Monday, September 26, 2005

Monday Meeting. Week 5ive.

In my research/sketch book, I've started writing about a wider range of experiences that I can remember from childhood. Some involve losing my innocense with a sudden jolt, as Little Red Riding Hood may have felt she did. Because of the experiential writing, I find that I handle the book differently. I've started to include newspaper clippings that may relate or talk about another animator in the back of the book, held together with a single rubber band to hold the contents. I have then placed the book in a plastic baggie for safe keeping. The book is becoming precious. {I am precious: handle with care.}

I've given the book over to Kurt to read and comment in. I will work in my alternate research book along the way. I may make some books that start showing me who Red might actually be.

Today we conversed about books and about Red and what she may have been interested in. I was inspired by the recent issue of Esopus Magazine. Not only does the magazine house a project by Ed Ruscha (books) it also contains a segment on letters. I have been thinking about HOW to make Little Red more real. For example, her real name is Maisie according to information from this publisher, Antelope Publishing: Ongoing Tales. Her father was a wood-cutter. The incident occured on a bright Spring morning in the month of May. A new character, I had never heard of before, Farmer Hodge, is introduced. Kurt was suggesting I fill the book up as if it was her journal. Some of the items I can put in the journal are letters from family and friends. I can also design beer labels with unusual shapes and designs... that would signify Red's longing for a relationship with her father. Maybe that wasn't essential to her happiness. Right now, it's all still an investigation of her life and what she was like with only snippets revealing what the authors had intended for her.

Here are some disconnected thoughts based on our discussion.
• Evidence
• The evidence baggie
• A court of law
• The art work of John Copeland
• Kurt's friend Ward talks about banality. "Transform banality."
• Giving
• A symbol of generosity {Here Kurt was describing a story where a fellow artist he worked with handed Kurt something he found off of the street. Not only was this a gesture of friendship, it was a gift. At least, that is how it has since been viewed}.
• The goal is to delight people. Put my time into something that is a conduit to dispensing enjoyment.
• Little Red's evidence of existance.
• Little Red's diary. What did she write about? What notes or letters did she save to keep and read over and over again? What inquiries did she make? Why are those objects in her book?

I asked Kurt about doing more than one book of this nature. He suggested I stick with doing the one thesis book. I was thinking for sales.... and he reminded me that I don't need to traverse that territory at the moment.

This collection of evidence also reminds me of Multimedia Magazine in a box. I've been quite attracted to the Fluxus movement and work that entails a collection of sorts. I think that is why I'm highly motivated in the Art and Anthropology class. I will have to start writing more about some of the other classes I am taking at this time as well. My monotype class is quite wonderful as well. The instructor is great. I like the way he speaks with me and allows me to be who I am, even though I may bug him at times, and I am free to do my work. I'm free to encourage others without rath. It's a great Friday class. We have tea time. Can you imagine? Well... for another topic.

Kurt told me of an artist that shared ephemera like letters, labels, flowers, embedded in a poets book. He thought it quite powerful and by the way he was describing the work, I'm sure I would think so as well.

Strategies for the book or books:
1. A series of books
2. Divide the book up into the characters. One book, but chapters that house the character who is narrating.
3. Reminder of the movie called, Quills about the Marquis De Sade, his trials and tribulations during a section of his life and how he was crazy to write. Is Little Red like that?
4. We are creating an artifact of Red's life. Something that will get her out of the realm of the tale and a little closer to real life.

Thoughts.
I may write letters to current friends under the guise of Little Red Riding Hood. The letter, the paper, the seal, the type of ink used will all play an important roll in developing some of her character as I interpret the readings.

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Readings from Little Red Riding Hood Uncloacked. Sex, Morality and the Evolution of a Fairy Tale by Catherine Orenstein.

Before the introduction starts, she entices us with a quite by famous author Charles Dickens. "Little Red Riding Hood was my first Love. I felt that if I could have married Little Red Riding Hood, I should have known perfect bliss."

Nearing the end of her introduction she writes, "Folklore is collective, oral and ephemeral. It is a dance between tellers and listenders that includes jokes, tall tales, gossip at the kitchen table, and fairy tales as they were once told around the fire or in the fields - - always changing and constantly adopting to new cultural landscapes. Yet as pen meets paper, characters freeze in time and space, like the chef caught in the act of slapping the kitchen boy in Sleeping Beauty's palace. There he stands, arm raised, mouth open in reproach, and a century-old grease stain on his apron. Text is forever locked in context. Storybook heroes and heroines acquite not only a period wardrobe but also a date, author, presumed audence and worldview. Whether in the homespun cloak of an old yarn or powdered and perfumed for the French Court; whether bound and corseted in the fashion of Victorian Europe, or dolled up by twentieth-century drag queens, fairy tale heroes and heroines record the mentality of their day - - and none more impressively than Little Red Riding Hood. Of durable identity, unmistakable even when she changes nationality, age, appearance, name and (yes) even clothing, Little Red Riding Hood is instantly remembered and easily recognizable amongst thousands of tales and tens of thousands of characters. And over the years she has been cloaked, according to sockal and ethical fashion, in countless meanings and morals, warnings and winks." (page 12 - 13)

In the last paragraph of Orenstein's introduction she says, "... to explore some of her multitude of reincarnations, not in search of universal truths, but on the contrary, as evidence of how human truths change."

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Here is a link to a silly Little Red inspired calculus site.
Karl's Calculus Tutor

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Searching for the truth of Little Red Riding Hood

Kurt introduced me to a great little interview on NPR. Were the Brothers Grimm Helped by Sisters? Valerie Paradiz.

This weeks artists to know about.
Josh Goshfield
Marshall Arisman
Milton Glaser

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I have had to resort back to making lists of tasks to complete on a daily basis. If I don't, I won't get the painting done, the drawings, or even simpler tasks of drawing and exploring my ideas not only for thesis, but for other homework.

Some of the things I have been thinking about regarding Red Riding Hood:
• Innocense
• The deception
• Sacrament. Based on some of the other iterations of the Little Red Riding Hood story. Look here to find the stories translated from Italian and French.
• Intuition of danger
• Canibalism

Questions:
Where is Red's father?
Was she raised by women scorned?
In this tale, is it believed that all men are bad and not to be believed?

+++
I bet an Indian Bolliwood musical has already been made from this story. That would be quite the site to see. A dance and huge production made from such a simple, classic story.

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As I am thinking about the story, I am quite attracted to Carnivale. It's a beautifully written story. If you look on the website you can track back to how they made some of the scenes, some of the story bording ideas and other pictures of interest.

I suspect that this theme will continue to inform my work in the future.

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Advice from Kurt.

Stick to the story in it's purest form. Do not ellaborate so much. Keep my facts straight.

Since the story is dealing with personal views, I must remember to keep the story observational. As I paint and create works based off of the paintings like books, much about my experiences can be revealed if you know how to read them.

I started thinking about variations on the story... how the story might relate to aspects of my own life. I was looking for a way to characterize the paintings as well. I am already envisioning the finished work without enough research so I need to back up a bit and continue my reading.

We discussed telling the story from the view point of each character. I could then render the paintings from the view point of each character as well.

I am considering using weather patterns to help illustrate the story as well. For example, the wolf would be partially symbolized by a storm. I may carve some of those symbols into the masonite, then paint over it.. so you could only see those symbols if you looked closely at the painting. From far away, it would look like a traditional painting.

+++
Items from the story that carry strong symbolism with them

The teeth (from the grandmother)
blood
red
innocense
forrest
play
meat
cape

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Finally,
I must create the life before I can crerate the images and the look of the pieces I would like to make in reality.

Photo Intermission. Week 4.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Meeting with Kurt. Number 4our.

After speaking with Kurt today, I realized I wasn't having fun with my research. I lacked the time commitment to enable me to do the research I feel is necessary to construct strong final pieces. I was taking things too seriously and not "playing" if you will; as he first suggested to do. I know that I don't have to have "fun" in everything I do... However, I find that if fun is involved in the process, I can better experiment and learn.

I gave myself an hour and a half to play with images, xerox copy transfers and the such. Will post later. I think I will send this book to Kurt and if he has time we can have a picture dialogue. A book exchange. I derive a tremendous amount of inspiration from such exchanges.

I have a new working bibliography in hand.

The Trials and Tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood. Versions of the tale in sciocultural contex.

Little Red Riding Hood Uncloaked: Sex, Morality, and the evolution of the fairy tale.

The Queen's Mirror: Fairy Tales by German Women.

Folklore, Myths, and Legends: A World Perspective

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales, Children and the Culture industry.

Chinese Folktales

The Truth Never STands in the way of a Good Story.

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I am even allowing my thoughts to entertain future projects... or what I can be "about" as an artist. It seems like a narrow idea to lock myself in a box like this. However, in the beginning, this is how artists get recognition? Well. I obviously have a lot to learn about HOW to be a working artist.

+++

Here is an e-mail I just sent to Kurt.

So.... with reading about Lil Red and looking at information about Carnivale (an HBO show, only two seasons) .... thinking about "sideshow freaks" and how that relates to my world. I can twist similarties from my own life and project them on to characters that seem like sideshow performers at a circus event. Seems like these paintings of tales, with a distinctive bent... from the view point of the different characters can lead to subject matter I am very interested in painting. The freak/side show, the mystical, the tale, the story.... all of it so anthropological and ripe with story telling potential. This has been done a billion times before by artists much wiser, much more practices than myself... but not by me. Not that I will do anything so special.... but I think I have found an avenue to paint portraits, tell stories, or rather retell stories, and use painting, printmaking and book arts as the vehicle to relate the stories.

I was thinking about the book for little Red. It could be sevearl small books, depicting the one characters point of view, then a compilation of the books in the end. They could fit into one case, housing all five or six books. Just a thought. I can make up a dummy for this one. Especially now that some of the details of the story and how I hope to portray the characters are becoming more clearly defined.

We all have different personality types. Some; if I make the wolf to be a sympathetic yet evil character; may relate to the wolf more than poor innocent Red. I don't know... so many twists and turns with possibilities.

Thanks for reading.

A

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Words to Keep in the Front of my Mind.

"Simple things hold the secret"
~Carl Jung

This makes me think about the simplicity of the story I would like to tell through paintings of Little Red Riding Hood's environment.

Keri Smith is never bored.

Read about Keri Smith's 100 ideas for keeping creative and you will never be bored either.

It's a work in progress, so check her site when you remember to.

Next Plan of Action.

