Caught myself in the midst of a Monday melancholy funk, which seems to be my default, post exhibition. I could well have done with walking along the ocean with a dog if I had one, and clearing my foggy head, except I elected to sit at my computer working on commissions. So no painting today, which is as well, because the creative batteries need recharging, as well as affording me the chance to clear the five week clutter of my studio.
What I do have are some more scanned pages from my sketchbook, which have been accumulating,and include scrawls of random strangers (and Lani).
The scaled up 'Life after death' was losing something in the spontaneity of the original, so I erased it, and started fresh. Using only the original photos and drawings for reference, as opposed to the finished comp, it felt like a new work again, and my strokes were much more fluid. I can see the benefits of comping a work first, but as a point of immediate reference I can't shake the feeling that I am trying to make a copy verbatim, stroke for stroke. I wonder what other artists who work from preliminaries think? I'd be interested to hear their approach.
Not had much in the way of feedback for the mini documentary yet-I've posted it around all the usual places, but then as Brian Eno said-'talking about art is like dancing about architecture', so perhaps its not really that interesting, and neither am I. I've said it many times before, keeping a blog begs the same question-who gives a toss really, and why should they? All the same, here I am , and since I've neglected to post the missives from my sketchbook, here are some random strangers caught between lattes at Starbucks or from a bumpy ride on the 41.
According to Rolling Stone, John Meyer is the master of the low brow Twitter bon mot. Ricky Gervais meanwhile, thinks its undignified for adults. Me-I'm just not so self obsessed that I want to constantly elevate the mundane minitue to the status of "event", so I'm afraid my twatting days are destined to be stillborn. I will however tell you nuggets such how besieged I am by irrational melancholy when it rains for three days. Or how the seafood at San Diego's Oceanaire restaurant is so succulent it ought to be R-rated. Or how intoxicating I thought my wife looked tonight, and how I wondered what she sees in me.
Do you get a complete picture of my day? Is it all encompassing or just merely one facade of a multi facet?
Watching Sophie Calle on Ovation today, I was left with the notion that the currency of art has become like that of a Twitter apeterif. Trying to redefine the diminutive and trivial to relevance. A momentary sketch of the moment, enigmatic- perhaps, insubstantial-certainly. The elevation of nothing-rather like this post. Here are sketches from the last few days.
Are the vistas of my mind a twisted labyrinth of death valleys, dark caverns ruminated by brittle skulls phantasms and ruin? At times, it seems that way,and yet so incongruous today was the flash of the surface reality. I guess I spend so much time in my head, that the palms and warm salt air of Pacific Beach seemed like some sort of Epsom salt to the congested warehouses of my mind. Whilst the rest of the world freezes beneath the third Ice Age, I spent my morning, killing time on the way to see a client, sketching through crinkled eyelids at the sun. The legion of honey skinned girls riding beach cruisers on the boardwalk, or walking rats on a leash. The old queens aging disgracefully on roller blades-it all seemed so reassuringly, superficially normal. I do not take enough time just to be. Talking of brains that hurt like a warehouse, this geezer turned 63 today. For thirty years, he's been the soundtrack and aesthetic yardstick of my life, and although these days he's probably best known as that old bloke who stole 'the Man who sold the world' from Kurt Cobain, he also made some of the most influential and groundbreaking music that shifted the soundscape of contemporary rock forever. Mssrs Gaga & Lambert would not be a blip on the radar without this guy. Here's a little known nugget from the sixties, written whilst Ziggy was still in utero called 'Conversation Piece'
With days to go before delivery of around twelve pieces, here is the flyer with the details for the Mosaic Show. Grand opening is on Saturday the 16th January, and I do so hope people will come that night. I sent out around fifty invitations to people I know through Facebook, but still have to send out a newsletter. time willing-I also want to put together a catalogue as well as replenish my inventory of prints. Added to which I am working on a commission, which my beautiful wife-Lani, helped me with, by sitting for me for some sketch poses-it will be a relief to have something to show the client tomorrow.
I didn't sleep well last night-around four hours in all. The rest of the night I tossed and turned, my brain overloading on gristle, like a meat grinder choking on offal-the neurotic paranoia of every interminable, awful endpoint. The silence of the universe is amplified by sleep deprivation, convincing you that a terminal empty existence awaits you if you don't just get an hour. I look like shit, and it shows in my daily sketch-the bags under my eyes hang like a turkeys wattle. I tied it together with the remnants of yesterdays scrawl- three enticing beach 'babes' flying into the sky on a magic beach towel. Feeling like a Romero castoff, it was the best I could do.
All was not lost, I worked into the evening last night on the piece for the Hive-it's coming along splendidly, and a good solid eight hours willing, I ought to be able to complete it tomorrow. I'll post the resultant when I do.
The first day of the new decade has gotten off to a grand start-best laid plans have secured a commission, the new piece has already garnered interest from two potential buyers, and I have another featured exhibition confirmed for March-bringing the total to four big showings this year.
The first begins here in San Diego, from January 6th at Mosaic gallery/wine bar, with an opening reception on the 16th. So far, I shall be showing around ten pieces-perhaps more depending on if I can squeeze another piece in beforeWednesday.Mosaic Gallery at Mosaic Wine Bar 3422 30th North Park, San Diego, CA 92104 call: 619-906-4747 I am also showing at the Hive at the group show in LA again this month, opening on the 9th.The plan is to paint something this weekend, so I have my work cut out for me already. Details to follow.
Today we took the opportunity to enjoy the California winter sun, at beautiful La Jolla shores. In between reading chunks of the Gonzo biography my wife bought me, I sketched the collected throng of afternoon bathers, although the crisp breeze made it too cold for actual paddling. From our house this evening, there was the most breathtaking blazing sunset and as Lani made hotdogs and chile fries we listened to 80's tracks, and I felt blessed by the beautiful, awesome simplicity of it all-this first day of 2010.
Here's Perfect Day by Lou Reed with a great animation:
