Beyond the edges

Viennese artist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser has created an interesting piece that extends beyond the boundaries...he often includes the color palette layout on the edges of the picture plane, these practical elements are balanced and included in the overall design...they act as a decorative element and tie in nicely with the overall decorative qualities of the piece...

The central image or face, is off center and balanced by the landscape on the right hand side...asymmetry forces the viewer to reconcile the picture plane and creates interest...Hundertwasser uses intense colors schemes in flat, horizontal layers...this combination adds to the decorative nature of his work. The house forms and landscape utilizes concentric lines to create texture and interest, used all over the picture plane to unify the piece.

Hurricane Jeane Series

Some students asked about my Hurricane Jeane series after my lectures...I have attached some images for those interested...

Inspirations for Mixed Media Works

Images that have influenced the context of my work...

Joseph Cornell

Lucas Samaras Boxes

Matthias Grunewald - Isenheim Alterpiece

Reliquaries

Installations

For a sculpture class here at Miami Dade College, I was asked to do a lecture on my mixed media and installation works. Utilizing a current (maybe not so current) platform, I will attempt to showcase two pieces - "Dark As the Darkest Night" and "Studio Instillation 1."


DARK AS THE DARKEST NIGHT

This piece representing my personal history and the struggle of my family, living in coal mining country. A melding of the past and present as seen through my eyes, reminders of visiting my relatives in Kentucky: using the outhouse in the pitch black night, clothes out on the line, playing with pieces of coal and throwing them on the mountain.


STUDIO INSTALLATION 1

Recently, I installed a solo-exhibition which included an installation of my actual studio. These elements were collected over several years and on my travels. The was is a visual representation of who I am and who I hope to become, my idols and inspirations. It also included a workspace and actual works in progress to show how art is made in my world. I included images of people to get a sense of the scale. 

Intricacy and light

The beautiful lines created by the nude on the floor...the contrast of the linear line work in the floor birds meeting the soft organic flesh and shadow...this amazing work by one of my favorite painters, Lucian Freud, provides simplicity in form and arrangement...the color work is muted but rich and meaty...seeing his works in person, you get a true sense of the visceral qualities in his painterly style...

Behind the figure lies intricate folds, movement and values...in the tradition of the Renaissance, an artist was trained in observation by confronting drapery and gowns...Lucien shows great prowess in his articulating of the cloth...a balancing act between the bottom, dark, plank area of the picture plane and the fleshy, organic, flowing light area at the top...

Drawing from today

The untitled piece by Jean Pierre Nadau is a rhythmical display of obsessive images...crazy tribal figures and odd images dance around on the page like maniacs who forgot their Ritalin! The overall image is complex and saturated...the intensity is cleverly balanced by the black images spread around the overall drawing...

Visually, we group things by similar shapes, colors and values...in this piece, the black elements act as one unit, connecting all areas of the picture plane...they create calm in an otherwise frenetic composition...the viewer has an overall feeling of energy and intensity...these subjects also tell a story, begin the interact and sing together in a kind of visual harmony...the context is tribal and naive, this piece pulls you in and holds you with its energetic flow and diverse mark making...