This week my measured tasks were to create drawings daily and to start making a dummy book to house my pictures and contents. I must admit to failing on the task of drawing daily. I did however prepare places in my home as well as in my studio to allow myself the freedome to draw daily. I derive a great deal of inspiration from blog sites like Danny Gregory's Everyday Matters. I am also a member of the online forum and there are many inspirational drawers and writers that contribute to the health of the idea of drawing daily.

This week. I was quite upset that my Advanced Studio instructor suggested I create a Graphic Novel as an option for my work. In three and a half years I have never exhibited an inkling to do such a project. I feel too, that in the end, if I were to present myself as a graphic novel drawer, I may be the laughing stock of my community. Maybe my thinking is quite narrow minded. That will be discovered in time. I attempted to speak with my instructor about this in person. It was bad timing on my part. He was extremely busy. I was able to speak to another instructor whose opinion I can respect and trust as unfiltered. He suggests that my Advanced Studio instructor was attempting to encourage me not to be narrow minded. To be open to an evolution.

I think part of the problem here is that I started thinking about my thesis during summer. I asked friends, I spoke with many people. I got opinions and my ideas shifted dramatically. I have not taken the Advanced Studio class with me on that ride. It was quite the rollercoaster. For anyone who knows me well, they know I always have a ton of ideas that I need to narrow down. For me to actually have decided upon something is quite the task. I am often debilitated by my ideas... because they are so many. I've started writing some of them down. I find it challenging to capture all of them. I am very feminine that way... I think and live in my mind a great deal. While I do my best to make some things a reality... it's slow going. I get bogged down by the way I've learned to organize information and the lack of discipline I have toward prioritizing.

In Art and Anthropology, the class was asked to read some writings about Susan Hiller. In the article there were questions and answers included. I enjoyed reading this piece because Ms. Hiller didn't seem to be annoyed with the expectation or the questions from her audience. I recognize that I get a bit high strung and frustrated with people that don't understand my shorthand speak. My mouth cannot keep up with my brain.

The instructor I went to to speak about my issue was very kind to tell me I go to fast. I give too much information. It may repulse people and make them want to step in reverse. He didn't tell me I need to slow down... however, that is part of what I gathered from the conversation. I need to slow down a bit and do what I know is right. For example... the Little Red Riding Hood idea. I need to go on ahead and draw out my compositions, make my books and the such. Keep drawing and exploring the relationships between all of the characters.

I'm so grateful for all of the people in my life who have accepted me for the way I am, as annoying as I must be. I am also appreciative of an opportunity to become better, more paletable, and easier to understand. I have quite a bit of work to do to gain the patience of speaking with people about my work.

Advice from HOW forum friends.

How Design Magazine forum thread.

How is that thesis coming along???? Are you having fun yet? If not, I promise you will get to a point where you are having fun.!
-s

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hey ash!

[i was just going to post that ...]

have you seen Scraps of Paper?

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Hi Ladies. Thank you for asking. It's okay. Lots of work to do... don't feel supported by the Advance Studio instructor... wonder what he's up to and if I am being set up so to speak.

I've been thinking about how I should approach writing about the experience on my blog. I could get into subject matter that some would not like me to put on the blog. So.... I have to be careful.

You know? It's in the beginning stages. It has to go through so many cycles. I have to come to a point when I can defend my ideas without getting defensive. I speak to each person differently. The way I would answer my instructors is different than I would answer someone who came to my show.

So.... I am still an infant in this game. I must learn to calm down and not take everyone and everything so seriously. I'm wound too tightly.

How are you both doing? Whatchya'all up to?

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A forum members response to my comment.

"I've been thinking about how I should approach writing about the experience on my blog. I could get into subject matter that some would not like me to put on the blog. So.... I have to be careful."


i've been reading Dooce, about how she lost her job due to her blog, and coined the name. interesting stuff. and a GREAT daily read.

i never thought i'd be reading a personal blog on a daily basis, but statements like "She stuck her fore finger up my right nostril and held it there for much longer than was appropriate. It was her way of saying, “I didn’t know how specific you wanted me to get." get my giggle. i love to giggle.

but yes, you should be careful on what you say. although you can always edit edit edit ... :-)

"You know? It's in the beginning stages. It has to go through so many cycles. I have to come to a point when I can defend my ideas without getting defensive. I speak to each person differently. The way I would answer my instructors is different than I would answer someone who came to my show.So.... I am still an infant in this game. I must learn to calm down and not take everyone and everything so seriously. I'm wound too tightly."


a balancing act is so difficult. let us know how it comes about. k? do you have anyone to bounce your feels off, to see if you are coming across too serious or not? sometimes an outside opinion is just the ticket to calm a situation down. not that you are not calm, but just talking makes things clear for me. especially if it's a friend who takes the time to tell me i am wrong, or suggests that perhaps i could look at it 'this' way not 'that'.

"How are you both doing? Whatchya'all up to?"


the pgda is solidifying. and i've decided to create a blog 'designers who blog'. i won't have time to contribute daily to a design blog, but i want to join the blogging community in some way. after the logoworks high, i got hooked. but i've taken that off my katz blog and will design one just for 'designers who blog'. just the blogs who are giving back to the industry.

i'll also set up a blog for the pgda, while we are waiting for the site to be designed. but others will write that copy for me [or spiff up the copy i put together] so it won't be too time consuming. [famous last words]

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End of Post

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Photo Intermission. Week 3.


