This week's creative act involved painting on a real canvas - something I don't recall doing in a very long time.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Journal 9 - Week of November 16th
This week's creative act involved painting on a real canvas - something I don't recall doing in a very long time.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Journal 8 - Week of November 2nd
For this week's creative act and reflection, I created a mix-c.d for my friend.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Journal 7 - Week of Monday October 26th.
Rob Phillips
FA 100
Creative Being
Research Assignment
Jackson Pollock stood at the centre of what became known as one of the first specifically American art movements, Abstract Expressionism. Due to his sensitive nature and exposure to a number of artistic styles at an early age, his art inevitably became a collision of expressionism and traditional flavors. Though he encountered many obstacles, he still managed to define and ignite an artistic movement.
Understanding why Pollock was the central force of such a movement is easy when you consider the new concepts that he introduced to both the surrealist and expressionist styles of his era. Pollock used colour and form solely for their sensory and emotional impact. He also employed innovative techniques in his artistic process to achieve deliberately abstract outcomes, which came to realize themselves as what we now refer to as Abstract Expressionism. He employed and developed various new techniques including the dripping of paint onto a canvas laid flat out on a floor, and the use of less conventional painting tools and methods to elicit a particular response from his audience. In doing so, he distinguished himself from both the surrealist and expressionist.
“On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more a part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting. This is akin to the method of the Indian sand painters of the West.”
- Jackson Pollock - Interviews, Articles and Reviews (Pg. 17)(1)
What likely contributed to the development of Pollock’s creative force in the painting world, would have to be his sensitive and perceptive character. He was exposed at an early age to “American Indian Art” and it was at that time that he became particularly inspired by a collection of various sand paintings originating from the region of the western United States. He studied at the Arts Student League in New York City, beginning early at age 17(2). One of his most influential professors, the regionalist New York based painter Thomas Hart Benton exposed him to aspects of surrealism that later influenced his unique take on expressionism (eventually leading to the development of Abstract Expressionism). He became addicted to alcohol use at a young age likely as a means of self medication for the effects of the extreme sensitivity he had to his surroundings. He used it as a way to calm his anxiety and null the intensity of his emotions.
His creative approach was met with resistance as it was not easily understood, did not easily fit into either the surrealist or expressionist movements of the time and therefore had no particular niche. This only further aggravated his struggle with alcoholism and depression that he experienced in his daily life. He was ostracized for his creative style and was accused by many in his field of “destroying the easel picture” with his mural art and his “drip/splash” approach (Jackson Pollock – Interviews, Articles and Reviews [pg. 10])(3), his drip technique was even referred to by Yale philosophy professor Theodore Green as a “pleasant design for a neck-tie (Pg.11)(4).”
Citations:
- Pepe Karmel. Jackson Pollock: Interviews, Articles and Reviews. (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1999.)
- B.H. Friedman. Jackson Pollock: Energy Made Visible. (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1972.)
- Pepe Karmel. Jackson Pollock: Interviews, Articles and Reviews. (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1999.)
- Pepe Karmel. Jackson Pollock: Interviews, Articles and Reviews. (New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1999.)
Bibliography:
- Friedman, B.H. Jackson Pollock: Energy Made Visible. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1972.
- Karmel, Pepe. Jackson Pollock: Interviews, Articles and Reviews. New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1999.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Journal 6 - Week of October 19th
I finally sat down and wrote a song.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Journal 5 - Week of October 12th
This week's creative act strayed away from the norm, atleast for myself. As music is my most natural form of expression, I felt I needed to do something different. I decided to create something visual as apposed to audible. And I found the act was quite liberating.
I wanted to sketch something I felt represented the University life. What image would be in my mind 20 years down the road when I think of my college days?
It wasn't difficult to choose. When I walk out of the Maclauren building (I think thats wrong), I get a great view of our library. Its a stunning shot. Something about its towering stature ruling over the quad makes me very content. And at night time, it has an even bigger effect. The lights make it feel like a beacon to the poor soul's trying to get in and get some books before it closes.
First off, the sketch was done from memory. I took a mental photo and then went inside and did my drawing. Interesting thoughts came into my head as pencil went to paper.
I found myself erasing a lot. Do great artist erase a lot? I feel like when ever I watch that show on t.v with the creepy guy who talks as he paints, he never makes a mistake - its a work of art each time. Is that from hours and hours of practice, or was he just born that way?
I found I was my own worst enemy.
"Thats doesn't look right" and "what kind of tree is that!?"
I was very critical of my sketch. My library looks more like the White House.
There were some proportion problems. For what ever reason, this led me to think about the last time I drew.
Grade school!
This reminded me of some of the first readings we were assigned. Especially the one on the state of the education system. How come art isn't more a part of the POST secondary institution as well? Why aren't we asked to sketch our graphs, molecules and ecosystems?
Are we really at a turning point like Maslow believes?
Friday, October 9, 2009
Journal 4 - Week of October 5th
My number is up. I got sick this week.
Whenever I get sick and take time away from school and practicing my instrument, I feel down right lousy. Lousy 'cause I'm sick and lousy 'cause I can't grow as a musician. Its amazing how much of an "addiction" creativity can be. I'm definitely itchin' to get back to it. Back to the practice room, back to the orchestra. But hey, I'm doing the right thing by staying home right?
My creative act was making fiber fun.
I ate an apple, only this time I dunked it in penut butter.
Our guest lecturer Dr. Harding showed the class works of art from hundreds of years ago. They were all just astounding. Its interersting how mankind channels its creativity. Creativity gave us "David", the atom bomb - and made fiber fun.
Journal 3 - Week of the 28th
I quite enjoyed Peter's lecture. I think it was the best yet.
The friday of this week my band performed at Lucky bar in downtown Victoria. It was the first gig we've had since we got back this school year, and it went quite well. Our musicianship was at a new level, our energy was high and there was a solid crowd in front of us. After this gig, perhaps the morning after, I asked myself why things seemed to go so well. We played better than we ever have before.
I believe it is because of two main factors:
1. We have been rehearsing 2-3 times a week, which is more than we rehearsed last year.
2. More importantly, the members of the band have all grown a little older and a little wiser, and I feel I'm starting to hear this in the band's sound.
It brings into focus the amount of rehearsal and maturing it takes to "make it" in the music business. Being a professional artist is not easy. It takes 10,000 hours of rehearsal and motivation to never give up. But then again, isn't this a requirement of being great at anything?
Check out my bands mypsace!!!
http://www.myspace.com/thenovamatics