Scumbling Out the Final Chapter (and Writing a New Blog that Parallels this One)

My loyal readers, this will be my last blog post for Scumbling Up Art.

However, do not fret, because I am creating a new, more expansive blog that will include more art and artists to examine.

I want to thank every single one of you who took the time to read — or even just glance at — this blog and those who commented on it. I did not receive one negative criticism and I find that amazing, especially since people, knowing they will most likely not be “caught” being cruel or inappropriate on the Internet, are willing to be more open and, let’s face it, mean online. So thank you all, again, for sharing your insightful, thoughtful and inspiring opinions. It’s you guys who are the muses of the world.

So, I will keep scumbling on, and I hope you all will do the same with whatever art, craft or hobby you love and can share with others.

Now to stop being all melodramatic, acting like I’m dying when I’m just switching blogs.

Check out my new blog at Writing Out Loud (& Feeding the Dream), which will be up and running soon. Follow me on Twitter for updates. My first post will be “Ten Things You May Not Know About Saturday Night Live,” and the second will be a bare-knuckle comparison of poetry and songs. I should note I’m testing and expanding my versatility on this new blog.

So, as Frank Sinatra said, “The best is yet to come.”

Thanks. Scumble on. Love you all. Peace out.

Today’s Pick of the Litter: The Circle of Freaks — Ahem, Life

This blog is predominantly geared toward appreciating artists who are not well-known but whose works are worth knowing well. These crafty folks produce pieces that trigger a response from the viewer as automatic as a knee jerk.  That being said, let’s examine  Today’s Pick of the Litter:

 David Czupryna
In the Shadow of the Beast, oil, 60 x 40 inches

(From the New York Acamedy of Art Web site)

Who wouldn’t want to paint as well as Czupryna? And the subject matter alone: love it! “Awesome” may be a trite term for my generation, but this piece is honestly worthy of awe. Surreal as anything Dali or Matisse could conjure up, In the Shadow of the Beast uses light as Rembrant taught us to: full blast from one direction, like a spotlight, adding drama and emphasis to the scene. 

This piece is literally bright but the theme is dark: gotta love that kind of ironic contrast. And the work looks like The Lion King meets a radioactive Armageddon. Come on, the tree looks ridiculously similar to the one Simba sought refuge in during the stampede scene, and that animal in the bottom right must remind you of Pumba the warthog!

The animals in this piece are . . . beyond words. There are things that look like chocolate Easter bunnies, the red-butted monkey from a Disney film based on Hamlet (that would be The Lion King, again), platypuses, armadillos, pigs, foxes, birds and dinosaurs. Now that would be a zoo I’d go to.

As odd and smart-aleckly as I sound after saying all this, I must stress that I do, indeed, believe this is a brilliant piece of work because it is capable of making me recall all these memories and attached emotions while making me form strange connections. 

 So click the link and form your own opinion, already!

http://www.nyaa.edu/nyaa/dp_2008/czupryna.html

Press “Released” and Experience a New Sensation

Today’s Pick of the Litter is Heather Donovan. Her work, “Released,” caught my eye like a cupcake catches the eye of a compulsive eater; We both must consume that which entices us.

"Released," 2004, 32'" x 26", Acrylic on Canvas

First off, I must pay credit to the site with a mission statement paralleling my objective because art fans have to stick together to help promote and expand the art community. So link to http://www.coreynahman.com/x/pix.html to see more great up-and-comers.

 

The colors, space and pattern of ”Released” evoke associative memories for me, as did my last Pick. The looping threads of color remind me of those crazy water slides at Sea Breeze, producing movement in the piece with more energy and momentum than Richard Simmons at a hug-a-thon. The work as a whole could also be an aerial view of a pimped-out jungle gym.

 

I think the point my random mind is trying to make is that this piece could be considered expressionistic or abstract expressionistic. Looking at these kinds of paintings is like laying in a field of grass and staring at  clouds. After looking at either for a few seconds, you have your mind start treating the objects like a Rorschach test and you say, “I see a constipated giraffe” or something less … well, something “less,” if you catch my drift . The artist is communicating something in her painting that is emotional and, because it is a successful piece, the viewer is also consumed with emotion after experiencing this work of art.

