UNSW – Jeffrey Smart
UNSW – COFA -School of Art History and Theory ARTWRITE
An excellent article on the Australian artist Jeffrey Smart. I personally love Smart because his treatment of everyday and frequently ugly objects turn them into interesting objects with his use of whimsical color. His technique and perfectionist realism are rarely seen in the modern age and I feel his paintings are truly original.
Jeffrey Smart is also an artist who dances to the beat of his own drum. He holds true to his own interests and styles and his own philosophy. In response to people who read too much into his cloudy skies and grim looking people, Jeffrey Smart stated that cloudy skies were “better for the composition” and the grim faces were “easier to paint”. He maid it clear that there was absolutely no commentary on city life or urbanization. This rated very highly with me as usually my paintings have no meanings save what people invent themselves.
His use of color and the luminescence of his light as well as the delicate brushstrokes have been a constant inspiration to me as well as his constant reevaluation of his urban subject matter. If you are interested, there is a series of images of his artwork here.
Shark Pickler Hirst Admits He’s Had Silly Ideas
Entertainment News Article | Reuters.com
This is what I was referring to with the art world as it stands. Don’t get me wrong, I admire someone who can sell paintings for 2mil and I am not one to comment on the nature of the art itself (in fact his latest exhibition sounds fascinating) but one comment particularly got to me:
“I don’t like the idea that it has to be done by the artist, I think it’s quite an old fashioned thing,” he said.
“Architects don’t build their own houses,” he said, adding that his assistants are better painters than him anyway. “You’d get an inferior painting if it’s done by the artist.”
I grant that the concept is a lot of the nature of art but I tend to think that skill and technique comes into it and that if you are releasing a selection of paintings with your name on it, you should have painted the majority of it. I have no problem with having help with the blocking (much in the same way that having someone chop the vegetables helps a chef) I hate blocking. But at what point does the artist step in? At what point does it stop being their work? Or is it always in fact their piece because they came up with the concept? Are all my nudes in fact Goya’s? Are all sketches of people in reality grog’s- who penned the original figures on the cave wall?
Traditional artists have long used assistants and students to help them along and this is fine but these works are always worth proportionally as much as the artist contributed.
What happens when the assistants want their own career and name? If they are better (as stated above) do they become superior artists? What happens to those collaborative works then?
Is modern art the death of technique and skill and artistic talent? Is this what all the grand masters have worked towards? These thoughts plague me constantly; I’m worried I don’t have what it takes to make it as an artist in the modern world. I don’t always feel a need for my art to have social and political meanings or to cause deep and philosophical musings on the nature of existence. Don’t get me wrong, I can bullsh*t with the rest of them and make up whatever (look at some of my previous posts for my musings on possible meanings of my art) rest assured I have made it all up. I like an image or a shape or something, right now it is nudes, and I paint it. The meanings come later.
This said- I am planning a collection or two that will have meanings behind them. This is because research has shown that galleries only seem to show paintings and shows that have a coherent theme and preferably a meaning. I find it very hard to design a theme like this, my artwork just tends to fall into a meaning when it is done, like the sculpture concealed in a stone, I Don’t know what it will be when it comes out or the feelings it will create. I think that is a lot of the joy about painting; it’s a discovery for me too. So my basic concepts for collections are very rough, a wide boundary for me to express within. This way I am not sacrificing something that is becoming an artistic philosophy. I feel art should involve sticking to your personal ideals. This could mean defending something everyone is offended by or choosing to stick to a technique or not conforming or whatever floats your boat.
As this seems to have become my art diary I will start a series on my favorite artists soon, what inspires me about them and how I feel they adhere to their own ideals. As I am starting studies again in may this will be very helpful.
Sepia Man
Ok, I feel it is completely finished now. It has regained its grit and raw charm and is more anatomically correct. I like the colors especially, it is rusty, raw muscle and looks sweaty.
I asked Liam if the man was alive or dead. Liam is my artistic compass, he isn’t pretentious and he is very honest. He isn’t really interested in art but that makes him an ideal person to show art to. He is intelligent and perceptive and if he likes it, I know it will be appealing to a large portion of the market. And no, he doesn’t just tell me he likes it because he is my husband, he has criticized my works too. Anyway, as I was saying, I asked if he was alive and Liam thinks he is because his hand looks like it is clutching something. Then I asked if he was in pleasure or in pain? I still don’t have an answer on that – anyone? bueller? ok, my personal belief changes depending on how I am feeling. If I feel sexy then he is, but if I am hurting then it is about pain. I like a painting that is multi use!