Some of the shops in the Pearl District area of Portland have these great pieces of furniture, which are way out of my price range. That yellow cabinet looks yummie.




Up to now I've kept my clothing simple. Pants either black, brown or dark grey and a shirt or sweater. Very simple, almost uniform-like. I do enjoy wearing nice clothing and this is a style; when I get down to a decent weight; I'd be interested in wearing.






This is the window dressing for a store called Anthroplogy. I wouldn't mind being a window artist. This looks like a lot of fun.


Anthropolgy. Ant Ol. Signage.





Monday, September 12, 2005

Working Bibliography + Websites.

"Wicked" by Gregory Maguire

James M McGlathery
1988 English Book xvi, 258 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Urbana : University of Illinois Press, ; ISBN: 0252015495

Marie-Luise von Franz
1980 English Book 124 p. ; 21 cm. Toronto : Inner
City Books, ; ISBN: 0919123015

Marie-Luise von Franz
1995, 1974 Rev. ed. English Book vii, 336 p. ; 22
cm. Boston : Shambhala, ; ISBN: 0877739749

Marie-Luise von Franz
1977 English Book 189 p. ; 22 cm. Zürich : Spring
Publications, ; ISBN: 0882141120

Marie-Luise von Franz
1975 3d ed. English Book [2], 160 p. : ill. ; 22
cm. Zürich : Spring Publications, ; ISBN: 0882141015

Marie-Luise von Franz
1996 Rev. ed. English Book xi, 208 p. : ill. ; 22
cm. Boston : Shambhala ; [New York] : Distributed in the U.S. by Random
House, ; ISBN: 0877735263

The trials & tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood / Jack David Zipes
1993 2nd ed. English Book xiii, 408 p. : ill. ; 23
cm. New York : Routledge, ; ISBN: 0415908345, 0415908353

The trials and tribulations of Little Red Riding Hood :
versions of the tale in sociocultural context / Jack David Zipes
1983 English Book xi, 298 p., [8] p. of plates :
ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. South Hadley, Mass. : Bergin & Garvey
Publishers, ; ISBN: 089789023X :

Are universes thicker than blackberries? :
discourses on Gödel, magic hexagrams, Little Red
Riding Hood, and other mathematical and pseudoscientific topics /
Martin Gardner
2003 1st ed. English Book Internet Resource xi,
288 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. New York : W.W. Norton, ; ISBN: 0393057429

Little Red Riding Hood : a casebook / Alan Dundes
1989 English Book xi, 251 p. ; 23 cm. Madison,
Wis. : University of Wisconsin Press, ; ISBN: 0299120309 : 0299120341

Individuation in fairy tales /
Marie-Luise von Franz
1990 Rev. ed. English Book vii, 230 p. ; 22 cm.
Boston : Shambhala : Distributed in the United States by Random House,; ISBN: 0877735255

Creative storytelling :
building community, changing lives /
Jack David Zipes
1995 English Book xii, 267 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. New
York : Routledge, ; ISBN: 0415912717 0415912725 (pbk.)

Little Red Riding Hood uncloaked :
sex, morality, and the evolution of a fairy tale /
Catherine Orenstein
2002 English Book xiii, 289 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. New
York : Basic Books, ; ISBN: 0465041256

Shadow and evil in fairy tales /
Marie-Luise von Franz
1995, 1974 Rev. ed. English Book vii, 336 p. ; 22
cm. Boston : Shambhala, ; ISBN: 0877739749
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Websites + Artists.
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Mary Esch
Little Red Riding Hood Translated by D. L. Ashliman
Multimedia Edition
Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm
Politically Correct Little Red Riding Hood
Antelolpe Publishing, Ongoing tales

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Photo Intermission. Week 2.

Every day, when I walk to school, I will take photos. Here are a few from week 2. We had warm and beautiful weather. I can tell that the atomospher is changing and fall is waking up. I love this time of year.

My mom wants me to send her a portrait of my smiling face. I'm just not into it, so I am sending her silly pictures of "my portrait" so to speak. I am sending her pictures that I enjoy... and in a sense, I suppose that cold be representative of a portrait of me. She really wants something more simple to show her friends. I'm not making it easy. ;-D






I should have entered this picture of the great yellow car to PhotoFortnight. It may not have won the prize.... but at least I would have entered something I liked. I didn't enter anything. :-(.

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Photo Intermission. Week 1.

I was thinking about "signage" and photos to take for the PhotoFortnight competition. Plus, it was a pleasant walk to and from school. Have to make use of my walking time. :-D




Advanced Studio. Part 2wo of September 6, 2005

There is so much information to share. I don't want to get bogged down with putting it all into one post because there are many, varied aspects to each day. I may just have to write about the events of the day, on THAT day. In concert with our presentation, we were asked to fill out a form which helped us to think about the direction we want to take our art.

Here are some questions and some of the answers I feel comfortable sharing.

Project #1 Worksheet.
Advanced Studio


Current media of interest: oil paint on panel. Using my own mulled pigments with German cold-pressed linseed oils, ground marble and other additives which prevent separation and deterioration of pigments.

