Waves Do It

"Waves Do It"

This picture represents the challenge of transforming a quick, imaginary drawing into colors. It defies words that can label the objects, action and meaning in the image. As the practice of painting can include a mental exercise akin to synaesthetics, this image is the visual record of that performance. There is a special decision-making process, which connects a gray-toned form in a drawing into a color seen on a palette. Forms come forward or backward suggesting the illusion of depth. Some lines refuse to dissolve entirely into the shape but remain around it. The drawing dominates the painting. But they all have color now too.
This image does not include a horizon. It suggests a visual world outside its frame. These things are passing through, falling, bouncing and wafting like heat waves. And that can be my title, "Waves Do It".
I imagine this under some viscous media like liquid or thick gas. There are characters with sharp edges and segmented bodies reminding me of sea horses. There is a bulbous form with something inside and a hole to look into. Some things are gone leaving only tracks and trails. Is it possible to paint a form that does not remind one of a natural form with a name? This business of art is the root of the artificial.

Art Walk

We drove up to Jacksonville for the monthly Art Walk produced by the Downtown Improvement District. Other cities like Denver and St. Augustine also have events like this to promote art and their businesses. They do a great service to artists in Jacksonville and it looks like a good opportunity. It's very accessible. You could even arrive by boat! There was a big crowd around the London Bridge Pub at Ocean and West Adams St. Artists in the old public library building really suffered without air conditioning and lighting. I realize it's free.
I also came for the table tennis demonstration but it was just too hot for me. We wandered around until we found Hemming Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The staff there was very nice to let us in late after hours. They deserve more recognition as an art destination. It's up to artists now to improve their contribution to the event. I wish I knew who to credit for this mural with the UrbanCore.com sign in it. It was the most memorable thing I saw.

Mouse on Wheels

It's been some time since I posted anything new. During the past six weeks I've had numerous starts on various ideas. I tried working from new drawings, old drawings, photos and directly, without an idea or drawing. Yes, there are times when I don't have a new idea. I just keep trying to make an original picture anyway.
This most recent picture is based on a pencil drawing. I liked the sketch and challenged myself to evolve it into a painting. This one was hard for me. I used no color references or samples. I just followed my whim, so you could call it "whimsical". I had to call it something. Of course, it's not a picture of a mouse but it does have something like wheels. Just last night the image of an item found in Tutankhamun's tomb came to me. It has a similar form to this picture. Can you tell which piece it might be?
There is also a major feature in this painting that I will not reveal until some sharp viewer can guess that also.

All images are copyright Michael Velkovich and my not be reproduced without permission of the artist.

The Musician and the Fish

This figure interested me for some time yet I couldn't resolve a solution to include it in a painting. With the addition of this fish form I setup a relationship between the two. The painted environment was developed gradually. I wanted a new color palette. There needed to be some ambiguity. Is this air or under water? Why does the musician float? I hope there is some suggestion, some connection between the visual elements and music elements.
Here are some detail views.

All images are copyright Michael Velkovich and my not be reproduced without permission of the artist.

Denver Art

I recently returned from Colorado where I had several excellent visual experiences. My brother, Peter, and my nephew, Mark, guided me to some wonderful art and an interesting film. We saw, "Exit Through the Gift Shop". It's a documentary about street art and much more than that. It features some well known types like Banksy and Fairie but the main character is a guy with an obsession. He video tapes his life yet never looks at his tapes. There is a message to this flick and it has to do with the contemporary art market. Wait until the end and you will get it. I enjoyed it especially because I shared it with Mark, a young designer, who just earned his college degree. It was showing at the Mayan Theater on Broadway. This is a great little venue for indie films with interesting decor inside. I recommend seeing them both. As for street art, I enjoyed the early graffiti found in New York City during the 70's more than what is featured in this film. Some of that graffiti could be quite painterly without being pretentious. There is some excellent street art around the world today but I just don't remember seeing much of it in this film.

Denver has made a major commitment to contemporary art, especially outdoor monumental sculpture. To see two of my favorites go to the Denver At Museum and the Hamilton Building designed by Daniel Libeskind. Outside in Martin Plaza you will find "Big Sweep" by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, then look up across the street. You will see "The Shootout" by Red Grooms. The Hamilton Building is striking from the street and can be quite disorienting inside. It must be a tremendous challenge for the museum staff to mount pictures. My favorite sculpture inside is "Floating Man" by Anthony Gormley.

Five Blades

"Five Blades" developed from a pencil sketching session. This one held the most potential. I am including several variations and details.

The painted gradations between colors bring out the form and its surface.  The negative space is brushed with strokes that make the surface appear semi-transparent.  This layering of brushwork creates a visual texture and depth.  The five green blades come forward and hover. Their surface is opaque and creased. The egg is nested in supporting plasma.  Arteries with valves and connections are flowing yellow.  Its shell glows from within yet there is also an external light from below. The lower shell reveals organs with a cool, healthy blue.  These forms are connected to the yellow arteries at poles near the egg's surface.

All images are copyright Michael Velkovich and my not be reproduced without permission.

Le Bicycliste

"Le Bicycliste"

Although this picture is not originally about cycling, the form is clearly there. This recent version is derived from an earlier colored drawing dated September 1981. It's a great pleasure to be able to pick up my older ideas or projects and develop them further. Although there are elements from the past work in this newer version of "Le Bicycliste" their proportions are changed. Much of the texture and color remains. I've included some additional drawings from my sketch books done in the 1970's.

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I still have my French-made Motobecane ten-speed bike that I bought at the PX in Germany in 1977. I've been around Europe and the U.S. with it. There are a lot of great memories of places and rides with that bike. It was my main set of wheels until a few years ago when I upgraded. I still maintain it ready to go. Bicycling is a favorite sport I can still participate in for recreation and I enjoy visiting places that accommodate cyclists. There's much more support in the U.S. for cycling since I returned to the U.S. in 1980. I often see riders around the St. Augustine area and my neighborhood is great for bicycling.

All images are copyright Michael Velkovich and my not be reproduced without permission of the artist.