Senior Art Thesis: studio work

This is merely a sketch (although it is a complete work). The way that I wanted to sketch this semester was by creating smaller pieces in a small amount of time, really trying my skills of visual arts when it comes to color, space, composition, materials, etc. I am also doing these sketches out in the open on the Coe College campus (you could call it performance art...I just call it art).

Finally, X has been completed and I am finally happy with this piece. Its gone through many changes, but I am satisfied and you can look for this piece at the Cedar Rapids Eco-Arts Fest on April 16th, 2011. There, it will be showcased and judged along with a couple other pieces in a Recycled Art competition. This will be on sale there, so if you think you might be interested, come to the Eco-Arts Fest! more info on this event can be found on newboczech.info.

This piece actually looks completely different from when I took this photo. I don't have a name for it yet, but it is near completion (the photo doesn't do it any justice). It's an 8' long piece, so its the biggest piece that I have every done to this date. This is going in my Senior Exhibition

House #2 is one of the newest pieces I've been working on. It is one of the pieces to be shown at my Senior Art Exhibition on April 29th, 2011.

Home #1 is also going in my Senior Show in April, I am planning to use details of this work for my invites to my show, so if you would like one, email you address to my email address: njjared@coe.edu.

Finally, an update on this piece: Doorway. It is completed and it will accompany two of my pieces at the Recycled Art Show at this years Eco-Arts Festival in Cedar Rapids, IA. Come celebrate Earth Day and see my current work!

Update on my Art

So I've finally decided to update my blog with the progress I've been making in my studio. Below are some photos of my studio, to show you the world through which I create my works. Every artist's studio is different, but sometimes, I think mine is cramped and full of the strangest things, and I like it that way. New photos of my work are coming soon...as in minutes.

Artist Spotlight-Troy Paiva-Photography

Troy Paiva

Since 1989, Photographer/Graphic Artist, Troy Paiva has been photographing the desolate landscape of what used to once be a part of flourishing American life in the West. Old gas stations, deteriorating cars, and obliterated buildings are just some of the subject matter of Troy Paiva's view of the "Lost America". Troy uses a technique of lighting with colored gels on either flashlights or strobe lights with a long exposure to create an eerie look with a surreal background (created by the long exposure).

I found out about Troy randomly while searching for graphic artists as a part of my research into digital artists for college class I was taking. I immediately loved his technique because it involved unique lighting for each photo. Partially being a technical theater nerd, I love any art that involves lighting effects. I always like to point photographers in the direction of "light painting", since you can get some very interesting effects.

You can see more work by Troy on his website: lostamerica.com

AAR-January '11 (#1)-For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver

So Finally, the first weekly installment of my "Album Art Recreated" series is ready. This is my recreation of indie rocker, Bon Iver's album: For Emma, Forever Ago.

Who's Bon Iver, well let me tell you. Because in addition to creating alternative album covers, I am going to discuss the entire album as well. And sorry in advanced to people who like to review albums, because I'm not that great of a writer, but this is good practice!

Bon Iver is a music project founded by Justin Vernon. His style is considered to be indie folk rock. When playing live, he is backed up by four other musicians that he gathered over the years to bring his sound to life.

For Emma, Forever Ago is a brilliant album completely written and composed by Justin. He actually recorded it in a cabin, while he was isolating himself after a break up with is band DeYarmond Edison, break up with his girlfriend, and being ill with mono. Self recorded using only a microphone, a guitar, an old drum kit, and anything else he could find, Justin Vernon found comfort in being alone and in the cold. Which is said to be part of his inspiration, aside from all of the stress foramentioned.

The use of overdubbing gave this album

a really strong rich sound, that Justin Vernon seems to have a knack for. This is why I love his work. He can start off really mellow and many of his songs are very chill. But when he wants to, in a song, Justin will bring in heavy bass and percussion. That mixed with layers of voices singing the lyrics, really are what make this album so different from other artists' work. The lyrics themselves are cleverally thought out and were actually written to the melody, rather then that other way around as many other artists prefer.

