It wasn`t my intention to create a tonalist painting, but it was as if Emil Carlson was whispering in my ear to slow down and use smaller brushes. Coax the image into life. This was another failed painting that I knew I would fool around with again some day. Saturday was the day. I had squeezed random blobs of color, white and clear thick painting medium on the piece. Then I squeegeed them all over the canvas mixing them up in the process. What I had then was an amorphous misty void. Here and there I saw elements of its former life and began to emphasize areas using transparent color. It was more assembled than painted and the palette had to be cold. Maybe because it`s November. It is based on the soggy marsh forests on Minto-Brown Island.
This also became tonalist in my effort to tweak it toward vitality.
There it was, impossible to ignore! An announcement that the Saavy Painter Podcast was having a competition and online exhibition. Reasonable entry fee, and no shipping or framing issues due to it`s digital nature. I thought it was a perfect opportunity to enter a couple of oddly shaped paintings. Cascade Head Spring won third place! Yay me! Nice prizes and a mini interview for the podcast. That`s perfect with my fear of public speaking. The exposure for my work will be considerable too.
You can see the show here.
I was feeling very lucky at the end of Oct. and also applied to be the first artist in residence at Hakeakala National Park on Maui. One month inside the crater! My only competition is the rest of the whole world. Open to all disciplines and nationalities. I slaved over my proposal letter.
And I submitted for an award from the Santos Foundation for artists of merit. I thought why not? can`t win unless you enter! I also saw that they had extended the deadline. That means they were short of applicants.
I learned a long time ago to give efforts like these my whole attention during the application process and then forget about it. Usually works unless I want something badly.
I need to be in that crater.
Within all of the reports surrounding this necessary purge in sexual harassment claims and denials, I found this quote to live by "if a woman wants to see your penis, she will ask".
As for gay predators, shame on you! You are not excused because you`ve been denied full acceptance. Your homosexuality is not a shield for you to hide behind.
When power is used to sexually coerce it`s just wrong, we all know it.
Matthew Dibble is an artist I`ve admired a long time. He shows with Saatchi Online as I do and I`ve watched his career expand with interest. He works hard and every painting I`ve ever seen has something exciting about it.
Too much thinking can be an obstacle for me when painting; the ‘judge’ always seems to get in the way. My connection can only be found in the moment, and I often come back to a sense of my feet on the floor while painting. During these moments some real work is possible…. As artists, we do much better trying to keep things simple. We do better to compare ourselves solely to ourselves. Self-inventory is useful, while self-condemnation is not. Without calling our whole identity into question, there are inquiries that we can fruitfully ask. How am I developing as an artist? Am I doing the work necessary for me to mature? Did I work today? Yes? Well, that’s good. Working today is what gives us currency and self-respect. There is dignity in work. —Matthew Dibble
He`s terrific, yes?
This seemed like a dud a couple of years ago, now I like its wistfulness.
work for sale in my studio
3 comments:
Congrats on the podcast and winning entry. And I’m glad you’re applying for those residencies, especially the one in Hawaii. I really can imagine you in that crater; you’d be in your element.
I’m finally starting to send out some poems again but have to limit myself to the no-fee submissions journals for the time being. It takes practice building up a folder of rejections, none of which bother me in the least any more.
Thanks for the examples of Dibble’s work. I like it!
Your commitment to growing your art and your audience is a gift to the rest of us . Beauty abounds in nature everywhere and you elequently remind us with your beautiful paintings. As with life , each person / painter portrays their subjects in a way that reflects their character & emotion. You and your paintings exude calm , peace, and introspection. Your interpreted images provide a compelling & temporary relief from the chaos that surrounds us and encourages peaceful meditation. Congratulations on your award for the vibrant Cascade Head painting !!!! It is even more spectacualr In person . Please share your podcast with us when it is released. Thank you Randall for the wonderful painted interpretations you continue to create and share with this crazy world we live in now.
I am so happy for your win!!! And I do hope you get to be inside that crater!!! Keeping my fingers crossed :) I like the quote, too - to the point and true. So happy so see you spreading your wings with your paintings and getting them out there and trying for more more more - your work deserves to be out in the world - it's THAT good!!!
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