1. List historical artists that influence your work:
a. Titian, Vremeer, Leonardo da Vinci, Gustav Klimt, Emil Noldé, Hannah Hôch
b. Pissaro, Durer, Ben Franklin, Alice Neal, Dieter Roth, Man Ray, Abigail Abbott
c. Orson Welles, George Orwell, Borges, John Berger

2. List contemporary artists that influence your work:
a. Tim Ely, Inge Bruggeman, Maralyn Zornado, Barb Tettenbaum, Rory Sparks, Christy Wykoff, Morgan Walker, Paul Missal, Kurt Hollomon, Sally Cleveland, Barry Pelzner, Tomer Hanuka, Esao Andrews, Gerard Dubois, Edward Tuftee
b. James Jean, Wayne Thiebaud, Duane Keiser, Kiki Smoth, Gary Taxali, Tony Fitzpatrick, Tony Millionaire
c. Books created to show a behind the scenes demonstration about how movies are made and characters developed like Monsters, Inc, The Incredibles, Bat Man, Robots, Muppets, Tim Burton, Joe Sorren, Leslie Jackson, Adam Miller
d. Animator who made the Triplets of Bellville, Jean-Claude Donda; Director of movie Amelie, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Japanese animated movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. A website called micromicon (Maya)

3. What are the “cultural influences” that inform your work?
a. Television, movies, music. When I get the chance to watch television, I enjoy the discovery channel and shows that are meant to inform, like the travel shows, some cooking shows and the Antique Road Show.
b. I like all sorts of music ranging from Jimmy Hendrix, Janice Joplin, 60s, - A Small Good Thing, Indian Bollywood music, Ennio Moricone’s scores for movies, Italian music, Japanese music. The types of music I’m not fond of is most country and western and Zydago or Dixie type music. If the music is too experimental it’s very hard for me to concentrate on anything I happen to be doing at the time. I’m not fond of screeching voices or saxophones, even though I do like some of Mingus’s work. Don’t care to listen to number nine for a long period of time even though I can stand Sun Ra. Not particularly interested in listening to the pounding of metal with rain drops.
c. My experience in Japan and in other parts of the world. The language of Japan, the people, the ceremonies and customs.
d. The dysfunction of American society and the family unit. Hardships and loss.


4. Artists work in a variety of ways and means, some work primarily with ideas that inform artistic production, others work with processes that allow for personal discovery, while still others find the manipulation of materials stimulate ideas that lead to art making. How would you describe your strategy for artistic production?
I would say I am process oriented. I like the process of collecting all of the materials to make any given project. My strategy has often been to rely partially on my ability to research and make notes on what I discover. Then find a way to create connections. I start out my outlining my idea, writing down words that relate to the idea, creating small thumbnail drawings, then working out the composition on a larger scale using materials that will dry quickly and I can get instant results from. Then I will move on to larger pieces or pieces that I intend to pursue as a professional piece to show the world.

5. As you approach Project 1, what are some of your concerns and directions (ideas) that you intend to pursue?
a. I’m concerned that I have too much work in various stages of progress and that the criticism will knock the wind out of my energy towards my work.
b. Since I enjoy portraiture, I plan to continue painting small, intimate, sweet portraits. Portraits that use the surface, which could be marred or have something wrong with it, to paint, portraits that use those markings as part of the work.
c. I plan to continue to understand color better.
d. I plan to finish all of the paintings I have started.

6. Artists often identify areas they will investigate . Please list the areas as you know them i.e. narrative work, figuration, object making, multiples, etc.
a. Narrative
b. I will end up making objects for some of my classes. I may make objects to help me explore and better understand my point as far as the thesis goes. Making objects helps me to better understand how I would like to portray someone or what to include in a composition.
c. Through research and notes, I may make studies that could fall into figuration, narrative work, brain storm maps and charts.
d. Portraiture
e. Multi-layers of paint and glazing techniques.

7. Equally, artists often identify areas they will not investigate . Please list the areas as you know them i.e. narrative work, figuration, object making, multiples, etc.
a. I may use photography to help in my research, However I don’t see that I will pursue it as a means to and end.
b. While I would very much like to explore sculpture and welding as well as assemblage, I may not have enough time to explore these methods and create work that utilizes these disciplines.
c. I think I will limit what types of research I do. I don’t want to be informed by someone else’s imagination for what I’d like to express. I would like to break out of the idea of creating someone else’s work.
d. Not planning to sew or construct things made of cloth or yarn.
e. Not planning to create large furniture for any work other than display, frames or Art and Anthropology.

8. In relation to the direction of your projects in the first semester, what skills do you wish to strengthen or develop?
a. Uniformity of narrative
b. Continued understanding of color, composition, and drawing
c. Fully developing an idea from beginning to end, not rushing through the process in order to turn in a mediocre piece.
d. To think for myself. Even if I get a “terrible” review, to consider it and take it steps further rather than becoming deflated and losing energy.

9. In relation to the direction of your projects in the first semester, what materials (or resources) do you anticipate exploring?
a. Masonite, acrylic gesso, oil gesso, oil paint. Multi layers of glazes. Quinachridone transparent oil colors.
b. Instructors who are willing to speak with me about my work.
c. The library at school, at PSU and the Multnomah County Central Library. The Special collections room that Jim Carmin runs, he John Wilson room.
d. My studio both on and off campus.
e. Even though I might be afraid… get out of research mode and go on to the next step of my project. Don’t hold it too precious to show anyone, which I am wont to do.

