(Top left image is initial sketch. Bottom left is the intermediate stage . The large right image is the final piece)

Week 4 of the Weekly Art Challenge. I experimented with the color. Usually, I lay down the patterns and then glaze the colors to enhance it. I decided to go with white on this one. Glazing white makes a milky haze over the whole piece. The white haze obscured the patterns. I think it makes you look harder to see what is happening. I like that effect quite a bit. I went dark on the skin tone on the drawing of the mouth to make a stronger contrast. The darker mouth is almost shockingly clear in comparison. 

Next week I'm to go even further with the contrast. I'm going to try... well, you'll see next week won't you. Leave feedback on this one below or on the JBarberStudio facebook page. All fans of the FB page are entered to win one of the drawings from the Weekly Art Challenge. I have an exciting plan for all the pieces when this is over.

Jam

See all the final images in the new Weekly Art Challenge in the Gallery 

(Top left image is initial sketch. Bottom left is the intermediate stage . The large right image is the final piece)

Week 3 of the Weekly Art Challenge continues the Totem series. This is the first woman of the series. I picked a more feminine color and the major shape has a more rounded edge. I think its a good effect. The deeper I go into the series the more possibilities I can see for execution. Next weeks piece is going to be a good one. I can't wait to show you the idea. 

Keep all the feedback coming. Some very interesting comments about the last piece.  Please leave comments on this blog or on the JBarberStudio fan page on Facebook. 

Jam

See all the final images in the new Weekly Art Challenge in the Gallery

I managed to get over to Avisca Gallery on Saturday for an artist talk for the show "Contrapunto: Six Contemporary Latin American Artists". It was, as always, a very good show. The ladies that own Avisca always get excellent people in there.  

Three of the artist were on hand to talk about their work. Pedro Fuertes, Carlos Solis and Stanley Bermudez. I recommend checking them out when you get a chance. They have fantastic work. Seeing the different cultural influences behind them was interesting.

Pedro Fuertes is from Peru and some of his work deals with the terrorism and kidnappings that were taking place in Peru at the time. As he tells it there were times when artist's family members were kidnapped and the artists were forced to make art in support of whatever movement the kidnappers wanted. They didn't have the freedom to make what they wanted. Its a very different culture than America for sure. His abstracts have a lot of texture and strong color. I might have to borrow some of that.

Carlos Solis is a surrealist painter. The imagery in his paintings come from his life in Venezula and the history of his country. One painting called "El Negro Primero" was based on the story of am African slave that became a soldier in the revolution. He's a hero to them but is hardly known outside the country. 

It was a great show. If you are in Atlanta go check it out. Its at Avisca until May 31. If not, look up these wonderful artist and enjoy.

Jam

(Top left image is initial sketch. Bottom left is the intermediate stage . The large right image is the final piece)

Week 2 of the Weekly Art Challenge continues the Totem series. I started to get a handle on what I want to say with these pieces and how Iwant to say it. I've gotten a lot of good feedback on last week's art. Like all great art pieces different people see different things. It always great to hear from other people and see their interpretation of things. Please leave comments on this blog or on the JBarberStudio fan page on Facebook. 

Jam

See all the final images in the new Weekly Art Challenge in the Gallery

(Top left image is initial sketch. Top right is the patterns arranged and glued down. Below is the intermediate stage with some dark color. The large right image is the final piece)

Week 1 of the Weekly Art Challenge is in the bag. I continued my Totem series. I've only showed the series once and got a really good repsonse to it. I might take the challenge time to do a few of these. I'm interested to know what you think about it. Leave a comment with your interpretaion of the image. There is no wrong answer. I'll write up a blog post about what I was going for and post it down the line. Gotta get ready for week 2 now. 

Jam

See all the final images in the new Weekly Art Section in the Gallery

I was working on this week's Weekly Art Challenge and as always it is changing from my original idea (the original sketch is above) into something more.

One of the best things about being an artist is making the art. Seeing the final image and getting reaction from other people is great too, don't get me wrong. However, the process of creating the artwork is a unique one. For hours on end the artist is there with that piece working alone. For me even the hours away from the work are spent thinking about it. When the artist applies a stroke of color now he has to react to that stroke. No matter how great the initial idea was once that single stroke is applied it leaves the abstract perfection of an idea and becomes that piece. It can only be that piece now. The battle between what you wanted and what it is begins. The question then becomes "How do I make THIS into what I wanted to make?", "How do I build my idea around this stroke of color?" The artist formulates another plan and makes another stroke. The artist has to ask again "How do I make THIS into what I wanted to make?" The back and forth, action and reaction continues until the artist feels like there is nothing left to do and stops (not finishes) working the piece.

I like to look at it like I'm battling myself. People may give input and critique but I make every brush stroke and apply every color. Since it is my idea, my hand making the brush strokes and my reaction to each stroke. I feel like I'm exploring my own mind and pushing my own limitations to be better. That may be a romantic version of it but the process becomes so personal, after a point, that its hard to separate myself from my art. Along that journey what is produced is a mixture of initial concept and reaction to the process of creating. The results never match what I envision but often exceed what I thought I was capable of. Its a great feeling.

So great that I have to do it again and again and again...

Jam

I love to paint to music. The main thing playing these days is Joy Denalane's new album Maureen. I don't know a lot about her but she has made a great album. Its dripping with that old school soul that I grew up on. Her voice is smooth and the lyrics are top notch. 

I highly recommend Maureen for all the music lovers out there.

Now back to painting.

Jam

Jam

I'll post some of them from time to time to let you see a different side of my artwork. Feel free to let me know what you think.

Jam

I was back at Clout for my weekly live drawing.