners? We get stuck when we are too wrapped up in

our own world. Robin's course is breaking down that thinking

by requiring us to work not only in collaboration but with

chance as well. The pix above is a section of a cover I'm working

on for a series of cards that six of us have collaborated on.  More 

to follow on the unique world of artist books.

I had this great idea after posting on Victoria's Horse Wisdom site.

Follow her example and make a post about my work space. Hers' is

serene, mine chaos. I thought what a great counterpoint. So, of 

course the blogging demon has been screwing with my attempts to 

post. I just hope this is the last time I'm going to reconstruct this

train of thought. My studio-just a computer and a window to

stare out of. A printer, scanner, a slide to digital converter and 

a chair. But, I'm out of control in the picking up after projects

department. Just scroll down and you will see that all is not 

serene with the guy who loves a great zen meditation.

Now, the table is an heirloom.  Made by my great-great

grandfather. Passed down and restored when my son and I 

stripped the original finish which turned very soft in the 

summer humidity and exposed the wonderful chestnut

underneath. But, I confess when I run out of space I

turn to the dining room table. This time to make a quick 

sign for a friend. I can't paint letters to save my life.

My shop is no better-total chaos after two back to back

projects; there is no time to clean and pick up.

A further example of my lack of discipline, the basement.

I haven't picked up my workspace here since getting ready 

for the art fair. This is the area I use for matting and shrink-wrapping.

Falling Monks

Yes there are falling leaves and there are falling Monks.  In Zen tradition

 there are many Monks who fail to understand. I only pick upon 

this due to my commitment to understand the differences in religious 

traditions.   

Maze

First off - Thanks to everyone for holding my hand through my own hand wringing

of late.  "Art Contemplations" took a back seat for awhile.  I was wrestling with

some thorny personal preferences.  I should know better.  I've made the decisions

that place me here and now.  I pursued art; gave up on it once and am back for 

a second round.  Trouble is, these rounds last years.  If you have followed this blog

for awhile you must realize my infatuation with Zen koans.  Of late my life 

seems to encompass "The great way is not difficult if you just don't pick and

choose." (Sengcan)  It's difficult to accept where you are, especially if it's 

not where you want to be.  If I look back, I realize I am here.  Everything

leads to this place. Every decision from the time I was able to make decisions.

I link to Horse Wisdom  because whether we are talking horses, art or life; we 

are speaking about a mindful life - full of the unexpected - full of love.

My work today is far removed from this picture.  This is an installation piece

where I created  a maze to follow to the main gallery.   Thank you for curators

who are open to the new. I need to find a few more.

Over the Top

So how did it go you ask?  Was it worthwhile?  I'm not  sure.

The set up went well and I had a location that was near the entrance.

I was next to one of our towns treasures - Elizabeth Sennentt. (sorry no web presence)  Gorgeous works in oil and watercolor - a local legend and a very gratuitous 

woman.  I didn't sell a single piece.  Yet, I have this nice third place ribbon and

a check for $50.  I had so many people pass asking how these images were 

produced and after explaining - there was still - is that possible look.   Why

should I be afraid?  I've spent eight years learning Photoshop, plus I still 

continue my sumi-e and other traditional techniques.  We went from the 

60's yesterday to over 90 and humid today.  K and I are melted. Time for

some extreme iced wine.

This is my set up.  Praise be to having worked as a framer for so many years.  If I

 had to pay someone to frame all this stuff I'd be in deep crap.  I've been framing,

cutting mats, shrink wrapping and generally not sleeping for the last couple of weeks.  I'm not 

sure if this will pay off, but todays experience was positive.  Even people I'm 

friends with were amazed with the depth of my work (frankly some were unaware

of what I'm up to)  Yieks - I'm so bad at marketing.  The big bright side was my

friend Teri  coming over last night to share some wine and distract K and I for an hour.

