Title: Nocturne
Medium: Oil On Board
Size: 11" x 14"
The vampire hangs like some distant horror in the psychological recesses of our imagination, so for me it was all about a beast borne of something primeval in a dank cavern,deadly and certainly female.
I wanted to produce something that was a homage to the kind of late 70's British horror you'd see on pulp novels,film posters and comics, of a kind that doesn't really exist anymore, which is a terrible shame. Time permitting I'd love to do a graphic cover mock up.
It was also painted in the same week as Frazetta's passing, so I was certainly mindful of that.
I like that depending on your preference, you can look at it from upside down, or right way up, which itself was a sort of play on the title. I've submitted it for inclusion in a special vampire themed art book, so as soon as word comes that its been accepted, I'll confirm it here.
Its certainly a diversion on the more avant garde themes I've been pursuing for gallery fare of late, but I have to keep an eye on some kind of commercial market in the hopes that commissions for illustrations are more forthcoming, at least between sales and showings.
Going through the remnants of the folio I brought back from England, I was struck yesterday with how much of a struggle my artistic pursuit has always been.
I don't mean in a technical way-at varying degrees I've improved as anyone would when they do something over an extended period of time.
Even thematically I've always steered true to the convictions of my muse.
No, the struggle has come in the face of indifference, rejection, poverty and obscurity and I don't think that I really ever gave myself the credit that I've remained so focused on the goal of my passion, and making some sort of life with art in it as a foundation. I guess I'm recognizing that no matter how much life has kicked me down, the desire to create something has been a positive that I've returned to again and again, inspite of it.
Even if at the end of it all, I am not recalled in whatever annals by virtue of even a footnote-and as I get older, the realisation of that strikes me as more than a possibility now-my art has given me more than it has taken,and perhaps that's all I could ever have hoped for.
In between fighting the remnants of what I am now christening, 'my post English plague', I've had a rather nice commission to distract me, whilst I determine my next piece.
It comes by way of a project with the delicious Jasmine Becket Griffith, who deserves an entry all to herself. For the moment I can tell you that its a vampire themed painting, which is entirely apt in that I've felt like one of the undead this past week.
Other than a nostalgic penchant for 70's Hammer movies, and my love of 'Let the right one in' by John Ajvide Lindqvist the current cultural obsession for vampires leaves me somewhat cold.
My friend Mark was relating an article where he'd read that its an intermittent fascination that we have, that whenever we feel vulnerable as a species, our predisposition is to romanticize death. I like that notion, but not enough to find Twilight and its progenitors to be anything more than a teen soap opera with fangs.
As I always say however-armchair criticism is the easiest job in the world, so I'm putting my brush where my mouth is regardless,and enjoying the challenge of my own interpretation.
Painting on board as opposed to canvas is frustrating however-I'm still perplexed as to why anyone would prefer it as a
surface.Even primed, the oils disperse like they are on water-its akin to painting with gouache, and I regret not painting with acrylics.Still, the first stumbling's show promise.
Talking of shows promise...tonight, is the reception at the San Diego Art Institute, between 5pm and 7pm-not entirely sure what the turnout will be like, but I saw an ad on the union tribune site, so here's hoping its healthier than I am.
Title: Nocturne
