Mark Making

 

"BeBop'in Buggy"

This piece is 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide on canvas. I primed the canvas and then put a thick layer of gesso (primer) on the canvas and drew into it while it was still wet. I like the effect, but it is not visible in this image.

I created this piece while listening to Jazz music. Moving with the music was really fun. I enjoyed this one a lot.

"Explosion"
I primed a sheet of canvas about 5.5 feet tall by 3 feet wide and then proceeded to draw on it giving attention to line and the contrast that develops within a dense network of lines.
I call it “Explosion” because the fogged or painted spaces around the center looks like a fist clenching a mass made of lines. The hand is squeezing so tightly that the mass is exploding under the pressure.

"Untitled"

This piece is the largest so far of the mark making series at 4′ wide by 7′ tall.
This piece incorporates graphite, charcoal, conte, india ink, color pencil, and sanguine on paper.

"Frenzy"

This piece entitled “Frenzy” is 2′ wide x 4′ tall.

"Arieal Dogfight in a Tornado"
This one I thought about and saw an “Aerial Dogfight in a Tornado”
What do you think?

"The Monster"

This piece I affectionately entitled: “The Monster”. Unless of course you can come up with a better name for it…

Which way does it go?

 

I don’t know for sure which orientation this one should have.

I’ll put it to a vote…

When it is this orientation I call it “Storm Cloud”

When it is the opposite orientation, I call it “The Chandelier”

An Explosion of Line

Yesterday I went to the print shop to buy some paper. I ended up getting three pieces of medium sized (26″ x 40″) off-white paper. I have been scribbling quite a bit recently in an attempt to create art that is not from my head. Not logical art, not “larger than life”, not necessarily necessary art for any other reason than to appreciate the value of line. I feel I am breaking out of my “box”, the boundaries I have created for myself unconsciously.

Check out my image. I would love some comments if you have any thoughts.

Tribute to Mucha

If you haven’t looked at Mucha’s art recently, it is worth looking at again. I think so at least.

Here is my tribute to him. You can tell that I couldn’t stay away from the figure any longer and had to go back to work on a figurative piece.

This is an oil over gold leaf on canvas painting. Only 16″ x 20″. Small enough to be able to work quickly on.

What do you think?

I obviously add my own style to it. Some people may not even recognize Mucha’s influence, but I’m ok with that.

Here’s a pic of the studio. You get a better idea of how big (or small) 16″ x 20″ is.

Cubist Rain

This is a drawing I spent a few hours on.
Still trying to work on making art without the need for objects, but it isn’t easy for me.

Me in my studio thinking of what to do next....

Do you have any ideas?

Drawing on the wall #1

In the most recent piece, “Drawing #1″, I decided to stick to keeping it simple and just draw… Well 99% at least. Enough to keep calling this a drawing instead of a painting.

I absent mindedly started drawing like I was reading a book. Left to right methodically working away until I had reached half way. Oh, by the way, this is is a 10′ wide by 3′ tall drawing on a single piece of paper. Once it was pointed out to me that I was just drawing a landscape from left to right without much excitement or growth, I jumped over to the right side and started intentionally drawing non-representationally… to the best of my ability that is. I eventually reached a point where I had two completely different drawings on teh same piece of paper and cutting it in half would just be a cop-out. 

My first couple attempts just weren’t enough and I’m not sure that it is finished just yet.

Check it out and tell me what you think. 

I am excited to have a lot to post now!

Cara, my Fiancee, let me borrow her camera and take pictures of my pieces I have been working on.
To see them without any discussion or explanation you can easily do so by going to my Flickr account.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenlursen/
Thanks for reading!

Painting on the Wall #2

One touch of the finger can bring down a castle of dominoes. Victory comes way too easy when you actually do something. The obstacles of the mind are the greatest obstacles of all.

Pain is a life time companion who will never leave your side, even when you take drugs to shut him up. I think good friends could take notes. I know I do. I just try not to be a pain…

This piece was originally entitled “Introduction” but as the journey of the painting carried on, even that introduction that once shown so bright, has faded from glory. Leaving me and my brushes to trudge through the journey toward the next mountain top.

So Carry on my friend, carry onward toward the prize. You know you want it, go for it. I’ll do the same.
Thank you for reading,
Stephen