3BirdNest

–Well, Rembrandt, these are really wonderful paintings.  But you know, I like the backgrounds as much as I like the faces.  What would happen if you just left out the faces?

–I’m interested in faces.

–But I think you say a tremendous amount in those backgrounds.  In a way, they express the faces.  I think you could do without the faces.  Those backgrounds are very, powerful.

–I like faces

–I think you should try more things.  Get away from that gluey paint.  Use more turpenoid.  Use color.  I want to see bright colors. And bigger paintings.  And smaller paintings.  And sculptures.  Why don’t you do sculptures? You know, it won’t hurt to experiment. That’s why you’re in school.

–Okay.

–You know, in five years you won’t be doing this same stuff, nobody works in the same after they get out of school.  So you might as well change now.

 

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This is how I’m feeling right now.  I’m doing some readings on teaching art at the college level and this was included in our packet.  I’ve been called a Neoconservative for painting the figure naturalistically and am at constant struggle making work that requires a significant amount of time and being “relevant.”  I’ve sped up my process considerably and worked with my subject matter, but am continually disappointed with the outcome of the work I spend less time on and am having a hard time tying it together as a result.

I’m getting ready to start a huge project that I’m really excited about but am trying to finish 3 or 4 pieces before our Open Studios on April 8th and 9th so my project has been put on hold.  I have 20 3″ round panels ready to paint the exact same self portrait on each one.  I have drawings transferred on each panel and am going to work on all 20 at the same time, making the same mark on each one before moving onto the second mark.  I have to devote time and energy to only this project or I don’t think it will work.  It will be performative in my action of painting and the process will become incredibly important. The end result will empty the meaning in the portraits.

I have been hesitant to get started on it and other long term pieces (projects) because of the huge time commitment but have finally decided that there is no reason to be making several works that turn out mediocre rather than fewer really nice pieces.  …Hoping this won’t be a problem come Final Reviews in May.

Just yesterday I was waiting for the train and realized I was sliding my feet on the smooth tile I was standing on. Just about a foot away from where I was standing, the tiles were coarse and bumpy. Subconciously, I wanted to be on a smooth surface. I wanted something not that I could feel, but something that was unobtrusive to my activity, be it standing still or dancing.

As I experience the web every day, there are certain sites I enjoy using (e.g. Mint Quora) and there are sites I tolerate using (e.g. ChaseOnline). I believe Facebook also falls into this list of sites that I can barely tolerate to use, but in order to keep up to date with friends and family far away, it is an essential site I visit daily.

Attending the Future of Web Design last October, there was lots of talk about Maslow’s hierarchy and its role in web design. It’s essential that we have a core understanding of this hierarchy before we dive into any of the experiences: mobile, desktop, or even live.

Websites don’t need to be boring, but as people who create them, we need to get out of the way of users while guiding and helping them accomplish the task they came to complete.

Do you agree? Do you think there are times when we should be using tactility in our websites? What are some websites that are essential in your daily life but are hard to use? Feel free to share your thoughts below!

 

December 2010 Statement

My paintings are about failure—we absorb and take-in fragments of ourselves in order to understand the whole, but constantly fail.  I am interested in using cold, tonal colors to paint detached and vulnerable nude figures that are isolated within environments.  The emotional detachment reflects the way in which we attempt to understand our own bodies, psychologically and physically.  The work shows external and internal forces affecting the body, such as atmosphere and alienation.  Skin becomes the container and barrier; it becomes the malleable covering that separates the self from the environment.

The paintings are small and intimate, referencing the miniature in scale and relationship.  Miniature portraits from the 18^th and 19^th centuries were meant to represent the private self as opposed to classical portraiture, which represented the public self.  The intimate view and awkward compositions create a fragmented and uncomfortable position for the viewer that reflects the psychology of the subject.

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This statement describes the new work on my website.  I’m in the process of making more paintings that will fit into this body of work, but extending it into larger narratives that involve more people.  The figures are exposed in private and public spaces, leaving them with a fragile, psychological state.  The small scale of the work gives the viewer a God-like perspective on the figures, but the awkward compositions leave the viewer feeling uneasy about what he/she is viewing and the control he/she should have.

Miniature portraits (worn as necklaces or kept in pockets to keep close to one’s self) were used to remember that which was lost.  In a similar way, the work references a comparable loss–the loss or the missing being the fragmented.  The attempted construction of the self is based on everything going on around us in society, which is continually unstable and broken.

As some of you may know, I completed my third iteration of my portfolio design.  As it has matured, my design skills and ideas have grown with every new thing I’ve learned.

My first portfolio design played a role of displaying and linking to live work I had finished.  I wanted to display my knowledge of the grid while linking to my live work.  The decision to redesign my site came easy because I wasn’t pleased with how static it was or the response it was getting.  There was no reason for visitors to return to my site until I had completely finished a project and launched a new website.

My second iteration showed technical skills but lacked consistency on mobile devices.  This design still only linked to live work and didn’t demonstrate my need to design.  My site analytics were showing a high bounce rate and low time on site.  If I wanted to get a job in New York City, I needed potential employers to spend time on my site looking at my work.  Inspired by Mig Reyes’ sandbox, I thought, “Why not make my whole portfolio a sandbox?”  So the gears started cranking and I finally came up with a portfolio site I’m really happy with.  It’s an ongoing process that will never be finished–in fact even now I know the navigation is not ideal, and will be looking into better ways to make it more clickable.

What do you think of the changes to my site and do you have any suggestions to improve it?

Lots of things have happened in the last few months, and now that we’re finally settled in things have become a little more familiar.  Lately I’ve noticed a lot of fight or flight mentality in both of our everyday activities.  Moving here from Nebraska with no idea how different life would be was very invigorating and a little bit frightening at the same time.

I think the scariest thing I’ve had to do is walk into a room full of people I don’t know, and just start introducing myself, but so far it has proven to be very successful.  Every person I’ve met has given me another piece of advice on living in the city and getting connected.  I am staying positive and taking in every piece of advice I receive.

Being an outgoing person in New York has proven to be easier said than done, but as I continue to step outside of my comfort zone, meet new people and get connected in this huge city, my confidence is growing every day and every new event I attend.  I hope to be at my “outgoing best” by the time I attend the Future of Web Design Conference in November.  For now, I’ll just keep designing, and be happy doing it.

As I prepare for my interviews, do you have any tips to stand out over the other interviewees?