I signed up for the service awhile ago but never used it. Now I’ve figured it out. Can’t believe it I’m actually doing it. When I first heard about twitter I scoffed, but it looks like this thing is picking up huge momentum. And besides, I’m kind of warming up to the idea of twittering probably because of facebook statuses. Now I’m getting texts like mad from friends and Mary Louise Shumacher. I feel connected. I’m not sure how often I will be using this thing, hopefully I’ll limit to just event announcements as opposed to “I’m eating rice” or “Its time to go to bed” every 5 minutes. My twitter profile is here.
Khoda
Posted: February 26th, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Artists | Tags: animation, dedication, inspiration | No Comments »Words won’t do this justice. Watch.
Khoda from Reza Dolatabadi on Vimeo.
People who take the time and energy to one project inspire me. This is something I should work towards.
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A stylistic resurgence of recycled content?
Posted: February 23rd, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Artists, Projects, Thoughts | Tags: clark stamm, collaboration | No Comments »
1. A collaborative venture with an amazing young creator: Clark Stamm
2. Metal.
3. A vision by Nathaniel Haack.
4. A long history of battle drawings and badass warriors with guns and armor.
1* Clark and I are doing a collaborative homework assignment (the theme is palimpsests so this collaboration supports the theme literally and hopefully visually). He did a bunch of drawings, I did a bunch of drawings, we trade, he draws on my drawings, and I draw on his. The finished work I will show later, but for now I’m just showing the cropped down and slightly altered version.br
2* As an avid metal fan I automatically feel inclined to explain my love for this music. This is not because I love it THAT MUCH, but it seems that the majority of folks dismiss it as the toxic ear vomit heard on the radio. As with any genre, it should not be generalized. To me, metal represents the epitome of epicness. This epic quality I try to replicate in my drawings like this one (as you can see it is still a work in progress).
3* As I was working on this drawing (using PS and a drawing tablet) my roommate watch and offered his opinion as to the direction of this drawing. Having not studied art intensively his opinion is always fresh and from angles I have a hard time reaching. Inspired by Dethklok, Yngwie Malmsteen, and King Crimson Nathaniel was able to envision a truly metal topic – slaughter. For the record I am anti-war and anti-violence, but one might not read that from some of the drawings I do.
4* The complete drawing, which I’ll show later, has opened a door. Upon entering art school I felt very discouraged to draw what I had been drawing from the first day I picked up a pencil: war. Its a dark subject, and most people mistake my work for visual fan fiction of sorts. In the drawing I was able able to combine my other visual interests (portraiture, physical environments, etc) with my battle drawings. Call it a personal renaissance if you’d like, but I think that returning to my old style and revamping major themes in my work (battles, cities, space vehicles, architecture, warriors, etc) would make my work better. I should embrace my artistic past, not reject it.
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5
Posted: February 23rd, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Projects | Tags: busy, web design, web developement, work | No Comments »
Of late I have been weening myself off of the internet. Traditionally I turn on my computer every morning before school, hit up computers on campus, and get down with the internet when I get back home. Much of this is a waste of time because I’m checking things like email(s) and facebook over and over. Really these things don’t need to be check so frequently and I’m finding the extra time is quite good for me. I have more time to draw, think, and play guitar.
Part of this lull is the result of an extensive delay in transferring one of my domain names for my website. Now its been transferred and I can start building again. I almost don’t want to start building it because it will take so much time that and frustration. Learning web design from scratch has not been easy on my mind and I’m starting to dislike too many hours on the computer. This winter has definitely driven me to long hours in front of the screen.
Additionally I have way the hell too many tentative sites to do. 1 for a deidre prosen, 1 for a dub district, 1 for a class mate, 1 for my grandmother, and possibly one for a friend of a friend who is running for the state legislature in MN. I hope to god my webdev times start improving because otherwise I’ll go insane (if I haven’t already).
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People I need you
Posted: February 20th, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Artists, Finished Works, Projects, Thoughts | Tags: collaboration, painting | No Comments »I recently worked on a collaborative art project with one of my co-workers (Check out the UWM Union atrium space right outside of the Union Bookstore). Each canvas had between 4-5 people working on them. Its interesting because I have received many comments about the work, even strangers from other classes. I think it is because I have a photo up there, so I think I’ll definitely consider putting photos up with my next shows.
Inspired by this show is my idea for the atrium space which I will have to fill on April 5th. A good friend of mine have been thinking about collaborating on work (and homework). After this Tuesday we shall see how this first (serious) collaboration turns out. I’ve got one thing on my mind and that is collaborate collaborate collaborate. Other people kick ass and they have so many ideas that I could never conceive. People I need you.
