Archive for the ‘Digital Paintings’ Category
Thursday, April 19th, 2007
understanding lives even in abstract
Enlarge – Cloud Cover – Digital Painting 2006- Dan Beck
This seemed like a natural piece to feature directly after the below black and white digital painting. It was undoubtedly created around the same dark and dreary time – which coincidentally or not is a lot like today.
There are certain things, I love about this piece. I love the billowed nature of the clouds. I love the ridges in the mountains – I love the way there is depth even in the midst of nonsensical clues. The line of trees seems to hover in air, yet the hills still look solid.
The digital painting works without confusion even though it probably should be confusing – but our eye reads a lot like we read language – able to switch around words and letters and still get the correct meaning.
This aspect of perception is quite compelling – for it is here that we find the freedom to say things in new ways and still be understood.
See Also
- Cloud Cover – purchasing info and art print options for above digital painting
- Perception – nicely laid out explanation of some of nuances of perception including: Perceptual Systems, Historical Background, Innate And Learned – Classical perceptual phenomena, Broad theoretical approaches, Current research/future developments
Tags: Art, hills, mountains, painting, trees
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Tuesday, April 17th, 2007
shades of grey and relative color
Black & White Days – enlarge – Digital Painting / Art Prints – 2006
I guess if I can talk about the typical color around here and show a painting with a flourish of color – which is both here and not seen, I can just as easily move to a piece that was intentionally done in black and white.
Color is relative – meaning the colors adjacent change the color one is looking at – both the power and trouble with colored matting. Black and white for most of us is more a construct of our understanding – black and white thinking – doesn’t really allow for all the shades of grey.
However, there is something really powerful in just black and white – the world is simplified and bold. I suppose its simplicity also helps us to appreciate how complex and rich a world with color really is.
Having said all this – it is rather obvious that above has many shades of grey.
See Also
Tags: Art, color, painting, prints
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
recent experience affects creativity
Typical Mountain Color – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007
Well yes – this really isn’t typical mountain color – but is more a case of saving a piece with a title before knowing exactly where it is going.
The mountains are beautiful here and they have this look and feeling which I try to communicate frequently. They change a lot, but there is always this wonderful patchwork of color.
When I started painting this piece – I was drinking out of a pseudo Van Gogh mug. I approached the painting with more abandon and colors than I might normally – it felt like the right thing to do.
The figures came in to play because 1) I wasn’t done painting, 2) I felt it would make the piece more interesting (colorful), and 3) because I caught two men resting on their hoes recently (even though these are shovels) – something I don’t normally see.
The third figure seemed necessary with the rest of the composition. His posture will be discussed at another time.
See Also
- Field of Hoes – how could I not think of this piece – a number of people have said it looks like a band of musicians out in that field – plus original art prints are set up for purchase
- Van Gogh – an interesting take on his use of color – with imbued meanings throughout – perhaps even more credit than the spontaneous style we can all see – but such a lovely image to make the discussion come together
Tags: Art, color, composition, creativity, mountains, music, painting, prints
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Thursday, April 12th, 2007
color, texture – bumps, bends and growth
Hillside Spin 2 – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007
Thought I would revisit this piece. When I wrote about it last week, all I discussed was the new technique and how much fun or too much fun I had.
But in truth, I think the digital painting is quite pleasing. It is not that representative of my work in general, but so what. I like the playfulness. I like the bumps and bends my eye takes looking at it.
The color I was able to impart is also fun to look out – there is tremendous texture and this was intended to be a double print – so to get a better sense of what it would look like printed – I captured a section at the right size.
Art is always about process and growth -
I used to always say “the more we live the more we die” – an odd paradox, but true. Today I think of youth and growth and that perhaps we are not dying as long as we are growing.
See Also
- Houses on the Hillside – for some reason, the above painting keeps making me think of this one – a drive by moment on the 101 near San Jose – art prints are set up for purchase for this piece
- Exhibit Helps the Creative Growth Process – not a current exhibit, but article shows how art affects both the artist and the viewer – helping us to see ourselves on many levels
Tags: Art, color, hills, painting, prints, texture
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Saturday, April 7th, 2007
fatigue and unconscious as guides
tired – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2003
It is not uncommon for me to write about knowing when to call a piece finished. I have also written quite a bit about different endings for the same piece – a digital advantage.
This piece popped up today – and appropriately – someone told me I looked tired yesterday – I was – but more just hadn’t been feeling all that well – nevertheless – not something one wants to hear – but I suspected it was true.
The above piece – I just couldn’t continue that night – practically falling asleep at the computer – but I guess my unconscious knew – it often does – that I was finished.
Though not one of my all time favorites, I love the flow of this piece – the color, the translucency, the buoyancy – it is playful and light – despite its tired ending.
See Also
Tags: Art, color, painting, prints
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007
comfort, color, and mistakes, so what
Composite Evening – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2004
Not one of my all time successes, I guess I am featuring this today because…well I am not sure.
