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coloring our senses

Times Square 2 - digital art - Dan Beck 2008

I felt good about my first take on Times Square - but wanted to try to tackle the feeling again - a little more focus on the TV nature of the advertisements - still the bright color and overwhelming show - but hoping for the shape of the over the top media bombardment that is part of the fabric of life in the big city.

My life is normally situated in a more bucolic west coast - rolling hills - and farmland setting - so this is a departure from what feeds my art generally.  But what an incredible scene - the East Coast in general has such a great mix of old and new - quaint and over the top sensory bombardment - it feels like there are artistic touches everywhere.

In the Salinas Valley I am fed by nature and quick scenes which grab my attention - in the East - I was bombarded by lights - by life - by urban frenzy - and this for someone who lived back east (love that expression) for a major portion of my life.

See Also

• Digital Art - explanation of different meanings and more about what it means at Outhouse Studios
• Beautification or … the death of Times Square Eye Candy - stumbled upon this discussion about banning advertisement in San Paulo and a question of when have we gone too far…

same and new reaction

Salinas Valley 4 - digital painting - image for a song - “Reaction to the Sun”

I believe I wrote this song in the Spring of 2006 - we had weeks and weeks of overcast and winter rain - and the sun came out for a glorious few days - maybe even a week - and everyone seemed so much happier - whether inside or out -

I know I celebrated with an unplanned and impromptu sunburn - and heat rash - which I thought - a “reaction to the sun” and proceeded to write the song.

In truth, I think it is my own version of George Harrison’s / Beatles - “Here Comes the Sun” - because it is the same concept were it not for the new play on words and a completely different melody and chord structure - but this undoubtedlly is borrowed as well -

because we know there is nothing completely new under the sun.

Listen or View

• Reaction to the Sun - recorded Spring 2007 - from  Red Eye Recordings - music, lyrics, performance, recording - Dan Beck | 1danband - Alone & Contageous
• Here Comes the Sun - video of George Harrison performance of (just slightly more famous) song

previous view of strawberry harvesting captures today

Harvest Depth - digital painting / art prints - Dan Beck 2006

It is most difficult to keep writing while in the throws of moving - even more difficult to keep painting. It is fogged in today and the day is kind of monotone. There are plenty of workers out this morning picking berries in a day that I assume was very similar to the scene above - painted last year.

When I created this digital painting - it was a combination of commentary on the orange flags - indicating spraying had been done - and the likeness of the workers and the fields and how in sync it all seemed - beautiful and a little painful - all at the same time.

The work is peaceful, a tad monotonous, and a little uncomfortable. This digital art is successful I think at capturing the feeling of the Salinas valley - and the labor which makes our food supply available.

See Also

• What’s in an apple? Buying organic, healthful produce becomes increasingly complicated - thoughtful Commentary on our Food Supply, labor supply, hidden facts, etc.
• Harvest Depth - availability of original prints for above digital art painting

archetypal, fresh, world of its own - intentional multiple prints

Salinas Valley 1 - digital painting - original prints - Dan Beck 2003

Much of my current writing focus is about the distinctions of original art. Though this is not all that recent of a piece, I felt and still feel that I hit an original note or interpretation when I created this digital painting.

I had never treated the row crops in such a fashion and had never treated the undulating crisscrossing fields in such a fashion. It is geometric, openly computeristic, but playful, childlike and strong.

It is its own world - but it also conjures up the Salinas Valley. There is nowhere else I have been which has this feeling. It is special because it does that - but perhaps too fantastical to those who have not been here.

Nevertheless, it was original at the time - remains original as the archetype - and each of its art prints is original.

For a long time, it was also the first image one would see on the Outhouse Studios website and therefore remains in the above header banner.

See Also

• Original Prints - what makes and original print and why it is the case at Outhouse Studios
• Overview of Monterey County Agriculture - from the historical society - overview of past and area - a few photos here and there

drive by landscape - fields, sky, and texture

Valley Colors - digital painting - Dan Beck 2007

There is a spot which this is loosely based on - I drive by it fairly regularly and it has a good view of the valley extending to the Santa Lucia Mountains and Mount Toro.

Like a lot of my work, it is more of a drive by impression - I saw color, and a few barns or houses, a few trees - but mostly the colors of sky and fields.

This is not a piece which knocked me over when I was finished - I wasn’t really sure about it - but there are many things I like: the short field growth in the front, the way the cloud twists like a ribbon, and the beautiful texture in the green field.

My eyes and mind move around the landscape well - so I guess I did ok.

Like all but a couple of my pieces - I started with a blank page and painted and created the digital painting by the strokes of a mouse.

See Also

• Big Valley 1 - another digital painting taken from an impression of pretty much the same spot

• UC Vegetable Research & Information Center - several good images of Salinas Valley plus some information about agriculture

• From the ground up - an image of the Salinas Valley brought me to this site - good article about small organic growing in the area and the group ALBA