What's New

Weaving Meaning

Hillside Spin - digital art - Dan Beck 2007

I thought it was time to bring out another of the tracks from the Red Eye Recordings last spring - the unconscious mind is a fascinating thing.

The original song is called  “Global Warming” - a joke really - cause there really isn’t a whole lot the song has to do with the topic - just “How come we are sitting in the shade?”  - but as I quickly browsed an image file - looking only at titles - no dates - I thought that the above digital painting rather captures the song - not even sure exactly why - but as it turns out - it was created just about the same time as the song was written - I knew without remembering.

Also interesting - was my own personal quote in the article - something I thought about just yesterday out of the blue -

the dots often connect in conjunction with my life - there is always meaning in the timing - things don’t happen at the speed I expect them to - but when they do - it is always amazing how many things fit together to build a richer meaning.

Writing music works in this same way - a song’s lyrics and music develop like these hills - building until the ending kind of folds into the beginning - spinning back upon itself…

Listen or View

• Global Warming - a song about life - these spinning connections - dog/me/past/future/expectations/potential/timing/ - partner having cigarette withdrawals - me needing to withdraw - and played with a flourish - just one guitar and vocals - and an extra pass for backup vocals - Dan Beck 2007 - Alone and Contagious - written during the recording sessions
•  Price of meaning - every bit as ridiculous as the conceptual creation of an artwork and article entitled “Meaning” - because of the comical implications of doing such an internet search - prices for original art prints of the above referenced work of art

enjoying art is not a category

Shape of Something New - digital art - painting - original prints - Dan Beck 2005

What is new and what is original art have been subjects of discussion on my site for quite some time.

If something were completely new, it would be unrecognizable - so new enough or original enough are really what it is about.

Curiously, the term digital art is one which is new in conjunction with any of the work on this site. Because the term is so broad and the associated art is generally so different from the work found here, it seemed like the wrong association.

But the images seen at Outhouse Studios were painted using a mouse, a computer, and the available views of a monitor. Each print is original - it is the intended final form of the art - but what really matters as with all art is whether the work speaks to you.

See Also

• Shape of Something New - current purchasing options for original prints of the above digital painting
• modern artifacts: If Art speaks to you, talk back - not certain about the degree our taste overlaps, but certainly agree with the sentiments of art appreciation and whether a work speaks to you - also whether it is something you want to live with

perspective from above - same theme, different understanding?

Flat Runs - digital art - painting & original prints - Dan Beck 2007

This is my last completed digital painting - finished last week sometime. It was started after the first same themed piece and prior to the last featured piece from more of the true perspective - if there is such a thing.

The work was inspired by a drive-by moment witnessing three field workers racing their strawberry flats to the staging area or truck - I didn’t notice.

It is more about feeling and understanding than actual viewing and therefore a view from above is just as true - but it wasn’t what I wanted and I started another piece before I finished this.

And though I think the other two pieces are more original art for me - I do love the bright color and some of the digital art twists, turns, and copy and paste which are not always utilized in my work.

See Also

• Sea of Backs - perception here is also based on understanding
• O’Reilly — Scott Haefner: View from Above - most interesting results to search term “view from above”

multiple paths

Simple Line Figure Exercise and Tutorial

What the above image demonstrates as much as anything is how unlimited digital art can be. The same figure could have been added on to and finished in an infinite amount of ways.

There are multiple paths, multiple possibilities, and all of them can be true at the same time. It can take the concept of original art and basically give it a whole new twist.

Not only is each print an original print, but each variation - like art itself - is an original - even if part is exactly what is included in a different piece.

What is true for art is generally interchangeable with what is true for life.

See Also

• Image Index to Blog Articles - newly expanded to separate Recent and Not for Sale works at Outhouse Studios - Find articles about and from a specific digital painting thumbnail
• What is an Original Print? - thoughtful discussion on subject - seems to draw line at what is created by hand - but then with which tools - digital art uses a mouse or pen pad interfacing with computer - distinctions are tricky
• William Dobell Quotes - his first three quotes are quite akin to my own thinking about art and have included this reference even though today is the first time I recall seeing a representation of his work

Another Perspective on Strawberry Flat Racing

Field Run - original digital art - Dan Beck 2007

I decided I wanted another take on the Flat Racing. I really enjoyed being a witness, but I also wasn’t sure I had said all there was to say on the subject.

The first version and digital painting captured the movement quite well, but the scene around was rather abstract and unknown. Here I have tried to give more of the perspective of looking up the rows of the strawberry fields.

This is a more detailed version of what I had seen. I am not sure if I like it more or less, but it required more time to play with it and more time to convey another aspect … that the other workers weren’t even paying attention to the race of strawberries right next to them.

I often talk of perspective and understanding - both of these takes on the same scene are original art and a unique view - they are just coming from a different perspective albeit both are mine.

See Also

• Related Artwork - some related digital paintings that are set up for purchase of original prints
• A Different Perspective - good article about looking at the positive in life
• A Different Perspective - Dada without Duchamp - for the art historian who really does want to grapple with the questions of original art

original flat racing witness

Flat Racing - original digital art -Dan Beck 2007

Always a good feeling to create a work of art which not only captures what you are trying to communicate, but feels like it is original art - particularly in the sense of standing apart from other peoples’ work.

