May Momentum

For many years I have considered May to be one of my favorite months of the year. Living in the South for most of my life, this month continues to be one of the prettiest, (April showers bring May flowers) and the weather is still mild before the real heat of Summer. This year my May has brought an abundance of marketing heat in my sister city of Nashville, Tennessee.

Ron York of York & Friends Fine Art really stepped up to the plate for me and initiated a series of events that have brought forth abundance in many ways. It started with an inaugural gallery talk—the first in his gallery—an interview style conversation with Paul Polycarpou of Nashville Arts Magazine. That led to Paul offering me a feature article in the May Issue and Artist of the Week the first week in May on the famous Nashville Sign off of the Broadway and West End split.

BIG really is better...

Erosion Series: Character Botanical #1

The proximity of this sign off of Broadway assures maximum visibility and really shows how serious Nashville is in promoting the arts. Nashville Arts Magazine is one of the best city dedicated art publications I've ever seen even in my graphic design days. I really enjoyed meeting Paul and bringing an intimate art talk to York & Friends Fine Art—which has quickly become like family. Kathleen Boyle wrote a fabulous feature article that focused on my Erosion Series. She asked very deep questions and peppered the interview with whit and humor which made me feel like I've known her for years.

I feel very welcomed in Nashville and have been repeatedly surprised by the depth of the contemporary art market in this fabulous city. Nashville continues to be a wealth of inspiration and vitality throughout all of the arts. If you haven't visited Nashville in a while and experienced the intensity of the arts there, you should add this great city of the South to your bucket list.

Online Nashville Arts Magazine link (My feature article starts on page 72)

The Character of Typography

Many years ago when I was in college at the University of Florida, I needed an extra class credit to complete my degree before the grant money ran out. At the beginning of my final semester the university decided that one of my credits from junior college would not be counted due to some hidden agenda to squeeze more money out of a financially strapped student—they never did give me a good reason why this credit was discounted (I've heard this story before). At the eleventh hour I spoke with one of my professors in the fine arts college about my dilemma and the next morning he cleared the way for me to produce three extra assignments using the letterpress equipment that would fulfill the additional requirements for my degree. This was the beginning of my life-long love affair with typography.

Examples of some large movable type made of wood that I used for many of my assignments in 1984

Most of the large type blocks were wood but the university had a pretty good collection of metal type as well. There is something about large letter forms that excite my imagination for I've used typography extensively in my graphic design practice over the years. What I didn't know at the time was that these letter forms would come full circle and excite me once again in my paintings thirty years later. In January I began to experiment with my botanical images in Photoshop by creating a clipping mask of different arrangements of the word "erosion" thus creating a typographical window through which you would see the botanical forms. Within the painting this was achieved by painting out the background/negative space once the botanical forms were complete to create the characters. I love this new direction and plan to make these character botanicals a regular part of my studio practice. 

It's always fascinating to me how everything we do in life has some level of value for the future. There are no true mistakes in a studio for every experimentation of form, color or line within our daily practice always leads to a new twist or direction that enhances our imagery. Once again typography has brought a new character to my work both literally and figuratively.

Old Roads to New Directions

When I get bored or frustrated with my art practice, I always return to mark making. The sheer joy of pushing paint around with no destination in mind usually leads me into a new direction.

Pressing the rewind button allows me to get back in shape with the ACT of painting and in the process I see and feel new intention...new perspective...new possibilities. Now, many people would argue that there is always a signature feel to any artists work that you can never hide—hence old roads. I have found this to be profoundly true. We seem to carry the familiar with us wherever we go. In the midst of playing again, I found that my core interest—natures life cycle—crept right back in and gave me a fresh direction for my Urban Botanicals. I've also added a time constraint to the mix which adds to the intuitive feel of the marks.

I always feel renewed in purpose when my practice grows in shape and form. These new Urban Botanical Speed Paintings are both an old and new reflection of where I'm at as an artist and will act as a pathway to larger pieces that will incorporate urban street grid patterns in twine and collage methodology. 

It really is true that yourself will follow you wherever you go.

New Work

Urban Botanical Speed Paintings are available @ Area 61 Gallery and York & Friends Fine Art

Affinity in Interests

A new Gallery Relationship in Nashville

My latest Pod and Botanical Paintings find a New Home at York & Friends Fine Art 

Every once in awhile you find a gallery relationship that clicks right from the beginning. Maybe its part of southern hospitality but I have been lucky to find not one, but two galleries here in Tennessee that make me feel like I'm part of a family. Here in Chattanooga its Area 61 on the SouthSide and now in Nashville—Ron York's gallery in the beautiful Belle Meade neighborhood on the west side feels like home.

Ron is a dedicated artist and art lover who has a way with making people feel like you've been pals for a very long time. He believes in the importance of art and expression in our everyday lives and York & Friends Fine Art is repeatedly voted as one of the best galleries in Nashville. Within 24 hours he sold one of my Botanicals and has done more promotion for me than anyone in that limited timeframe. Very much the professional—Ron is always seen as an art advocate and builds trust quickly with all who come in contact with him.

Drop by and see my latest series of pieces if your in town—Ron will always welcome you.

New Work

Erosion Series: Seeds #7 @ York & Friends Fine Art