DreamScape

The image that appeared to me in the intermittent phase of sleep and waking, recreated digitally.

Life After Life

The splendor of the dead tree.

Port in a Storm

After a photoshoot yesterday, I hurried back to the car amid a rainstorm and packed my camera away. I noticed this little marvel of nature, a poetic metaphor for all that is free and beautiful in this world, taking refuge on the road under my engine compartment. It must have been battered around by the raindrops and was lucky to find some shelter, even though it was still struggling a bit in the elements. I quickly unpacked the camera and took a few photos, admiring the design, color and magic of this little wonder. I was quick about capturing a few images, being concerned with the camera, digital cameras being more susceptible to mortal damage in wet conditions as opposed to the old film cameras, like my trusty Nikon FM2, a camera that could keep shooting even with a completely dead battery.

After capturing a few images, I decided that I couldn't just drive off and leave this little one to get pelted by raindrops, so I tried to see if it would accept a lift, which it did quite readily, getting comfortable in the palm of my hand. I brought him into the car so that I could drop off the camera, and then placed him under the shelter of a low, mushroom shaped light fixture. The whole experienced capped off a great day of digital photography.

Great Artists Steal

"Picasso Looks at Degas" is a wonderful exhibition at a wonderful museum, The Clark, in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Yes, Picasso was a great artist, and yes, he stole. Here he stole from one of the best. Degas more than holds his own here, he shines. This exhibition is well worth the pilgrimage.

Fun With Closeup 05

Now that the paint has dried on this 12" x 48" oil painting, I think it's time to have some digital fun.
Yeah, that's satisfying.

In Step

Another blessed session in the studio, and I've been having tons of fun. I am really thinking that everyone should try this! If everyone could put all the destruction and mayhem on hold, and just give creativity a try, oh what a world we would live in!

In Process

I had the good fortune to spend most of another day in the studio today, with considerably less frustration than I experienced in my last session. In addition to tapping back in to the fun factor, which I consider to be critically important, I explored a host of unorthodox techniques, with, I believe, some success. I was able to get from stage to stage in the process with satisfaction.

Is the painting done? Probably not, but I feel that I am closing in on this one, and given that it has been some time since I completed an oil painting, that really feels good. Today, once again, I also recognized the value of the creative process, with respect to the logistics of crafting something, that is, in the moment to moment thought processes of evaluating proportions, light and dark, color applications etc., and then applying those thoughts into action. Yes, this is good for the soul.

I feel the excitement that comes with wondering how I will view this work in progress as the hours advance. Several days ago, I wondered if I would have to cut the canvas out of the frame, a rare but unfortunate necessity if a canvas reaches the point of no return on account of it being entirely over worked. This is a pleasant turn of events.

Process

Today was the first day back in the studio in quite some time. Well, it has been anything but some kind of normal year for me. I have had creative endeavors, but in recent months, those haven't been while standing in front of a canvas.

This morning I was primarily occupied with covering several unfinished canvases with a layer of gesso, followed by a rather long episode of creative frustration, which I wondered if I should learn to love, if not embrace, as part of the creative process. I finished the session with the above sketch, done in charcoal and gesso on canvas, with limited satisfaction.

Yes, I think I am still processing my recent trip of wonder to the Peoples Republic of China.

Look Now

As words cannot mean the same thing today, as they did yesterday, so too, images cannot evoke the same feeling today as in days past.

What do I see, when I look into this image from my sketchbook? I see both the splendor and the isolation of the road.

Yes, both are keenly felt.

Reflection

A garden, centuries old, complete with trees, pagodas, and excavated lake stones. A stunning architectural wonder. The perfect place for reflection, meditation and peace, and all in the center of Shanghai.

A carry over from a previous world, and a blessing in the modern world.

Art of the Sword

The elegant moves learned by this old master in his youth, still come naturally to him in his old age. His dance is in the gardens that lead to the Temple of Heaven, in Beijing, Peoples Republic of China.

Architectural Refresh, Beijing Style

A tower in Beijing, that, to me at least, appropriately says "Chinese design". The building displays playful design and visual interest, all with a little digital fun added on my part.

Truly Great

I have been away for a while. I appreciate your patience, and for checking in. Yes, I have been on hiatus, far away. Nearly 7,000 miles away to be precise. I have seen great things, among them, one of the design and engineering marvels of the world. Yes, I have walked on the Great Wall.

As the Chinese say, now I am a man.

Design and Utility, All Over Again

I was just notified that I received another patent, in this case, a United States utility patent. There is no remuneration involved, but it does feel oh so good. To view the entire patent, click here, and enter "US 7707711" in the form.

The Incarnation of Purpose, Part 2

A gathering place in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Was, many decades ago, a bank. Now, a coffee shop, a place to share a double espresso, or, a martini. Next, well, who is to say?

The Drill

In olden times, prior to all of the digital latitude that we now enjoy parked in front of computer screens clicking and dragging, we had a great deal of fun, that is, with pencils, ink, markers, pastels and straight edges, on, get this, colored paper. This type of commercial, industrial oriented art, had a fun and satisfaction all its own. We stood before drawing boards, sometimes in smoky rooms, held the media in our hands, and created, all without the benefit of the "undo" command.