• 
  
• The piece that caught the judge's eye was my work 'Meltdown' : I don't 
  
• think I've published this on my blog to date.  I use elements of this 
  
• piece as my logo in the blog world.  The piece derives from a difficult
  
• period in my art life.  Art life - what is that?  Thats the point where
  
•  art can't possibly pay bills and all the nay sayers are pointing fingers
  
• at your decisions.  It was a period in NYC that Karen and I lost three
  
• great artist friends within a year.  Leukemia, heroin overdose and a 
  
• highway fatality.  Yes, NYC seems the art capitol of the world, but we
  
• had to retreat - too much pain.  My piece 'Meltdown' remains a 
  
• reflection on these emotions.
  

I can't wait until next Saturday - My Art Fair debut.  I've been scrambling.  I thought I had a fair number of works framed, but of course I needed twice to make a display.  Then I thought people may not be interested in framed work. So I started to just mat and shrink wrap. I thought the worst years of my life were spent at Brewster Gallery in NYC as the framer, but now I'm cutting my own mats and building my own frames.  So, you never know.  Despite my initial reservations, this seems to be a good exercise. Yet I have one mental obstacle.  Help me think this though.  It concerns limited editions.  On the one hand these types of shows demand limited editions if you are in the "graphics" media - yet digital imagery is new enough to wonder if an artist should limit his/her best efforts to an edition of 100 or whatever.  Plus - you will see elements of my art repeating in works in years to come.  The way I work is to compile a digital library of sky, textures, plants, people, writing and everything I can imagine.  I combine these, and if you compare the works you will see similar elements reappear.  So any comments on the idea of limited edition prints?

May Madness

Oh dear! Oh dear!  I shall be too late!  Yes, I'm feeling a little like 

the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.  So much to do

and so little time.  I realized this morning that a whole week

has passed since I last blogged. (forgive me father for I have 

sinned?)  Oh well, by the end of this month I'll probably resemble

the other rabbit in Alice's story, the March Hare or sometimes 

referred to as the Mad March Hare from the tea party.  I'm 

not quite sure why March is mad, to me things seem particularly

unreal every May.  Probably because our gardens need so much

attention plus the various groups we volunteer for all seem to

love May for some endeavor or another.  Plus throw in a job, well

at least I know I'm not alone.   In any event, the image I'm

presenting is another of my 'Reflection' series.  I keep adding

to this group if I'm lucky enough to first remember to keep the

camera handy, then have the good fortune to stumble across the

 right light and reflection.

Thank You

My last post had some great comments by some people doing 

great art.  Art that I respect, otherwise I wouldn't return to their blogs.

I think that now that I have gone ahead and signed up for a few shows,

I'll just let it play out for what it is.  I've have to lay out some cash

for tent and display system but I'll try to live up to Sarahs expectation

that I'll do a good job - Get some contacts, sell a few, perhaps uplift

my marketing brain. Already, I'm printing, matting, cutting frames,

creating a new biography. This might be a journey that reminds me

why I hate art fairs.  For now I'll go with it this summer and see if 

it leads to a more promising land.  I'm posting an older work created

four years ago.  The strange thing about this is that I have used digital

pieces of this work to create others

Sleepless

This always happens when I become my worst enemy.  Sleepless

in Connecticut.  I've always hated art fairs but I've decided to do

several this summer.  I've been to a number of them and want to

shove my finger down my throat. The work seems all the same,

boats and flowers and beach scenes.  All very nice, but not the 

kind of art that inspires me.  But the artists do seem to be selling

some work.  I really need to be selling more.  Exact same problem when

I lived in NYC for ten years after grad school.  I'm an artist but don't 

have a clue on how to really market what I produce.  I'm probably

on another fools mission  Damn, I really need to make the transition

from woodworker back to artist. Plus find some success, humor and grace.

 

Rock Art

One of the art fascinations I have concerns rock art; whether petroglyphs

 pictographs, assemblages etc.  The idea of the artist working rock to

record, evoke magic or express is a powerful stimulation.  Mostly

we don't know the why of the creation; in many instances the artist 

and his/her culture has faded.  We are left with a mystery and speculation.

I decided to create my own petroglyph after taking some photos of rock

formations overlooking the Connecticut river.  I combined one of those 

images with a photo of old machinery that I reduced to line drawings.

I hope there is some magic in deciphering the image.  I printed this on

13x19 Canon Photo Pro paper.

