What's shakin’ at Rodzart 11-22-2009

Hi Folks. I hope everyone has had a good week.

We had a pretty good week in the studio. One painting finished, a couple more almost done, and one started. The weather was absolutely beautiful in Valrico this week. I think I only even turned the fan on once. Not too bad at all.

The painting I've finished this week was Composition 962:

The thought behind this painting was simply that, every object in the universe can be depicted using a handful of basic shapes, square, rectangle, cone, cylinder, cube, whatever. So I thought it might be interesting to see what kind of compositions I can make out of these shapes. I had a suggestion that maybe I should repeat this image on a black canvas, which would be interesting, and possible one as a grisalle, which I think might be kinda cool.

It hadn't occurred to me at the time that I was moving into suprematism, but in fact I guess I have. I did a quick check on Kazimir Malevich just to be sure that I'm not inadvertently plagiarizing anything, and so far I don't think I am. But, from what I've seen so far, Suprematism is an interesting movement so I'm going to have a much longer look at it. To be honest, other than Kandinsky, I haven't studied too many Russian artists.

I do look at a lot of artistic movements and genres, I take what I like and leave the rest. So I guess what I come up with in the end is my own unique way of looking at existence. I guess we'll call it Rodzism. I hope, that when people look at my art they do the same thing...take what you like and leave the rest. If you don't like any of it, well that's OK too, the world will keep turning.

Don't forget that I'm on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, so
if anybody wants to Friend or follow me on any of those sites, feel free,
everyone is welcome.

That's about it for this week folks, maybe next week I'll give you my chili recipe,
or maybe not.


Here’s some links to remember:

For original paintings, just email me at info@rodzart.com
For original paintings sold at auction go to:
http://www.artbyus.com/auctions.php?a=6&b=85

Original works on paper can also be purchased at:
http://rodzart.etsy.com

To buy prints on paper or canvas, mouse pads, mugs, refrigerator magnets, puzzles, etc. check out:
http://rodzart2.deviantart.com/gallery/

I’m also on Twitter [link],
Myspace [link] and
Facebook [link]


I hope everyone has a peaceful and prosperous week.

Thanks!!

Rod

What's shakin’ at Rodzart 11-15-2009

Hi Folks. I hope everyone has had a good week.

Well, I'm glad to say that summer has finally loosened it's grip on us, and the
temperatures have moderated significantly. We had a really pleasant week in the
studio, and I'm actually able to write this while sitting on the back deck today.

I've finished two paintings over the past week or so,he first one is Expression 960:

This painting is another expression of fall colors. I really miss fall up north
so I guess that's why I've used those colors so much recently.

The other is a Christmas 2009:

This painting was done as the the cover to our Christmas cards this year; yes
I still call it Christmas; and since I've gotten a very good response from
everyone who's seen it so far, I've decided to make it available on my print on
demand sites. So, if you want to use it for greeting cards, or maybe get a small
print, just log into one of my sites and go for it.

Now, if anyone is offended by my use of the word Christmas, that's just too bad.
I'm not a Christian [Buddhist], but I still think that Christmas is a cool time
of the year, and despite the corporations best efforts, people still seem to be
nicer to each other this time of year. What could be wrong with that?

I've got a couple of new projects beginning to shape, one involves basic shapes,
and the other letters of the alphabet. I can't say too much about them right
now since they're still coming together, but hopefully I'll have a painting or
two to show you in the next couple of weeks.

I hope by now that everyone knows that I'm on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, so
if anybody wants to Friend or follow me on any of those sites, feel free,
everyone is welcome.


That's about it for this week folks, maybe next week I'll give you my chili recipe,
or maybe not.


Here’s some links to remember:

For original paintings, just email me at info@rodzart.com
For original paintings sold at auction go to:
http://www.artbyus.com/auctions.php?a=6&b=85

Original works on paper can also be purchased at:
http://rodzart.etsy.com


I’m also on Twitter [link],
Myspace [link] and
Facebook [link]


I hope everyone has a peaceful and prosperous week.

Thanks!!

Rod

What's shakin’ at Rodzart 10-24-2009

Hi Folks. I hope everyone has had a good week.

Well, happy-happy joy-joy I actually did get two paintings finished last week, with
one more still drying. The first one is Composition 958:

This painting actually started out to be the image for our Christmas cards, but it
sorta went astray.
The other is a threesome:

which should be obvious when you look at it.

I want to add a farewell to Soupy Sales, who left us this week. Most of you probably have
no idea who he was, or who “Whitefang” and “Blacktooth” are, and that's too bad.
I remember “Breakfast with Soupy” many mornings before school. The world will be lesser
for the lack of the Soupy Shuffle.

Last week I said I'd talk a little about how I compose a painting, so here we go.

Most of the time my paintings are planned in advance. A good example of that would be
“Expression 923”
which I did last summer. First I decided that this would be a horizontally oriented
(Landscape) painting on a rectangular canvas. The next choice was very easy since
the only rectangular canvas I had was 16 X 20. These days incidentally, I'm trying
to go to 18 X 24 when I can.

OK, now that I've got a canvas, what background tone do I want. In this case I chose to
go with a gray canvas, as opposed to say a black or a white canvas, since I wanted
to have some contrast with the colors I used in the painting.

The painting I had in mind was what I call a line painting, since its made by building up a
pattern of lines of paint. You can call it drip, dribble, splat to whatever.
From that point the application of the paint was simply a matter of applying the colors
I'd planned on in the correct sequence in order to get the effect I wanted.

Of course, not every painting goes as planned. That's when you have to make the choice of
going with the painting, or tossing it out and starting over. Personally I do both on a
pretty regular basis.

So, that's how it's done. It's not exactly rocket science, but it's not as easy
as it sounds either.

