Eight Fold Show

My eight fold series (a series of geometric/Islamic designs all stemming from one base pattern) will be on view at the Sprague Library May through July 2014! I'm very excited.
Here's the artist statement for the series:
I love drawing with a compass and straight edge. I was introduced to the art of compass and straight edge construction in college; it was amazing to discover all the different shapes, patterns and designs that I could create with two simple tools. My delight and discovery continued and I eventually found the beautiful world of Islamic geometric designs and a whole new type of designs and patterns that could be created with my compass. I have been studying and drawing these beautiful and complex designs ever since. Recently I was introduced to a pattern base used in many Islamic designs from which unlimited patterns could be produced; I’ve undertaken to create as many different designs and patterns as possible from this base. I’ve thought I’d run out of possibilities a time or two before but it’s been interesting to see how new ideas have come to me while I’ve painted other pieces.

The only problem now will be deciding which pieces to put in the show, there can only be 15 pieces and there's almost double that right now. 

Hex Artist Statement

In my studies of traditional arts and craftsmanship, I was delighted to discover sacred geometry and hand drafting with compass and straight edge. These techniques were crucial to the art and architecture of the golden age of Greece and later the renaissance. I first learned about working with a compass and straight edge in college, studying with Wulf Barsch. My discovery of sacred geometry has since blossomed into a love for geometric patterns and designs and lead to an increased interest in Islamic art through the geometric patterns so prevalent there. In this series I have been exploring the possibilities of the number six or the hexagonal shape, in so doing I have relied heavily on Islamic art and other geometric traditions and thrilled as I’ve learned the secrets to these beautiful patterns and designs.

I love what I do over all but there are a few things that I didn't expect to come along with this job title. I've been getting a show application ready and in doing so I've taken what feels like a million pictures of my work which I've then cropped and picked the best images, resized etc. I've been wondering if I should have taken a photography class or two in school. Oh well, it still beats sitting in a cubical somewhere.

Genesis

In Genesis an account is given of how God created the earth. In reading the account my interest was captured by how simply such complicated processes were described and I felt inspired to illustrate the account for myself and create a better picture of the events. For a time I struggled with how to visualize such lofty and well known material so I looked to the work of several artists including Dürer, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. Though my style significantly differs from the styles of those artists, I did follow their examples and use of symbolism and geometry in the composition of my work. The watercolors in this series are all square; the square is the most basic and diverse of the geometric shapes and it is also symbolic of the earth, I feel that such incorporation of symbolism and geometry enriches the work.

This is a trip through the series as it currently stands. The first piece I made for this series, taken from Genesis 1:1-2 and Abraham 4:2. The color red is a symbol of the earth, as is the square, blue and circles symbolize heaven.

Genesis I

watercolor

9x9in

2012

Series: Genesis
Photo by Hawkinson Photography

Artist Statement

I have written artist's statement's before but I never loved them and they more applied to a specific series than to my work as a whole. I recently wrote an artist's statement that I'm really pleased with and which sums up what I'm about as an artist. It will likely change but for now I'm excited. Here it is:

Numbers, shapes and colors all have a meaning which can deepen and enrich a piece, as an artist I am intrigued and fascinated by symbolism. Throughout the years symbolism and art have gone hand in hand. Before widespread literacy and availability of books symbolism in art was essential in conveying meaning and stories to the masses. The world around us is loaded with items that have become symbols and I enjoy learning their meaning and incorporating them into my art, whether geometric or Islamic designs, landscape or still life.

What do you think?