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When You’re Strange
Posted: February 18th, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Artists | Tags: artist sketchbook, drawing, video | No Comments »I was stumbled this today. Its really cool that he/she turned the sketchbook into a work in itself. I would really like to see this in person, because some of those drawings look pretty damn good!
Her website is here.
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Critique 414
Posted: February 18th, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Sketches, Thoughts | Tags: art theory, drawings | No Comments »Today Alliance 414 had its 2nd critique. As with the last critique there were only 4 of us and it turned out great. I learned quite a bit about what direction I want to take with some of my drawings and what to do. The most important thing is that I need to make more. I need to drill and practice and practice and practice and practice some more. Beware, if you’re not an art nerd you might not find the text below interesting (its mostly notes to self):
I drew this the other night spontaneously. The strengths in it overall are line quality, and a good sense of space. My peer’s opinions helped me realize the benefits of the composition. The two vertical bars negate the space outside the door frame and encourage the viewer inwards. The image has some good depth from value. Spots of high contrast move the eye around.
This piece I enjoy, but I think it is not as strong as the one I did earlier the other day. This one really helped me understand certain things about line (the handles below the sink for instance, I was able to use 2-3 lines to describe it). A couple of suggestions from my class mates that were helpful. The value is pretty constant, there are not areas that really pop from light or dark. In this image the drawing goes all the way to the edge of the page, which creates a kind of wall as opposed to the funnel effect in the last drawing. Perhaps letting the drawing dissolve onto a white (or black or grey) background would be a good idea? Someone suggested making the back room lighter and the front area much darker, thus pulling the viewer out of the dark and into the light.
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Multiple Open Mouths
Posted: February 13th, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Artists, Thoughts | Tags: open mic night, save the robot | No Comments »Last night was Mic Night at an irish pub on the downtownish east side. I was invited by a good friend from drawing class who is a constant inspiration. We were chilling in his room with a bunch of people listening to Save the Robot and relaxing. Later, inside the pub, I remembered how much I enjoy live music. There is something very physical about someone singing and playing an instrument right in front of you. The night was a blast. I was able to get a drawing in and still make it for the jam out at the end of my friend’s set.
I biked home and on my way stopped near the top of resevoir park and looked out at the city. It was wonderful. The crisp air felt refreshing in my lungs. At home I began working on a new electronica song almost immediately, however the software decided to seizure and wouldn’t open after I started playing with MIDI. I am happy.
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Combining Direction
Posted: February 12th, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Artists, Sketches, Thoughts | Tags: a bill, classroom without walls, dean valadez | No Comments »This blog has been dying, starved as it is of recent posts. I plan to remedy this right now.
I recently stumbled upon A Bill’s blog which I found through an online collaborative art project started by my most inspirational professor. A Bill’s work reminds me of some of my own, lots of detail, a digital vibe, and an inter connectivity between areas of the work. After doing a poor job on my last drawing assignment I was offered some helpful suggestions as to how I can better utilize my personal interests in art. My initial drawings were very fantasy oriented. Lots of monsters, battle scenes, warriors, futuristic machines, ect. In this regard I have always had an interest in representing the human form and environments attempting both 3d landscapes and ridgid topographical cities/battlefields. I was never really one for abstract pattern or loose scribbling. My drawing style was very tight. Hitting art school really changed the way I draw. I am much looser and more confident in my strokes.
I never realized until this week how similar my old drawings are to my current works. My interest in the figure and physical spaces are very strong to this day. The largest divertion from my original subject matter was my new interest in portraiture. However I still deal seriously with enviroments in my portraits. Anyways, what I realized was that I could perhaps combine my tight and loose styles. I did this once in my first drawing class to produce a portrait made entirely of triangles:
Exploring the hybridization of 3d and 2d spaces, ridgid and loose line qualities, and enviromental and figurative content is my new focus. Tonight I’m going to a bar to hear a friend on open mic night and yes I will be bringing my charcoal and papers.
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Epic
Posted: February 1st, 2009 | Author: Sean | Filed under: Artists | Tags: music, Yngwie Malmsteen | No Comments »Today is a good day. Despite delays in revamping my website and way too much unfinished homework I am quite pleased. However, how could I not be pleased while listening to Yngwie Malmsteen. I’ve always known Yngwie as an amazing metal guitarist unrivaled in speed, technical skill, and compositional mastery. Yet today I am listening to his Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E flat minor Op.1 -Millennium- and am utterly blown away. This is music that is moving and powerful beyond the ordinary. I would suggest this album to anyone, even those not interested in Classical music. Just to give a taste of the badassness of Mr. Malmsteen I am posting my first video in his honor.
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