Carl Mehrbach
  • About
  • Making Art

Less Words, More Vision...

10/30/2012

 
Picture
A clearer externalized vision is realized as I learn to paint with clearer intuition. Simultaneously my desire to write diminishes. Increasing is the singularity of my desire to uncover who and what I am through the process of art-making. This is very interesting. Yesterday I began a new work, "Painting—10292012". It came out of my intuition in the same way I break while driving a car when a squirrel suddenly darts in front of the car. I use the "squirrel example" because there is a simultaneity of problems being solved without verbal thought. When breaking for a squirrel one measures personal safety versus the squirrel's safety. I do not always choose the squirrel's safety over my own (or over the safety of the other occupants in the car). However, all these measurements are made in an instant, and without verbal thought. The decision is made and the squirrel may, or may not, survive, but the car, and its occupants, do drive on. There are many analogies to this kind of intuitive decision making in sports. Easiest to understand is the decisions made by a quarterback in football when he must throw the ball to one of several receivers. Not only must the quarterback choose the receiver with the highest probability of catching the ball, but he must also decide where to throw the ball to obtain the highest probability of it being caught without interference by the receiver's defender. All this is decided in a very short amount of time, and without verbal thought. Experience in such situations enhances intuition; one gets better with each experiment.

"Painting—09072012" took one more step in its seventh alteration.
Picture

Breaking Bad? Bizarro? A surprise twist...

10/28/2012

 
Picture
The sixth state of "Painting—09072012" is surprising to me, the guy who made it.

Abstract versus concrete has no meaning... 

10/27/2012

 
This is the first drawing in quite a while that has no figurative reference. It opens a door to my past and future. My mind is now open to utilizing all I have learned from years of study and research. I am open to work with no boundaries in content or theme.
Picture

Drawings are informative but incompletely constricted...

10/25/2012

 
Picture
Picture
I continue to question the value of drawing for me, at least for right here right now. During my current quandary, painting intuitively appears to be the better way to go. However, there is value in drawing. It informs my mind-hand connection, and it allows questions about content and form to be answered quickly. I cannot escape my need to make form. A couple days ago I heard the artist Enrico Riley talk about his art. I was blown away by the gusto of his transition from cool and analytical to expressive and intuitive. Enrico Riley spoke of his admiration of Philip Guston's work, which is (of course) important to me because Guston was one of my most important mentors. As Guston did, as Enrico Riley is doing, I am doing. The move to intuitive expression is happening here too!

Now I show you a couple of Enrico Riley's recent works...
Picture
Picture

And here's #5...

10/24/2012

 
Picture
This composition is complete, but the painting is not over. To finalize "painting—09072012" I must finish off details and re-touch where color, light, and form are not quite right. I need to let it dry before this happens. In the meantime I will stretch another canvas. I hope I have time to begin a new painting on the new canvas today.

One, two, three...

10/22/2012

 
Picture
...and so it goes. This is the 4th state of "painting—09252012". It is getting closer to its ultimate conclusion. I am accepting the idea that every painting will live its own life and will have its own endpoint, as limited as any conclusion can be. There is no perfect ending. In this regard, i.e. the quest for perfection, today's reproduction is disappointing because of its lack of subtlety and correctness in contrast, value, and color. It will do for now. I am working to fix these flaws, which will never be absolutely correct because of the nature of painting versus photography. At least you may watch the changes and imagine the true quality of this 52 X 60 inch painting.

Yes, living is full of mystery, thus am I...

10/21/2012

 
Picture
Intent is no longer an issue. It will not be questioned. Shown today is the third state of "painting—09072012". Yesterday this painting moved quickly. It says things which I cannot (will not) express in words. Today I will work on it again. Today I will also begin preparation of a new canvas for a new painting.

Puzzling Evidence...

10/20/2012

 
And now from me, and the "Talking Heads". First the "Talking Heads":

Puzzlin' Evidence
You got the CBS
And the ABC
You got Time and Newsweek
Well, they're the same to me

Now don't you wanna get right with me? Puzzling evidence
I hope you get ev'rything you need, puzzling evidence


I know I am not proceeding quickly in terms of total number of output items. The drawing shown today is puzzling. I do think it is a necessary drawing. It bounces me off something that does not work well for me. My reaction to this drawing will bring me back to a place which works better. I require a search which is more productive, more informative, than this drawing. I need to be more true to my personal self-expression. Therefore I will go to painting, which I will do today. Painting, right now, is more important than drawing. Recently my drawings have not been strongly informative. Right now I believe painting is a better activity. Painting has a better chance of helping me properly place another piece into the puzzle I am trying to make whole. My paintings are larger, and have color, and thus they allow more questions to be asked. Painting allows more open, more complex play, than drawing.
Picture

No, there is no end to drawing...

