Monday, January 24, 2011

A followup on the Jeff Koons LLC idiocy

As you might remember the bookstore and art gallery Park Life was sent a cease-and-desist letter by über-artist Jeff Koons LLC to stop them from selling bookends made to look like dogs made of blown-up twisted ballons.  Yeah, you know, what street clowns all over the world make every day and sell to parents with kids in tow.

So Park Life's attorney has filed a federal complaint against Mr. Koons LLC.  ArtInfo has a summary of the document and six of its funniest parts .  The complaint begins:
As virtually any clown can attest, no one owns the idea of making a balloon dog, and the shape created by twisting a balloon into a dog-like form is part of the public domain.
Emma Allen ad libs "I'd like to call to the stand the first expert witness. Dr. Bozo, will you please raise your right hand?"

I have to say, I can't imagine wanting a bookend that looks like this:

The link here

Sunday, January 23, 2011

A landscape this time.

I haven't done many landscapes and even fewer have ultimately worked.  I have a book by Pema Chodron, a Buddhist teacher, that has helped me over the last 5 or six years.  I love the cover, a photo of a park in the late fall.  Here's my version of the scene.

The Park.  Acrylics and charcoal on canvas.  18 x 24

A new abstract

This sort of started with a small study I did.  It wasn't intended but Karen immediately said, "What's the little nude about."  That's how her mind works I guess!  This was weeks ago.  So I took a big canvas that had not one, but two (maybe 3?) failed paintings under coats of gesso.

I started with the study and it went fairly well.  Here's what ultimately happened...
Another Nude.  Ink, acrylics on canvas.  24 x 30

Friday, January 07, 2011

Jeff Koons, ugghh!

To my art friends: Jeff Koons, who I consider the greatest con man/fraud of 21st century art (no matter what Stephen says), has laid claim to the rights to create dogs out of balloons. OMFG! Hey I wouldn't want anyone to steal my art either but I'm thinking that there were thousands of street artists creating balloon dogs, birds, horses, etc. ad nauseoum for a hundred years before Jeffie made millions doing it.

Just so Jeffie doesn't sue me, here's a link to one of his, ahem, dogs.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

New piece continuing the use of cheesecloth to add texture

I've been playing with covering the painting substrate with cheesecloth from the grocery store.  It adds texture obviously but it also changes how you paint.  Some things are easier and others harder.  For example, instead of using a brush I might use paint straight from the tube or scrape it on with a plastic hotel "key".

Karen picked up some decorative wood wall hangings from Club Nova thrift shop in Carrboro.  I covered one with cheesecloth attached with gesso.  Started painting, added some copper, some black, some red and this face appeared.  For me that is often how it works (when it works).  No plan, just paint.

Watch Your Step.  Acrylics and oil pastel on wood covered with cheesecloth.  14 x 18