Clay with colored glazes
18" Tall, 16" Deep and 16" Wide
Ahhh, finally over the holidays and things are beginning to settle down once more. I have to apologize as I've fallen far behind on this blog but will attempt to catch it up over the next few weeks. I will post some of the new work I've been doing as well as update some of my latest thoughts on this thing I do "making art". We've all been suffering through some tough economic times and Art seems to be low on the priority list of so very many of us. This is regrettable due to the fact that the practice of making art can be a safe haven for so many of our thoughts and feelings and a way to express them in a positive manner. Believe me when I say I have my share of frustrations with the world around me. It ,"The World" doesn't seem to match my vision anymore as a place abundant with opportunities to express ones self, create beauty and find an audience. Most of that I will shoulder as my own perception. I'm not sure the world has really changed much and will probably be as receptive as always. I've made several choices in my life over the past year which may be driving my perception and I'll claim them as mine alone. First, I've cut off access to all television media. This was both an economic as well as a moral choice for me. I couldn't see paying almost one hundred dollars a month to watch maybe 10 programs a month. That's the cost of several first run movie tickets, a show at the theater (yes matinee on Sunday and cheap seats but it's live) or any number of tickets to shows and things to do. So I've opted to do some of these other things with my money, thanks. I would suggest you look over your budget as well and see where you could re-allocate some of your funds. I've once again been going out and listening to live music shows which I'm thrilled about because it ads so much more to the complexity of life and gives me more to draw from as an artist. So think about how you might funnel more of your cash that you'd expend anyway into something that supports other peoples visions at the grass roots instead of supporting a cable provider. It's a small step but if enough people follow my suggestion, I'd expect two things to happen! First, the cable companies would start listening to their customers and providing the types of programming they demanded. Second, small theaters, musicians and artists all need your support to keep doing what they do best. I know that selling some of what I make is such a relief even if it is only a couple of hundred dollars a month. It helps so very much so thank you to those who supported my efforts and bought some of my work in 2011. I'd also like to add a special thanks to those who take classes with me outside the Benson Center. You've made huge differences in my life this past year in both an economic sense but most importantly in a human sense. It's been good to see you each grow as artists and you've helped me grow as a person. So blessing to all of you!!!!
So enough babble! Here is some of the art I've been making recently!
"Madonna Moderna" 36 X 60 inches Oil on Canvas
"Dreaming of Saturday morning in my lovers bed"
9 X 12 Oil on wood panel
The paintings above are two being shown currently in Atlanta at Kibbee Gallery in a show titled "Nude" which is a collective of figurative works by a range of artists in the Atlanta area. These are only a part of a series I am completing for a series of shows I want to launch nationally. The series contains 16 pieces large format paintings with the additional studies and drawings totaling around 40 pieces.
Painted along Peachtree Creek at Northside Drive bridge Feb 8th 2012. This was the second night of the full moon and the previous day I had seen the moon come up around 7pm while it was still just a bit light out. So I went back the next day around 6pm thinking the moon would be up around 7 again or just shortly after. The moon didn't arrive till 8:15. Temp was a spring like 42 degrees and it was much darker than expected when I finished.
This is a "Well Wishes Jar" that was created for someone close to me and who worked with me. She has gone back to school to finish her degree and I wanted to create something so that she could always remember how much she made peoples experience better at the Benson Center for being there and being part of our lives each day! She is missed by me and all the students she touched!
Best wishes to all of you this year and be sure to buy some art and show support for creative people who labor to create beauty in your world and mine!
Chazz
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