To see more from this artist, vist: http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/s/stylestudio/ and http://members.ebay.com/ws2/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=style-studio. Her stuff, especially the NYC scenes, is amazing.

Thanks for reading and, until next time: keep on scumbling.

Art: The Jenga of Creativity

Screw it: this post is going to be discussion-oriented. We learn best by listening to each other and being in a constant dialogue with ourselves, our communities, our societies and our cultures. And creative types should learn that way because we all possess some form of creativity.

 Art is like Jenga: it is composed of various elements and built on principles that, if not used effectively, will make the piece topple over.

But therein lies my question: what constitutes art? I wrote a ranting poem last year with that title, and I had no answer. Should literature be considered art? Are only certain types allowed? How about music? Is there a domain separating each sphere of creativity, or do they all end up enmeshed in the way one watercolor bleeds into another? Salvador Dali once said, “Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing” ( www.weeklyreader.com/).

So what I want to know is what you think. What do you define as art? Does it have to have a social commentary? Can something be called art because you just instinctively know it is, because you get a gut reaction to it? I’d actually say yes to that. What about youse guys? Does art have to be serious? Does the artist have to have an intention, a certain desired outcome, for his or her work to be considered art? Here’s an example:

Salvador Dali, “Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (Premonition of Civil War),” 1936

 I think both of these are masterpieces on multiple levels.

I’ll go back to my Pick of the Litter next time. I just like feedback, even if it’s Web-oriented (sometimes we’re more honest when we’re anonymous behind our computer screens, right?).

Thanks for reading, guys! Hope to hear from you in the comments section. Take care.

In the Moment, the Wild Moment

Only in art can a polar bear be convincingly pummeled by paint.

Perhaps in an arctic paintball field, as well …

 ANYWAY,

Today’s Pick of the Litter is wildlife artist Clifford VanMeter. His work in progress, “Partners in the Dine” is an impressionist painting of what appears to be two polar bears — or a polar bear and a fox (check out Clifford’s blog and see what you come up with: http://cliffordblog.com/). This piece captures the feeling — or impression — of the moment with color, variety and short, fast brushstrokes better than any photograph could.

Clifford VanMeter, "Partners in the Dine" (in progress)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VanMeter’s outline sketch alone is impressive. You can sense the movement of the wind, it’s oppressive pressure pushing the animals, both of which are predators. Thus, the title of this piece is poetic. The brushstrokes and colors make me think of a Monet in the day of global warming. The occasional red and blue streaks of paint further propel the idea of a frigid arctic and the carnivorous nature of the animals.

Thanks for reading. And for those of you still surrounded by the winter frost: keep warm!

Today’s Pick of the Litter Hates His Masterpiece

What does it mean when one critic loves a work of art but another loathes it? Is the piece successful because it produces an adrenaline rush of emotion regardless of the viewer’s opinion?

No doubt the stakes are raised when the disappointed party is the artist himself.

Now, to call this work a masterpiece is unfair to the artist, because I am unfamiliar with the bulk of his work. However, I was livid when I read his blog, which states,  “As you see[,] my imagination had decided to go for a walk without me so I came up with this ‘miserable’ macro of some plain shell bracelet. Please be lenient with me.”

…

WHAT???!!!! Is he being sarcastic with the quotes around “miserable”?

First, here’s the work:

"'Macro' Shell Bracelet" by Carlos Lorenzo, Photograph

It’s freaking gorgeous! I’m outraged, I truly am. Art makes you look at things differently, both literally and intellectually. By zooming up on this object, Lorenzo has you experience the smooth texture, intricate swirls, individual differences of each shell and the simple yet elegant pattern of the bracelet. Come on, Carlos! This piece is fabulous (I’m fuming over here — don’t disparage what I love).

