Occupy Museums?????...

I was told about this movement called Occupy Museums, as a sort of tangent to the Occupy Wall Street movement. I am not going to get into the Occupy Wall Street thing, but this Occupy Museums movement bothers me a little bit.If you want to read more about it there is a pretty comprehensive discussion about it, along with their mission statement on a blog called A Year of Positive Thinking. Here is a small excerpt from their statement:

The game is up: we see through the pyramid schemes of the temples of cultural elitism controlled by the 1%. No longer will we, the artists of the 99%, allow ourselves to be tricked into accepting a corrupt hierarchical system based on false scarcity and propaganda concerning absurd elevation of one individual genius over another human being for the monetary gain of the elitest of elite. For the past decade and more, artists and art lovers have been the victims of the intense commercialization and co-optation or art. We recognize that art is for everyone, across all classes and cultures and communities.

I have to admit that I cannot really understand this movement. I can not walk into a museum and consider myself a victim. I am always incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to see such amazing art. I am grateful that museums exist to showcase art of the absolute highest quality, and are completely open to public visitors. I am grateful that I can make a living as an artist selling my paintings to the 1%, or the 99%, or whoever is excited enough to buy a piece of original art work and can afford the price that I have decided on, based on what I think the creation of that painting has cost me. Museums are not bankers. They did not make bad loans, and even though they may be funded in part by large corporations (sometimes even banks) the primary goal is to share art with the public. Good art. Art of the highest quality. Museums did not contribute to our countries financial problems, and I refuse to ride this bandwagon of resentment, and pick irrational fights with cultural institutions.

Even though I have only had the new poll questions up for a few days, I am curious to get people’s opinions on this, so I am going to change the poll question on the right side of this page. Feel free to weigh in with comments or just votes. I look forward to seeing your feedback.

Ken Kewley’s Notes...

I have been rereading Ken Kewley’s notes on color as I watch the baby nap. There is some really good stuff there. He makes lovely paintings and collages. Great color harmony and relationships. Great composition. His notes on color are a great guide for painters of all levels. You can find it on Painting Perceptions, a blog that is well worth exploring. The quote below is one that I think I may have posted here before, but I really like it;

I tend to like paintings where the abstraction is strong. By this I mean that the paint, the colors and shapes, are distinct, like strong actors in a play. Going towards abstraction does not mean going away from representation. It is more like describing something real by other means than illustration. It is like describing an apple with your hands, forming the shape in the air with your hands, by enclosing an imaginary object with two hands. You do not try to make your hand look like an apple. Paint takes over the role of the hands and does not hide the fact that it is paint. Painting is talking with the hands made permanent.

When color and shapes are emphasized it is the artist that is directing the viewer. “Look at this and then look at that and see how this relates to that”, the artist is saying, “This is what I want you to see.”

“A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.” – Cezanne

Autumn Birches...

I have been able to sneak out and do a few small plein air sketches while the baby naps. It’s been fun to get a little painting time in, but it has been tough figuring out the fall colors. It’s taken me a few tries to figure some things out, but I feel like I am getting a small understanding of this season right as the leaves are all about to fall off.

I have finally updated the poll question on the blog, so feel free to weigh in with your vote and any comments. I am a big fan of winter painting, but I think overall my favorite season is spring. It’s when I can finally go out and spend long days outside without losing all sensation in my fingers and toes. Plus the colors of spring are beautiful as the trees start budding out and flower gardens start coming to life. I look forward to seeing what you guys think.

Elizabeth Napping...

I’ve had a small chunk of time most days where I can sneak into the studio for some painting. It’s great to be able to settle into a painting, and I feel like I have been making some good progress on a few long term projects that I was stuck on. When I go to the studio to work now, it feels more like play than it has in a long time. I think my new perspective as a father has made it easier to approach my paintings in a good mindset.

The drawing here is another sketch from our slow days since the baby arrived. This is Elizabeth catching a nap while she can.

Cuddle...

When I draw Elizabeth and the baby, I rarely ask them to pose for me (and when I do ask Audrey rarely listens.) Drawings like this one are the result of the quick studies I can squeeze in before one of them has a melt down.

Also, I have donated a painting to the Community Bicycle Center in Biddeford ,who is having a fundraising art auction on November 16th. You can read more about my painting and this event on the Village Soup article about this.