StoneyGround Studio

New brushes and a new work started

On the drawing board today

I started this drawing in the summer and have been working on it over the past couple of days.

Still in progress

Detail

Watercolour setup

Drawings in progress

 

 

I thought this drawing was finished, but I am adding more detail. See the 2 images below. 

In progress - it is getting richer and richer with detail.

Detail 

 

 

In progress

Detail

 

VIEWS OF DRAWING TABLE

Criticizing Art

I just finished a 12-week course titled "Critical Studies 1" at the Vancouver Island School of Art (VISA) in Victoria, BC.

 This course introduces students to approaches and methodologies of visual literacy as they pertain to Western art. Focus is on studying a range of artworks, both historical and contemporary, through slide lectures, field trips, readings and discussion. Students develop the tools to analyze art works in aesthetic terms as well as understand the importance of social and historical context. 

This intensive studies course was taught by Wendy Welch  the Director of VISAwho is always well prepared and  knowledgeable on contemporary art issues. Wendy created an excellent program.

Textbook: Criticizing Art by Terry Barrett (1999 or later) 

Second Edition
  

Third Edition 

Amazon.ca describes the book: "Criticizing Art: Understanding the Contemporary takes readers inside the world of contemporary art and shows them how to think, write, and talk about art. Throughout, the principles of art criticism are presented and applied to contemporary forms of American art giving students of art and art history a solid framework for critically considering contemporary art through describing, interpreting, evaluating, and theorizing".

Throughout the 12 weeks we discussed art, artists, critics, read reviews, viewed many slide shows and videos. We developed an understanding of subjective responses to art work; went on 2 field trips to local galleries; studied and discussed Modernism vs. Postmodernism; looked at the many types of contemporary criticism such as: Marxist, Psychoanalytic, Feminist Aesthetics, Multicultural Aesthetics and Postcolonialism criticism.

We read and discussed not only the chapters from the book "Criticizing Art" but also supplemental readings posted on our class blog; discussed how to develop powers of observation; how to see and describe what one is looking at, talked about formal considerations; how to interpret art;  how to write about looking at a work of art using description, interpretation and judgemnet.. 

During one class local poet Carla Funk joined us for an hour talking about "Ekphrastic writing"...the creation of original poetry and prose in response to works of visual art. Carla viewed  "Art Incognito"  a fundraising art show held in September at VISA, at that time she selected 6 works of art for inspiration and used ekphrastic writing to create poems that she read to us. It was an excellent lecture and a real delight to see images of the paintings projected on the screen as she read her poetic responses to each painting.

We had a very interesting assignment from Wendy in response to this lecture; having to choose from one of two long poems. "The Man with the Blue Guitar" by Wallace Stevens  based on the painting "The Old Guitarist" by Picasso, or "Self portrait in a Convex Mirror" by John Ashbery, based on the painting by 16th century painter and art historian Giorgio Vasari. Our assignment was to read and analyze the poem based on certain criteria. What a learning experience that was!

This was an excellent class and I look forward to "Critical Studies 2" which is described this way in VISA's program guide:

In the second part of this course, students engage in a more conceptual and philosophical discourse surrounding visual culture, in particular, how it pertains to contemporary art. Slide lectures, readings, field trips and discussions introduce students to a more thorough understanding of the art world and the economic and social forces that shape visual art today. While looking at art is a fundamental part of this course, students are also challenged to develop a broader understanding of the way contemporary artwork relates to language, history and politics. Textbook: Artists, Critics, Context: Readings in and around American Art Since 1945 by Paul F. Fabozzi. 

New drawing underway

I am currently working on this drawing with pencil and watercolour.

Stage 2

Stage 3

 

Jim Gordaneer at Bartlett Gallery

The Bartlett Gallery in Alton, Ontario is showing the works of Jim Gordaneer

from October 2 to October 23, 2011

 

Modernism and Postmodernism

I am currently taking a class in "Critical Studies" at VISA (Vancouver Island School of Art) with Wendy Welch. Topics included are: What is art criticism? Modernism vs. Postmodernism. Types and Forms of Contemporary Criticism  (Description, Interpretation, Judging.) Art Writing and Critiquing Criticism.

The text book that we are reading for the course is "Criticizing Art" by Terry Barrett

This week we are reading aboaut modernism and postmodernism. Here are three links to websistes that have interesting writings on the subject. The Roots of Modernism     Modernist Painting by Clement Greenberg   Post Modernism by Fredric Jameson

I found all three articles fascinating. Most people might think Modernism started in the '40' or 50's when in fact it started more than a hundred years before. Check out these articles for a good read and insight into this topic.

 

 

"Art in the Twenty-First Century"

Artists and episodes available online for free viewing.

Produced by PBS - they write that “Art in the Twenty-First Century” is the only series on television to focus exclusively on contemporary visual art and artists in the United States, and it uses the medium of television to provide an experience of the visual arts that goes far beyond a gallery visit. Fascinating and intimate footage allows the viewer to observe the artists at work, watch their process as they transform inspiration into art, and hear their thoughts as they grapple with the physical and visual challenges of achieving their artistic visions. 

To date, 86 feature artists in the series demonstrate the breadth of artistic practice in the United States today. Each one-hour program is loosely organized around a theme helps audiences analyze, compare and juxtapose the artists profiled. One of my favourite programs is Julie Mehretu. Click here to go to there website: art21videos

 Below is a 3 minute sneak-peek video from a much longer video on William Kentridge on the art21 website.

    

Also visit the art:21 blog that talks about current art shows, artists and related subjects. For example. "Take the Long Way Home: Working in a series" 

New drawing in progress

 
Beginning stages of  a drawing with watercolour (22 x30") -  I will post the various stages as it progresses.