What’s superb about this piece is its association with the human body due to the blown-up dimensions. The smooth, pearly exterior can be seen as teeth, and from the angle Lorenzo shot this pic, you get the sensation of impending bite marks. And the coiling in the middle: inner ears! the cochlea, which allows us to hear, has a spiral shape like a shell.

But, apparently, Lorenzo doesn’t think that’s good enough.

I’ m gagging with disgust at the artist’s comment. Go see his work to fully appreciate my retching: http://www.barcelonaphotoblog.com/.

Thanks for reading. Scumble on!

Identifying with the Outcast

Well, this one’s different.

It’s not the pick of the litter in the traditional sense, but I love it because of that: it’s unique, it has CHARACTER.

Today’s Pick of the Litter is Colleen Keough’s piece, Face 2, a print produced in 2009.

Unfortunately, I cannot get the image up on this post because it’s in Adobe format, but go to http://colleenkeough.com/artwork/599216.html to see it firsthand. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

Think of the scene in Chuck Palahniuk’s book Invisible Monsters  where the protagonist has bandages on her face and is trying to speak without a jaw — disturbing yet fascinating.

According to Keough’s site, “As a performer I [Keough] magnify the stereotypes and personas I find within my own personality and belief structures. By bringing these characters to the surface and highlighting their emotional and psychological states, I provide a cultural looking glass in which the viewer is able to identify the false encryptions imbedded within gender roles and language.”

So that’s her take. I prize this piece because it: 1) warrants a reaction from the viewer and 2) can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. Plus, it’s cool how a print can freak you out like this .

To see more imaginative work from Keough, check out http://colleenkeough.com/home.html.

I’ll blog back soon. Take care.

“That cereal state of mind”

Those who do not believe cartoons can be fine art have never come across Lynda Barry’s work.

Lynda Barry, self-portrait

A well-established cartoonist, graphic novelist and author, Lynda Barry exudes honest, insightful humor and sage-like wisdom in the majority, if not all, of her pieces.

And, if there is one word to describe her, “animated” fits like a pair of striped short-shorts and the unwavering need for mood stabilizers fit Richard Simmons (I think I made fun of him in a past post — oh well, the analogy works; it stays).

Abiding by her code of sharp imagery and spontaneity, Barry IS living art. Hell, she even looks like the cartoons she draws of herself.

(So what does the title of this post have to do with ANYTHING, Katie?)

Well, imaginary reader, in short: everything and nothing. Barry said ”that cereal state of mind” during an interview for The College at Brockport’s Writers Forum — of which I am the assistant this year and, therefore, help tape the interviews, if you doubt my credibility.

I love the way she speaks — with such candor, exuberance and image-drenched language — to the point where I want to make out with her diction … .

She is also unpredictable and, frankly, a little on the raunchy side .

Back to the title. She was, I if heard correctly, referring to the deep focus a person has when he or she is absorbed in something that he or she reacts to on an intuitive level, like a child gets enveloped (sometimes literally) in finger paints.

Type Lynda Barry’s name into a search engine and I promise you: you’ll have your expectations exceeded, even if they were higher than they’ve been in a long time.

Lynda Barry is someone I would be proud to emulate. What about you?

Scumble on, my creative posse.

Catapult into action with today’s Pick of the Litter

If you turn Shoots & Ladders into an explosive field of glacial landslides and river rapids, you still won’t come close to Ali Banisadr’s work, which is today’s Pick of the Litter. 

 

This painting came from the New York Academy of Arts Fresh from the Studio: Selected paintings from the Cafe Gallery (http://www.nyaa.edu/nyaa/freshfromthestudio.html). The site does not specify what medium the artist used, but I would guess by the piece’s texture Banisadr used oil paint. (See my next post for how to tell the difference between water paint, oil paint and acrylics) The title of the piece and the year it was made are also unlisted on the NYAA Web site.

What makes this piece work is its sonic pace, which creates visual chaos. Banisadr’s paint strokes zip around like an atom, causing the viewer’s eyes to dash with them. Even though the images are blurred, the artist uses clean, thick lines of paint to perpetuate the zooming effect.

