Category: Juxtaposition

Desperately Seeking Universality

12/14/2021

Drawing 12·11·2021 No.1, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Drawing 12·11·2021 No.2, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

These drawings are research efforts. They desperately seek universal emotive impact. I seek emotional visual statements, statements not confused by dominant forms. Substantive negative space is required to give positive forms potency by juxtaposition.

A Question for Philosophy

11/15/2018

Drawing 11·14·2018, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Approach can swing from fully intellectual to fully emotional. The sweet-spot must be somewhere in-between. The sweet-spot is not-too-soft, not-too-hard, but just-right; yes it is something Goldilocks would enjoy!

Yesterday's drawing consumed my entire studio time. That drawing is intricate and it is thoughtful, but it felt dry in-the-making. This drawing was born mostly from my intellect and less from my emotions. Does it fail the viewer because it is not fully human? This is my worry. Living well, making art well, both are not fully intellectual nor fully emotional. Art, if done well, contains a balance of intellect and emotion. So how do I do this in a way that fully represents me? Perhaps, if this drawing were a bit different it would be more emotionally successful. For instance, if the form on the bottom right were larger, would its contrast create emotional stress through a dramatic emotional juxtaposition of forms? Instead it is so well balanced as to be comfortably numb. I do not want to represent this drawing as poor, or inadequate. It is an excellent drawing; but it just does not speak with a striking amount emotional energy. I want more.

OK, I know how to put together a nicely balanced composition, one that is intellectually satisfying. Again; I want more! I want to see the stresses of existence in my art; the push and pull between my intellect and my emotions. The quest is truth and representation of the authentic consequence of living. I am getting closer. Writing, as I am today, is a call for my instigating a great effort to move closer to full satisfaction, me delivering a performance that fully and completely represents all I feel and know. (Beethoven's Ninth Symphony come to mind!)

Eyes Know It When They See It!

12/1/2017

Drawing 11·29·2017, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

"2017 No.13" (state 19), oil on canvas, 62x71 inches

This is getting to be... yeah it is! 2017 No.13 is reasonably better. Learning continues. This is state 19. There will be one more state. Learning comes in two varieties: (1) Increase in the activity's global understanding, (2) Increase in knowledge that is specific to the object at hand. However, one kind of learning cannot proceed without both occurring. It is never one or the other, never just global knowledge or knowledge specific to the object. 2017 No.13 is currently witnessing more the latter than the former.

Yesterday's drawing continues my recent inquiry into left versus right juxtaposition.

Below is my return visit to a drawing from November 25, 2017. This is state 2. It is better than state 1. Follow your eyes and all gets better, as least in this game.

Drawing 11·25·2017 (state 2), pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Desperately Seeking Universality

A Question for Philosophy

Eyes Know It When They See It!

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