Writing (blog posts)_1

I was asked by a former student (Jared Jennings, fyi) to take part in a 3 person exhibit that will be located at Crowder College in Neosho, MO. For this exhibit I will be needing 10 to 15 pieces. THAT is what I will be working on this semester and for this critique course! The theme/title of the exhibition is "Untold Stories." My concept for this show and my pieces will be centered around local spots in Pittsburg, KS. This last summer was my first summer spent here in the burg, working at a pool shop (I was a pool boy, for clarification) and I fell absolutely and unconditionally in love with this town. I hear people complain almost daily about being trapped here,  in this podunk little town with nothing to do etc. But I have no qualms. I am qualmless. This town is quiet, simple, and incredibly, considered by some ALMOST TO A FAULT, m-i-d-w-e-s-t-e-r-n. I straight up love this place. So I find it enormously fitting that my series shows these quiet perfect little places that often get ignored, or are seen as commonplace or insignificant.

I would like to draw a love letter to Pittsburg.

When it comes to myself as an artist, I tend to like quiet works with lots of white space. I appreciate small drawings and pencil sketches. My work will be "sketchy," and incorporate text. I find hand rendered, almost sloppy, text to be incredibly charming. I like work that proves someone made it with their hands, I love a certain messiness in works of art. For these pieces I intend to work with graphite and watercolor. Maybe branch out?? WE'LL SEE!

Here are a few of my works that I am fond of and define my artistic sense described above.

"Four Peppers" 

                          

A couple of pencil pieces from the last Critique Course, in which I interviewed residents of a local nursing home.

Another piece from the last course. I hope to continue in this style.

One last piece, this is my mother. She is beautiful.

Not only do I want to highlight Pittsburg, I would like it to be personal. I want to show my favorite places and help illustrate WHY this place is one of my favorites on earth.
To do so, I intend to visit local restaurants, Harry's, Daylight Doughnuts etc. and illustrating something there from life. Harry's famous cinnamon rolls, possibly an interview with the owner. I will be interviewing and making portraits of my favorite professors who have shaped me here. Mooreman's is my favorite local tavern and where I learned to play pool, I would like to do a contour drawing on the interior of the bar. Lakeside Park is my favorite place to bike or run to and I would like to draw a specific tree there that is PERFECT for climbing. I have many ideas for this. I'm excited to get started on this project and see where it can go.

Like I said earlier, I enjoy quiet, sketchy works and my greatest inspirations and artist of ALL TIME AND SPACE is the effervescent Wendy Macnaughton. I cannot get enough of this chick, I tell you what. http://wendymacnaughton.com/ <---- go here. Do it. You know you want to.

Wendy Macnaughton's work. See what I'm talking about??

Her storytelling ability and poignant illustrations are simply stunna. Her work is recognizably "Wendy" and her honesty has played a huge role in my development as an artist. 

 

A few of her works. Wow.

OKAY ONE MORE I can't resist!

Her portraits are especially inspirational and a favorite of mine.

Another inspiration and a favorite of mine is comic and illustrator, ELEANOR DAVIS (her collection of comics, "How To Be Happy" is one of my favorite books- check it out or live a life of regret) ---> http://doing-fine.com/ her website.
I envy and someday hope to emulate her bright and creative use of watercolor in her comics and illustrations. I love in her work the astounding honesty and vulnerability that she portrays with her quiet, simple illustrations and text.

            

These examples are from her book, "How To Be Happy"

I have many ideas for this Critique Course. I'm excited to get started on this project and see where it can go. LET'S GO