10/17/2012

 
It can't happen here. I mean it will never happen to me. There is no end to drawing. It will always inform me. Time is a problem. I show you the one drawing from yesterday.

This idea, that "it can't happen here," reminds me of the song by Frank Zappa from the "Mothers of Invention" album "Freak Out" (read the entire lyrics of this song below my drawing).
Picture
It Can's Happen Here
Music & Lyrics by Frank Zappa

It can't happen here
It can't happen here
I'm telling you, my dear
That it can't happen here
Because I been checkin' it out, baby
I checked it out a couple a times, hmmmmmmmm

And I'm telling you
It can't happen here
Oh darling, it's important that you believe me
(bop bop bop bop)
That it can't happen here

Who could imagine that they would freak out somewhere in kansas...
Kansas kansas tototototodo
Kansas kansas tototototodo
Kansas kansas
Who could imagine that they would freak out in minnesota...
Mimimimimimimi minnesota, minnesota, minnesota
Who could imagine...

Who could imagine
That they would freak out in washington, d.c.
D.c. d.c. d.c. d.c. d.c.
It can't happen here
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
It can't happen here
It can't happen here
Everybody's safe and it can't happen here
No freaks for us
It can't happen here
Everybody's clean and it can't happen here
No, no, it won't happen here
I'm telling you it can't
It won't happen here
(bop bop didi bop didi bop bop bop)
Plastic folks, you know
It won't happen here
You're safe, mama
You're safe, baby
You just cook a tv dinner
And you make it

(bop bop bop)

No no no no
Oh, we're gonna get a tv dinner and cook it up
Go get a tv dinner and cook it up
Cook it up
Oh, and it won't happen here
(no no no no no no no no no no no
Man you guys are really safe
Everything's cool).
Who could imagine
Who could imagine
That they would freak out in the suburbs
I remember (tu-tu)
I remember (tu-tu)
I remember (tu-tu)
They had a swimming pool
I remember (tu-tu)
I remember (tu-tu)
They had a swimming pool
I remember (tu-tu)
I remember (tu-tu)
They had a swimming pool.

And they thought it couldn't happen here
(duh duh duh duh duh)
They knew it couldn't happen here
They were so sure it couldn't happen here
But...

Suzie...
Yes yes yes--i've always felt that
Yes I agree man, it really makes it...yeah...
It's a real thing, man
And it really makes it
(makes it)

Suzie, you just got to town,
And we've been, we've been very interested
In your development,
Since you first took the shots.
Forget it!
Hmmmmmmmmm
(it can't happen here)
(can't happen here)
(can't happen here)

The end of drawing?

10/14/2012

 
No, this will not be the end of drawing for me. But these drawings do not have completed thoughts as my last painting has a completed thought. It may be a time I need to paint to find completion. These drawings feel extremely limited.
Picture
Picture
<<Previous
    To read my profile go to MEHRBACH.com.

    At MEHRBACH.com you may view many of my paintings and drawings, past and present, and see details about my life and work.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010