10. How will you begin to research your project? What are the sources of information that will inform your investigation? i.e. library, interviews with people, videos, etc.
a. Mostly doing the work, writing, exploring, thinking, making lists, drawing, painting and reflecting upon what it all means. I will certainly utilize the library as often as possible. Speak with fellow students and faculty. Speak with people who I know are daring enough to share their truth with me. Speak with past PNCA students.
b. I started a Thesis Year blog (online journal) that has been published on the web. As soon as I get some more information on the blog, I can potentially receive comments worldwide.
c. Small-scale sketches done in acrylic, pastel, pencil, pen and possibly even on the computer. Exploration of words and connections to the ideas I would like to reveal about my subject matter. Similar to how they show they developed the characters in the movie Monsters, Inc.
d. Looking through encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other such books filled with information about my topic.

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The presentation was okay. I passed around 14 paintings in various stages of completion. We had a guest critique participant, Patrick Rock. He is this years resident at PNCA.

I felt like I was nervous, but still had an answer for most of the questions that were being thrown my way. One person suggested I create a children's book. Another, L.P. suggested I investigate the idea of graphic novels. Some suggested I watch the movie Freeway. I really want to stay away from other artists derivative work. Plus I've heard that this movie is very violent. It was the second time that this movie was suggested for me to watch. I would much rather keep with the psychological aspects of the Little Red Riding Hood Story. I have found that there are several variations of the story based on language. So I can certainly explore various aspects of a childs book or of a graphic novel as I work out the details of my work... it's not going to be what I end up doing.

I failed to mention in class; probably because of nervousness; why I am chosing painting over all of the other mediums. I wrote a bit about it in the first entry on this site. I feel like I can do several things well, I have not however, delved deeply enough into one discipline, like I plan to do with painting.

Possibly, because I am a very sensitive person, when I viewed my instructors reaction, he looked terribly annoyed with me. Like I have this thing down wired pat and I am closing myself off to other possibilities. That isn't it at all. I am using the Fable of Little Red Riding Hood as my control to explore various means of expressing that tale. I guess because the class was not in on the journey and how long it took me to decide on something, some may feel something is missing. Maybe that is why the instructor feels like I am limiting myself. He expected to have to reign me in because my ideas are too far and wide and broad. I think... "NO! I don't have the time for that!" Respectively, I have about seven months to start, change and finish up this thesis. All writing included. That sounds like a long time from now. It isn't. Every day will count if I want to present work that represents what I can do.

My next step is to create a working bibliography.

Advanced Studio. We shared past work and current work in progress.

We started out this class with sharing work we've done from previous classes or over the summer, and work we are currently creating and thinking about. The exercise, if you will, I think is suppose to help us 1. Speak in public; and 2. Enable us to think more concretely through the group activity about what it is we want to execute as part of our thesis project. Our instructor, L.P., wants us to be able to articulate our influences and skills. He wants to be able to have open dialogue about our strengths and weaknesses and work on our weaknesses until they become our strengths.

This is what I shared with the class:

Older work, finished.

All of these pieces are very small, intimate portraits done using oil on panel. All pieces are smaller than eight inches in width and height.



This pear is what started it all for me. I was having so much trouble painting, not enjoying the process, my compositions and my ability to pull anything out. So I started fooling around with this more atmospheric way of painting after many visits to the museum and many talks with other artists. I met two artists, Adam and Leslie who paint the way I love, in a very old, Baroque, traditional way. I have employed them to teach me how to paint that way while still attempting to retain some aspects of my own sensibilities. They have been amazing teachers for me.



I enjoy thinking about what type of work I would like to create for the public. I do plenty of work on my own, stuff I would never show a soul. I like the idea of portraits with attitude. That subtle capture of someone when they are in thought, about to say something or a million miles away in their own thoughts. Ella is divine. She is fun, spunky and has a lot of attitude. She's a fellow artist in the building where I have a studio. She is quite small and delicate, yet has a huge, very enjoyable personality. This was my first portrait of a person done in this style. I worked on this painting until I felt satisfied about what I was doing with the composition, the drawing and especially, in this case, the color. Up to this point in my painting career... I never kept to the same pallet, so I kept having to change the whole painting. That was a pain. My madness ended here.



This is Stephanie. She is a recent painting grad from PNCA. I created this piece during the summer, '05. I used a water based oil paint, shades of green, for the underpainting, then created a new color pallet, with the help of Adam and Leslie, for the rest. I learned how to make the quinacridones work for me. There are still some other traditional colors like the burnt umber and some siennas... I learned how to grey colors down by using their compliments. I learned that in PNCA too... it just felt different when I learned it again with Adam and Les. Maybe I retained the value of the lesson the second time around.

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Faces in progress.



This is Alyssa. She graduated from PNCA and worked there for a short time after graduation as a security gard. She is stunning. She loves to dance. This painting is only in the beginning stages. I would say it's about 1/4 done. I need to fill in the left side of her face, as you are looking at the portrait. Then fill in the features of her face. Get the lighting correct and all of that good stuff.



This is a young black girl singing into a lollipop. This image reminds me of my friend V.B.W.. She is an amazing singer. She is an amazing teacher of singing... well, what I mean to explain here is that she taught me to have more confidence when I sing, if I ever sing in public. She has that stage presence and personality. She could be very successful as an entertainer. I think it's the fear that is holding her back. I am thinking that once I finish this painting, I will present it to her as a gift. I have nagged her enough as it is about her risking it and just singing. There is too much fear involved maybe? I don't know. It's not my problem... I just care about my friend and hope she's happy. She writes too... she is always writing some witty song or poem.