Koan

Sometimes, I throw self portraiture into the mix.  What is it like to put your work 

on display?  Artists open up and lay down plenty of emotions that many people

bottle up.  I think our audience likes to distance themselves and perhaps prefers 

to view this on a canvas as a way of expressing themselves when they display

 our works.  My photo here is something I shot when contemplating a Zen koan. I still 

haven't thought of a way to bring this image to a final concept.  Any suggestions? 

"Master Xiangyan said, suppose someone is up in a tree, holding on to the branches

by his teeth, his hands without a grip on a limb, his feet without a toehold on the 

trunk.  Someone under the tree asks about the meaning of Zen.  If he does not 

answer, he is avoiding the question; but but if he answers, he loses his life.  At 

just such a time , how would you reply?"

Pots and Kettles

The great thing about a few days vacation is the opportunity 

to collect some new photos.  Our trip to Block Island provided

that chance.  The picture I worked on today started as a nice 

little shot taken on one of the beaches.  We found this little

beach called Pots and Kettles.  Over in Photoshop I played

with various filters, blending modes and the unsharp mask.

For the last several months the theme of my digital work is 

to create an 'hyper real' look to my photographs.  Hopefully

it takes a second look to to realize there is something

'odd' to the photo.  

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Four days of vacation are great.  Karen and I haven't been on a 

vacation since last May, when my mom took a bad fall.  Many

changes; way too much medical responsibility; way too much

involvement into her care, wishes etc.  Hint to the wise,

talk early to your children and keep talking.  We finally had 

the space to go and do something for us!  Great beaches, hiking 

nature trails, an afternoon nap; laps in  the pool until the 

grandma squad interrupted us with the daily "walk across " and 

asked us to join in.  Oh well - we swim laps and they bound back and 

forth.  Just giggle and leave: We're never going to be that old - are we?

Enough of that - my post is a photo taken not to long ago of some 

brushes with a mystery setting of tea candles - of course some 

drama provided by Photoshop.

Visual Influence

 Blogging has become a very interesting part of my life since

I started this year.  I have met many online artists that inspire me

to create something each day.  I have to admit that before 

blogging I was in the habit of waiting for inspiration to

hit.  I realize now that slogging through bad days and

nights of the rubbish I produce is a healthy process.  

I was browsing my hard drive for photo's today; trying

to find a thread to begin a digital work.  I was stunned to find 

a screen shot from a video I made back in the summer of

03.  For this one scene I had used marker on a variety of 

flower petal to write on.  In my hand is the word visual and

in the for ground is influence.  Think four years later and

I have run into a very creative person, Sarah Elizabeth, who has 

 a wonderful site, full of creative thinking, that has the 

name Visual Influence. Karen and I are off for four days of

vacation on Block Island, so no posts until Sunday.  

Times Square

Ok - enough of the sumi-e.  Too easy to come up with a little 

sketch each post.  I want to throw something out there 

that I'm just beginning to experiment with.  Solarplates

are a light sensitive material bonded to a metal plate.

You can use these in a variety of ways, but I've been 

making some layers in photoshop and printing on acetate.

The acetate is placed on the solarplates and exposed to 

sunlight. Water is used to wash away unexposed areas.

The plates are inked and can be run through a regular

etching press or a lighter paper can be used with a pin press

or baren.  My "Subway Attire" print is 8" x 10.5" and 

printed with Akua Kolor pigments designed for 

Japanese style printmaking. 

Spring

It is finally starting to feel like spring here in central CT.  

a couple of more weeks and I can actually paint from 

life rather than memories.

Bamboo

I have some antique journals that seem to record financial

transactions.  I've been taking scans of them, then

 combining them with other images in Photoshop.  For the 

most part I've combined them with other scanned objects 

or photographs.  In this instance, I reversed the image,

printed it in on rice paper.  I flipped the paper

and did a quick bamboo sketch.  The numbers and letters

are readable from the front side, faintly behind the bamboo.

When I view oriental scrolls, I am taken with the beautiful

 calligraphy that often make up part of the composition.