That's about it for this week folks, maybe next week I'll give you my chili recipe,
or maybe not.


He ’s some links to remember:

For original paintings, just email me at info@rodzart.com
For original paintings sold at auction go to:
http://www.artbyus.com/auctions.php?a=6&b=85

Original works on paper can also be purchased at:
http://rodzart.etsy.com

I’m also on Twitter [link],
Myspace [link] and
Facebook [link]


I hope everyone has a peaceful and prosperous week.

Thanks!!

Rod

What's shakin’ at Rodzart 10-17-2009

Hi Folks. I hope everyone has had a good week.

Well, I'm afraid those two paintings I was talking about last week won't be getting posted
to the net after all. After finishing them and considering them for a while, I decided that
they need to go on the dud stack. This really does happen fairly regularly to most artists.
A painting can look great on the easel, but when you look at it later it just ain't makin' it.
Probably a third of my work doesn't make the cut this way. But, ya never know till ya try it.
In the case of the two paintings in question, I still like the concept, but I really need
to rethink the execution. So, I'll strip the canvas off the stretchers, put some new canvas
on, prime it, and I'll give them both another try. I'll let you know how it goes.


Last week I said I'd pontificate some more on non-representational art, so here we go.

First, art is for everyone. There is no “right art” or “wrong art”. No one is qualified
to decide what art should be seen by others.

Second, if it's art to you, then it's art. It may not necessarily be seen as art by everyone
else, but that doesn't matter. If you want to see something as art, then it's art.
No one is qualified to decide what art is to you. That's totally your choice.

Third, all choices in art eventually come down to a like-don't like choice. If you like it
support it, if you don't like it, then ignore it. No one is qualified to suppress art.

Fourth, and this is a biggie, never, never, should any sentient being be harmed in the
name of art. Now, this is a universal rule that applies not just to art but to life in general.
It is always wrong to wantonly harm sentient life. There can be no excuse for cruelty.

Ok, now that I've got that settled, on to non-representational art. I went through the
four points above though, because they often do apply to non-representational art.

Before I go any further though, please remember that I speak only for myself.

So whats the point of art in the first place? To me, the purpose of art is to evoke some
sort of response in the viewer. That response can be anything from euphoria to
projectile vomiting, but if there's no response from the viewer, then the art in question
has not been particularly successful. Now everyone will not respond to the same piece of art
in the same way. Everybody's different. That's what makes this form of art so interesting.

In non-representational art we use shapes and colors to evoke a response, rather than
images of things. Certain shapes and colors create different feelings, and for every person
those feelings will be different. Personally, most of the time I like to make people feel good,
so that's affects my choice of colors or shapes. Most of the time my paintings are composed
in advance, with a series of sketches to help define what it is I want to show, and how I can
combine shapes and colors to accomplish that. Sometimes however, I just paint what I
feel at the time.

That's it for now. Next week I'll talk about how I compose a painting, and how I choose what
shapes and colors I'll use, do achieve a desired effect.


He ’s some links to remember:

For original paintings, just email me at info@rodzart.com
For original paintings sold at auction go to:
http://www.artbyus.com/auctions.php?a=6&b=85

Original works on paper can also be purchased at:
http://rodzart.etsy.com


I’m also on Twitter [link],
Myspace [link] and
Facebook [link]


I hope everyone has a peaceful and prosperous week.

Thanks!!

Rod

What's shakin’ at Rodzart 10-10-2009

Hi Folks. I hope everyone has had a good week.

Sorry about missing the blog last week. I had a bunch of medical related stuff, so there
really wasn't much to talk about.

Now for this week. I did finish three paintings this week. Two are still drying so I'll get
them photographed and posted for you next week. The other is Expression 957
It's been so hot this past week than the paint, both acrylic and oil are
really taking a long time to dry.

On a happy note, Fella's Mom came home from the hospital last Tuesday, and they were reunited.
We'll miss the little guy in the studio, but he's got a bigger responsibility right now.

Every one in a while I like to visit my philosophy on art in general, since it does have an
influence in my work.
I feel, personally, that there is no good or bad art, there is simply art you like, or art you don't like. For the art you like, support it. For the art you don't like, ignore it.
No one is “qualified” to force their opinions on other people, I don't care how many degrees they have.

There's a lot of work out there which; I may not care for the subject matter; but I can find something to admire in the execution.
A good example might be what's called lowbrow art. While, sometimes I may not care for the subject matter, I can admire the magnificent pen and ink work. Life's just too short to let some snooty ahhhteest tell you whats good or bad. Decide for yourself.

Fortunately, the “information age” has given us all access to art that we would never have had before.
We're not totally dependent on galleries and museums to decide what we should see anymore.
People have direct access to thousands of self-representing artists who would otherwise be
ignored by the “art establishment”. So, if you're looking for art, try some of the sites I list on this blog. Sure, I want you to buy my work, but if you don't see anything of mine that you like, look around the sites a little. There's a lot of really good art out there to be had.

While we're on the subject though, starving dogs is NOT ART, cutting cows in half is NOT ART; that is simply sadism. Wantonly harming any sentient being is wrong; trying to call it art is an insult to all Artists and just plain wrong.

Looks like I've gotten my two-cents in for this week, next week I'll pontificate more on non-representational art.

He ’s some links to remember:

For original paintings, just email me at info@rodzart.com
For original paintings sold at auction go to:
http://www.artbyus.com/auctions.php?a=6&b=85

To buy prints on paper or canvas, mouse pads, mugs, refrigerator magnets, puzzles, etc. check out:
http://rodzart2.deviantart.com/gallery/

I’m also on Twitter [link],
Myspace [link] and
Facebook [link]


I hope everyone has a peaceful and prosperous week.

Thanks!!

Rod