This is Rory. Isn't she beautiful? Well. She is also about 1/4 done. This was an especially tough angle for me to understand how to draw. If the outline of her face isn't just right, it could throw the whole thing off. I will use a lot of glazing and transparent colors to finish this piece off. I will infuse the darks with colors that will make it a treat when it's looked at close up and far away.



This is Melissa. She is very close to being finished. I just need to bring up the contrast in her eyes and other areas. The core shadows and other areas that need the attention of the shadow. She looks like she got caught talking to herself in the forrest. I am attempting to achieve a type of fantasy setting here. Where is that glowy pink light on her face coming from? What shape is it? What is she seeing? Is it you? Is she looking through you? Past you? What is she about to say?



Jenifer is almost done. I have to fix her mouth and teeth. I need to brighten up certain forms so they make more sense.



This is an idea in progress. This painting was done on an oil ground and gold and silver leaf. I am experimenting with color compliments here. How they can push back or bring the eye to focus on a particular area. It has a very dream-like sense to me at this stage.



Here is Roxanne. She is still in the very beginning stages of work. While it was hot here in Portland, OR, I foolishly separated the works in progress painting with paper. Now I have to scrub that paper off... Ugh. Maybe I will just leave it. No.... I don't think that will work with my aesthetic.

Most of these portraits are captured by making very quick studies of them in person, then using a picture as reference. There really is an art to creating a portrait that is not based on the limited amount of information a photograph can give. All of the boards and surfaces I'm using are dented or have something on them. I am utilizing that aspect to make textured portraits with attitude. No material gets wasted. The boards are masonite pieces that were used in a construction site. So they have lots of undesireable materials left on them. I use the cleanest side... but the marks and blemishes add that extra bit. That is part of the treat you get when you view the painting close up. Maybe some won't believe it as a treat. I don't know what I will do about that right now. It's not so important to address at the moment.

Here are some landscapes that were done over the latter part of the summer.

I imposed some assignments on myself, to better understand HOW to paint as well as HOW to paint and be okay with painting in public. Most of these paintings are small, acrylic on panel and ala prima. No other oil work or glazing has been done. They've been one shot deals. While I am not so fond of painting landscapes, they certainly have taught me how to see better. When out in nature, painting plein air, it's easy to get overwhelmed with that vast greatness of everything around me.



This is Theodore Roosevelt in front of the Portland Art Museum. 3x5 or so. This is not so process oriented and I am not quite sure how I feel about that yet. I feel the need to continue to refine this painting, to make it approach the type of refinement I desire. Another voice in my head thinks I should leave it be. It was a quick sketch, not a masterpiece.



This was my second time painting on Sauvie Island, near Kruger's market (besides a couple of times from class trips). Again, I am glad I did this exercise. You can definitely tell the difference in growth from the background, middle ground to the foreground, however some things are too uniformed for my taste. My friend Roxanne is more naturalistic when she paints. She paints this amazing landscapes and plein air paintings with vim and vigor and energy and they turn out beautifully. I continue having trouble accepting this piece without all of the noodling and refinding I want to do to it. One thing these plein air paintings in acrylic seem to lend themselves to is mixed media... the telephone wire lines are done in pencil. I'm attracted to doing more work like this.... I just need to make it mine.. it's still a stranger to me yet.



Back of Theodore Roosevelt. I like the strange color. Not sure about the impression of it. Maybe it will grow on me in time.



Sauvie Island plein air painting with acrylics.

The second week of school.

Monday was Labor day so Kurt and I didn't get to meet for a lengthy discussion. We saw each other throughout the week because he teaches his regular drawing classes and an illustration class at PNCA. He is always bringing some fascinating project he's worked on with a fellow artist.

The first two weeks of school left me feeling like there were not enough hours in the day in order for me to finish up all of the work I had to do. Tuesday is filled with classes that demand much work. The work involves thinking, contemplation and lots of writing. The morning starts out with Professional Practices, then goes into Advanced Studio. Evening class is mathematics. By the end of the day, it all seems like it was a blur of information and conversations.

Professional Practices. We were asked to to think about our goals and what type of artist we would like to be. Would we like to capture the hearts of currators and gallery owners to be an "art star?" Would we consider just being a working artist? What would that mean? Would we be willing to do something else in order to maintain being able to purchase the supplies involved to continue being an artist? We have this questionare to help us along our journey of becoming professional artists. I will share that with you in one moment.

I think of myself as an artist already. While I may have a hard time saying, "I'm an artist" to people that ask while I am out and about sketching... to say that seems so ridiculous. So confining. So.... "who cares." I do work on my craft daily. What could I call myself instead? A practitioner? Sounds to medical. A brain sergeon? Yeah. Ruhight. That would be insulting the medical profession yet again. Are you an artist? I don't know. Who's asking and why do you need to know? Can you tell? That question makes me more uptight than I already am. Especially when having to explain such an essoteric occupation to a stranger.

Here are some of the questions we are expected to answer.
Set your artistic goals:
What kind of artist do you want to be?
What are your strengths and weaknesses? (list three each)
How do you define success?