I suppose I was trying to re-create the flowing "grass

style" of Japanese calligraphy I am so drawn to.  This

image is 11.5 x 14.5.

Koi

Another of my reflection series.  Once again this features 

our koi.  Still experimenting with different filters, blend

modes and sharpening.  I've been trying the low angle

photo suggestion that Laura and Sarah  with 

some success.  I've also been trying different times of

day to get shafts of light illuminating the schooling

koi.  I printed it out at 10.5"x 14" on A3+ glossy paper.

My wife, Karen, thought the image blurry.  I think it is

due to the rippling of the water and kind of like the way

it gets blurry the closer you view it.  Kind of like the way 

a Seurat dissolves into points of color. 

Reflection and Koi

I've been continuing with reflections in my digital work.  About 

two weeks ago we had a rain storm that washed the remaining 

ice off our pond.  The big rains also provide a lot of clarity 

to the water.  I was very happy to discover that the koi made 

it through the winter ok.  Now I'm on a mission to get a credible

image of them seeming to swim through the branches of the

reflected trees.  This is my first attempt.  I need to get a more

luminous original.  Easier said than done.

Perfect Day

Katukawa Shusho (d. 1792) Late 1780's. John C. Weber collection.

Photo copyright John Bigelow

Yesterday was one of those perfect days. Karen and I caught an early train to

NYC to meet up with a friend we hadn't seen in a long time. It's sad when 

distance and careers get in the way of connecting with dear friends. We finally

decided we hadn't seen each other in 17 years. We met at the Asia Society.

They are hosting a wonderful exhibit, "The World of Edo Japan in Print and

Painting". While I count Japanese art as one of my main influences, viewing

the exhibit with Patricia Graham was eye opening. Pat is a former professor

of Japanese Art and Culture.  Her latest book, "Faith and Power in Japanese

Buddhist Art" is encyclopedic. We spent an hour or so viewing the exhibit before

lunch at Asia Societies excellent restaurant. Pat was accompanied by Lee Schneller, 

a fascinating woman, who has lived in Japan for over four years.  She is a premier

expert in landscape design based in Maine. Her company has designed more 

than 150 Japanese inspired gardens, using native plants. Watch her website

for the launch of a book on how to create continuous blooms late this year.

During lunch we turned to catching up on years of family, career, travels

 and children; then back for two more hours of viewing our influences til we 

stumbled out, bleary eyed from visual overload. 

We did manage a visit to two galleries owned by friends of Pat's that specialize

in Japanese art.  The Joan B. Mirviss gallery was especially exciting with many

pieces by Sakiyama Takayuki.  The ceramic pieces, some the size of bushel baskets,

are very earthy; evocative of sand dunes, beaches or plowed earth.  In late afternoon 

we departed, tired but inspired.  A day out with an old friend and meeting some

new ones - perfect.

New Reflections

I've been intrigued with reflections and shadow.  I started a digital

series on this subject a few weeks ago. Searching with the camera 

for subjects that look at first glance to be straight photography,

but at at closer examination seem a little off. I hate to disclose 

trade secrets, but four copies overlaid and filters in photoshop

produced this image.

Old Reflection

I was out today to photograph some new reflections for a 

series of digital art I'm working on but decided to shoot

a few shots of a sculpture I did years ago.  A small piece,

not quite three foot square.  I have it perched on a

protruding piece of ledge in our back yard.  If not for 

the ledge I'm sure it would be sinking to the center of 

the earth due to it's weight.  I consists of two interlocking

welded steel pieces best described as three dimensional

horseshoes.  Six cast aluminum wedges driven in the center

hold the two steel plates and five cast lead plates at each

end.  A piece that is held together by it's own internal tension.

Much like myself.  Call it a self portrait. 

Ixchel

Ixchel or as I call her 'my wife Karen' has been a little  distracted

from her current project.  I know this is very strange but Karen

is a true Goddess that indeed weaves the universe of many souls.