This apparent war zone then halts to a stop at the blackened canyon in the center of the foreground. Also notice the figure in that area, his or her foot splashing into a deep puddle. Perhaps Banisadr is making a statement: war inevitably results in casualties, so why not plummet to your death now? Or maybe that’s my hyper-liberal interpretation … .

With that happy thought, I’ll end today’s post and urge you all to scumble, stipple, hatch and cross-hatch.

Paint-by-texture

Have you ever made anything from Popsicle sticks? You could be the next sculpting virtuoso. Or maybe even the next Matt Groening!

(I call him Woodrow. He's from stock.xchng)

If you’re a true artist, you can use whatever’s available and create something from it. As the character Mark Cohen from the movie version of Rent said, “The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation.”   

When a person makes a mental assosication between an object and an idea and then shapes  it into a physical representation, the result is art in its core sense.

<– This guy, girl, um … androgynous figure has DNA spliced from Gumby and a rigid, “board” stiff stick figure. That’s art.

However, we’re not all experts. I know I’m not. I just like to make a mess and say, retrospectively, “I was expressing myself.” For example, I didn’t destroy the wall, I CREATED a hole in it  ;).

But we can learn! And I’ll tell you the bits and pieces I know about three types of paints: oil, water and acrylic.

1. Oil Paint — This stuff is usually heavily diluted with paint thinner and needs to be used in a LARGE, HIGHLY-VENTILATED ROOM. (I’ve used it at the beginning of June inside a tiny bedroom that had an oscillating fan and open window: not a smart move.)

Janne Matter, "Solo," Oil Painting

Also, oil paints take a LONG time to dry, months, possibly even up to a year. But this medium is usually the best for amateurs like me to use if they want to produce a realistic-looking piece with relative ease.

2. Watercolors — stay out of the rain if you want to use these bad boys! Or the wind. Or any sort of inclement weather, really. Watercolor paint is heavily diluted by our friend H2O, though, like oils or acrylics, it can be used

Julia Swartz, "Two Apples," Watercolor Painting

straight from the tube to create certain effects.

Water colors dry two or three values lighter than when you apply them, so multiple coats may be needed. Moreover, the colors bleed into each other easily if neither is dry, so imperfect lines and lighter colors are the general trademarks of a watercolor painting.

 

3. Acrylic — Do not dump these down the drain after using them! They plasticize and will harden within the pipes like cholesterol clogs an artery. Unlike watercolors, acrylic paint dries two to three shades darker than when originally applied. And it is not transparent or translucent — meaning semi-see-through — like watercolor. Still, it is often brighter than oil paint, though the finished product might not be as precisely rendered as it could be if it had been created with oils.

Then again, if you practice until you’re uncomfortable without a paintbrush in your hand, these pros and cons won’t be too much of an issue foryou — certainly nothing that would stop you from becoming engrossed in your paintings, no matter what level of skill you’re at.

Sarah Dees, "Guran Gardens 1," Acrylic Painting

That’s all I have for you today, everyone.

Scumble up, out, diagonally, around the bend and, most importantly: scumble on.

Don’t pick from the litter: sculpt from it

I’m not sure about you, but when I don’t know much about a piece of artwork, I have a default response: I like it because of its aesthetic value.

 Today’s Pick of the Litter is Jane Darin’s relief sculpture, “Paul.”

"Paul," Jane Darin, relief sculpture

I chose this piece because of its aesthetic value. In other words, and in all seriousness (I know: scary),  it looked nice and immediately grabed my attention.

“Paul” is beautiful. I’m not saying he’s Brad Pitt in Fight Club – both a movie and book worth investing your time in, by the way. I mean the sculpture functions as art because it depicts the artist’s interpretation of the model. In other words, it characterizes the model, animates him like Disney animates Donald Duck.

Darin crafts life into this figure by giving him pensive, pained features. Paul’s eyes are locked onto something, either in front of him or in his mind, and I consider myself fortunate not to see what he does. Good artists draw your attention to their work using such methods.

