Seeing Art in Everyday Life: Instagram Color

Student artwork

Boston in the fog

Frogs in Lynn's pool

Boyfriend in the Summer

Gillian at the fair

Birthday cake

Robert Jessup

"Little Me as a Dog", 2012

Oil on Canvas, 20"x20"

I received my copy of New American Paintings the other day and have not been able to get my eyes away from the pages with Robert Jessup's work.  From what I can see, he has been working in representation to show the viewer a story for the majority of his career.  The past two years of paintings however, have drastically changed in style. Jessup says of his process, "A painting is done when the last punch lands," and that his work is made with "...equal parts deliberation and desperation."

"Head Woman 12-26", 2012

Oil, 18"x18"

There is an aggression and immediacy from the swooping strokes of Jessup's brush that channel a sense of honesty and memory.

Here, look at some of his older work to see the stylistic switch I'm talking about:

Nighscene, 1999

Oil on canvas, 70"x80"

Sister, 2001

Oil on Canvas, 60"x60"

Half Head, Ice Cream, 2004

Oil on board, 11"x14"

Cloud Series, #11, 2006

Oil on canvas, 30"x30"

Couple, Bedroom, 2007

Oil on canvas, 44"x42"

from the couples in love series

Although there has been a huge shift in the way Jessup is using his paint, I would argue that the narrative remains present in his work.  The two portraits at the top from this year are equally as capable of relating a narrative as "Half Head, Ice Cream" from 2004, with an additional kick from the raw application of paint.  In the newer work I spend time looking at the piece trying to find landmarks such as a nose or an ear and in the older work I am spending that same time trying to figure things out, like "Where did that lady get that amazing purple wig?" or, "What's up with that angry cat?"  There is an equal balance of detective work the viewer must put to in both bodies of work, which is what stimulates me as a viewer and challenges me as a painter.

Here are a few more of Jessup's work from this year with the new style and a huge punch of narrative.

"Cloud and Meteor" 2012

Oil, 42"x48"

"Dr. Jung with his Mistress in the Mountains" 2012

Oil, 64"96"

"A Family Climbs the Mountain" 2012

Oil, 64"x84"

"Portrait of a Woman (Robert's Thumb)" 2012

Oil, 48"x42"

I had such a hard time picking work to show here, do yourself a favor and go to Robert Jessup's website and have a look at more of his paintings.

Looking At, Listening to

1.

Carolina Fontoura Alzaga makes amazing chandeliers out of recycled bicycle parts.  She also seems like a very cool lady so watch the video below where she talks about her work.

2.

This place rules.  Lost Type Co-op is a spot where a bunch of designers post their new font designs.  They are available for purchase for whatever you feel like paying, including zero doll hairs.  I've been paying a lot of attention to hand painted signs lately which makes me think about the wonderful wonderful Margaret Kilgallen.

3.

I'm ALWAYS looking at Margaret Kilgallen.  God, I love her.

4.

This lady Nova has a blog called Glitter and Doom where she documents life which includes her awesome job working in a tattoo parlor.

5.

Just google Little Planets and you'll get a lot of cool pictures like this.  I'm not sure where I found out about these, I think Nova's blog?  It's a photo trick that involves panoramic views.

6.

Good music.  This song has a really great change in the middle.  This video has really great fast walking and guns.

Business Shmisness

I really want to be my own boss someday.  I want to make things or provide a service that people need or want.

Here are a couple of businesses that inspire me:

Queen Bee Honey

Stephanie and Paul over at Queen Bee Honey have a bunch hives on the South Shore.  They make treats like granola and baklava, beeswax candles, soaps, lotions and salt scrubs and even insect repellant all out of the wax and honey their bees make.

Queen Bee Honey is based out of Pembroke, MA and their products can be found at many local farmer's markets and other places like Plimouth Plantation and stores such as Local Pottery in Pembroke.

Stephanie and Paul's business has been featured several times in South Shore Living magazine.

A Little Artsy

I recently found the business A Little Artsy out of Dallas, TX through their blog.  This place seems pretty on point for a dream business for me.

Casey and Chris Wiegand, a husband and wife team, own and operate an art studio for people of all ages and abilities.  They aim to focus people on the process of art making and not the end resulting product.  A Little Artsy has been open for five years now and has several employees.  

Parrott Design Studio

Sarah Parrott Bianculli is the heart of Parrott Design Studio.  Starting in 2007 with a Gocco, the studio has grown to include a focus on the art of Letterpress.  

Sarah is based out of Providence and has a couple of grandma presses keeping her studio running dating back to 1898 and 1901.  While wedding invitations seem to the the bread and butter over at the Parrott studio, there is a wide range of products from business cards to thank you's.

Sarah's studio has been featured by Martha Stewart!

Local Pottery

Lisa Howard opened Local Pottery almost 13 years ago.  She is a large contributor to the ceramic work in the shop/studio but has a group of regulars who's work she displays.  Local Pottery showcases one of a kind jewelry (you can sometimes find Stephanie from Queen Bee Honey's work there) and kitchen utensils.   

Interested in learning the art of pottery?  Lisa Howard is also offering a range of classes from independent studies, for those ready with ideas and a little experience to get to work on their projects, to  classes for children and a range of levels for adults.