    Categories

    All
    Ability
    Abstract
    Abstracted Reality
    Abstract Figurine
    Abstraction
    Abstract Mythology
    Abstract Representation
    Academic
    Acceptance
    Accomplishment
    Accuracy
    Achievement
    Action
    Activity
    Adaptation
    Adventure
    Aesthetics
    Affirmation
    Alien
    Allegory
    All-over
    All Over Composition
    Allover-composition
    Alphabet
    Alteration
    Alternative Solution
    Ambivalence
    Anamorphosis
    Anatomy
    Angst
    Anima
    Animate
    Animation
    ANNOUNCEMENT
    Answers
    Anticipation
    Anxiety
    Apolitical
    Appetite
    Approach
    Archetypal
    Art
    Art History
    Artifice
    Artistic
    Artmaking
    Art Making
    Assess
    Atmosphere
    Atmospheric Color
    Attention
    Attitude
    Attractive
    Authenticity
    Background
    Bad
    Balance
    Battleground
    Beauty
    Becoming
    Beginnings
    Bewilderment
    Bias
    Big-sensations
    Biomorphism
    Black
    Blindness
    Boggle
    Border
    Boring
    Brainstorming
    Breakthrough
    Buddhahood
    Business-of-art
    Callresponce
    Career
    Catalogue Raisonné
    Caution
    Centered Composition
    Centering
    Centerness
    Cerebral
    Challenge
    Chance
    Change
    Chaos
    Character
    Circular Composition
    Clarity
    Classical Composition
    Classicism
    Claustrophobic
    Clogged
    Coherency
    Color
    Color Balance
    Color Theory
    Comfort
    Commonality
    Communication
    Competition
    Completion
    Complexity
    Composition
    Compositional Density
    Compound
    Comprehension
    Concentrate
    Conclusion
    Concrete
    Confidence
    Confirmation
    Conflict
    Confusion
    Congestion
    Consciousness
    Consequences
    Conservative
    Contemplation
    Contemporary
    Content
    Continuance
    Continuum
    Contraposition
    Contrast
    Control
    Conviction
    Coronae
    Correctness
    Counterpoint
    Creativity
    Criticism
    Culture
    Curiosity
    Cycle
    Cycles In Creativity
    Dance
    Dark
    Darkness
    Deception
    Decision Making
    Decorative
    Default
    Déjà Vu
    Deliberate
    Delusion
    Depression
    Depth
    Design
    Despair
    Destination
    Destruction
    Detail
    Development
    Diagonal
    Diary
    Dichotomy
    Different
    Difficult
    Digital Alteration
    Dignity
    Discipline
    Discomfort
    Discontent
    Discovery
    Dishonesty
    Disparage
    Disparate
    Disruption
    Dissatisfaction
    Distraction
    Distractions
    Documentation
    Dogma
    Doppelgänger
    Doublethink
    Doubt
    Drama
    Drawing
    Drawings
    Dream
    Dreaming
    Dull
    Dynamic
    Dynamism
    Education
    Effort
    Ego
    Elation
    Elegant
    Elements Of Art
    Emotions
    Emotive
    Empathy
    End
    Endings
    Endless
    Endpoint
    Endurance
    Energy
    Engagement
    Enjoyment
    Enlightenment
    Epoch
    Equivoque
    Era
    Erase
    Essential
    Evaluation
    Evolution
    Excellence
    Exhaustion
    Exhibition
    Expectation
    Experiential
    Experimentation
    Exploration
    Expression
    Expressionist
    Extracted Reality
    Facade
    Failure
    Falderal
    False
    Fantasy
    Fascination
    Fear
    Feel
    Feeling
    Fiction
    Figurative
    Figurative Mythology
    Figure
    Figures
    Finality
    Finding
    Finesse
    Flat
    Flat Composition
    Flat On Flat
    Fluidity
    Focal Point
    Focus
    Foolishness
    Foreground
    Foreshortening
    Form
    Formal Qualities
    Format
    Forms
    Foundation
    Fragility
    Frame
    Freedom
    Friendship
    Frightening
    Frontal Composition
    Frustration
    Fulfillment
    Fun
    Future
    Game
    Geometrics
    Gesture
    Glory
    Goal
    Goldilocks Syndrome
    Good
    Grab
    Grammar
    Grapple
    Gratification
    Grit
    Ground
    Growth
    Habit
    Hallelujah!
    Happiness
    Happy
    Harbinger
    Hard
    Haste
    Heaven
    Here And Now
    History
    Honesty
    Hope
    Horizon
    Horizontal Composition
    Hue
    Humor
    Hurry Up
    Hurt
    Hypothesis
    Id
    Ideas
    Ignorance
    Illustration
    Imagery
    Imagination
    Immediacy
    Immediacy Of Purpose
    Immortality
    Impact
    Impetus
    Important
    Impossibility
    Impromptu
    Improvisation
    Impulse
    Incomplete
    Individuality
    Inevitability
    Influence
    Influencer
    Information
    Inherent
    Inquiry
    Insecurity
    Insight
    Inspiration
    Instinct
    Integrity
    Intellect
    Intelligibilty
    Intension
    Intention
    Interactions
    Interest
    Internalization
    Internal Life
    Intimacy
    Introspection
    Intuition
    Intuitive
    Invention
    Investigation
    In Your Face
    In-your-face
    Iterative
    Journey
    Joy
    Judgement
    Juxtaposition
    Kinetics
    Knowing
    Knowledge
    Labor
    Landscape
    Language
    Law
    Learning
    Lessons
