March « 2007 « Outhouse Studios Weblog

Archive for March, 2007

When Art Can’t Fail

Saturday, March 10th, 2007

Mediums Which Always Have Good Results

Symbolic Language 6 – digital painting & art prints – Dan Beck 2007

Not particularly related to the above digital painting, but noteworthy to me – today is the day my family always celebrated my parents’ birthdays – actually a three day celebration with birthdays on the 9th and 11th of March.

Neither of my parents is still alive, but I for one am very glad to have known them – in addition to the most obvious reason.

The painting above came from the concept of art where you can’t fail. In many mediums, this feels true. I did some silk painting over the last year and found that to be so as with batik in other years. I also used to mask areas of a painting and then unveil at the end and that also seemed that way.

An art teacher or motivator looks for that kind of exercise where everyone feels success. The piece above was created without any freehand drawing – just the shape fill tools, box sections and manipulations – never done that before – don’t know if I will again.

But it felt like a no lose proposition.

Solving the Wrong Problem

Friday, March 9th, 2007

technology’s quirks yield frustration’s art

Palette Crap – digital painting – art prints – Dan Beck 2007

As a result of upgrading my Mac’s operating system to something more fashionably late, my painting program has new and improved quirks. This seems to be the norm for technology – as I think about all the various pieces of equipment (not restricted to computers) that have such little quirks – even the locks on my car – rather mechanical – but still.

So the above digital painting was born somewhat out of frustration – it was about being able to build new texture/colors and save the palettes. In my attempts to not have the program crash, I tried removing all sorts or things – getting it to work and systematically putting them back until it failed again.

But as the way with logic sometimes – my successes did not have to do with my interventions but something different I cannot see.

But I was able to have fun scribbling and did save some new palettes finding out if I saved the piece first I had a much better chance of success – and at least a couple of fun new digital paintings and accompanying art prints.

The Line between Feeling and Vision

Thursday, March 8th, 2007

Between Abstract and Representational

Feeling of Rain – digital painting – Dan Beck 2005

There was no impending rain today – I decided upon this piece as a result of the random gallery button (gallery chance) and random gallery page button – and I thought why not – it’s the time of year there could be.

This piece is a nice bridge between representational and abstract – the two are not opposites – but I think this straddles the line nicely nevertheless.

Titled as such – because it is more about evoking the feeling than the actual sight – but it is easier if one uses some visual clues – and the overcast and hues of this piece do bring about the feeling of rain in my mind.

Taking Advantage of Digital

Wednesday, March 7th, 2007

symbols underneath and choosing one’s ending

Symbolic Language 2 – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007

So this piece like its predecessor is an abstract work built upon some mystical symbols found by opening a computer cache in a program that didn’t deciper it correctly – at least I think.

But I really liked the symbols and I copied and pasted them into a painting document – with having some fun in mind. Above is where this particular piece was first finished – I had an afterthought to add some texture – which I did – something one couldn’t do with oil painting for instance.

It almost feels unfair to prefer the first finished version above – if it were another medium I would have had no choice. But different rules apply to digital painting and its art prints – and though I think it incredibly important to maintain some limits – this is not one I’ve agreed to.

Writing Reveals Rubbing

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007

expression leads to copy commonality

Symbolic Language 3 – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007

Here lies the rub, and by this I don’t mean a rubbing ’cause these I think are cool. Despite being a tracing, (see yesterday’s article) or a copy – rubbings can be lots of fun like digital paintings.

So the issue here is more a quest for when the piece should be considered finished or rather which version I like better. I created art prints of both just to be able to decide.

The above is the last stopping point – last finished version. I had stopped previously – signed the digital painting – and wanted to see some texture in the piece – though I think it’s a little more interesting I tend to like the other version more.

Tomorrow’s article.

Practice Makes Art

Monday, March 5th, 2007

time equates to value – should art stand on its own?

Hoe Dance – digital painting / art prints- Dan Beck – 2005

I think it is pretty obvious that my artwork is not starting from a photo. I think by definition digital painting is starting from scratch. But I also think the lines are blurred.

On the one hand, a work of art or music for that matter should stand on its own – one likes it or doesn’t. On the other hand, it seems to have more value as we grasp the amount of time that has gone into the preparation (study and practice) and the actual amount of time spent on a piece.

The general formula and thinking is the more time the more valuable – an equation like we use for most work in our world. Curiously, some of my best music and best art comes quickly at the time – but that does not take anything away from the work which lead up to it.

I am sure that I have taken some shortcuts along the way – I think that actually is normal . But I am proud of the work I have done to hone my skills and develop my vocabulary in both art and music – it is not pressing a button for a bass line or tracing a photo as the author of this article (which prompted today’s discussion) was so disturbed by.

But as much as I believe in my developed skills and taste, I want my work to stand on its own.

Color and Looseness Mark Digital Painting

Saturday, March 3rd, 2007

whimsical, architectural, and speculative

Over the Top – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck -2003

My son Clif has a birthday today and that is enough reason to feature this piece. Though never one of my all time favorites, it spoke to him – not sure if it was color, the mix of abstract and representational or what – but I know this to be a favorite of his.

For me, I have mixed feelings about it – I like the looseness – the quality of the hill-mountains in particular and even the way the sun is squished up into the top of the digital painting.

The piece is both whimsical and architectural somehow – reminding me of the opera house in Sidney or a bandstand shell. And the colors are quite pleasing.

Clearing the Cloudiness

Friday, March 2nd, 2007

exaggeration as explanation

Blue Clouds at Evening – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007

I haven’t made art prints available for this yet – of course, with a brand new piece, I can’t tell if anyone will groove on it like I do. Plus I have yet to get a good print – my first attempt had some unwanted printer lines in it.

I actually saw this! I’ve exaggerated some – to create the drama that was really in the evening – sharpening the sky’s color and making the clouds more dimensional and clear blue.

But that is what makes art – it is about conveying what one sees – what one understands – with the confines and enhancements of the medium one uses.

So having said that, I think it is a fun digital painting.

Over the Shoulder Impression

Thursday, March 1st, 2007

passing impression and live oak tree character

Monterey Hiway 1 – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2005

I thought I would pick a piece today that I don’t believe I’ve written about. I remember looking over my right shoulder as I drove by this scene – an impression, yes.

The live oak trees on the hillside always gets me. I love the shape of these trees and the character they have. I have never seen these trees anywhere else – at least that I recall.

I have a couple in my own yard and I really enjoy them – the canopy of one is exquisite. But here by the side of the road, they are are similar to the cows which occasionally graze.

Outhouse Studios Weblog

Archive for March, 2007

When Art Can’t Fail

Mediums Which Always Have Good Results

See Also

Solving the Wrong Problem

technology’s quirks yield frustration’s art

See Also

The Line between Feeling and Vision

Between Abstract and Representational

See Also

Taking Advantage of Digital

symbols underneath and choosing one’s ending

See Also

Writing Reveals Rubbing

expression leads to copy commonality

See Also

Practice Makes Art

time equates to value – should art stand on its own?

See Also

Color and Looseness Mark Digital Painting

whimsical, architectural, and speculative

See Also

Clearing the Cloudiness

exaggeration as explanation

See Also

Over the Shoulder Impression

passing impression and live oak tree character

See Also

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