A self portrait in art expresses the artist transition in time. Digital Memoir is a short recollection aimed at distilling one monumental portrayal, into four smaller particles. I want to tell you about my journey as a creative individual in relation to Fine Art practice. In light of certain provocations which have prompted specific public reactions. Furthermore, I will pontificate about the value of receiving an art education. Relative to challenges, post art school graduation.
These obstacles represent what I call today “The End Of Irony” assemblage, poured into meaning.
A thematic concept culled between contemporary art and literary sources.
“No one is forcing you to become an artist.”
–Cultural Critique
The value proposition to understand is asking a butterfly if she can divorce herself from its wings.
The First Particle: In The Beginning
During high school I discovered the School of Visual Arts catalog and this became my quintessential “eureka” moment in life. In one short, artistically fueled dose of adrenaline, a world of endless possibilities suddenly became available. The catalog held a detailed version of the undergraduate curricula for the Fine Arts department. Printed in all its glorious detail, anatomy, linear composition, color theory, oil painting, figurative painting, life drawing and watercolor classes inspired me to say; …
“This is what I want to do for the rest of my life”
Drawing has always been a fundamental form of artistic communication, a way to bridge my cogent inner voice. Doodling as a child was an irrepressible need I had. A solitary activity, drawing is a graphic expression between contour lines and a two dimensional flat surface. Later, as a restless teenage art dork, the act of drawing transformed. Lines took shape and color became compositions, a theater for expressing emotions as an arena for action.
In Mr. Drawgin’s seventh period art class, I began tracing contour lines from comic books. Additionally, I discovered French Impressionism in the library. The Impressionists had rejected many of the traditional conventions taught in the art academies of their time. Their artwork took on a subjective nature to the paintings, forgoing the traditional forms to create a naturalistic likeness of the subject. The Impressionist style was characterized by rough-and-ready brush strokes with an experimental use of color.
As a youngster, I wanted my visual art to be a “wild beast”, in a painterly form and called “crazy” like descriptions of the impasto brush strokes by Monet and Pissarro. Back then, a dear uncle who is a master illustrator and craftsman gave me a collection of comic book drawings. In preparation for art college, I used the books as inspiration and began drawing and painting daily. The creative spirit does not have a schedule timetable, rather it flows like a wave. People have to be lucky to find passion in life, and maybe you’ll find inspiration at an early age, as I did.
In retrospect art picked me, in one fundamental loop I had no choice in the matter. In deciding to begin drawing daily, a metaphoric domino effect began and has continue to roll over these decades. Along the way, friendships grew and have become valuable as air and water. Later on adopting a career as a web designer/generalist has allow me the opportunity to focus on my process as a visual artist while supporting myself as well.
Gallery Exhibit |
Retrospective Works On Paper
Artist Statement
The following art galleries represent a volume of twelve portfolios featuring works on paper drawings by DSC. These drawings date back between 1998-2002, while the artist was in art school at Parsons. Line, shape, color & a rare form of expressionism are embedded with the smaller pieces on view. The drawings where executed on tiny 8.5″x11″in stationary paper, thus expressing the artist shyness of personality while in certain social situations. However, they are masterfully crafted as perhaps one of the most original and rare drawings to have come from this period in contemporary art. During a time where artist such as John Currin, Elizabeth Payton & Luc Tuymans where painting the external world. Using glamour, contemporary pop & disillusion as visual cues. DSC was invoking the language behind self expression and inner emotions using 18th Century Expressionism as a powerful vehicle of communication within his art practice.
German Expressionism was grounded in two artist groups. Die Brucke (the bridge) and Der Balue (the blue rider) The group grew in number, with notable members including Emil Nolde, Max Pechstein, and Kees van Dongen. They believed that art could express the truth of the human condition. Their stark aesthetic had a fierce expressive power, both in paintings and drawing which in palette mirror the bright non-naturalism of Fauvism in art history.
The emotion-laden graphic work of Ed Munch was an important inspiration for DSC as the artist describes:
“Drawing in those days was a way of enchanting the old ghost of German Expressionism
in a way that felt original and expressive for me”
One can see the clear influence on German Expressionism and Symbolism like Munch and Gauguin within the masterful drawings of DSC. Connecting the history behind Post-Impressionism via Van Gogh to the contemporary corporeal. That is to create art without having a justifiable ROI is the roadmap for some Contemporary artist these days.
