Wander

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0884 Wander

My wandering pen, this is the pen as it was in ArtRage 2, next few have the button clicked to make it blacker.

#0876

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#0876

Late last night I pushed myself to let something emerge. The push was against simple exhaustion, it was late, I was tired and yet I wanted to get something out. I often do that, “one more!” The result looks quite harmonious to me. That is surprising, it felt like a battle and I called it Overwrought. It has no name now.

Earth Cross

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0875 Earth Cross

While it is satisfying to pursue this theme, I am conflicted. It is hard to be simple, its so minimalist.

There is a relationship in crosses. A cross is nothing if not a relationship. Relationships are not that simple.

There is the battle.

Some reflections quotes from artists follow.

~

Julian Dashper.

I saw the exhibition in the Christchurch Art Gallery recently. All new to me. I found it funny! To see the drum kit in front of the series of Hotrere circles with the name on it: The Hoteries, as if it were the Beatles… and then the same for all the other great New Zealand artists was a hoot! His work with circles and the very simple ones he does especially are of interest as I pursue these crosses.

I notice that circles recur often in your work, not only with your-
records but also in your repeated use of drumheads and the (0)
paintings. ‘What is the significance of circles for you?

I first started working with circles circa (smile out loud) 1992.
Another older artist had suggested to me that a circle was really the
hardest shape to work with as it totally dictated itself. It’s
difficult to paint a budgie inside a circle and for it
still to look good, I guess. I just immediately thought, `Gosh a
painting that makes itself’, and rushed out and bought a compass.
Circles also echo ideas in nature for me, and you can’t get more
perfect than that (nature, I mean). Actually, the thing is, Peter,
every artist has to start somewhere and I figure a circle is as good a
place as a railway station.

b.150 Bulletin of the Christchurch Art Gallery

To the Unknown New Zealander

Peter Vangioni talks to Julian Dashper

Form

I had a lovely conversation with Christine, a friend. After I’d been chatting about Thousand Sketches for a while she reflected back I had a fascination with form.

She is right, I had never seen that so sharply. I am more fascinated by the form than the content. I like the shape of a sonnet. I’ll sketch it now!

#0854_sonnet
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The canvas is a form. The blog is a form. The limited edition print is a form. (for all the artificial limitation in the digital age) .

Form is a wondrous thing. The medium is the message.

~

Shakespeare follows:

Continue reading “Form”

Paradox

In two separate conversations recently the same ideas cropped up. That a core value of art is that it is directly from the self. And art is good if it is innovative, and taps into the zeitgeist of the now. Maybe there moments when those two seemingly opposite aspects come together. They need to be hovering close together.

#0853 Paradox
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Circles & syncronicity

#0848 Circles
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Early hours. One more sketch – anything, before I sleep. I’ll doodle something.

But it does not work like that. I am in the midst of an exploration. I have been to New York. The doodle I swear is just a doodle. Yet there is synchronicity here. I did this a few days ago. I had a quick browse in a book on styles of art, and looked up Frank Stella, as I am just starting a chapter on him in Henry Geldzahler’s book. And there it was, my own doodle! It does give me a a good feeling, my recapitualtion is just about up to my childhood. Actually I think I am getting well into the sixties with the sketches, and the project as a whole – I think – is late 2007.

Can’t find it online. Will find it though & post a picture here. Now I want this book.

Later Monday, 24 December, 2007 :

image

And while looking at my image I just had to fiddle with it. Removed background – looks better IMO. It is on show: here.

Later: Friday, 25 July, 2008

And now look here, Lisa Rivas has made a stamp.

You Googled #0844 Green

#0844 Green
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This sketch is one element of in the Thousand Sketches project. Sketches are only the start of it!

Completing the loop. (as my friend Dan called it)

So, maybe it is 2013. You have this print. You saw the number and the name: #0844 Green on it. And you read that line: Talk about green! And you got it! Google (to use that old fashioned gerund) “#0844 Green” and here you are. And being 2013, there are comments here, people talking about green.

And there is one thing you can say about green, unquestionable, green is good.