Darin individualizes Paul using details, making him human and, therefore, a work of art.

She has several life-like projects.

"Untitled" by Jane Darin

The more colorful ones sort of … scare the hell outta me. I think they remind me of that blood-red puppet-woman from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

I shudder at the thought. 

AAAHHHHH! Lady Elaine from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood! Somebody burn it!

Next time: the top 10 qoutes about art, and some inspiring visuals.

Good night, and don’t forget to scumble!

A word is worth a lifetime of pictures

Can words leave a greater impact than images?

Time to find out.

Sometimes visuals are more effective than mere words (the artist said, tapping her 4B pencil on her laptop as she wrote, itching to get back to a drawing board.)

I write, I read, I draw, I paint, I report and I converse. So it’s safe to say I know bits and pieces about several forms of communication.

Here’s my take: the way a story beats a work of art is, if written well, the story lets the reader fill in the blank and use his or her imagination to produce a world the writer hints at but allows endless interpretations of.

However, with a work of art, the viewer can produce endless stories depending on what aspects he or she focuses on. But the image, in its entirety, is fixed.

Then again, the “show, don’t tell” model is in effect for any form of communication, mainly so when you’re trying to tell a person something, he doesn’t stare at you blankly, shake his head like a wet dog drying itself off and say, brow furrowed, “What?!”.

Concrete versus abstract: how do you express shame? You walk hunched over and don’t make any eye contact. There’s a visual.

But what is shame? Why do we feel it? Is it necessary? Does it mean the same thing to you as it does to your best friend? Shame is an idea that is on the medium-high level of the Abstract Concepts Spectrum, above the more tangible sock but below the loaded term “freedom.”

Shame is a word you could spend your life depicting in your work and never be drained of ideas because its meaning is unstable because it does not have a definitive image to back it up.

See what I mean?

I think we all need to feed our imaginations every day, no matter the circumstances, so that we have an escape  route. So, here’s a feast of 21 great quotes by artists and/or about art. I had said it would be 10 in my last post, but art cannot be constrained, it must be improvised as the artist feels is appropriate.

“With all of the human darkness that we are surrounded by, and all that we bring upon ourselves, the fact that we can still be moved by beauty is the only hope we have. That dichotomy is what turns an artist on; the balance between the sacred and the profane.”   Julie Taymor, Creator of ‘The Lion King’ on Broadway

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”   Thomas Merton, philosopher

“Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we’re being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I’m liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That’s what’s insane about it.” John Lennon 

“Practically all great artists accept the influence of others. But … the artist with vision sees his material, chooses, changes and by integrating what he has learned with his own experiences, finally molds something distinctly personnel.”   Romare Howard Bearden, artist

“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.”   Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

“There’s no retirement for an artist, it’s your way of living so there’s no end to it.” Henry Moore

“Art is everywhere, except it has to pass through a creative mind.”   Louise Nevelson (1899-1988 – U.S. Sculptor)

“The emotions are sometimes so strong that I work without knowing it. The strokes come like speech.”Vincent van Gogh

“Art is man determined to die sane.”   Bernard DeVoto

“A painter paints the appearance of things, not their objective correctness, in fact he creates new appearances of things.” Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

“Art is the demonstration that the ordinary is extraordinary.”   Amedee Ozenfant, Author of Foundations of Modern Art

“Do not let the appearance of conditions stop you – go on anyway. Everything depends on those who go on anyway!”   Robert Henri, author of “The Way of the Spirit.”

“Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises.”   Samuel Butler

“I think the artist has to be something like a whale, swimming with his mouth wide open, absorbing everything until he has what he really needs.”   Bearden Romare, artist

“There is an art finer than music, sculpture and other fine arts. the art of living. Your responsibility as an artist is greater…to bring harmony and beauty to others.”   Sathya Sai Baba

“It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly’s wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world.”   Chaos Theory

“An artist can not fail. It is a success to be one.”   Charles Horton Cooley

“My brain is not as reliable as my heart.”   Terri English, artist

“Making the inner world meet the outer world is the function of the artist.”   Joseph Campbell

“We all know that art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand.”   Pablo Picasso (1881-1973 Spanish painter)

“Although many meanings cluster round the word masterpiece, it is above all the work of an artist of genius who has been absorbed by the spirit of the time in a way that has made his individual experience universal.”   Kenneth Clark

My point? Communicating inevitably means affecting your community.