The above sketch rendering, as it was referred to, was a regular in my portfolio, in the days when a portfolio was a narrow black leather bag with handles that you protected and hauled around like the family treasure. If you backed up your work, you shot slides (what's a scanner?). On seeing this drawing, an industrial designer who I greatly admired once remarked that he liked it very much. He said it appeared that "you got in there, you did your thing, and you got out." I took that as a compliment.

Form and Fit, Part 2

Here is another shining example of three dimensional product design, par excellence. I can guarantee you, if you are designing flatware, it is going to present a lot of challenges. Can you imagine what is involved in designing a high performance automobile?! But, it is oh so worth it. This new Porsche Boxster looks amazing whether it is sitting in the grass, or moving at 170 mph. What a feat. Yes, this is impressive design.

By the way, through the miracle of Photoshop, and digital manipulation, the casual observer would never suspect that there were three other cars parked in the background, right adjacent to the silver wonder above.

Form and Fit

Having worked in industrial design for the last two decades, and having worked prior to that in product engineering, can one help but appreciate the triumph that is excellent car design?! As a designer, I ought to be enthusiastic when I see good product design, knowing full well the difficult challenges of bringing a three dimensional object into the world via mass production. It's a bear. Few products can turn a head, or capture the imagination like good car design.

The form. The fit. The finish. The color. It's a wow, at any speed.

Hope

Welcome, Spring. Renew our hearts with hope.

Tracks, Rails and Otherwise

Train tracks. They always catch my eye. Well, why wouldn't they? They get you from here to there, and back again.

It's not just the visual allure. Having grown up in a railroad town, the sounds of the trains as they roll down the tracks, and the sound of the whistle are enough to stop me cold. It sounds like a lullaby to my soul. It is the aura of romance and nostalgia. The faintest sound can reach for miles. I hear the railroad moving through Hartford as I write this, and it soothes me.


With sepia simulation, an image taken today can speak something of yesterday. All this, and at the site of some boyhood memories, that is, at historic Philipse Manor station, in Sleepy Hollow, New York, on the shores of the magnificent Hudson River. Is this a place of some magic? Yes, I think so, and so did Washington Irving!

Rachmeal By Night

Read Joanna Wolff's unexpurgated interview of Rachmeal by clicking here.

Intermission

Here is a representative sample, taken from my old design school sketchbook, that demonstrates the quick sketch rendering style that I love so much. It really doesn't take much to indicate "human figure" to the casual observer.

Waiting for the Sun

Here is a painting taken from the stack of works, most of which have been stored shortly after drying. It is not quite the kind of work that I might cover with gesso and repaint, but it is not quite something that I would hang on the wall either. Yet, there is something here that speaks to me.

Somehow this work reminds me of design school, where I might have quickly sketched figures into an environment to indicate scale and mood. It has always amazed me how the human figure can be represented in a seemingly infinite number of ways, limited only by the hand and the imagination of one that seeks to render it.

Image Du Jour

On the beloved Magna Doodle.

While There Is Still Time

The Sol LeWitt retrospective at Mass MoCA will only be on display for another twenty four years. Don't miss your chance to see this wonderful exhibition!

Instrument of Change

I read an article that Pete Seeger, performer and activist, had put his banjo head for sale at Ebay to raise money to donate to the relief efforts in Haiti. At some pont he reconsidered, removed the item from auction and decided to raise money for Haiti in some other way. Alternatively, he decided to donate the banjo head to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum instead. Well, at least the banjo head of note will be able to be viewed and pondered by the many instead of the one individual who sought to win the auction.

I recalled seeing Pete Seeger at Avon Old Farms School where, in spring, 2008, Pete Seeger was honored with the first ever Distinguished Alumnus Award. One of my sons attends Avon Old Farms School where Pete Seeger himself graduated back in 1936. Pete Seeger seemed quite fit at 89 years old at the time. He spoke and gave a rousing performance, even singing a new song that he had composed. Pete Seeger is shown above meeting with old friends.

In the above image, see the banjo head while still in action, soon to be displayed in Cleveland, Ohio. If I am not mistaken, the blue jean jacket that Pete Seeger wore that day was awarded to him by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I decided to leave Pete Seeger alone, however, he seemed so receptive to visitors saying hello, that I introduced myself and reminded him that we had met some thirty or so years prior at Croton Point Park at one, if not the first, of the Clearwater Festivals. At the festival, he was quite friendly to me. It meant a lot to a shy teenager! Pete said "oh" quite knowingly at this recollection and gladly posed for yet another photo. That is Pete and me shown above. He then launched into quite a long discussion with me about how there are extraordinary people everywhere across the country, doing great things in obscurity. I didn't presume to say much. I just listened and payed close attention to the words of this great, great man.

Blogmark

This is the 100th entry to the blog "Hope and Fury." It has been an enlightening journey and I am so glad that you have visited this site from time to time.

