Art Talk -
2011, 2010, and 2009 Columns
July, 2011 Encaustic Painting
Encaustic painting is an ancient medium enjoying a renaissance. A mixture of pure beeswax and damar resin, encaustic wax, often mixed with pigment, is applied molten (temperatures approaching 200 degrees) and worked with heat tools like hot plates, heat guns, torches, even irons. Beautiful layering effects can be achieved, especially when incorporating photography. From richly textured abstract encaustic landscapes to image transfers, carving, scraping, and layering, artists working in this medium today show us the possibilities with this fascinating medium.
June, 2011 The Art in Wine Labels
The Winemaker's label is a key component to marketing its wine. This sticker becomes the wine's Icon. It is the winery's primary business card, creating it's first impression, and conveying its life time identity. This visual art compels a position reaction within a span of less than three seconds.nc
May, 2011 Cows, Cars, and Driftwood Houses -
It is an unseemly sight to see paintings of palm trees in Central Coast fine art
galleries; not so strange for galleries in Palm Springs or Hawaii where the palm
grass plant is iconic. Wyoming galleries boast of cowboys, and Indians are the art-
April, 2011 Be Soothed by the Arts
WOW, can our world get any more complicated? In times of trouble, the arts are comforting. The arts speak volumes of truth through music, dance, theater, film, and with visual presentations. Today's most popular vehicle of expression is video. We witness daily conflicts through amateur made video on YouTube, a rising form of art.
March, 2011 Are You a Right Brainer or a Left Brainer?
One of the many benefits of an education in the arts is the development of the RIGHT side of the brain. This side of the brain lends itself to creative problem solving. Even though one may question the concept of cerebral dominance of one side of the brain over the other, one must admit that in today's challenging economic climate, financial success stories are about those tycoons that have performed their tasks "outside the box."
February, 2011 There is a Connection Between Art and Healing
The Arts bridge the gap between differences in cultures, languages, and physical and mental capabilities. They are the source for tolerance, an equalizer even if for moments.
January, 2011 2011-
Another notch carved in my life belt. Like a prizefighter, I am grateful to have
survived the last round (2010). The truth is, I like endings. Concluding something
makes me feel fulfilled. The goal of what I had set out to do has been accomplished.
I look forward to new beginnings. This is the time for self-
December, 2010 Give the Gift of Art for the Holidays
It's a safe assumption to make that the Holiday season is stressful along with being
joyful. The prevailing dichotomy is evident in just about everything, from cooking
to conversations. Scanning Ads to clip coupons for the best buys, pushing through
crowds to purchase the perfect gift for the one you love, waiting for hours in cashier
lines; all of these acts take their toll on our psyche. A one-
November, 2010 Gratitude is an Art
Making a list, checking it twice, and giving of your time. Plenty of thought goes into acquiring that "perfect" gift for that wonderful someone. Then you have the task to find the store that sells this prize. You wind your way through isles of hectic holiday shoppers, secretly hoping that the article you want remains available. Thankfully there is one left. You grab it. Only after waiting in a long cahier line is the purchase completed. (This scenario certainly makes the case for the growing popularity for purchasing items via the internet!) One gift checked off the long list, lots more to go.
October, 2010 Open Studios ART Tour 2010
ARTS Obispo's " Open Studios" is this county's largest visual arts event. It is an open invitation to the public to become personally acquainted with over 250 budding and seasoned artists, as well as several fine art galleries. Held over three weekends, participating artists open their private working spaces. Enter the artists' worlds, engage them in conversation, and witness the fruits of their imaginations . . . all for free.
September, 2010 Cows, Hillsides, and Barns—Oh My!
It is uncommon to see paintings of Palm Trees or Cacti in coastal galleries. Not so strange a sight in Palm Springs, California or Hawaii art galleries. Gallery walls in Wyoming show off Cowboys and portraits of American Indians are a standard fair in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is quite befitting that our local galleries tout our familiar scenery; cows, hillsides, barns, the ocean, and sea life.
August, 2010 Here Comes the Judge-
A "juried" art show infers that a hired professional, or panel, has selected the collection for exhibition. The judge is charged to compile a body of work that will inspire the viewers. Like an umpire, the judge determines from hundreds of entries "what's out and what's safe." The key to a triumphant looking display is its cohesiveness.
July, 2010 The Arts Relieve Stress
Regardless of the pleasures they offer, important events in our lives can be stressful. In the right circumstances, a certain amount of stress can enhance performance, like a job presentation or musical audition. 'Tis the season for major life changes—birth, marriage, graduation—all of which contribute to our stress levels, both positive and negative.
June, 2010 Creativity = Out of the Box
One of the many benefits of an education in the arts is the development of the right side of the brain. This side of the brain lends itself to creative problem solving. Even though one may question the concept of cerebral dominance of one side of the brain over the other, one must admit that in today's challenging economic climate, financial success stories are about those tycoons that have performed their tasks "out of the box."
April, 2010 Things That Go
Of all the twentieth century artifacts, none is more typically Americanthan our older model automobiles. Because "Crusin Morro Bay" begins April 30th, I thought it would be appropriate that my column focus on how the automobile has been used as subject d'arte.
March, 2010 Shrinking Venues: (Oh Alice, what shall we artists do?)
In spite of recent art auction prices surpassing estimates at Sotheby's, one result of our current global financial struggle is the closure of fine art galleries. Over the past five years Peter Steynberg, owner of the Steynberg Gallery and Coffee House located at 1531 Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo, has witnessed the closure of 30 art galleries.
February, 2010 PechaKucha
PechaKucha -
January, 2010 The Arts Need You!
Once again, twelve months to go. I certainly don't intend to sound pessimistic. The
truth is, I like a finale as well as I like beginnings. Concluding tasks makes me
feel I have satisfied an agreement, accomplished what I set out to do. For instance,
a clean house gives me a sense of serenity. Setting and re-
December, 2009 Holiday Gifts That Give Back
Rewarding costume-
November, 2009 There Is No Such Thing As "Recession Art"
Arts Obispo's annual Open Studios' three consecutive weekends event just ended. Over 220 artists, anticipating sales, opened their private working spaces to the public. Artists I interviewed reported good and bad news. They all agreed that the foot traffic wasn't steady or in abundance. However, those artists that did sell their work were grateful for the business.
October, 2009 Art Is A Gift For All Occasions Need Some Suggestions?
"They're here." This single line was made famous in the horror film Poltergeist. I said it aloud as I strolled down the aisles of Rite Aide and Costco. Christmas decorations are on display in September. So, let's talk about gift giving occasions and art as gifts.
September, 2009 What the Hell am I Looking at?
We all respond differently to outside stimuli. Artworks provoke thought through imagery. Some we like and some we judge as "bad." There are those pieces that some art critics consider as timeless masterpieces that we view and just don't understand. How can we appreciate an image we do not respond positively to? Can we develop a simple understanding of the abstract?
August, 2009 I Draw and Paint Naked People
Figures with no clothes are a common vision in the westernized world. Society has been bombarded with the view that the nude is directly associated with sex. We can, in part, blame religious groups whose teachings have led us to believe that nudity is sinful and dirty instead of a beautiful part of nature. Surely we can also credit this distorted association to films, advertising, and popular literature.