Welcome to Visual Hierarchy, an online visual playground. Gathered here are pictures I make. Visual Hierarchy is a laboratory. Research is done in a wide variety of mediums.
Today is special because 1 = 6. About half way through this drawing I decided to start photographing progressions in the work. I find snapshots of drawings in progress to be almost as, or more, interesting as the original image. Related to Guardians of Gaia here they are:
I love drawing naked people. Until last night its been about 8 months since I did any figure drawing. Breaking back into it felt like mental massage, very relaxing and revitilizing. Here is one of the drawings which hints at where my mind is at now in terms of direction.
Oh, and anavasthaa is coming, back relaxed and revitilized.
This weekend is going to be exciting for several reasons:
1. Art Chicago
2. A new idea for a public art project that will be launched soon
3. My bike from Madison is coming in tomorrow morning because I cracked my frame on the old bike: damn Milwaukee roads.
4. Anavasthaa drawings are coming along and a flood of new ideas has arrived. I actually have enough drawings for about 6+ pages and more in the works.
And now a little something from our friend Hieronymus Bosch:
I’m at the computer lab for drawing class. I can hardly contain the ideas racing through my head. The flood is too great, the brain strom is clogging the drains and I’m reaching saturation. Img archive Img archive Img archive. Anavasthaa is going to take a hard right and get all up in your space like a house of leaves. I’m too excited to stay here any longer, must go before my fingers start into flames from keyboard burn.
I cannot wait for this semester to be over. There are too many projects to do, too much art to make. This semester my artistic productions have fallen drastically. There are a number of reasons for this, but there are no excuses. I have yet to fully exercise my potential and I’m itching to flex my artistic muscles. This list is for oganizing my thoughts:
1. Anavasthaa – emphasis on experimentation and breaking out of the graphic novel format into something new. Musical (and perhaps other forms of) collaboration to play around with new ideas. A book with a soundtrack. Artwork with a soundtrack.
2. Artwork to sell – begin working on work that is playful and educational. Instead of focusing on what you might think people want to buy start making work that you enjoy with content that isn’t too confrontational. Figure drawing/painting, still lifes. Creating this type of work is important in regards to understanding visual space. Most works that I’ve sold in the past year have been from drawing class where I’m just having fun with simple content. Create studies to learn and sell them to earn.
3. Public Art – It interests me to put “fine art” out into public. There could be lots of reasoning made about how public art breaks out of the gallery and is challenge to art establishments, however to me this is more about reaching a broader audience. Its about creating something that sparks something in the viewer, even if its just a smile. I like this way of communication, because it is more intimate imho. The artist is not recognized and thus it is an image that isn’t trying to sell you something and its not necessarily a means to an end.
4. Artacious – this project is the most challanging of them all. Starting a business is not something I’m sure I’m ready for, but I feel the need to push forwards anyway. I do think it will be a great boon for milwaukee. My only fear is being tied down to this city if I start this website. Need to think a lot more about how this is going to work.
The tentative first page of Anavasthaa is here. Above is a teaser. For those who make it through the link, enjoy. As always comments, criticisms, etc are welcome.
A long time ago when my parents were still together I was drawing at the dinner table one morning. I don’t remember the drawing, but it was most likely my standard guy with some armor and weaponry. I remember telling my dad that I wish my drawings could come alive and move. I remember being shocked when my dad said “You can” and explained that I could make a movie. I thought of this today while drawing for anavasthaa. My drawings are moving now.
The blog Anavasthaa is now online and actually has some interesting posts. And by interesting posts I mean there is artwork! Anavasthaa is the home of my latest collaborative art project; a graphic novel. The purpose of this blog (for me at least; my collaborator is co-authoring) is to create a visual time line where I can reference past ideas. The hope is that this will inspire richer art, like sifting for gold in a stream.
In addition, I hope people post comments and offer their opinions, critiques, critisisms, ideas, and first impressions. The blog is as much about learning from the viewer’s opinions as it is documenting the creator’s work. If people get interested it would in essense blur the lines between ‘viewer’ and ‘creator.’
In mental preparation for the Anavasthaa graphic novel I have begun doing an animation. This is a very new process for me, but from the meager 6 frames I completed last night I’m pretty excited. I’ve always tried to get a sense of movement in my work, a sense of life and speed. With the fourth dimension I can make my drawings dance and move. Perhaps I could even do the sound for my drawings, nothing is stopping me. I have no images to show now, but during the next few weeks the Anavasthaa blog will be complete with sketches and info on the graphic novel (but not too much) and perhaps even the first actual frame.
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