You are a reader. What better way to show my gratitude for your readership than to offer you a bookmark to mark this milestone. Especially for this occasion, I have created a small series of custom made bookmarks, rendered in pastel on black Mi-Tientes Canson paper. To set the pastels, I have sprayed each bookmark with a light coating of dry media fixative. The fixative tends to mute the colors, which is unfortunate, however, I deemed it necessary in order to prevent smudging of the bookmarks and possible staining of your selected reading material. The back of each bookmark is signed in pencil. I hope that you will use the bookmark and enjoy.

I have a limited selection of these bookmarks. This is an unadvertised giveaway! While they last, if you would like me to send you the bookmark, simply send me an email to rachmeal@yahoo.com Please enter the word "Bookmark" in the subject field of your email. Be sure to include your full snail-mail address. On a first come, first served basis, I will then mail the bookmark to you, or, if I see you on my regular rounds, I will hand deliver it to you. Each bookmark is a one of a kind unique creation. I doubt that you have seen any bookmark quite like these before!

I look forward to future explorations of art and design, posted right here in "Hope and Fury."

Add Color, Add Light, Part 2

How about another image of flowers, on a snowy day? This one was taken in the Conservatory at Volunteer Park in Seattle, Washington.

Yes, I think it is a good idea!

Souls

We were rearranging some paintings in the house the other day and the above work, which I did over two years ago, looked pretty good hanging on the wall. It has been in storage since the paint dried. I was surprised at just how good it looked, because this is one of those works which is disturbing and pleasing, all at the same time. Well, sometimes that is a good thing. Still, you don't always want to see those works on the wall every day. With all the competition for wall space, with some thirty or forty paintings displayed at one time, the painting didn't make the cut.

I will try again sometime soon to find just the right place for it. It is one of those works which is a bit different for me, and, I like that.

Add Color, Add Light

Add color, add light, add art, add flowers, add visual splendor, add joy, add life.

Homage, Part 3

When I was back in design school, I had the privilege of studying, for four years, with the enormously gifted, Lubomir Tomaszewski. Even now, some twenty years later, I can't recall seeing another artist, sculptor or painter, with as unique and compelling a sense of form and beauty as Tomaszewski. The manner in which he renders the human, or animal form, whether in metal, stone, ceramics, or as he sometimes does, painting in large format with a blow torch, defies words. Whether a small figure that you could hold in your hand, or, a massive sculpture sketched with boulders that look like they are levitated, he has a way with materials that is all his own, and, it is wonderful.

As a professor, he said that his job was to make geniuses of us all. I thought it impossible, but now I understand what he set about to do.

Wounded several times while fighting in the Polish resistance during World War II, Tomaszewski is a man of iron. Yes, as Picasso rightly said, "Art is war." Tomaszewski fought back by creating images that show how life should be.

Abstract Notion

Picasso is quoted as saying "There is no Abstract Art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality." I won't argue with that!

Accentuate The ...

As the lyrics go,

"You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative",

or, is it the other way around? With the interplay of positive and negative space, known to the Japanese as "notan", you never know. Therein, lies the fun!

Port to Port

This blog, "Hope and Fury", launched in January, 2009, now celebrates one year in the blogosphere. For me, it has been a fascinating, creative journey, one of wonder and of fun.

Know that I sincerely appreciate your readership. All the best to you in 2010 for joy, fun, and every good thing. I hope that you will continue to check in for new observations on art and design.

Misunderstood and Enduring

Even given all the writings, the letters, and decades of speculation, we can never know the troubled genius that was Vincent Van Gogh. For example, it is widely held that he cut off his own ear. Along with some dissenting opinions, I think that is highly unlikely. Certainly a more plausible scenario is that he may have engaged in a drunken, perhaps, absinthe driven, altercation with, say, Gauguin, and the ear was unfortunately grazed off. To protect his friend, and the only other artist in the art colony he sought to create, Van Gogh must have taken the blame for the mishap. I shudder to think of the avalanche of humiliation he endured.

As for the irony of his work, he painted sunflowers to brighten the homes of common workers, that is, to have something cheerful and wonderful, something of natural beauty, on their walls. He wished for them the glory of color to shine as they ate their daily bread, the fruits of their own hands and toil. To this end he dedicated his days and hours. Could he have imagined that only the super wealthy could ever afford such a sight in their homes?!

As for his mastery, I recall seeing an exhibit of his work some five years ago at the Seattle Art Museum. The exhibit was exquisitely lit, that is, the most superior lighting I had ever seen in an art museum. The room seemed dark, and yet, the paintings were lit with optimal brilliance. For a Van Gogh, this has to be key, and quite a challenge with his work being sculptural in nature. I thought to myself that truly, Van Gogh was the best with color of any artist, living or dead, even better than Picasso.

I say, let's not presume so much to understand, as to appreciate Van Gogh for the wonder of color, form, and brushstroke, the wonder of the way in which he captured his world with gobs of pigment. In this way, I think we can best honor the memory of Van Gogh, the master.

Jackie With Blue Hair

The painting, "Jackie With Blue Hair" is done. There is no going back in. Will this be the final work of 2009? The exciting answer is, I don't know!