Although Justin wasn't intending to release all of his songs as an album, the deal with record label Jagjaguwar, allowed for him to release For Emma, Forever Ago as a complete album. The big single for the album was "Skinny Love", which received a lot of recognition and was even a free single on iTunes for a week, as well as being played by Justin on the Late Show with David Letterman. In my opinion though, the entire album is amazing, there is a reason why this album made it in the top 50 albums of 2008 by Rolling Stones. I'm looking forward to listening to more of Justin's work in the near future. On top of For Emma, Forever Ago, he also released the EP Blood Band in 2009, as well as appearing on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack; the Dark Was The Night Compilation; and helping write and appear on Kanye West's album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Left: the original album art work.

You can check out Bon Iver's website or myspace here:

boniver.org

myspace.com/boniver

Some information was paraphrased from the following websites:

wikipedia.org/Bon_Iver

yellowbirdproject.com/products/bon-iver

Advanced Art Work Update-1.24.11

Silver Lining. 2010-2011. collage, paint, spring, on cardboard.

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COE. 2010-2011. collage, paint, thumbtacks, twine, on cardboard.

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Doorway. 2010-2011. collage, newspaper, cardboard, on masonite.

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X. 2010-2011. collage, paint, on wood with pallet.

Is This Art?

In the Fall of 2010, I put together a brief exhibition, called Is This Art?, of the current work for my Senior thesis project. Since this is only the halfway through my Senior year, this is only a glimpse of direction of my work to be shown in my Spring 2011 gallery exhibition.

The concept behind this particular exhibition was showing how I've been influenced in the past few years by artists like the Dadaists, Marcel Duchamp, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg. I show these influences by using similar techniques and styles learned from studying these artists. And the highlight piece to this exhibit, A Progression of Broken Chairs, shows the path that my work is going.

I Hate My Job. 2010. mask, wood.

on sale: $5.00, email njjared@coe.edu to purchase

3 Open Containers (Smells Included). 2010. jars, clay.

Untitled. 2007. book, paint, tape, collage

on sale: $10.00, email njjared@coe.edu to purchase

Tribute to Ceramics/Iburg Erased. 2010. wood, collage, plastic, spray paint, vase.

Iburg Erased. 2010. broken/reassembled vase

Y?. 2010. wood, keyboard, wax, collage, spray paint

on sale: $15, email njjared@coe.edu to purchase

detail of Y?

Lantern. 2010. lantern, wax, string.

A Progression of Broken Chairs. 2010. collage/assemblage on broken chairs

A Progression of Broken Chairs was the main piece for my art show Is This Art? The story behind this project is definately interesting. The chairs were given to me, after they were broken during a student theatrical production at Coe College, after the production student director, Trevor Ketteman, allowed me to take his broken chairs. After his last show was finished, I quickly approched him, saying that I would like his broken chairs, and he reluctantly agreed. And so I cleaned up the chairs and moved them into my studio, which was conveniently next door to the theatre where this performance was being held. It was once I had them all in the studio, that I realized I wanted to fix the chairs, but not just in anyway, but to sort of create a metamorphasis. Starting with one who chair, each chair, I decided, was going to become more creative, more decorative, more...me. This was the first time in a while that I've felt this close to my art. And I think that this piece has really reflected itself upon me and I back at it. The piece itself is reflecting my life in past few years as an artist. From nothing to something, I guess. And being one of the last pieces to be created for my show, I can definately see the direction of my show to open in the Spring of 2011.

A Progression of Broken Chairs is for sale. The cost for the for all three chairs (the first chair coincidentally broke) is just $45. If you would like to purchase this piece, please let me know. My contact email address is njjared@coe.edu.

Fan. 2010. fan, newspaper.

Monitor. 2008. computer monitor tube.