Tension. A new Body of Work.
I recently began work on a new series titled "Tension". In this series of work I created 4 large scale pieces ranging from 5 feet to 8 feet in scale. Have a look at those pieces as well as a video of me in the studio working on them.
I recently began work on a new series titled "Tension". In this series of work I created 4 large scale pieces ranging from 5 feet to 8 feet in scale.
We recently started working on my film "A Canvas of Sound" after a year hiatus and have been interviewing musical artist's about tension in their work or craft, where it exists, when does it exist and how they combat or work through it. I decided I would create a body of paintings that deal with the tension that I feel when creating.
The first piece of this series was titled "Tension Here" and was created out of the emotion between my art and myself, how that tension exists in a small space between my heart/soul and a piece of material that I struggle to give life to.
Tension Here: 60"x34" Acrylic and Graphite on Canvas $2125.00
The second piece of the series is titled "/tenSHen/" which represents a "pulling tightly", the tension that I often feel inside myself as a creator. Always wanting to create, every waking moment, it builds and builds and pulls my mind away at times, and stretches my soul in a moments breath. The only escape or release from that tension is to paint.
/tenSHen/: 76"x40" Acrylic and Graphite on Canvas $3150.00
The 3rd piece in the series is titled "Breathing Through", it was based on a short poem that I wrote while thinking through this body of work. " Breathing through dusty lungs to (2) create here admits this tension." This piece holds heavy truths for me. I have journey'd all over the world in my 40 years of existance and I have experienced heavy truths that exist in our world. With my own eyes I have experienced genocide, rape, hunger, poverty, child soldiers, communism, fear, hatred and many other atrocities that have shaped my soul. There is a tension as an artist to be able to shed light on the truths that exist in this world, that many people do not get to observe, discuss or feel. My lungs have collected dust from all over the world, and so I breath through those lungs as I create.
Breathing Through: 65"x72" Acrylic and Graphite on Canvas $4800.00
The last piece in this series is titled "Tumbleweeds", it is also named after specific prose that I wrote on my studio wall prior to this series beginning, "My tension exists here amongst the tumbleweeds and distant memories, so I live on."
The depth of this piece is wrapped up in a literal tumbleweed. Tumbleweed: any of various plants, as Amaranthus albus, A.graecizans, or the Russian thistle, Salsola kali,whose branching upper parts become detachedfrom the roots and are driven about by the wind. As the tumbleweed gets blown across distance with the wind it gathers up other plants as well and scatters their seeds on its journey. There is much correlation to my life experiences wrapped up in this definition.
Tumbleweeds: 62"x94" Acrylic and Graphite on Canvas $6000
Here is a short video of me creating "Breathing Through" in my Austin Studio.
I truly feel that the Tension series has opened up new direction and confidence for me as a painter as my work evolves. I am currently working on ideas, sketches and studies for a new series titled "Healing Wounds". I have experienced many wounds in my life, seen others experience heavy wounding and I feel as if our society is struggling with decades of deep wounds that continue to plague our unity as a melting pot of other cultures and people groups. I am excited to start painting this week!
Art Studio Video: Painting with Acrylics and an Ink Brayer.
A video of me working on a few studies on paper.
I recently shot a little video footage while working on a few studies on paper. In this video I am painting with acrylics on paper, using an ink brayer. I have been using an ink brayer for the last few months as I am trying to find a good feel for a new body of work. I think I am closing in on technique and medium. You will also see me using graphite pencils to create geometric shapes at the end of the video as well. I will be filming a lot of my process and work this year in the studio. Feel free to ask any questions and request specific things that you would like to see! Enjoy.
You Are Champion.
New Poetry. Thoughts while reading the book "Wild Man".
You are none other than champion!
Restless for the wind to move,
in motion,
in reverse forwards,
being still, for the sake of language,
You ramble, often
looking inward for conversations about gladiators or men,
or separation of complete false manhood,
America,
Gaps of common,
misuse of parenting or childhood- be it as it may,
the artist creates moments on canvas to
express,
remove,
regain,
rebirth,
Remember now,
You are none other than Champion!
of will,
or relentless moving on from the difficult,
you raised yourself on cereal spelling and
pages of scribble text dictionary words,
David Bowie was father,
“Crawling down the alley on your hands and knee
I'm sure you're not protected, for it's plain to see
The diamond dogs are poachers and they hide behind trees
Hunt you to the ground they will, mannequins with kill appeal”
Diamond Dogs were mother,
“Come out of the garden baby, baby
You’ll catch your death in the fog”,
Dip your hair below,
in the water with gold fingers,
it is time for the Wild Man to surface,
despite all despite’s
or just because’s,
Remember now!
You are none other than Champion!
...Ty Clark
A Canvas of Sound: Scene.
A scene from my film "A Canvas of Sound"
Kris Rutherford and I recently applied for a grant with the Austin Film Society with our film," A Canvas of Sound." We didn't get the grant, or any grant for that matter. It, of course was disappointing and mostly because I am a perfectionist as an artist. The experience was incredible though, the process, breaking down all of my ideas, scenes, questions etc and creating my first film treatment. We are still in the process of creating the film as we have run out of funding and have been putting our own money into the project. I wanted to share the clip that we used in our entry.
We chose a clip from the "Chapter 1: What is Sound?" section of the film. This clip will be following our opening sequence and will begin with a narration of prose over an artist painting in a studio. The opening sequence (artist in studio) will fade out to Chapter 1 (selected scene). This chapter is the introduction to the characters, as they define sound in their own personal definitions while showing each of them in their musical element. You will also get a feel for the style of the camera work across the breadth of the film, using landscapes of musical visuals with sound and words.
For more information about the film you can contact myself at : https://www.samo4prez.com/contact/