Liam asked me if the art world would view nudes as an amateur subject. I have to admit that I don’t know. Most art study I have done is historical and of course the nude is a universal subject in history, But right now? I dont know. And do I want to conform anyway? Isn’t that what art is all about when you come right down to it? Right now I like to paint nudes. I have always liked to paint real subjects realistically. I will write about Jeffrey Smart at some time soon, he is my favorite Australian artist because he refuses to let wanky trend dictate his style. Also his work is magnificent. I will illustrate later – it needs its own chapter.
In other news, I have been playing with arpeture and stuff on my camera to try to photograph my art better. It is fun and effective. This photo required barely any modification in iPhoto, just a little light exposure and contrast editing and cropping. If you are interested in my settings they are available in flickr. This was a low light flashless photo and it turned out pretty well considering I am such an amatuer!
Considerations..
mm, I am no longer comfortable with this painting. The loss of the spontaneity through trying to make it more accurate has ruined it. Before it looked raw, gritty, earthy. But in my usual stupid perfectionist nature I have taken out what made it art and made it something it is not. So back to the drawing board with this one I am afraid! Wait and see what I make of it next! I will modify this same painting and try to regain the base human grit and darkness I had before, hopefully retaining some of the more anatomically correct features as well.
I think this may be an example of overworking an artwork. The refined look is good for this nude (still untitled people! Jump in now!) but not for this. It is too shiny and clean. Maybe some palette knife would help? hmm… Anyway, I am braindumping for inspiration now as it needs something and I don’t know what. Anyway, you can track the modifications on this painting here as I will be posting updates here.
hmm this blog seems to be becoming almost all about my art now.. I should put something in about orgasms soon or I will lose my reputation!
Flickr Blog Posting
I am not using the Flickr blog posting via email thingy. it is too cludgy. it is much nicer to use the blog this utility in Flickr, it is more work but the formatting and the configurability is much nicer. I originally emailled the previous post direct and it bodged up the text and didn’t wrap it around the photo. it does look better that way.
What has happened to my titles??
This is a difficult nude I painted based on a very foreshortened pose. It was incredibly difficult to execute and Unfortunately i think that the work Involved has taken away some of the spontaneity. its a bit unfortunate but it has gotten great comments so far. I chose sepia tones mostly because I am out of black but also to create a warmer image than my previous and to play with some more colors.
I must apologize for the bad photo here, as it is still wet it is very glossy. I might take another later when it is dry. but it is oils so don’t hold your breath! Liam thinks this piece is more happy than the other nudes, my jury is out really it could be the tones in color because the actual pose is quite dark when you think about it.
so how do I feel about this one? I am pleased with the fact that I managed to relay the foreshortening and keep the proportions but I am not convinced it is one of my best. it is still a little clean and perhaps a little refined, less relaxed. I don’t have any interpretations at this stage, at one stage it looked like muscle fiber and he looked vaguely dead which was kind-of weird. now I don’t know, is it sensual? is it athletic? is it a murder scene? what is he thinking?
If you have any thoughts let me know or add a comment. I am also trying to think of titles for these pieces… our lines are open…
Also currently untitled
As I said in a post a few days ago, I have been working at painting in reverse. this and the other nude are results of this. this was a particularly complicated painting because of the shapes and forshortening. but I am happy with the results. actually, relaxing my techniques and trying to create art (as opposed to exact duplicates) has made me happier with my art where before I was never satisfied.
this is a very smooth and glossy looking painting and she looks sort of delicate. I am unsure if the black and white is what is causing the look of pathos, my choices of image or my current feelings but this painting strikes me as vaguely sad. depressed but elegant.
the sheen on the paint caused this to not photograph brilliantly, but you can get the idea. it is to hard to photograph a painting properly.
Currently untitled…
This is my second ever Palette Knife piece but unlike cloud City (see below) it is entirely created with the knife. I am pleased at he result. as the basic image was very simple I felt that texture and rough technique would create an interest.
I like the fact that it has a certain pathos and darkness to it that feels like the subject (or conversely me, as an artist is often subconciously the subject) is turning their back on the world and curling up into a foetal cocoon. what she is escaping from is for interpretation.
can I wank on or what? no really. I might say that none of this is intentional, I just painted it and these thoughts are the ones that have arised as it neared completion.
I feel that many of my paintings are just created and create their own meanings as they go. its like they have a life of their own. I certainly never set out to comment or create a painting with meaning. with this one I liked the shape of the bare back and the butt, I liked the curves and basic shapes. bt now it has a life of its own and is open to interpretation.
As usual I invite comments and critique. or maybe your own thoughts as to what this means! 