For more musings that might serve as future muses, visit http://www.artquotes.net/.

As for my original question, can words leave a greater impact than images, I say it depends on the context, so yes and no.

That, however, is no excuse for any of us not to scumble on. Take care, all.

Graffiti: defacing the streets or making art with a beat?

http://readingcities.com/index.php/toronto/comments/graffiti_alley/

Graffiti: noun, “(used with a plural verb) markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building or public restroom, or the like: These graffiti are evidence of the neighborhood’s decline.” –Dictionary.com

What’s wrong with this linguistic picture? Why is graffiti considered vandalism?

I’ll go out on a limb here and say most of you have never played Jet Set Radio Future.

Jet Set Radio Future, XBox

 It’s an awesome game with unique graphics. Sure, like any video game it gets redundant at times and its controls are kind of stiff (I won’t bother elaborating: I’m aware this isn’t Nintendo Power magazine).

However, the game’s main characters use a different method to complete the adventure: they spray graffiti to protest and save the day.

See how important art is in our everyday lives? It keeps the world from collapsing within itself and its inhabitants from beating each other over the head with cans of spray paint.

 

But, seriously, haven’t you ever driven through a tunnel or gone by a wall  in a bustling city, seen graffiti and thought to yourself, “That’s amazing”? 

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/lelyu002/architecture/

It makes buildings stand out, gives them life, a heartbeat. It’s like when a kid draws on a wall but, you know, good.

 And, I just found this out when I did research for this post, “graffiti” is derived from the word “graffito” which is Italian for, “A drawing or inscription made on a wall or other surface, usually so as to be seen by the public.”

 An artist, therefore, has an intention for producing graffiti.

 Even if it’s just to keep him or herself scumbling on.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/worldsfavorite/discuss/72057594130785082/

Which is ALWAYS a more-than-sufficient motive.

The Scumbler!

Have you been scumbling on a regular basis?

I should be smart here: for those of you who aren’t obsessed with the arts like I am, scumbling is a form of shading which is, as best as I can describe it, random scribbling.

Other forms of shading include hatching, cross-hatching, stippling and pure shading or blending.

 

Hatching is putting parallel lines next to each other. The closer the lines, the darker the shadow and the nearer to the actual object. The same goes with any drawing: the shadow becomes lighter as it gets farther away from the subject.

 

Cross-hatching is using perpendicular lines for the same ends, so the result looks like a grid.

 

 

Stippling is using dots to create shadow. It is a GREAT method to use when you are frustrated or angry with your piece .

 

 

Finally, pure shading is flat-out blackening of the area where the shadow goes. And blending is self-explanatory.

A scumble a day keeps blandness away.

 

*All the visuals used in this blog were made by me, Katie. (I have to make sure I cover my butt so I don’t sue myself for copyright infringement .

Etch or sketch? An artist’s weapon of choice

“The pen is mightier than the sword.” Of course: a pen can get into those hard-to-reach areas.

 

 But, seriously, The Pick of the Litter for today is not merely someone who draws. It’s not even

an artist: it’s a community of them.

 

 

 

 Considering how many Web sites exist — I don’t even what to think about it — choosing one site from the lot is much more arduous than choosing a prize pooch from a box of newly-born artist-pups, as I have been.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 First off, make sure to visit http://artlog.com/. It’s a Web site that is “connecting people through art & design.” Art unites us like that.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m going to try something different here, since experimentation IS part of the creative process. Instead of writing about the pieces I post, I’m just going to let them speak for themselves.

 

What’s the worse that could happen? I scumble? You scumble? WE scumble?

 

So here are some works from various artists on Artlog. Go to the site for more details about these pieces.