While I spend my time making cabinetry and art she spends her

day overseeing a state mental health program; on call 24/7 and 

tireless advocate for rights of the mentally incapable, as well as

 those that work in that capacity. I'm surprised she has any effort

at the end of the day; yet she sits down to the loom after work

and works for an hour or so. I'm sure I'll never know exactly

 what is going into this shadow weave; read hard to do, I think

it's weaving the universe. I thought maybe the blog was about 

me, but tonight it's more about art pain.

   

Reflections

I've been working on a new digital series based on reflections.

I've been looking out the kitchen window for years.  Looking at

the pond.  So many reflections, so many sunsets over the 

Connecticut river.

Why have I waited so long to make some reflection art.  It's right 

there in front of me.  

I think we forget to see the beauty in the everyday.  These everydays are printed at

 10.5 x 14 image size.

Wren

Wren on Bamboo : 12" x 19"

Having a hard time deciding what to post.  On one hand I've got this

photoshop collage of men in gas masks ascending a Times square 

subway, but it's two years old; on the other I got a wren perched in bamboo.  

Both nice works.  Just hard to believe that they are produced by the same 

artist. I went with the wren.  We have developed a rather large contingent

of wrens that populate our 1.5 acre plot of earth we call our 'own'.

Well, our usually well stocked bird feeder is the answer.  Complicated

little birds that I can observe at length as a day passes.  I'll return

to the photo collage work soon.  My best advisor, my wife Karen, thinks 

that I shouldn't publish older works, unless relevant to a new. Also, check 

out my friend Sarah - she has posted an interpretation of her children and a niece.  

I'm wondering with the Kids project whether we go off our usual art or keep our

artist eye. Are we sentimental?  Can we project personality? Perhaps

show what hasn't fallen far from the tree?

Son/Sun

After Jafabrit's 3/6 post, I thought I would share my version of 

Karen's and my son. I admit I photoshopped the hell out of him. I was 

thinking that it might be a great blog idea to have artists submit their 

versions of their kids.  Comments?

 

I started with a respectable photo.  It's a few years old and now those dreds

are gone.  Ian is finishing up a productive run at Berklee College of Music.

He's a bass player and a photographer/artist in his own right.  Ian got 

me to start blogging.  Due to his full time work and courses, he posts

infrequently. I did call to get his permission to use him in this post.

Hair Brush

I've only been blogging since the first of '08.  I'm new to 

sharing art online.  At first I was very concerned how

other bloggers would find the blog and what their perception

would be.  Jafrabrits latest post made me realize that I am 

putting myself out there and art is just in the genes.  It's 

after 6 and I haven't had a Frida, Vincent, Hockney 

moment all day.  I did get an email from my nephew

concerning sumi-e and want to share. Who knows

what tonight will bring?

Rooster

Taking a break on this piece.  Well,  it's a study, because I want to add

more elements.  I discovered this rooster on an old Chinese scroll.  I 

love the pose and have been trying to 'copy'  or reinterpret this rooster

in my own style.  I haven't quite thought out what I'm doing with him.

Just thought I'd share a partial composition.

Prisoner

Although my work tends toward digital, my training was in sculpture.

On occasion I return to feature some of these efforts.  Just as I 

return to the brush.  It's an impulse to maintain skills and to 

let each discipline inform the other.  Checks and Balance.

This work, about 2' x 3', features a scroll form with bloodwood

slats framing.  Word heavy, the scroll contains the Buddha's 

fire sermon.  'Everything is burning'.  The frame contains

engraved musings on being a prisoner.  these musings are 

obscured with gold leaf - hard to photo.

I'm still trying to decide whether to include 'hands'.  I constructed

the hands from a wire mesh, covered with paper and painted.

The hands are pierced with pins that have gold leaf attached.

A clawing gesture for the words and against the flimsy string

representing prison bars.

Prisoner

At first I was going to post an iris, another of the four gentlemen but as 

I was scrolling through photos, this image caught my eye. 

A captive, a prisoner; I started to think about how we all become 

captives of our own self constructed realities.  While I love the digital 

world and believe that is where my creative muse lies; I am so

tuned to ink it brought me back to the brush. A prisoner of tradition.

I'm not sure how long this will last or if it should.  I think I just need

 a balance; perhaps a few days per week that contain brush and the 

remainder in digital.  Balance