Wednesday, September 28, 2011

.river.song.


I always thought I hated acrylics. How nice to have been incorrect...

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

.dancing.the.unexpected.

In life, things happen that completely derail a plan, sending a person into tailspin of the unexpected that, depending on your reaction and subsequent actions, can be wonderful or horrible. And when creating art...well...you just have to expect it.


Quite frequently, and with growing frequency, I've been dancing with live bands. It's something I love, much much more than canned music. Live music is a living breathing thing, and the energy from the crowd is tangible - already built up by the musicians, which can make a dance performance much easier and more beautiful. However, it also carries with it the unexpected. Live music does not sound like the recorded version of the same song. Aside from the acoustics being different - the timing changes, the inflection of vocals can become completely flipped, and you never really know what's going to happen just while you're on stage. Maneuvering around band members, dealing with the occasional audience member in your space, thrown objects, stage blindness.

Basically, when dancing with live musicians, you have to be able to adapt to anything at a moments notice, and keep dancing. Choreography, unless you have the fortunate circumstance of being able to rehearse ad nauseum with the band (along with a huge amount of floor room for the actual performance) is almost impossible.

Friday, September 16, 2011

.remembering.painting.

I used to paint perpetually. Meaning, I used to paint all the time, and I used to take forever to finish each piece. There were two oil pieces in particular that I spent over two years on, before even my beau told me to put the brushed down and move onto new projects.

Then I stopped painting, and all art-making, for a good long while. I was exhausted, worn out. It was too much work.

I've spent the last 18 months or so trying to get back to art making, or what constitutes art making in my own little bubble of reality. In the last month I've been trying to paint again, experimenting with different techniques, playing with different ideas. The purpose of my painting has changed dramatically, which is wonderful. I'm not so worried about accurately recreating an image or scene or likeness, which is excellent and freeing - something I need more of in my day to day activities. Picking up a color because I like it, rather than because it's what something looks like. I'm also playing with different materials - plaster and acrylic and bits of things. A huge change from straight and static oil. This week I'm even going to try my hand out on canvas, which I've always loathed, but with the change in purpose - I think a change in surface might suit as well.

My most recent attempt:
 "and the forest wept"

Monday, September 12, 2011

.Dance.Challenge.September.

...but first, an introduction!
Vlog style...


Video #1: "Get the Money" by Pantyraid

Video #2: "Into the Orion Nebula" by Project Skyward

Video #3: "Going out West" by Tom Waits

Illustration Friday: Boundaries

See more at http://illustrationfriday.com/index.php

Friday, September 2, 2011

.Draw.Things.Atlantis.

Two months ago or so, roughly, someone in our circle of friends thought that monthly art challenges would spur everyone to draw more, and thusly get better at drawing, making everyone (or at least him) happier. There are several other Internet groups out there - Ten Ton Studios has one I think, and there's Illustration Fridays as well - but the thought was to have something within the social group, that would get opened up later to public consumption.

The first challenge was "Star Wars." It started as a self portrait project - draw yourself as a Jedi or a Sith...but that quickly devolved into just "Star Wars."

The second challenge was "Monster." Joshua won on votes in "Monster" and got to pick the next topic - Atlantis.

Here's my Atlantis, and you can go vote for yourself in the Facebook group - all you have to do is join it. Am I trying to drum up votes? Absolutely. I want to pick the next topic. I want to pick something Science Themed! Or possibly robots....



.September.Dance.Challenge.

Here's the deal - You suggest songs, I dance to the first minute of them, and post them on YouTube and here on Monday the 5th. You get to pick what I dance to! Voting commences for five days. Then I'll dance to the entirety of the song with the most votes. Voting will be done via "Like" clicks on YouTube.

Rules:
  • I'm using the first 10 song suggestions only. If you don't get yours submitted in time, never fear - should this work out without making my head explode, I'll be repeating it next month.
  • Songs may not be sexually explicit. I'm not dancing to the Big Butt song, or whatever else.
  • Songs also have to be available on iTunes, since I don't have a ton of free time to be hunting down obscure recordings of  Tatil Shibak. Also, donations are very much appreciated as it's my own money I'm spending on this music. Also, all donations after the music has been paid for go to supporting freeing Morgan
  • Songs should be under 5 minutes long.
  • I reserve the right to add new rules as necessary, since this is a big experiment - but I promise not to be unreasonable.
If you haven't seen me perform, I highly suggest checking out my videos (there is a link right here!) to get an idea of what my movement style is like and how you can challenge me!





Thursday, September 1, 2011

.a.bio.genesis.

(click to enlarge)
It took a month of research, and sketching, and more research, and rethinking and hair pulling and sleepless nights, but...

I believe in Evolution.
.here.it.is.

From dying stars, to water, to amino acids, to nucleic chains, protocells and cells, cyanobacteria and onward. Life marches on.