    Lethargy
    Lies
    Life
    Light
    Limitation
    Line
    Little Sensations
    Living
    Local Color
    Logic
    Loneliness
    Longevity
    Lucidity
    Luck
    Madness
    Makeover
    Making Art
    Making-art
    Making Sense
    Malaprop
    Management
    Mandate
    Mantra
    Manufacturing
    Marks
    Masters
    Mastery
    Mathematics
    Maturity
    Meaning
    Mediation
    Meditation
    Mental Health
    Mentor
    Messaging
    Metaphor
    Metaphysics
    Methodology
    Milestone
    Mimic
    Mindfulness
    Misconstrued
    Misdirection
    Modus Operandi
    Monumentality
    Moral
    Morality
    Mortality
    Motion
    Motives
    Movement
    Mundane
    Music
    Mystery
    Mythology
    Naiveté
    Narrative
    Nature
    Negative/positive Balance
    Negative Space
    Nervousness
    New
    Nexus
    Nobility
    Non Objective
    Non-objective
    Non Representation
    Non-representation
    Non Verbal
    Non-verbal
    Novelty
    Now
    Nuance
    Nucleus
    Objective
    Obvious
    Omphalos
    Ontology
    Openness
    Opinion
    Opposites
    Optimism
    Order
    Organization
    Orientation
    Pace
    Painfulness
    Painting
    Paradox
    Passion
    Past
    Path
    Patience
    Pattern
    Pause
    Peace
    Pellucidity
    Pencil On Paper
    Perception
    Perfection
    Perfectionism
    Performance
    Persona
    Personal
    Personality
    Perspective
    Phantasmagoria
    Philosophy
    Photograph
    Physical Health
    Physical Labor
    Physics
    Planning
    Plasticity
    Play
    Playfulness
    Poetry
    Pointillés
    Political
    Positive Space
    Possibility
    Power
    Practicality
    Practice
    Precision
    Preparation
    Primary Impulse
    Primeval
    Principles Of Art
    Priorities
    Problem Solving
    Process
    Processing
    Profound
    Profundity
    Progress
    Proof
    Prototypical
    Psyche
    Psychology
    Pun
    Purity
    Purpose
    Pursuit
    Quality
    Quandary
    Quantity
    Quest
    Questions
    Quotes
    Radical
    Reaction
    Realism
    Reality
    Real-world
    Rebel
    Rebellion
    Recognition
    Reconsideration
    Rectangle
    Reduction
    Referential
    Referential-representation
    Refinement
    Rejection
    Relationship
    Relentless
    Relevancy
    Reluctance
    Renewal
    Repainted
    Repetition
    Representation
    Representational-mythology
    Representative
    Reproduction
    Research
    Resolution
    Resonance
    Responsibility
    Reveal
    Reverb
    Revision
    Revolution
    Revolutionary
    Rhyme
    Rhythm
    Right
    Rigor
    Risk
    Roadblock
    Rules
    Sanity
    Satisfaction
    Savor
    Scale
    Science
    Scintillation
    Sculpture
    Search
    Security
    Seeing
    Seeking Simplicity
    Selfawareness
    Self Awareness
    Selfcriticism
    Self Discovery
    Selfexpression
    Self Expression
    Self Fulfillment
    Self-identity
    Self-identity
    Selfknowledge
    Self-knowledge
    Selfrealization
    Self-realization
    Selfrevelation
    Self Revelation
    Self Satisfaction
    Selfworth
    Sensitivity
    Sensuousness
    Seriousness
    Shadow
    Shape
    Shock
    Significance
    Silliness
    Simplicity
    Simplification
    Simplify
    Sincerity
    Sketch
    Skill
    Smudge
    Social-media
    Soft
    Solutions
    Sophistication
    Soul
    Space
    Specular-highlights
    Spirit
    Spiritual
    Spontaneous
    Spotlight
    Staccato
    States Of A Painting
    Static-composition
    Steal
    Steps
    Stiltedness
    Story-telling
    Straightforward
    Straight-forward
    Strain
    Strategy
    Strength
    Stress
    Stripping-away
    Structure
    Struggle
    Study
    Subconscious
    Substantial
    Subtlety
    Success
    Such
    Suffering
    Superego
    Surface
    Surprise
    Symbolism
    Symmetrical-composition
    Symmetry
    Tactility
    Talent
    Teacher
    Technique
    Testing
    Texture
    Themes
    Thirddimension
    Third-dimension
    Three Dimensional
    Three-dimensional-composition
    Threedimensional-composition
    Three-dimensions
    Time
    Time-management
    Titling
    Tone
    Tool
    Touch
    Transition
    Trapezoid
    Trials
    Triangle
    Tribulations
    True
    Trust
    Truth
    Two Dimensional
    Two-dimensional-composition
    Twodimensional-composition
    Ugly
    Understanding
    Universal
    Unknown
    Unpretentious
    Update
    Urgency
    Validity
    Value
    Value Contrast
    Variety
    Veracity
    Verbal
    Verisimilitude
    Vertical-composition
    Vibrato
    Viewer Engagement
    Viewer Involvement
    Viewing-distances
    Virtue
    Vision
    Volume
    Vulnerable
    Walkaround-reality
    Want
    Wherewithal
    Wisdom
    Witticism
    Wonder
    Words
    Work
    Worry
    Wrangle
    Wrong
    Wrongness
    Wunderkind
    Zen
    Zigzag

    RSS Feed

All images Copyright ©2023 Carl Mehrbach
  • About
  • Making Art