July 14, 2008

• Live art Day: Paint it, Destroy it, Transform it

      12:00 PM

  I like a little bit of process. Today we're going to start with a couple things, and see how many times I can change it.

  Now i'm not just talking about, "paint over that shiznit!"; what I'm talking about is an equal amount of creation, transformation, and destruction, and then...... probably more creation. It's a good lesson if you're an artist, since it broadens your concept and keeps you from getting too precious or uptight about what you're making.

  First, i am setting myself some standards:

  • I will create three new elements;
  • I will destroy something i have already created;
  • I will incorporate all of this into one artwork;
  • I will drastically change the original form somehow;
  • The resulting piece will be functional;
  • You will be able to see the process in it.

  I have a feeling this is going to be a chaotic afternoon, heh.
  
  

  ---

  12:30 PM

  Sorry for the delay; i realized my camera ran out of juice, so i had to go hunt around for batteries. File this under: "Destroy".

  hey, look. A big sheet of paper!

  

  Ugmoe the rabbit volunteers to help destroy it, or at least destroy it a little around the edges.

  

  He's not interested in painting, however.
  

  But that's okay, because we all know that i do : )
  

  ---

  1:00 PM

  Ready to rock!

  

  first glob on some paint.....

  

  then, start laying it down.

  

  

  

  ---

  1:30 PM

  It looks like an underwater cavern. I like it, just as it is.
  

  But see, that's the thing, i don't want to get attached. Ultimately, it's going to get it changed, and then destroyed.

  hey look, i am a painting!
  

  And my shoes are the same color as my creativity : )
  

  ---

  2:00 PM

  I added some purple paint. Nuthin' wrong with purple paint.
  

  Oh, eff. Except when you drip it on yourself, because acrylic paint doesn't come off!
  

  Also notice my awesome manicure. You can just call me Slob Girl now. I gotta wash this off.
  

  ---

  2:15 PM

  You know what? Screw it, life is messy.

  Let's celebrate by dripping copper paint all over the place.
  

  Oh, yeah.

  

  But you know what? It needs something.... different.

  So i'm gonna pick the whole thing up and flip it upside down.

  

  That's better.

  
  

  ---

  2:30  PM
  Oh yes. She is bringing out the sharpies.

  

  Annie, Annie, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

  

  Straight up marker fumes, that's how.
  

  ---

  3:00 PM

  A sign of things to come.....
  

  A few of you have specifically requested that i do a dancey-dance.

  Check out my "Shake that Spraypaint" dance.

  
  

  

  ---

  3:45 PM

  Results of spraypainting:
  

  I also added in some white highlights.

  

  ---

  4:00 PM
  Oh hey, look, i found this owl drawing. I think it's high time i wrecked something.
  
  

  (you can see that the rabbit already got to it)
  

  ---

  4:10 PM

  I spraypainted it gold. Oh yes, yes i did.
  
  
  

  Ok, ok, i'm just kidding around. It wasn't an ORIGINAL drawing. (That owl is my favorite, are you crazy?!!) It was just a print on vellum that i made the other day.
  

  ---

  5:00 PM
  
  It is time. bring forth the scissors!
  

  Let's put this on the floor where we can see it.
  

  i always know a painting is ready to be shredded up when i get that little wishful twinge, like i'd rather just hang it on the wall.

  But that's not what i'm doing today.
  

  ha! this used to be a painting!

  

  Now what?!
  

  ---

  5:30 PM

  I went through the cut up paper and sliced it further, into long, tapering strips of paper of different sizes. They're really pretty because some of the designs i drew are still visible, and the gold makes some parts almost look iridescent.
  

  Then i did the same thing to the owl print that i just spraypainted. It looks so cool all remixed, hehe.

  
  

  ---

  6:00 PM

  Ok, so i sorted all of the tapered paper strips by size, so i can see what i have.
  

  With all this paper on the floor, i have to be careful. The rabbit usually snoozes under the table until matt gets home, so i better check to see if he's waking up.....

  nope, still snoozling!

  

  Ok, good to go.

  I has a stik! and some glue.
  

  And a long strip of painted paper.
  

  First, i'm going to start winding the wide end of the paper around the stick.
  

  I continue winding the paper around itself, adding layer upon layer of paper.
  Since the paper is tapered, the new form starts to take on a tapered shape, too.

  

  When i get to the end, i glue the last couple of inches down.
  

  Et voila, the start of a large paper bead.
  
  

  ---

  6:30 PM

  But what about the owl  print?
  I take one of the strips i made and measure the width against the shape of the bead.
  

  Then i choose a 2 inch section i like, and wind it around the bead.
  

  A transformation bead, with owl feather patterning.
  

  Later, and after i've made a few more, i will coat these in a clear resin, and create a piece of jewelry from them.
  
  

  ---

  Oh no! some people seem to be all sad because i hacked up my painting. I have been contemplating this while I've been busily rolling up all those strips of paper.

  Here's the thing: it was a painting on paper. Paper doesn't hold up very well in the long run, so you can't be getting all attached to it. I'm sure i could have framed it or put it on stretcher bars, but really, there will be other paintings on other days. I promise. They will be pretty, too.

  In the meantime, I took quite a few photos of the painting just before it was transformed. I always do this, for reference, comparison, and so I can make prints or digital photos later if I need to. Nothing is forever, and everything changes: let's celebrate that!  Every bead i make from it represents a part of the original, which can now be worn. I think that's a pretty interesting concept, i mean, if you think about it.

  

  So i've got a few beads made so far, and it's getting to be dinner time. i'm going to work on these tonight, and then this week I will finish the process.

  

  Keep an eye out for goofy photos of me, rocking my newly created transformation piece : )

  

  
  

  • 6:41 pm
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