Art. What do you like?

Art. What do you like?

by Nfidel | Published on August 25th, 2008, 10:52 pm | Arts

There have been some good posts and discussions here about music and film. We seem to never touch on the other arts though. So I was wondering, what in the art world interests you. I'm sure we have some talented folks who read here and some who post here.

What arts or crafts do you create? Are you just an admirer of the arts? If so, that's great too. Where do you go to get your fix on a regular basis? What are the local festivals you attend? What galleries both local and remote do you visit? If you're an artist or craftsman, do you show your work somewhere or is it strictly for your own enjoyment? How'd you get started in your chosen area of interest?

Don't be shy. Post some photos of your work. Post links to the galleries you frequent. I'll even start it off.

I knew almost nothing about art until a few years ago. I'm in the construction business and thought it would be good to have some quality photos of past work to show to potential customers. I bought a little point and shoot camera and soon found I liked making photos. My children invited me to a "gallery hop" in Winston Salem and I was just awestruck, and not just by the photographs. These things incited my love for art. Since then, I've taken a crappy course in photography and tried to familiarize myself with the general history of art. I'm to the point that I have favorites in most fields and some I detest. Still, I've hardly scratched the surface. There is a lot to catch up on, for this old f---er*.

I frequently attend the First Friday Gallery Hop in Winston Salem. The action is centered around the intersection of Sixth and Trade streets. Roads in the arts district are blocked off. There is usually music, maybe some fire/ belly dancing, maybe a drum circle and all the galleries are open until 10 pm. There are highbrow galleries and the more down to earth ones. There is art by the young and old. D.A.D.A. of Winston-Salem

I'm not too shy, and to show I'm as self serving as the next guy, I'll post one of my photos from a recent gallery event in Winston. I think this was from one of the Summer On Trade events they have some weekends. In the photo below, I was actually trying to get a good picture of the framed photo above the dinosaur's head. It's mine too, the framed pic, not the dino.

*(Thanks for the George Carlin CD, SFI).

Arts... I dabble in writing, but I appear to suck at it. Other than that, creativity is well beyond my limited abilities.

As to what I like, I prefer to see classic art: paintings that depict recognizable shapes, sculpture, that sort of thing.

Regarding sculpture, I was always puzzled by Rodin. If you go to the Rodin Museum in Paris (just across from Les Invalides, IIRC) you find the ONLY art museum I ever went to in Paris that forbids people to take photos of "the Master's Work." Like he was some sort of god of sculpture. IMO, he was very good, but I prefer Michelangelo's stuff myself.

You write well here sir. I've yet to get to your site and read but I still plan to. You write in my favorite genre, by the way.

I really admire the dedication writers must have. I don't know if it's because I especially despise doing any type of paper work or what. My son can spend hours, as must you, hunched over the keyboard creating worlds and be giddy about it. I do not have the patience. When I capture a good photo, I think it is wonderful until I have viewed it two or three times, then the familiarity with it causes me be begin doubting it. Even so, I have only limited control of and blame for what is in the photo. In writing, one is the all powerful creator. Every word is crafted by you and you are to blame for the outcome, good or bad. Maybe too, because I'm used to working more with my hands than my brain do I view writing as one of the more difficult of the arts. I can imagine myself painting or sculpting, because I'm quite capable physically if not creatively. I guess with writing the physical aspect is not there.

I love the arts. I'm stronger in music and writing. Visual arts, not so strong, but I can tell you when I see something that I like and might be able to figure out what it is that I like about it. I don't know enough about painting, drawing, photography, film, sculpture to easily pinpoint an element that appeals to me. I do know that I am drawn to things with interesting use of light.

Serendipitous wrote: I do know that I am drawn to things with interesting use of light.

Have you been to the NC Museum of Art? I was amazed that some, well many, of the paintings seemed to glow with an inner light. It was no trick of the lighting arrangement either. I encourage everyone to visit the museum. I think no matter what level of interest one has in the arts, they will find something there that will awe them.

Nfidel wrote:Have you been to the NC Museum of Art? I was amazed that some, well many, of the paintings seemed to glow with an inner light. It was no trick of the lighting arrangement either. I encourage everyone to visit the museum. I think no matter what level of interest one has in the arts, they will find something there that will awe them.

