Comments on: New Work: Images and Discussion

By: J.T.

J.T. — Sun, 23 May 2010 00:50:56 +0000

Dedra – Of course you can use this content. Thanks for asking and thanks for reading!

Sent from my iPhone

By: Dedra Hollo

Dedra Hollo — Sat, 22 May 2010 17:28:15 +0000

Hey may I quote some of the content from this post if I link back to you?

By: New Work « Thinking About My Art

New Work « Thinking About My Art — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:51:48 +0000

[...] the studio and I am excited to share the images with you. These four pieces follow in line with previously posted works using 1/16″ veneer on birch plywood and playing with different sheens of polyacrylic clear [...]

By: Nevyn

Nevyn — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:37:02 +0000

From Wikipedia “Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions.” For sure a very broad definition which by deduction suggests that there are no rules. Essentially, in my humble opinion, there are two forms of Art:

(1) Dead art which is nothing more than an assembly line of techniques with the single goal of selling to whoever will purchase. In this case the buyer is usually searching for a room accent.

(2) Art from the heart which is generated from the soul of the artist without concern for a buyer. If a buyer is available they are likely searching for pieces that evoke emotions and could care less if it fits with the decor of her or his living room. (Can you imagine someone turning down a Monet because it does not fit with the color decor of her or his living room?)

Your assembly of wood elements is obviously from the heart. I have never seen this before and find the concept fascinating as well as refreshing. One time, years ago, I made a cutting board for my wife. The wood was a rough 2 x 4 used in the construction of pallets, in this case a sort of gumwood from the southeast. After planning, cutting and gluing the squares of wood, then applying vegetable oil, the design provided by the grain looked eerily similar to a Rorschach card. I would imagine that with some careful searching, some unique designs could be developed using the ends of wood.

Nevyn

By: More New Work « Thinking About My Art

More New Work « Thinking About My Art — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:52:35 +0000

[...] New Work Jump to Comments In conjunction with the other new works I recently posted, I’ve been exploring a similar approach using small pieces of hardwood [...]

By: Chris Rywalt

Chris Rywalt — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:25:45 +0000

“Radical work is never easy on first viewing.”

The trouble with thinking this way is crappy work isn’t easy on first viewing, either. If you make excuses for your work’s failure to reach an audience by saying, “radical work is never easy on first viewing,” you might not be looking completely honestly at your work.

That’s why I avoid such glib pronouncements. Could be avant garde work, could be junk. It’s not helpful.

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:26:03 +0000

Radical work is never easy on first viewing. I think these become more interesting over time. It would be good to see them in person. The idea of using different clear coat gloss/non-gloss finishes as paint is real interesting. I like the plywood piece on your website.

By: Chris Rywalt

Chris Rywalt — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:14:35 +0000

Which is my way of saying, if any of what I write seems incoherent, it’s not you, it’s me.

By: Chris Rywalt

Chris Rywalt — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:14:03 +0000

I won’t argue with you about a lot of people being really, really dumb. I just think it’s wrong to assume they are. It’s not nice. It’s also wrong to assume you’re smarter than they are, especially if you’re an artist, since artists are really dumb.

I don’t mean you, of course. You’re one of the good ones, man.

I would like to add that at no point do I mean to argue with you. Just making observations, throwing half-digested thoughts out there, as brought up by your writing about your art.

By: J.T.

J.T. — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:38:07 +0000

I want to be careful to note that you’re ever so slightly putting words in my mouth, or thoughts in my head. I don’t think people are stupid, nor am I trying to preach to them. I’m just trying to bring forward the beauty of wood as it naturally exists in the world. Maybe 0.0001% of people even know that some wood is naturally a rich, bright purple, or yellow, or red.

A quick anecdote… it seems that every week someone in DC gets run over by a car or bus. Many times they die from their injuries. Sometimes the pedestrian is in their own world listening to music or exercising. Sometimes the bus driver is just day dreaming or yapping on a cell phone. If people are getting killed because they are oblivious, or dare I say, they can’t be bothered to LOOK, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say they aren’t paying super close attention to the beauty of wood. It doesn’t make them bad people. It’s just the way it is.