The barn is the barn in the distance across the road; the sky has certainly had this color. By its title, I know this piece came from a number of impressions put together. I like the composite idea – something over time and distance – seeing without pretending there is understanding involved.
But compositionally, this piece has always been suspect – the centered cloud – the even bands of color – probably better left to straight abstraction – but even then.
It isn’t a piece that I like well enough to want to live with – but in looking at it today, I find it pleasing despite its obvious shortcomings.
I think growth comes from not hiding our mistakes but rather in finding where the comfort lay.
See Also
- NGA | Mark Rothko – something about the colors and the bands of colors made me think of Rothko as I looked at this piece today. This site is full of his work – definitely worth viewing – though no substitute for in person.
- Mistakes Quotes – The Quotations Page – make no mistake about it, this is a popular subject for many… and a fun read
- Composite Evening – in case you are enthralled despite my critique, there are art prints of this work available – don’t let me convince you otherwise
Tags: Art, color, composition, painting, prints
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Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007
new techniques can spin out of control
Hillside Spin 2 – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007
Like many of my digital paintings, I started out playing a bit with the medium. It kind of amazes me that I can keep learning new techniques, but I don’t know why since that is the way most things work. I’ve been playing guitar for years, but I haven’t stopped learning.
So the above started because I was playing around with a curve tool – the tool creates smooth curves but not particularly tight – I had always worked within its confines or used freehand.
I figured out if I stopped and started – I could get a tighter curve – so I went wild.
The above digital painting is fun – but it is probably not a direction I will continue to go in – but the technique I can and will apply – but probably with less abandon.
See Also
- Process – gallery page for work which was clearly about taking a new technique to the nth degree – pretty cluttered small – but pretty interesting enlarged
- Solutions: How do you spin out of control? – found this comic kind of enlightening – since the joy of a new found fun is a lot like these kids – I remember – “Let’s do it again”
- The Painting Environment – just a quick look at some of the tools I use – program was simple to begin and more open ended than I think the appleworks creators even knew
Tags: Art, hills, painting
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2007
looks done versus being done
Grape Rows & Mountains – digital painting / art prints- Dan Beck 2005
Irrigate 1 – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2004
There is a quality that both of these digital paintings share. They have a similar amount of detail, a similar amount of translucence, a similar amount of simplicity in conveying what was there.
Looking at my work, I tend to take things further most of the time these days. Adding texture and shading and whatever else I can think to throw at it.
Every artist knows that knowing when to quit is probably as important as beginning – but part of creating art is being true to oneself and one’s vision. You have to feel like you are done as well.
With the two paintings above, I knew they were done – sometimes I know something looks done, but I am not done – so I must continue. I am sure there is a life lesson in here somewhere, but since I am not seeing it, I must continue.
See Also
Tags: Art, mountains, painting, prints, texture
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Sunday, March 25th, 2007
Time, Space, and the Endlessness of Creativity
Jazz 3 – digital painting and art prints – 2005 – Dan Beck
Music exists in time and space, but not so much in vision – though one might not know that with the advent of music videos and of course live performance from the get-go.
It is not two dimensional and it is more than three – and I am not sure exactly why I say that. But like vision it can stay with us and reappear at a later time even though it is long gone.
How the above is like music is a tough call, but I know it to be. I know it was about the music I was listening to – moving to the beat and feeling the place inside.
Sometimes I feel art is time based as well – only working in a certain place and time – but creativity fortunately seems to be endless.
See Also
- Jazz 3 – art print options for above digital painting
- TBA Festival 2006 – apparently there is a time based art festival in Portland – last years offerings demonstrate the breadth of the concept
- Introduction to Time Based Art (course offering) – my understanding of time based art was always – limited time and changing over time – such as using organic matter – this course is almost the antithesis.
Tags: Art, creativity, music, painting, prints
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Thursday, March 22nd, 2007
quilted blades and aerial spray have added meaning
Quilted Spray - art prints / digital painting – Dan Beck – 2005
I am featuring this piece today – one because I gallery chanced and image rouletted upon it and two because it is getting to that time of year. Spring is rampant here and pollen and every other allergen upon us – throw in a few sprays and who knows what the results might be.
I love my surrounded by fields setting, but I know I need to get out.
When I wrote about this digital painting before, one of the things I omitted was the ridiculousness of the blades of the helicopter – the seemingly most dangerous aspect of a helicopter. Everyone crouches even though they couldn’t hit them.
The blades have been turned into fabric here- quilted looking – thus making the spray – though cool and beautiful, appear even less safe.
One can always add meaning.
See Also
- Quilted Spray – art print options and availability for above digital painting
- The Other Side – there are always at least two sides to anything – but yipes
- Budworks – haven’t seen this but it sounded interesting
Tags: Art, fields, painting, prints
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