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.  It 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.