 

 

 

 

Do it, I dare ya: scumble on. You know you want to.             

Just a pup: today’s Pick of the Litter

I’m usually bitter and jealous towards  those dang prodigy kids.

Sometimes you see them on Jeopardy: They know  Aristotle’s Rhetoric better than a kindergartner knows the ABCs, yet you trump them on questions regarding pop culture, literature and video games.

Aren’t you proud when you beat a 12-year-old?

But this kid’s different.

Akiane Kramarik is today’s Pick of the Litter, though she’s not yet old enough to drive a car.

But she can paint better than most of us could ever wish.

 

Born on July 9, 1994, Kramarik is a virtuoso in both the artist and literary circuits.

You might be jealous about that if you’re been struggling for years to break into either community of Creatives, but look at these works and feel the bitterness drip away as you simmer in awe.

Though I’d not a big fan of religious art, Kramarik’s works prove the exception.  Her pieces are magnificent and majestic.

 

Until next time: scumble on.

Kids scumble up art!

I almost pounced onto my bed and danced when I found out kids are supporting the arts — with their own artwork!

(Sniff) I’m so proud of the little tykes.

I typed in “fresh artists” on Google and up pops a site with that exact name.

According to the organization’s Web site, Fresh Artists has:

 

• Creative kids give images of their artwork to raise funds to help other kids in their community.

 

• Corporations give directly to keep art making alive for under-resourced kids in Philadelphia.

 

• Kids give highly desirable artwork back to corporate donors to display in corporate spaces.

The collages from some of these youngsters is inspirational.

Yeah, yeah about the corporate donations. Yay, wealthy benefactors for the arts — that’s not news. The people who matter are the ones bettering their communities: the kids!

 

Next time Joey draws on the wall or Linda makes a mess with leaves and mud, don’t scold the kid, join in! Free-flowing creative juices are doing phenomenal things for our society!

 As the site states, this is “student-centric philanthropy.” They should be teaching THAT in school (sadly, especially in secondary and tertiary schools).

“Empowering young lives through art” is one of the noblest causes there is. Everyone needs a way to express him or herself, especially future starving artists .

They’re scumbling on. I’m rolling on the floor with glee. Sorry, give me a moment.

 

Until next time: take care, all.

Deviants deserve a home to scumble in

WAIT! Don’t pick from another litter! 

You might see some scars, missing paws  or even — God forbid — a snaggletooth in the bunch, but this box of pups is a superb group.

In fact, it’s today’s Pick of the Litter.

DeviantART: no doubt the name sounds redundant to avant-gardes or expressionists, but the Web site is, nonetheless, extraordinary.

Don’t believe me? Click the link: http://www.deviantart.com/#.

So, A) What does this site contain? and B) who makes the works displayed on it?

According to the site, DeviantART is “where art meets application.” I’ve noticed several digital images and Anime-like sketches, so that may help define the slogan.

I’m going to be honest here, people (which is SUCH A STRAY from my usual conduct ): I’m not sure what the purpose of this site is.

Nevertheless, the art on it is amazing and the artists are talented beyond words (do you SEE the pics I’ve incorporated into this post?!).

Fans can apparently show off their work, as well and you can follow deviantART on Twitter.

So, at the very least, check out the site to spark your imagination and appreciate the pieces on exhibit in the virtual gallery.

I’m sold. I was a deviant anyways, so it’s fitting there is an artist’s association with that name.

Scumble on and, for crying out loud, go outside and enjoy the sunshine (if there is any)!

Computers can’t give you hugs, folks, so meet up with some friends.

Take care, everybody!

Scary talented: the story behind the story behind the art

Warning:

Here’s a cautionary tale about an artist with exquisite talent and endless potential.

This is a true story.

He was a charismatic man.

But he would only allow HIS voice to be heard, HIS story to be history. According to him and his brain-dead, immoral followers, only HE was right, only HIS perspective was accurate.

A person cannot be an artist if he is so closed-minded and domineering.