I went to the museum when they were doing that exhibition of Monet. The exhibit was absolutely gorgeous. My favorite was a snow landscape that was just haunting.

After wallowing in the Monets, we had lunch in the restaurant (not the best place to eat, we discovered) and went upstairs to see what the normal exhibits held. I have to say -- it's a great collection. I didn't spend much time in the modern art section, because I couldn't make heads or tails of a lot of the stuff there. But then we got to the ancient and classic areas, and I was blown away. This is a museum that the entire state can be proud of. It's definitely worth spending a day or two exploring and soaking up the great art there.

Anything with wood... but not your traditional stuff like tables and dressers. I like stuff you have bend and twist the wood and push it to it's limits.... especially canoes.

Nothing museum quality but my skills are increasing.

SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:
After wallowing in the Monets, we had lunch in the restaurant (not the best place to eat, we discovered) and went upstairs to see what the normal exhibits held. I have to say -- it's a great collection. I didn't spend much time in the modern art section, because I couldn't make heads or tails of a lot of the stuff there.

With modern stuff, I usually ignore any stated meaning of the piece if it's not obvious and just enjoy the color and form. I wish I could spend a complete day just on the modern section upstairs just gawking.

But then we got to the ancient and classic areas, and I was blown away. This is a museum that the entire state can be proud of. It's definitely worth spending a day or two exploring and soaking up the great art there.

Agreed. I thought there was going to be sculpture of Barney Fife and Opie, but the NC Museum of Art is an impressive place. Not that there is anything wrong with Barney and Opie. If you're into that, though, you need to go to Mt Airy.

Matt wrote:Anything with wood... but not your traditional stuff like tables and dressers. I like stuff you have bend and twist the wood and push it to it's limits.... especially canoes.

Nothing springs to mind, but I'm sure they do have some works made of wood. They have a Louise Nevelson piece there. Here's a link to one of here creations, but not the one at the NC museum. LINK.
There is a building across from the N C Museum of Natural Sciences, might be a section of it, that might have more of what you're interested in. I remember they had some huge, ornate hand carved wooden bed frames. I'll ask my daughter when she gets home. She went with me and has a better memory.

Nothing museum quality but my skills are increasing.

What do you do with wood? I seem to remember a long ago thread about boats. Do you build them?

If you can, you should go to the Gallery Hop in Winston Salem. There are a few galleries that always have some projects of wood. Most are small craft works, not on a large scale but interesting none the less.

I'm a huge fan of MATT RINARD.
I love his whimsical themes - particulary fond of his 'jazz' works.

I also like JAMES MICHALOPOULOS.
I love his abstracts - lots of energy!

I've done a couple of paintings...you know the kind you do when you need something on the wall in the living room to match the couch.....I'll have to get a snap or two to post here when I can.

Cheers all!

I used to freelance, but you'll never catch me posting any of it. :lol:

I agree with what everyone has said about the NC museum of art. Its a fantastic place to lose yourself.

Thanks for the links, Roknroller. I especially liked the paintings by JAMES MICHALOPOULOS.

I've done a couple of paintings...you know the kind you do when you need something on the wall in the living room to match the couch.....I'll have to get a snap or two to post here when I can.

I barely have the talent to paint the wall. Can't wait to see what you've got.

Sanjuro wrote:I used to freelance, but you'll never catch me posting any of it.

Freelance writing? Did you ghostwrite for Orson Scott Card?

I agree with what everyone has said about the NC museum of art. Its a fantastic place to lose yourself.

I don't think that anyone has yet mentioned that admission to the NC Museum of Art is FREE!

Nfidel wrote:Freelance writing? Did you ghostwrite for Orson Scott Card?

Oh ha ha.. no sir.. freelance portraits and graphic design

Nfidel wrote:What do you do with wood? I seem to remember a long ago thread about boats. Do you build them?

I design wooden canoes and kayak but also build them now and again for personal use. Fooled around with some wall-sized versions.

I tried designing a dining room chair made from steam-bent strips of cedar but I couldn't get the design shape to look right on the computer. My desire was to make the entire chair from one continuous strand of wood but it just wouldn't flow to where it was pleasing to the eye.

