Process

It can be hard to explain artistic process. Sometimes when I am out in public, I notice people watching me work. Many ask what I'm going to paint, and when I tell them I have no idea, they seem puzzled. This isn't me trying to be coy, a lot of times when I am sketching at a bar or restaurant, I have no idea what I want to paint. I am typically looking around for the right subject, or scene.. then I try to figure out how I will depict that as a painting. When I go back and review sketch books, or paintings I've completed over the last month or two, I am often surprised at the similarities I notice from one painting to the next. Sometimes, I find a particularly good color for shadows, or I find a couple of colors that really work together. Sometimes I get stuck on a subject (hot sauce, condiments, the Citizen Hotel), sometimes it is a compositional or stylistic similarity.

My sketch books represent my search for works, they act as a journal, or as a means for me to test out ideas. I have been revisiting some of them as I develop pieces for my show at Kitchen 428 and Mojo's Lounge in the month of May. I have two pieces in process and I have yet to start my third piece. I wanted to share some of the 'process' I use when painting in acrylic, so I've used my GoPro to take some timelapse video. I think it is very important to share process, the final manifestation of our efforts (physical artwork) is really just the tip of what we experience when creating a piece. I'd like to share a little more of what goes into my art with you. Please enjoy.

Here is the first and second layers of paint on my first piece for the show, it is entitled Makers II

The GoPro ran out of batteries before as I was working through my third session of the painting, however here is a photo of what it looks like right now. I'm not sure if it's done. I am going to take a look at it tomorrow and make a decision.

I also started the second painting last night, Here is a timelapse. The piece is named 'Vice II', it carries a pretty deep and personal meaning for me. I hope you like it.

Here is a photo after the first layer of paint.