Except, perhaps a con artist, which this man kind of was:  he could brain wash the best of them with his quick-thinking and fast talking, no matter how absurd or evil his ideas were.

The sad part is, even Disney has incorporated this man’s persona into some of its work. Watch the marching hyenas in “Be Prepared” if you don’t believe me.

 Being famous is not being infamous; light is not dark. 

Adolf Hitler was a talented young artist.

Adolf Hitler was charismatic.

Adolf Hitler was the catalyst behind the slaughter of more than 6 million people.

Art is,  first and foremost,  a mode of expression. It is emotion-based.

Hate is not art. Hate is a form of propaganda that perpetuates ignorance and misery. “Be Prepared” to deal with the Hell you have created for yourself if you’re going to be the next Scar.

So scumble on to spread the love.

Take care, all.

Be an artist: make a mess!

“Be an artist: make a mess!” This is not a derogatory statement, it’s the anthem of Creatives (many of whom may be self-deprecating, but that’s another story).

Here’s the rule of thumb when creating something: it’s never bad, it just isn’t finished.

"You Know as Much as I Do," Katie Gill (Me), mixed media, 2009

I write, I report, I paint, I draw, I take pictures and I sculpt. I know what I’m talking about.

I’m about to toss advice at you. Be ready with your implement of choice.

Art criticism: before you attack your work with a sledgehammer and flame thrower, consider why you are frustrated or displeased with your work.

First off — and I say this as a temperamental artist who has had MANY issues with her works throughout the years — back away from the piece-in-progress. The last thing you want to do is destroy what you’ve worked so hard on because you’re having a bad day or you have artist’s block.

Then again, maybe destroying the piece could give you an idea. Art is intuitive, improvised and serendipitous like that.

Check out this link about how to assess artwork from a semi-objective stance: http://mati.eas.asu.edu/ChicanArte/html_pages/ArtCriticismQues.html

Close-up

Also, don’t lock your work up in the attic. Art is self-expression: let other people enjoy it! Furthermore, it helps a thousand-fold to have another pair of eyes critique your work. Others can spot something you’ve missed and can make brilliant suggestions.

Loosen up. Let your imagination take over. Play. Experiment and make mistakes. Constantly question and challenge your designs and style. Don’t think, just do it. The right side of your brain needs to be fed with artwork, so neurosis starves it.

Enjoy the sunshine and SCUMBLE ON!!!!! Just make sure you take a break and let yourself off the hook every once in a while.

Scumbling up ideas for future posts

Hey, all. Happy New Year!

I’ve seen that my blog has made a ripple in the ever-growing lake of art criticism (forgive the bad analogy, I’m on break from school). Hence, I’m inspired to continue my ranting insights about the myriad of creative endeavors that sprout up by the 100s on a daily basis.

I already have three topics in the works, so check back here soon for furture posts and Picks of the Litter.

As always, keep scumbling on, my friends.

–Katie

Sneak Peak … of a Linguistic Variety

As I finish up a project that I’m hoping will help me land a job after I graduate (because, as we all know, writers/reporters/artists are wealthy, well-adjusted and stably employed individuals ), I want to keep scumbling on. Therefore, here’s a preview of posts to come (subject to revision):

1. Is all Art Concept Art?

2. Art Exposes the Paradox of Control and Structure

3. The Real Deviant Artists, Art as Deviance

4. Foamy and the Sixth Estate

5. Body Works: Shock Effects or a Gray Matter?

6. Social-Political Blog (Pick of the Litter)

*Also check out a new feature, supplementing my Pick of the Litter, Scumbling into Contemplation (tentative title)

7. “Pop” Music. How can insightful, intelligent and substantial sounds be mixed with Bubblegum?

8. Poetry and the Pretentious-Imaginative Spectrum

9. Poetry v. Music: A Thorough Comparison

10. The Thin Line between Art and Propaganda and How Artists  Draw outside the Lines

Until I return, here’s a picture of Van Gogh’s I fell in love with, “Crows over a Cornfield.” Enjoy, and scumble on.

Crows over a Cornfield, Van Gogh