Practical Economic Advice for Creative Types
February 22, 2008
Writer John Scalzi recently posted a list of Unasked-For (but really, who is he trying to kid, we’re constantly asking for this stuff) Advice on how to survive in the writing business. Most of his recommendations could easily fit under the umbrella of advice for artists, freelancers, and heck, people. I can’t stress enough how good this post is (click here to read).
Two items really resonated with me.
1. The Big Cities are not the alpha and omega of the economic world. Why? Because we have the internet. And phones, and faxes, and FedEx. Save yourself a poo-load of living expenses by moving to oh, say, Oklahoma.
2. Make a saving throw against The Shiny. In other words, don’t be stupid with your money.
I have big student loans to pay off. I’m totally okay with that, it was worth it. The loans give me a low credit rating. An interesting side benefit to this condition is that I almost never get credit card offers in the mail. There is a certain peace in knowing that no one will lend me money. I have no choice but to live within my means (or pretty close to it).
Top 5 Desert Island Images
February 11, 2008
If I were imprisoned in a comfy little five-sided tower, away from the crush of humanity, and if I were to be kept there for the rest of my life, and if I could choose five pictures to hang on my five little walls, these are what I would choose.
1. Workshop of Raphael, St Margaret
This is not the usual St. Margaret that we see from Raphael. In fact, the authorship of this piece is disputed. (The best guess by a professor of mine was Giulio Romano.) The loops and folds compel me. Margaret’s stance demonstrates the central impulse of Mannerism as described by Peter Schjeldahl — when primary content is set aside in favor of secondary pleasures.
2. Workshop of Botticelli, Simonetta Vespucci
Again, this piece is not one of Botticelli’s canonical works, and the authorship (as well as the sitter’s identity) is disputed. For me, it’s all about the hair. I’ve copied it several times.
3. Joe Sorren, Portrait of Roger Meanie
Have you seen what Joe Sorren is doing lately? His paintings are so beautiful they hurt. The one pictured here never fails to make me smile. It’s gotten me through some tough times.
4. Bob Dorsey, 55
Bob Dorsey is a former professor of mine from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He taught me that it’s not onl viable but a pretty good idea to try and make a living as an artist. Who knew? Bob’s painting technique is alarmingly proficient. He’s a consummate craftsman, making it appear as though the brush knows where it wants to be set down before each stroke takes place. And yet he retains an aesthetic freedom that shows up in his choices of tone, color, and texture. (Maybe someday he’ll sell me this painting.)
5. Wild Card. I’d take anything from Saul Steinberg, Maira Kalman, Gustav Klimt, Wayne Thiebaud, Diane Arbus, or August Sander.
Normal, OK: Carmen McWillie
February 10, 2008
Normal, OK: Carmen McWillie. Mixed media on canvas, 2008.
Carmen McWillie, 86, constructs elaborate tapestries depicting scenes from the Book of Revelation.
Carmen was created using the acrylic gel transfer method detailed here and here. The background is reused canvas (formerly a dropcloth), plus a collaged piece of painted paper (which provides the pink and grey colors you see behind Carmen). I may add another image to the background, I’m not sure.
Normal, OK: Carmen McWillie, ink on paper, 2007
Normal, OK: Pernell Foster
February 9, 2008
Normal, OK: Pernell Foster. Mixed media, 2008
Pernell Foster is fixin’ to say somethin’.
Pernell Foster lives next door to Katie Hennepin, on his grandfather’s homestead. He finds Katie’s geodesic dome offensive, but harbors a crush on her. His repressed feelings gradually steer him into organic farming.
The background of this piece is acrylic on Rives BFK paper stretched over a particle board panel. (The swirly colors represent his feelings.)
Pernell was created using the acrylic gel transfer method detailed here and here.
Normal, OK: Pernell Foster. Ink on paper, 2008
Normal, OK: Pernell Foster. Conceptual sketch, collage on paper, 2007.
This is the kind of quick collage-sketch I often use to begin a character. I bring together many visual sources and compile them into a new conglomeration. It’s quick and dirty, a great visual tool.
Autobiovisual Show: Friends U., Wichita KS, 02.09.2008
February 8, 2008
Self Portrait (For the Record). Acrylic on canvas, 2005.
This self portrait will be in the Autobiovisual show at the Riney Fine Arts Center, Friends University, Wichita KS. The show opens February 9th and runs through March 16th.
Normal, OK: Caffey Strong
February 8, 2008
Normal, OK: Caffey Strong. Mixed media on MDF, 2008
Caffey Strong, 35, is the piano accompanist at the Blue Belle’s Academy. She is also an accomplished avant-garde composer, largely unknown at home but gaining notoriety among college radio audiences. Her latest work is titled “Con/text: Handless Compote for Altered Piano.” Caffey inherited her dextrous fingers from her father, Arnett Strong, a locksmith.
Caffey was created using the acrylic gel transfer method detailed here and here.
Normal, OK: Caffey Strong. Original drawing, ink on paper, 2008
(Sometimes I flip ‘em, sometimes I don’t. I started noticing that too many of my Normal characters were looking to the left. Not good.)
Piscatorial: Tina, Truman
February 7, 2008
The Piscatorial series was originally inspired by the movie Dear Frankie (which deserves your love). Frankie is a young man who enjoys, among other things, drawing pictures of marine life. In the film Frankie’s bedroom is decorated with his wonderfully whimsical and detailed sea creature drawings.
Have you ever noticed how adult artists put a lot of energy into the attempt to recapture their childlike freedom of visual creation?
Tina, mixed media on MDF, 2007
Tina’s pleased to meetcha!
Truman, mixed media on found wood, 2007
These fish were created using collaged paper, wallpaper, acrylic, and ink. Tina’s MDF panel was one of many cut from a larger piece that I chose not to keep. I highly recommend reusing materials from unsuccessful works.
Piscatorial: Lucius, Luigi
February 6, 2008
The names just come to me while I’m working.
Lucius, mixed media on masonite, 2007
Luigi, mixed media on MDF, 2007
These fish were created using collaged paper, acrylic, and ink.
Piscatorial: Buster, Frances, Hal
February 5, 2008
Piscatorial: of or pertaining to pictures of fish.
Thanks to BibliOdyssey for providing the source material for these and many other works.
Buster, mixed media on found wood, 2007.
Frances, mixed media on MDF, 2007
Hal, mixed media on MDF, 2007
These fish were made with materials including canvas, paper, wallpaper, acrylic, and ink.
Book Mooch Journal: Sake and Wine
February 3, 2008
From the Book Mooch Journal blog:
This is a journal belonging to a middle-aged, outgoing, female Japanese librarian from a backwoods apple-producing town who has a fairly basic level of English ability, and she wants to know what people are like when they’ve been drinking. Brilliant. I couldn’t make this stuff up. So, can you tell the story (pictures also welcome) of the adventures you’ve had when you’ve been drinking, in fairly simple English? Rise to the challenge! Show us what you’ve been up to after hours!
Here is my contribution to the Sake and Wine Journal:
Good Idea, Bad Idea, ink on paper, January 2008.
“Isn’t it funny / how ideas that / sounded good / turn out to be / bad ones?”
See the full image, as it was drawn on its side, here.