Anatomy + Form | Art Gallery Volume One
Title: Self Discovery, Medium:Pen on stationary paper 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Self Discovery, Medium:Pen on stationary paper 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Nude Study, Medium:Pen & brush on water color paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Drawing On Pastel, Medium:Charcoal on stationary paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Anatomy Study, Medium:Charcoal on stationary paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Anatomy Figure Drawing, Medium:Color pencils on stationary paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Figures In Motion, Medium:Color pencils on stationary paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Forms, Medium:Graphite Pencils on stationary paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Anatomical Discrepancy, Medium:Graphite Pencils on stationary paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Self Discovery, Medium: Mix Media on stationary paper, 8.5″x11″ in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Figuration Stand Medium:Pen on stationary paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Form2, Medium:Graphite Pencil on stationary paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Collage, Medium:Mix media on pastel paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Drawing On Pastel Female Medium:Graphite Pencil on pastel paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Drawing On Pastel Female Medium:Graphite Pencil on pastel paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Form2 Medium:Graphite Pencil on pastel paper, 8.5x11in by DSC_1998-2002
Women Studies | Volume Two
Title: Yellow Paster, Medium: Charcoal stick on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Blue Stand, Medium: Mix media on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Yellow Paster, Medium: Charcoal stick on stationary paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Leg Study, Medium: Mix media on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Sitting Nude, Medium: Charcoal Stick on stationary paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Post-DeKooning, Medium: Charcoal stick on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Leg Study, Medium: Charcoal stick on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Leg Study, Medium: Charcoal stick on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Anatomy Study, Medium: Graphite pencil on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Anatomy Study, Medium: Graphite pencil on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Color Forms1, Medium: Graphite pencil on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Color Forms2, Medium: Graphite pencil on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
Title: Color Form3, Medium: Graphite pencil on pastel paper, 8.5×11 in, by DSC 1998_2002
The Portraits | Volume Three
Title: Martin, Medium:Graphite pencil on stationary paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Retro Selfie 1998, Medium:Graphite pencil on stationary paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Cubism, Medium:Graphite pencil on stationary paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Jacob, Medium:Graphite pencil on stationary paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Self Portrait, Medium:Graphite pencil on stationary color paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Korova Milk Bar, Medium:Graphite pencil on stationary color paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: JackOMetti, Medium:Graphite pencil on stationary paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Apex76, Medium:Mix Media on color paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Self Portrait Monday, Medium:Graphite color pencil on stationary color color paper paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Self Portrait Tuesday, Medium:Graphite color pencil on stationary color color paper paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Self Portrait Wednesday, Medium:Graphite color pencil on stationary color color paper paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Self Portrait Thursday, Medium:Graphite color pencil on stationary color color paper paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Self Portrait Friday, Medium:Graphite color pencil on stationary color color paper paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Apex76, Medium:Graphite color pencil on stationary color color paper paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: John Angeline, Medium:Graphite color pencil on stationary color color paper paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Title: Stewart S , Medium:Graphite color pencil on stationary color color paper paper, by DSC_1998-2002
Im not much for words, but as far as making a picture I create a story that can keep anyone entertained. This was the joy, art gave me since the beginning, to be able to fill your mind with a story. As a viewer, the brain fills in the blanks of that story, similar to reading a book. The image will set the mood and the environment instantanasly in comparison to reading out all the details from text.
Rober Gobber once said that art must be understood within the context behind materials and meaning. For me, within my creative process as a visual artist art has been a transformative gesture. A tonal act between narrative and expressionism.
Thanks to those of you who answered the call to action with your feedback. This four part series of essays promises to be a coming out party in things #visualart
Too often the artist becomes an anomaly lost behind the visual references of their work. The essay is a great way to get glimpse of the artists inner workings. Kudos and feed me more.
I enjoy hearing about the many ways artists get to it. Making work that is. I feel similarly about my own relationship with image making. Once it digs into you it needs to be fed along with you, like another organ. Or a parasite.
Arts Journal Zine 
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