Midterm critiques conclude, new projects begin.

I went into the studio on Sunday to prepare for this week's all-school critique. The undergrads were on Monday, post-grads on Tuesday. By 4 pm Sunday I knew what I was showing and was completely prepared, which was a great feeling. The walks to and from the studio were just the best. The sun was out all day, no one needed a coat, it was wonderful. I got a good deal done on my next advanced drawing project, the prompt for which is "narrative." While I have been more productive on this project than almost anything I have ever done before (and have a number of photographs documenting my progress), I am hesitant to share it yet. What I will share is the progress on my mixed media project, "beauty." My last effort in that class was for a portable museum of subjectivity, which resulted in a number of pockets sewn onto my window coat and filled with artifacts from home, batteries I have used since being here, cards, books, locks, keys, jewelry and more. Each pocket became an exhibit, which I titled in rather an abstract way, but I am more than satisfied with the result. When time allows I may photograph the piece and share it here as well.

A random photograph of a steatoda nobilis or "false widow" in my window. Non-lethal, but supposedly bears a painful, nausea-inducing bite.

Walking to the studio on Sunday.

Loose portraits from my head, fueling the "Beauty" project.

Snapped these ladies grazing in the late afternoon sun on the way back from the studio.

The critique on Monday was trying. There were mixed results all around, but I volunteered as much as possible and felt that mine went well. Things were said that were similar to feedback I have already received, and all in all I am happy with things. The comment that hit home was when the faculty all agreed the work I showed had disparate styles, and that I should either commit to this strange sort of all-over-the-place-ness or create some sense of cohesion in my body of work. We'll see where that goes, I am not sure yet.

What I am sure of is where my mixed media "beauty" work is heading. I have been doing strange portraits from my head, scribbling all over them with colored pencil, and seeing what happens. I have kept my lines curvy, circular and repetitive, almost a blind contour approach. This was originally a side project, just something to do for fun, perhaps to exorcise something in my subconscious. I did not want this to end, so I experimented today in a similar vein, but using the "beauty" prompt as a springboard. What happened is I borrowed some red ink and looked at a lot of Otto Dix and then poured my brain onto four pieces of paper. I am not sure whether these are just studies or will remain a part of the finished work, which will be displayed in the mixed media gallery show until early December (lucky me). 

Beauty I.

Beauty II.

Beauty III.

Beauty IV.