Not sure which day, yesterday or the day before, that I saw the three workers running with their flats - not so much a competition since they clearly had not started running from the same place - but they were boogieing up the rows of berries. Don’t know if it was a pick and run event or just an impromptu breaking up the monotony of the day.

I don’t think I would personally last too long out there picking berries - long hours bent over picking - but this looked more like a fun race rather than the piece work shuffle. This was camaraderie not rushing to get paid.

I am glad I got to witness the strawberry flat racing - it lifted my spirits too.

See Also

• Base of the Mountain - another light look at strawberry picking - but more the way it looked than the way it is
• Strawberry Ricotta Fool - not sure how my parallel searching arrived here - but just makes you think how far a distance from field to table

and enjoyment of creating

Furrowed Field - digital painting - Dan Beck 2007

When I started adding the patterned colors in the dirt - the green, red, and blue; the contours of the dirt flattened out a little - but I liked the digital painting more and found the addition a nice addition to the enjoyment of creating the painting.

The furrowed field in question did just start getting irrigated and I did see two workers in yellow slickers with wrenches cranking on the water.

There was no posing and no pretense of a world in scale -but hopefully fun nevertheless. The figures do seem a bit cartoon-like to me and the representation of water - I have certainly done a few times.

Since to me, one of the key aspects of creating original art is communicating one’s unique perspective - this piece works. It is neither completely new or completely redone. The prints are always original and always as intended by the artist.

See Also

• Rainy Halloween Harvest - first digital painting with figures - actually painted through the window - on location as it were - and first painted yellow slickers
• Good Communication Skills - not advocating a course here - but good points about communication also apply to the conscious part of art
• Original Prints - definitions and distinctions - understanding what is being offered at Outhouse Studios

controlling what at first seems uncontrollable

My Series 12 - digital painting - original prints - Dan Beck 2004

Simple, colorful, expression - not much in the way of form - not much in terms of movement - but it does have a good feeling nevertheless.

This was not a particularly thoughtful piece. It came from following a concept of being on the cusp between representation and abstract as well as having the smooth colors atop the beige textured background.

Original art, original prints - this has my characteristic comfortable strokes of the mouse - unique to the way I move my hand and wrist - controlling what was seemingly uncontrollable at first.

As a musician, I had to learn how to hear some of the odd scales my fingers had learned how to play - in some ways - this abstract piece is about the same process with painting on the computer.

See Also

• Abstract Art Gallery - other digital paintings from “My Series” as well as other fluid, playful pieces
• Success Express To The Land Of Plenty - while looking for something on the lines of gaining control by being an observer - I found this interesting article
• Fate vs Free Will - again not exactly the angle I was looking for - but a way of integrating determinism and free will in a way I hadn’t really thought of - astrologically

Creating Acceptability

Light Shining Thru - digital painting / original prints - Dan Beck 2005

Categories are not always helpful - they don’t help with treating people like individuals and they don’t always help with understanding what goes into making a particular work of art.

Technology and timing add a dimension to all art that is almost always controversial. The classical guitar was not considered more than a folk instrument until Andres Segovia came along.

Digital art is a bit like that - but perhaps even more confusing. In doing an image search for digital painting, I discovered four different takes on what that means in the first four sites I followed links to.

Whether one starts with a digital photo and manipulates it, simply scans or digitally photographs an image, creates from a blank screen, or combines these in some variation; it seems everyone wants to use the terms.

I don’t think the beat box warrants the appreciation of a real drummer - but it is not without requiring some skill just by setting the speed and rhythm.

I find myself bouncing back and forth about all these things. On the one hand, I respect the discipline and development of the skills to create. On the other hand, I would like to be able to appreciate art just for what it is without regard to how it is created.

See Also

• Original Prints - additional explanation about what makes original art at Outhouse Studios and the category breaking concepts
• New and free prints on images and original pictures - digital prints are not defined at all - altered photos - paintings from scratch? - the artist has clearly not spent the kind of time with this type of work as with his painting and obviously values it much less since he is giving them away with the purchase of his paintings
• Digital Paintings and Photo Illustrations - very different work than mine - but quite fun and the artist distinguishes where his work comes from - I value that - but given my findings - it probably matters little at this point

fresh ideas - part of original art concept - time tells

Morning Light - digital painting - original prints - Dan Beck 2005

Did my quick image roulette thing and found this work of original representation and original art.

The slabs of concrete looking things are to represent the unsightly mall in between my view and the mountains. I frequently, like a many artist, have selective vision … and here again I did as well - choosing this representation.

At the time, I liked it conceptually - thought it kind of fun - but never did more - an indicator in itself.

Love the clouds and sky - the mountains are cool - but it never made it into my real favorites - nevertheless, it is original on many levels and documents the creative process and my own progression as an artist.

Original Prints have been made available for this digital painting and all others in the Figures Art Gallery.

See Also

• Figures Art Gallery - view other works of similar time period and similar themes available for purchase
• Selective Vision: The Brain’s Spin Machine Starts Early: Sciam Observations - liked this article because it is so much about the link between perception and understanding
• Photography Composition Articles: The Magic Of Selective Vision - Photo Composition - liked this article as well for its more conventional look at selective vision - but I of course take exception to photography being more difficult than art - better not to go there if one can help it