Sanjuro wrote:Oh ha ha.. no sir.. freelance portraits and graphic design

You forget my age. In another time, your statement might mean something completely different than today. I'm assuming the portraits were either photographs or painting unless you were the guy with the booth at the fair that does pencil charactures on the spot. Graphic design in the 70's would mean printing, dyes and ink. All of it now can be done electronically. So help me out here. What do you mean? I am clueless.

Nfidel wrote:
Sanjuro wrote:Oh ha ha.. no sir.. freelance portraits and graphic design

You forget my age. In another time, your statement might mean something completely different than today. I'm assuming the portraits were either photographs or painting unless you were the guy with the booth at the fair that does pencil charactures on the spot. Graphic design in the 70's would mean printing, dyes and ink. All of it now can be done electronically. So help me out here. What do you mean? I am clueless.

I painted portraits of people, pets, etc (usually) from photos I would snap. I designed logos for businesses using both hand and photoshop techniques along with advertising layouts, websites, T-shirt designs, etc depending on the job.

Matt wrote:I design wooden canoes and kayak but also build them now and again for personal use. Fooled around with some wall-sized versions.

The wall size being for display of the craftsmanship? A practical item elevated to art. I like that. Are your designs based on some of the older types of canoes and kayaks? Or are they more or less what I'd expect to see on the river, except made of wood and not plastic, but with obviously more time invested in the construction? Or are your designs hybrids?

I find it interesting that different regions developed different styles of canoes and boats. I like it when they fish one out of the muck in some river or bog and find that it's several hundred years old. I saw a program on UNC-TV or maybe I read an article in the paper about a type of boat, IIRC, that was built by the locals in the swamps in north eastern North Carolina. It seems it was designed to be a silent workhorse, but required a lot of skill just to keep it from capsizing.

I've always been fascinated by both canoes and kayaks but have owned neither. I've never been in a kayak. I would love to have one to navigate the rocky section of the Yadkin river I live close to. (although just now one can walk it)

I tried designing a dining room chair made from steam-bent strips of cedar but I couldn't get the design shape to look right on the computer. My desire was to make the entire chair from one continuous strand of wood but it just wouldn't flow to where it was pleasing to the eye.

That would have been interesting. Cedar is interesting in itself. Maybe you'll come back to it some day.

Sanjuro wrote:
I painted portraits of people, pets, etc (usually) from photos I would snap. I designed logos for businesses using both hand and photoshop techniques along with advertising layouts, websites, T-shirt designs, etc depending on the job.

See I knew we had hidden talent around here.

The wall-hanger would be the smaller one. Maybe 3-4 feet long. Depends on how the raw material reacts to taking the shape. As you scale down, it gets harder to bend and twist the wood.

I design a few canoe and kayaks for performance and speed and they are burners. But like you said, they can start getting "twitchy". No fun to play around in for the average paddler. I usually aim toward the recreational market.

For my own personal tastes, I really like the classic "trapper" style canoes. Like this one:

I plan on building something similar to it this fall.

I'll probably revisit the chair idea again. Just need to stumble on the right inspiration.

Matt wrote:The wall-hanger would be the smaller one. Maybe 3-4 feet long. Depends on how the raw material reacts to taking the shape. As you scale down, it gets harder to bend and twist the wood.

I guess that would limit size. I wouldn't have thought about that.

I design a few canoe and kayaks for performance and speed and they are burners. But like you said, they can start getting "twitchy". No fun to play around in for the average paddler. I usually aim toward the recreational market.

Something handcrafted that well must go to a high end niche market. How many hours does the construction take for you or have you been afraid to keep up with the time? I would be.

For my own personal tastes, I really like the classic "trapper" style canoes. Like this one:

That's beautiful. Is that cedar?

I plan on building something similar to it this fall.

I'll probably revisit the chair idea again. Just need to stumble on the right inspiration.

Good luck on both counts. I hope you'll share some photos of your progress.

Matt wrote:
Nfidel wrote:What do you do with wood? I seem to remember a long ago thread about boats. Do you build them?

I design wooden canoes and kayak but also build them now and again for personal use. Fooled around with some wall-sized versions.

I tried designing a dining room chair made from steam-bent strips of cedar but I couldn't get the design shape to look right on the computer. My desire was to make the entire chair from one continuous strand of wood but it just wouldn't flow to where it was pleasing to the eye.

This works - but takes a bit longer

A Person wrote:
This works - but takes a bit longer
treechair.jpg

That would probably take more years than I have.