Lyrics Page
Droool… big qudos to the creator of this site. full librettos to some really good productions. I have heaps of sheet music but if you want the extra bits this is ideal!
Pallettes
I have been experimenting with Palette knife techniques (hence the cloud city painting). My latest painting is a nude created with palette knife. I have been doing some nudes in reverse with black and white and attempting to loosen up my painting techniques. by reverse I mean I start with a black ground and build with white. it is giving me an interesting perspective on lights and shadows and on my patience as a painting has to dry in order to build further into the light scale. I am actually blending only on the canvas and working on loosening up my techniques and working with the whole painting rather than the individual details. it creates a personality to the works that I have not had previously.
In other news I have found an old website design I did that I hated at the time but now I really like it. I am updating it and might even release it to the general public. you never know.
DeliciousExporter 0.1.1
Apple – Downloads – Internet Utilities – DeliciousExporter 0.1.1
I take it back… You can share your delicious library this way! the Mac downloads library is so ace, I am still trawling through and finding goodies!
Delicious Library
Ideal software for people with lotsa books and games and dvds (as I do…) it catalogs, scans (if you have an isight or barcode) or you can simply add in a title and it will reference Amazon. The thing I like about this is I frequently have people borrow DVDs and books. It links with ical and address book allowing you to specify who borrowed what and will put a reminder in your calendar.
The look is visual and kinda cute, if a little tacky. changes I would like to see are configurable looks or skinning support, access to more databases for referencing and some kind of subscription service to friends libraries as well.
Mac Luuuurve
the more I use my Mac the more I love its simplicity, its superior speed and handling and its complete lifestyle. I have been a avid PC user for so many years but I got so sick of all the spyware and virus’ and fell in love with the elegance of Macs both in the OS and the machines themselves.
I have been downloading cute toys to play with, like delicious library and Pzizz. I also love the proteus chat client, its interactivity with my Mac address book and the look puts it over fire in my opinion. I will send links for all these things in my next posts with some further descriptions.
Transitions
It has come to my attention that, although I regret taking so much time away from Painting it has been very beneficial for my art. To quote a brilliant book – “waiting is filled” I think I may have made the transition from “competent draftsman” to “artist”. Let me explain. My previous style involved copying from a photograph or life and trying to duplicate it exactly. This has done wonders for my eye and my skill but nothing as an artist. Now I take things and am starting to ad my own artistic license. I am starting to use texture and strokes to add to the emotion of the piece.
it seems to me that a technically excellent reproduction of a photograph does not leave room for interpretation and evocation. I am duplicating not genuinely creating. I started to stagnate in my style and took a hiatus. I never meant for it to be as long but I guess waiting is. I am now learning to take the subject and make it my own, using the techniques I have learned and turning them on their heads.
ok. So this seems obvious to most people but I think that it is something highly personal that needs to come of its own. I also have leaned to paint via the time tested method of studying other artists techniques and copying them. This is the historical method of learning and it has given me a good eye and excellent technique. I now seem to have grown into a style, it may not be my own yet but I can see it emerging and it is very very fun!
We’re Not Worthy!
Alice Cooper is coming to Melbourne!!! June 30th, Palais Theater. God I want to go… even mom says I should..
there is a package that allows you to go backstage and meet him and everything! wow… must resist. it would cost 1 grand for Liam and I to both go under the platinum option, but it is so worth it. mmmm.
Revelations
Have you ever felt like you have been forced into a mold? And the more you keep working in the mold the more you feel you belong?
It has come to my attention that, although I am an excellent project manager I was not happy or doing what I really want. Being crippled has really helped me work out a number of things, my girlfriend Ally says it sounds like I have been on a meditation retreat (she went on a 10 day one with non stop meditation, celibacy and silence – a big ask for her but she did it and got a lot out of it! – I am impressed because there is no way I could).
There should be a way for me to integrate my artistic skills and creativity with my project management skills and love of earning money. I think there should be something, maybe I will find more out as I study. I am so looking forward to it. I have actually been repressing the artist inside me and it broke out violently yesterday as I saw the magnificence of lights and shadows again. I never realized how much I tried to make myself into someone I’m really not supposed to be. I did enjoy my job but I had a lot of depression and undue stress and anxiety. I ended up in therapy and almost had another breakdown, all of this should have pointed me in the right direction but I guess you need to hit me over the head with a car before I get a point ! 
anyway, now I am in a period of discovery and we will see what happens, hopefully when I am all better I will find something that works for everything. or my new web idea will take off…. There’s always hope.
