Advice from Patti Smith

Patti Smith - words of wisdom. Thought this would be a nice way to start the week.

Orly Genger at Madison Square Park

Nothing like coming across public art to brighten up my daily route in the city.  I love the art program at Madison Square Park. It's always engaging work that allows me to pause for a few minutes and enjoy. Currently on view is an installation by Orly Genger. It'll be up through September 8, 2013. Take a minute to walk through the park if you're in New York - then you can stop and get a burger and milk shake at Shake Shack.

 

drawing

I've been working on this new series of drawings in the studio. I find the process of making them to be meditative- allowing me to just make the pieces without having to think too much. I am realizing that this is the secret to the creative process- not thinking. So one of the tricks I've set up for myself is to have these drawings I can work on - as an ongoing project- and a place to land in the studio when I don't have a full day or am in between paintings and want to be able to make something complete.

Untitled II, 2013
graphite on paper
9 x 6 inches

memory in blue process

Thought I would share some process images. When I make larger paintings (this one 64 x 52 in), I typically stretch the canvas directly on the wall and work it until it gets to a certain point where I need to move it around so I can 'see' it again. The top image is the underpainting of the bottom image. I'm just about finished with this painting and am excited about new color explorations in these blues. 

An Hoang, Untitled (memory in blue), 2013, oil on canvas, 64 x 52 in - in progress

Philip Guston in his studio

Love this!

Philip Guston discusses his approach to art making. 

Source: http://www.sfmoma.org/explore/multimedia/videos/178#ixzz2PteZ7a2N
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

remembering rio

remembering rio
2012
gouache on paper
12 x 9 inches

Parrish Art Museum

This weekend we had a chance to visit the new Parrish Art Museum in Watermill NY, designed by Herzog & De Meuron. Beautiful details and nice diffused light inside for viewing art. 

You can read more about it here. 

Parrish Art Museum 

Below are two great paintings by Fairfield Porter that were on view - especially 'Interior', a small painting that packs a lot of punch.

Fairfield Porter

'Interior', 1948

Fairfield Porter

'Laurence Typing', 1952

work on paper

Here's a new work on paper.

Untitled (memory)
2013
oil and graphite on paper
9 x 6 inches

paintings on paper

One of the exercises I want to implement into my studio practice is to paint and draw from observation. I know this might be a basic practice for many, but it's one that tends to get pushed aside as I often find I am racing ahead to get lost in what I am working on....

I recently started making paintings on paper, while taking a break between larger paintings. Perhaps because I wasn't thinking about them as 'paintings' and approached them as experiments, and the fact that they were from direct observation, I found the process of making them to be really liberating.

I like the idea of starting the studio day with looking and observing. It seems like good practice....like practicing your scales when playing music - doing your warm-ups, fine-tuning, and gathering information along the way.

storm's a comin'

another new one from the studio. with blizzard hovering overhead thought this would be a good one to share with you today. 

Untitled (storm)

2013

oil on canvas

10 x 8 inches