April 26, 2024
Volume 186
A glimpse of something honest
Curated by Michael O'Guinn
Abstract Artist
I consider myself to be a neo-expressionist. I’m influenced by Expressionist painters of the 50’s and 60’s but my work has a contemporary urban aesthetic.
My paintings are comprised of quick choices made in the moment as I create, often influenced by music I listen to or memories I tap into as a piece is made. I try to consider big emotions as I work and incorporate juxtapositions, fluidity/bold or chaos/structure. I like to merge seemingly opposing visual elements to create something with balance, my hope being that the end product is evocative to the viewer. Jerry Saltz recently expanded on De Kooning’s quote, “Content is a glimpse.” Saltz said he’s seen glimpses in certain artists or musicians like Billie Holiday, Dolly and Kurt Cobain, noting “It’s the sight or sound of someone turning himself inside out, so that one of the selves inside can momentarily appear. When someone renders something this raw this well, it begins a journey into forever.” I try to put myself into an open state when I make things in hopes that I render a glimpse of something honest that is visually interesting. Art itself (particularly abstract art) does not cure the world’s problems, but my belief is that those glimpses of vulnerability or visceral commentary put onto a canvas is symbolic of being able to really see each other, and feel something. That’s where the meaning comes in for me.
I have a show running from April 1 to 30th at Helena Mason Gallery in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone. I just had my opening reception on April 13th and it was so fun connecting with new artists and art lovers in the area.
What's been keeping you grounded?
01 WHAT'S KEEPING ME GROUNDED
I traveled up to Seattle recently with my wife and son and found so much inspiration through the sites/scenes and the joy of experiencing it with my favorite people. We went to the MoPop museum and soaked in the history of punk/grunge culture, ate at the best little French restaurant called Le Pichet, and walked the city, checking out the gritty cityscape. My paintings are often driven by the feel of music I'm listening to and the music born out of the PNW has always been a major source of inspo. Moody greens, misty whites and drips, black spray paint and rough textures often fill my canvases; something that mirrors the refined grunge of Seattle. I left the city filled with inspiration and painted 10 paintings in two weeks once I was back in the studio. I tend to work in bursts when I'm moved to create, and February/March was a productive period for me.
What are you into lately?
02 QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I believe it was John Cage who once told me, ‘When you start working, everybody is in your studio—the past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideas—all are there. But as you continue painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you’re lucky, even you leave.’”
—Philip Guston quoting John Cage.
This is one of those quotes that applies to any creative medium, whether it's painting or fashion design. It's when we're really present and tune out the noise, that our best stuff typically emerges.
WHAT IM ROCKIN
I'm living in my Shepherds Shirt and Shop Tee. I dress the Shepherds Shirt up a bit for gallery events and wear it super casually around town and skating with my son around Solvang and Santa Barbara. Just trying not to get paint on them!
Poem of the Week
03 WHAT I'M DRINKING
Negronis
Negronis from the Good Lyon in Santa Barbara. Before every show, I go to this awesome little cocktail bar in the arts district and grab one. It's become a fun ritual.
What are you reading?
04 WHAT I'M UP TO, HEALTH-WISE
Running
Last year I battled with a herniated disc and I'm just now at a point where I can return to my normal routine. I like to run a lot. I'm a pretty anxiety plagued person and running grounds me, quells the nerves typically, and tends to open up creative thought as I'm doing it. I'm only two weeks back into the routine and it feels good.
What are you drinking?
05 WHAT I'M READING
Art is Life
It's a memoir of sorts by New York Magazine writer Jerry Saltz. It explores the history of art Saltz has seen and been inspired by (or not) over the past 40 years or so.
There's one quote that stuck out to me that ties into what I try to do and how I've felt this past month. He was writing about raw/visceral art that moves you, whether visual, musical, whatever. He mentioned Billie Holiday, Dolly and Kurt Cobain, noting “It’s the sight or sound of someone turning himself inside out, so that one of the selves inside can momentarily appear. When someone renders something this raw this well, it begins a journey into forever.”
When I was in Seattle, I went back to exploring a lot of Cobain's early music along with other punk/grunge bands of the late ’80s and felt these glimpses Saltz was talking about. It's a feeling you get when you know someone is really putting all of themselves out there in a moment, and when I see or hear that, it inspires me to create. For me, that's true art, the ability to make others want to make stuff (in any medium).
What are you listening to?
06 WHAT I'M INTO LATELY
’80s Punk/Grunge Music
Stranger Things and punk/grunge music from the late ’80s. They kind of go together given the time frame Stranger Things is set. I watched it previously but my son is now of age to see it and I'm revisiting it with him and my wife. Every night we watch one to two episodes together after dinner. I just love these types of periods in life.
Quote of the Week
07 WHAT I'M LISTENING TO
My playlist, “OG Tracks”
As mentioned, I've been into the punk/grunge stuff from the late 80's. I've also been listening to some underground hip-hop/rap, Aesop Rock and this awesome perfromance artist I recently found called The Buttress. It's all pretty visceral stuff lately that's been fueling the creative process and impacting aesthetic of what I'm putting out. Listen on Spotify.
