mini 43

Miniature #43 - May 21 - 27, 2012, 2 x 2 in (each), ink and acrylic on canvas

Mini 43 is really more minis 43. I enjoyed the diptych from 42 so much, that I decided to try a polytych (the main part is 7.5 x 7.5, so it doesn't count as mini, the whole piece assembled is about 8 x 11).  I got a little carried away with my "favorite colors" list last week (because, technically, I concede that 'black and white' stripe and 'shiny' are not colors), but I used the list to try to make a piece that incorporates all of my favorite colors and a few of my other favorite things too (birds, ants, flies, foliate pattering). I photographed on white so that the reflection of the neon orange inner edge of the larger piece onto the smaller pieces can be seen (it's a cool effect that works well with the cord, right?).  The ants in the neon yellow and ultramarine mini are so tiny though, that they can barely be seen even in the close-up (and look at those nice crisp edges too :D).

In other news - my cat is still really cute (sorry, I couldn't resist), and because it's now too hot for cookies, I've applying my sweets-making skills toward trying to develop the perfect (both tasty and as healthy as possible) mocha frappe - it's the multicolor sprinkles that clinch it for me.  I've updated the book list to the left, and the countdown continues (43 down, 7 to go...)

Is that a cat in my in-box? Why yes, yes it is

mini 42

It's been a very arty week here in tinyland...

Miniature #42 - May 14 - 20, 2012, 3.5 x 5 in, acrylic on canvas

Mini 42 is a reversible diptych (I know - it's a bit of a gimmick, but at least it's a good one, right?)

A funny story about mini 42 - 

I got myself a present this week. It may have taken me about a second to reach its limitations (rolling double stops are a no-go), but it's miniature and turquoise and has shiny parts (ah - love-filled sigh). So, obviously, I'm pretty excited about this (I may have made a little squeek while opening the box, which also included a cable, with a head that's at a right angle (brilliant) and long enough for me to walk around with (yay), but I won't subject you to a photo of that, because it's not nearly as cute.)  Now, you may be wondering - how does this relate to mini 42 (apart from the tiny-goodness)?  I painted mini 42 in sepia tones first, then agonized all week about what colors to use (which is odd, because I usually know exactly what colors I want).  Eventually, I chose aqua and gold and pink (a similar palette to mini 25).  Aqua/turquoise is one of my favorite colors (along with yellow and carmine and french ultramarine and black and white stripes...yes, I do sometimes wonder if asking my favorite color is like asking a mother which of her children she loves the most).  Until I downloaded the photos for this week, I thought I had "spontaneously" chosen aqua for the mini; then I saw that it just happens to be the exact same color as the amp.  Included in the same box - an illustrated book - on parrots (oh the subconscious/conscious divide - it's a slippery slope indeed).

In other news, I made a non-mini mini.  I finished it, then decided that it doesn't really count (it's 7.5 x 7.5 inches - not mini enough for me).  Apparently, I'm willing to let a few decimal places slide, but not a whole number.  So, I discovered the boundaries of the project, and also ended up with a small (but not mini) painting.  I know butterflies may be considered cliche (though I would like to add that butterflies themselves aren't really trite, only the way they're presented), but moving right along - fun factoid - the word for butterfly in Greek is the same as the word for soul, and ghosts are sometimes depicted as having butterfly wings in Greek ceramic paintings. 



The painting also gave me the opportunity to practice varnishing. I find varnishing tricky because it's basically a one shot deal, and it has to be done within the limits of the drying time (which depending on the varnish, can be very short and difficult to predict exactly.)  The larger the painting, generally the more difficult it is to varnish it evenly, so naturally, I decided that the large wings painting really needed a varnish (of course)  I practiced on the non-mini mini (and it's the most lovely varnish I've ever done.  I was so excited that I tool a picture - lots of pictures this week.) The wings varnish worked out fine, and I was so relieved that I went ahead and put the dark coating over the death and the maiden painting (so far, so good). I also visited an awesome gallery and submitted a packet this morning (fingers crossed) and (not to jinx it), but I think I may have the chance to show the minis.  

and just in case Krylon ever decides to offer corporate sponsorship...

If you've made it this far in the post, thank you for your fortitude! It's been a very arty week here in tinyland (the best kind :) ).

mini 41

Miniature #41 - May 7 - 13, 2012, 1.5 x 2.25 in, oil on panel

I decided it was time to pay for my mini-sin of going slightly over the size limit with #40 by making #41 super tiny (and shiny - because with all the neon going on lately, I've been longing for shiny; so, #41 has a lovely, gold background and is highly varnished).  Through the project, one thing I've noticed is that any time the work starts to change quickly, I tend to pull back and make a bird. I think birds may be my form of Deleuzian Repetition (while any phrase with a person's name used as an adjective and random Capitalization seems kind of obnoxious, it's really a good description and not as intimidating as it sounds - it's a theory that to move forward into something new, a person has to rethink something they already know; I think of it as a kind of mental refrain between verses of novelty). 

in process photo, May 14, 2012

I've also been working on what is possibly the weirdest big painting I've made in a while (see process photo).  I'm not sure what I think about this one yet (Max Ernst + Gothic manuscript = ?)  Mostly I'm just happy to have gotten this much done in about 2 weeks (which for me, is really, really fast.)  I usually don't document until a work is finished, but I'm about to  make a big change with this (covering the entire surface with a layer of black and then pulling it back in certain areas - rewarding but risky) so I wanted to document it "just in case." 

the cathedral, 36 x 36, 2012

I also have some good news - I got some "yes" responses this week (yay for art yeses!)  I'll be talking about the Power in Precision Project, and it's interaction with my reading of Lacan's mirror-phase at the Southeastern College Art Conference next December, and I'll also have a full-scale work (the cathedral, which I finished about a month ago) will be included in the juried exhibition accompanying the conference!  I'm very excited that the work is making its way out there - slowly but surely (and for the chance to talk about philosophy and art theory to a semi-captive audience - cue evil laughter..... mwhahahahaha).

mini 40

Miniature #40 - April 30 - May 6, 2012,  7.75 x 4.75 in, ballpoint pen and acrylic on panel

Mini 40 bends the rules a little bit, because it's 7 and 3/4 inches tall, (the unfinished board was a piece of scrap that I got for free, and, really, who can argue with free?)  It's also 3/4 in thick, which was nice because it allowed me to finish the edges and drill a small hole in the back for hanging before working on the front (something I learned from 38 and 39).  I think bending the rules within an artwork is part of the fun, and one of the benefits of being responsible for it; but, I also see wanting to push against the parameters as a sign that the project has served its purpose, and it's time to wind it down and prepare to move on to something else.  Being conscious that I'm starting a sort of mental countdown with this one, I had a hard time getting it off the ground at first (a little ironic, that having a clear idea of what I wanted to do artistically, "para-art" worries cropped up.) Now that I'm on mini 40, I feel like the time has come to really seriously seek out a venue to display them.  On the one hand, I'm very introverted, so the marketing aspects of art are something that doesn't come easily to me.  On the other hand, I desperately want to see the mini's displayed all together, in all their tiny-goodness, at least once, before dispersing them piecemeal (so no pressure...haha).  I also got more rejection letters (yes, plural again, sadly).  Instead of thinking of it as evidence that my persistence in this field is irrational and defies any reasonable justification, I'm trying to look at it as Life, giving me the opportunity to practice Humility (thoroughly).  In any case - let the countdown begin: "10..."