Category: Process - Carl Mehrbach's Art Blog

Carl Mehrbach's Art Blog

All the Time

6/25/2022

"Crevice" (2022 No.7, state 3), oil on canvas, 41⅜x57½ inches

This is about revelation because I am painting. "Crevice" is in motion. It is alive and well. It is on it own path. Where is it? What is it? It is time within time. It is becoming because it is being here. Time is fluid. Art is fluid. Without fluidity this painting and I are fastened, pinned to bewilderment.

Going, Going...

6/23/2022

Drawing 06·22·2022 No.1, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Drawing 06·22·2022 No.2, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Symbolic, noteworthy, looks like something I have seen before; this is what I am doing. I am going there, doing it, referring to memory past and present, stuff that visually reminds me. These two drawings are examples of my quest for known and knowing.

Making the Move Real

6/20/2022

"Crevice" (2022 No.7, state 2), oil on canvas, 40½x57½ inches

This move is a real one. Symbolism is upon me. Is this, definable, decidable, decipherable symbolism? To my inner self, yes! This makes sense to me. This is not verbal sense. This is internal sense. Things are right in this, my newest painting, "Crevice."

Going With It

6/19/2022

"Crevice" (2022 No.7, state 01), oil on canvas, 40½x57½ inches

Thus it begins. I have accepted an idea true to me. This is about symbolic representation as important to energizing my deepest self. I accept it, my images may mystify some viewers, but no matter how perplexing, puzzling, convoluted, mystifying, and unaccountable it may look to some, this is core me. I must do it. The new painting, "Crevice", is such consequential image.

One Try at "Now What?"

6/10/2022

Drawing 06·09·2022, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Now What?

6/8/2022

Drawing 06·08·2022, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

I am a wondering, wandering man. Now what? My recent painting, ”Castle", will soon be in exhibition. Exhibition marks success of artistic communication. Why "Castle"? I make a lot of art, I make a lot of paintings and drawings. People choose to exhibit art they enjoy. Enjoyment denotes relevance. I continue to process during, and after, exhibitions. Constantly I work to come to peace with my natural instincts. Informative is the art people choose to exhibit. Choice by others is an expression of value in an artwork's communication. Yesterday's drawing (shown here) is my reaction to the positive quality expressed by the choice of “Castle” as exhibition worthy. In this drawing I am reacting by wondering. All my art is both question and answer.

Three for the Money

5/29/2022

Drawing 05·21·2022 (state 2), pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Drawing 05·28·2022 No.1, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

Drawing 05·28·2022 No.2, pencil on paper, 16x20 inches

I believe I must give into my authentic impulses. As I make, if I recognize a bit of representation, I am animated. I think, "This is real! This is a base looking for a play.” This bit of representation gives me an anchor. It gives me a scene that feels true to touch and life. Looking back at my recent output, I believe my best works contain this token of visual reality. That means something! In the least, I have to explore this grab for bits of representation. In the first drawing shown today, the one from 5/21/2022, I exhibit this most clearly. In fact, if you go back to my blog post of 5/22/2022, in that same drawing you will see the human head more abstractly. State 1 of this drawing did not work as well for me as State 2; yesterday’s change startles me. This drawing feels vastly more true; it is much better because of a minor change toward a more recognizable form.

Closer

5/28/2022

"Arena" (2022 No.6, state 5), oil on canvas, 41¼x58½ inches

Yep! Closer! I am not satisfied. Today’s image of “Arena” represents a step in my journey, a depiction that works better than its last. Better means declarative movement toward complete, flawless correct. Better is movement toward an impossible goal.

Not All

5/27/2022

"Arena" (2022 No.6, state 4), oil on canvas, 41¼x58½ inches

I will never be done. I like the painting, "Arena", but I am disquieted by it as well. This unease drives my anxiousness. I cannot get all my ideas into one painting, nor can I ever say, "This completely makes sense to me!" Everything I do is a test. After each test I know better; that does not mean I am closer to a completely true answer. Every answer in incomplete. I will continue on my investigative journey, a quest without an end.

Making Good My Promise

5/25/2022

"Pillar" (2022 No.5, state 02), oil on canvas, 45¼ x 46½

Drawing 05·24·2022, graphite on paper, 16x20 inches

I made a simple promise to myself. Turns out the simplest of promises are difficult to keep. The painting and the drawing I worked on yesterday, these grab my promise, make it real; that is, these works center their compositions, make viewers immediately aware of their intensions.