While she only assigned one page to answer these questions, mine ended up being five pages. There is a lot of information and qualifiers I have to weed out. I do like the idea of planning for success. I truly grasp that concept. My only drawback in thinking is my personal experiences here in Portland, OR have not always turned out the way I've expected. Based on my planning and doing and following through, quite the opposite has happened in fact.

We talked quite a bit about networking. Some of the ways to network and what networking really means. How some think that networking is a nasty word. The teacher, M.K., told us stories about "accidental" networks. Making it seem possible for each and everyone of us to find a similar, very successful opporunity. I like talks like that though. They give me hope. If I can see something successful in my minds eye, I think I can make it happen. I won't give up thinking that. There may be some ingredients missing in my recipe so to speak. I will continue to figure out how I can marry my idea of success, making money and being an artist.

I shared an experience about a fellow artist who is having a great deal of success networking on E-bay. She has received quite a few solicitations to show her pieces as well as make new work in galleries from Kentucky to Florida. Her artwork was put on the cover of a popular Kentucky Life magazine. She is part of a group collective called Emoma. There is a jurying in process that one would have to go through to be a part of this group. Then there is Duane Keiser, who is not only part of the gallery system, he has his own site, sells work on E-bay and used to teach art. He is getting quite a lot of notariety for his small post-card sized paintings. With the use of the net, the world is becoming increasingly smaller. While I can see many drawbacks to this concept, flip the idea over, and I see just as many good points. Had it not been for the net, her work may have not been seen by people interested in selling it.

Internships are a great way to cultivate a network of artist friends. You never know who knows somebody. Volunteering is another excellent avenue, one traveled frequently by artists just starting out. Any way you can lend a hand to an artist, is another way to network. There are so many unknowns in the scope of networking... it makes sense to put myself "out there" as much as possible.

A question from the class was, "Are there any artists that work with "networking" concepts?" M.K. thought of one artist, Lambi, now dead. I may not be spelling the name correctly, or I didn't hear the name correctly. I found a Trisha Lambi. I don't think she fits in with what the discussion was about though.

We then moved the discussion into the realm of developing an artists résumé. What types of résumés there are and how to approach the subject. The differences between an artists résumé and one you would create for getting work in another industry or even one you would create to get work for teaching at an art college. The many ways people display their information. Education history first, then Exhibition History, Awards, Publications, Residencies. Don't bother putting Collections on unless it's asked for.

Bios. A short synopsis of everything you've done in your life. Written in the third person. Why am I so wonderful? Tooting my horn. Short history of artistic sensibilities and mediums most often used in the work. It's a teaser and short, one page or less. You want people to read these because gallery owners or people in the know may skip over the other aspects of your package, and read just the bio.

Artists Statement. Simple and short, written using first person language. A personal voice describing what I do in a brief, and somewhat poetic way, if possible. What I do, what interests I have, and sharing with people where my thoughts are coming from. Artists Statements vary too. Depending on if the show is a solo show or a group show. Generally, artists statements are not project based.

There are so many ways to be an artist. There are online galleries, virtual galleries, residencies, traditional galleries, museums, on your own, word of mouth.

Thing to think about. What currators hold a lot of currency in the art market?

Idea. Place a short artist statement on the back of a showing post-card. That way our thoughts and ideas are still presented as we are also showcasing a minor aspect of our work (the post-card image) to the public. They may like what they read and that would entice them further to attend your showing.

M.K. suggested we keep a morgue of information about ourselves. Galleries like to show notebooks with information about the artist in them. She has a white notebook that allows her to slide a picture in the front and on the spine. Images are important. Just as important as words, especially when putting together the notebook you would loan to galleries when your work is being shown. She suggests the following:
- Image
- Catalogue + DVD
- Bio
- Artist Statement
- Images
- Résumé
- Articles - tabbed to the correct spot speaking of you or your work
- More images
- Slide index if you are using slides
- Slides on back page if you are taking slides of your images.

On each slide, my name, title, year, dimensions of piece, materials, one line description.

Finally. In the back, a compilation disc.

We were asked to join the following organizational lists:
Regional Arts and Culture Council
Pay special note of looking at the "Portable Works" collection.
Oregon Arts Commission
New York Foundation for the Arts Potentially lots of opportunities here. Especially when the Pollak-Krazner grant becomes available. Awards for up to $25k can be had.

Websites of interest:
Red Shoe Delivery Service
You can view some of M.K.'s work here.

David Eckard
He is the Thesis chair person at PNCA.

Exit Art M.K. was schooled in New York and has access to an immense amount of information that surpases the boundaries of Portland, OR. I appreciate the fact that she has traveled so much and is in the know to the level she is. She's young and seems willing and open to always learning more and to helping people gain access to her knowledge.
Skowhegan They are currently updating their site. The URL is still valid as of 09.10.05
Exceptional place to do an residency. You pay to be a resident artist, however it's quite competitive and very prestigious.

Sitka Center
Residency Program information

The Oregon College of Arts and Craft
Offers fabulous residencies

The Pacific Northwest College of Art
Offers opportunites for residencies

Art Net

White Columns
M.K. was explaining that this is a great place to send slides of your work.

Artists Space
Atlantic Center for the Arts

Online galleries:
Bill Burg

There were a few other online gallery names that I didn't catch.

There are quite a few more links to share. As I organize them better, I will get the links posted.