Inspiration for the day
Why are there no Space Operas about Space Operas? I am now thinking of writing a musical based on a sci fi story, perhaps Green Hills of Earth by Heinlein, I already started penning a complex piece (in my brain – it sounds good in my brain – who knows in real life) to the green hills of earth poem and there are many others, I think the story might lend itself, but I will have to investigate further. It will have wailing guitars though. This strikes me as important to a space opera.
there is slight problem in that I am not very good at composition, but apparently sibelius can help with orchestral scoring. Anyway it’s entertainment right?
eh. The problem with having a brain like my dad’s is that I have constant ideas, but most of them are shite. Oh well.
that reminds me I need to investigate singles sites for my next net plan. I am going to write a business plan as I think it may actually have merit. I would brainstorm here but I don’t know if the creative commons license will prevent it from being stolen and I think this one is a doozy! If I say myself anyway.
that’s the other problem with having a brain like this. Something is shiny and fun for 2 second then the next thing is. It is probably a defense mechanism so that I don’t drive everyone completely crazy.
It Figures
There is an exhibition on at the Highway Gallery in Mount Waverley starting on the first of April. It’s called ‘figuratively Speaking’ and is based on the human figure. I am thinking of submitting a couple of paintings, I may as well as the human body is my specialty. I have been thinking of exploring sexuality but that might be a little forward for Mount Waverley (considering I went to school there…) but I will see. It will be fun to do some more painting in any case.
I’m a cosmo Girl, in a cosmo world!
I thin k I have gained weight again, either that or I haven’t gotten rid of my water weight again. I am drinking tons of water and still low carbing. Low carbs do work well but I have been cheating badly I guess, colds do make you crave comfort food. Ah well, at least this diet makes it easy to drop it off again. Cosmo wrote an article about ideal beauty, apparently there is a hip to waist ratio that makes you irresistible to men… Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Marilyn Monroe all have the same ratio (despite being different sizes) the ratio is worked out by dividing your waist measurement by your hips measurement then multiplying by 100. If your measurement is between 75 and 80 you are guaranteed to be attractive to men apparently. Mine is 78 woohoo! Cosmo has really tried to work on body image and an all sizes all beautiful policy. Its a good thing. I know I am bang on average (a little smaller) but the media still makes me feel huge. It is refreshing to see in a major magazine. They even use real women in fashion shoots. This is what we want to see! I am thinking of getting a .mac account. It is expensive but it is really good. It seems to have tons of features. Now if I can just get my contacts across from my PC without too much pissfarting around it will all be good!
Guinea Pig
so I now have new drugs again.. An antibiotic for my cold as it as moved in my chest (again) and babada baAAA! (that was a fanfare) New PAINKILLERS! HooRAY! I am tolerated to Feldene and Voltarin now but the Doc is trying me on something new, it is apparently gentler on the stomach but close to feldene. We shall see how it goes but I am hopeful, a little worried about how it interacts with alcohol but usually they enhance each other which is nice, that’s what feldene does. Makes me a cheap drunk though…
While I was at the doctors I got a referral for a specialist as per the lawyers request, he is apparently a leading authority on back injuries and may even be able to help (with the pain, not the cases) I am deathly afraid of having surgery or quartizone injections recommended – it sounds so wrong to introduce foreign substances like that and surgery is just wrong.
Martian Death Flu
oh god.. why is it that you can cope with tons of pain and heaps of problems but colds and flu can knock you on your ass faster than anything. I have been in agony for months but I really really want to die now…
erg. new cosmo is out, it is good.. has an article on blogging and recommends blogger.com. it reminded me to type in here again. erg, I can barely type because I feel so bad.
well this is a boring entry.. I am a boring person when I am sick.
woah!
ok.. the combination of Painkillers and Cold and Flu medication is wierd. and not in a good way. In other News I have some exciting new art ideas, but I am concerned as I always am about family. My family is very involved in my life, they love to support me and everything but I worry about
a) writing my book. Which will forever destroy their illusions about me. while I am sure they know now that I am having sex, after all I am 27, have been living with Liam for 8 years and am now married.. I am also sure they dont want to know about it or any of the icky details
b) my latest idea for paintings is very very intimate. it addresses the same issues as above.
I am sure by now that I should be over this and the blush reflex that happens whenever we watch a movie with a sex scene or something. My parents did not raise me as a prude, I am certainly NOT a prude as pretty much anyone who has ever met me will attest to vehemently, but I still cant seem to get past this with them. It goes both ways, I dont want to know anything about them and their sex lives either, but it seems like there is a huge part of my life that they dont even know about. I wonder if it prevents us from getting closer and if I should act more myself around them. I dont even dress the same, my clothes are usually very conservative.
hmm.. just a thought.
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