Visual arts from an OK writer. Alphabetized by a professional editor; Inspired by light and color and time and a dog. Over and under and in between explained by me. And now, you. It’s all a blank page if not for you. Right now, exactly & perfectly you. Thanks to that you. : )
Photography: I like contrast in color and composition. The things I see that have that are bright daytime colors and subtle nighttime shades with spots of light or a cute dog in darkness. Compositions try to jilt then jiggle the eye, make it a little shaky at first then balanced but breathing, finally cozy.
Sometimes subjects demand center stage. Sometimes they deserve it. Really old ceramics deserve it. They have stories. They bring shape and lines from the two hands that made them from the longest running trend in our 100,000+ year history of art, Since the neolithic potters have made things to look as good as they could, and as balanced and nicely shaped and proportioned as they could, given what they had and everything going on around them.
Digital Painting and Collage
I shouldn’t be trusted with colors. There are too many. Digital screens gave us too many too fast. All of us. Below, my own lack of preparedness for infinite colors at my fingertips comes at your eyes with impressionist, abstract, and realist landscapes.
The simple variety and richness of colors on screens is what draws us in, like monkeys mesmerized with supernaturally bright fruit. And from this state, our emotions and beliefs and votes open up like BIOS settings. We do anything that supernatural fruit tells us to do.
Would our screens still entrance us if they were forever stuck in that 1980s black and green phase? Above and below: Excerpts from a timeline of American history called 1776。。。等等 (etc.)
Below: Eagle Bones, an American remake of Emaciated Stallion
Emaciated Stallion early 1300s, China. Scholar/poet Gongkai in self-exile in southern China after Mongols conquered North. Feeling of loss of nation shown by horse. Stamps added by Qianlong emperor in 1700s denoting, mainly, his ownership.
Granny Matsu
Separated at birth, twins Granny Matsu and Mr Magoo have destinies the same. While Mr. Magoo’s misunderstandings and mishaps are in construction sites, Granny Matsu’ are amidst China’s military shenanigans from her small island in the Taiwan Straits. She’s a kind peaceful soul with a temper like a truck bomb. Misunderstandings or not, she always uncovers the truth.
