Summer Art Show

On July 6th, I drove to Baton Rouge to hang my art in a small group art show at the Louisiana State Archives. The other artists in the show are: Yvette Creel, Chase Innes, Danny Izzo, Linda Marr and Pam Soileau, This show called, “Summer Art Show,” is a mixture of art genres. This show is up through Friday, July 29, 2011. The gallery space is accessible from the front lobby. The building hours are from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Below are photos from the exhibit. The first two photos include my
six pieces. To see closer views of these works, go to my blog,
art at random. The other photos contain the other artists’ works.

dotartdude

For a while now I've wanted to make a video that included my dot artwork. This is what resulted from a whimsical stab at video editing. The eight paintings in the video are the ones that started me on this journey.


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Experimental Acrylic Techniques Workshop

Last June, I gave a presentation to the members of the West Bank Art Guild. I discussed my art surreal artwork and demonstrated some experimental acrylic painting techniques. After I was finished, several of the members asked me to have a workshop. Today I finally conducted a workshop on “experimental acrylic techniques.” I encouraged the artists, who attended, to try different methods. Some even came up with their own ideas. Below is a photo from the workshop. The left painting involved creating rock textures using a toothbrush. The right painting involved pressing my palette with excess paint against a fresh canvas. Everyone had fun.

Sons of Ginger Rose 3

Given the response to my video “Puppy Whining,” today I filmed a new video of a puppy whining. Last night Ginger Rose, who was in the original video, gave birth to two sons. So this is the first day of life for the two pups. Already, one is more vocal than the other. Ginger Rose will be four years old in June.


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Artist Listing

Not long ago the Arts Council of New Orleans introduced the site Arts New Orleans for listing of local people and organizations in the arts. Earlier in the week I added an artist listing for myself. From exploring the site, I see there are more features coming.

Custom Blog Backgrounds

In March I was very excited about Blogger’s new templates. My only complaint was the inability to use my own photos. Today I noticed a Blogger post announcing that that ability is now available. So this afternoon I changed all my blog backgrounds. I soon learned that some design elements need to be tweaked in Advanced Settings. Over the next week I’ll be deciding which ones work and which ones don’t.

Experimental Techniques in Acrylic Demonstration

On June 24th I demonstrated experimental techniques using acrylic paints at a West Bank Art Guild meeting. I filled the room with some large works that I painted between 1985 and 1988 as well as a couple from 1993. Before demonstrating, I passed around some of how-to books for my fellow artists to browse. Then came the messy part. I dripped and imprinted a variety of methods jumping from canvas to canvas. Several of the artists present expressed interest in a future workshop.

My Top Video for Three Years!

Three years ago today I uploaded some videos of my sister’s three-week-old poodle puppies. They had just started walking. Three months later I noticed that my top video was one of these videos. It had 934 views. In August, the following year, the video climbed to over 20,000 views. In 2009 it went over 30,000 in March, 50,000 in April and 100,000 by May. Today the video is up to 171,877 as I write this post. On June 7th I made a birthday video that included the parents and all three puppies. Below are the two videos: my highest viewed video and the birthday video.


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"e" Series Reaction

On October 1st, 2009 I began posting dot art paintings from a group called “e” Series Reaction. They follow some paintings that were more homogeneous in color and design, my “Alpha Series.” However, I felt constrained by my process. Hence, I dubbed this new group “Reaction.”

Many of the images were inspired by artwork I’ve seen. Other paintings draw upon specific objects, places and experiences between April and June of 2007. For the moment I’ve stuck to the vowels for grouping my works. “e” follows “a” this time around. There’s some overlap in the time period from “a” Series Next. I did some rearranging of my idea list along the way. Below are all the paintings in a checkerboard slideshow.

Now I am ready to go back to the 6” x 6” size canvases and paint abstract patterns without a story. In the meantime I will be editing my ideas list down some more. When I return to the smaller size, I will finish the second half of the “e” Series.

New Templates!

Tonight I discovered that Blogger is now offering the ability to create new templates with more flexibility than in the past. Needless to say, I jumped on the chance to change my templates right away. I’ve been frustrated with the old choices. At this time I am not married to my new designs, but I need to experiment. There are some kinks I need to work out still.

My Website Has Been Moved

Google recently moved my website from Google Pages to Google Sites. I just discovered this tonight. All my blogs have been updated with the new address for my website known as Dot Central. The new address is

http://sites.google.com/site/dotartdude2/

There's not a big difference between the two versions, but I was happier with the old interface. I've already tried to correct some formatting changes that occurred during the transfer process.

Display at AEDF Luncheon

At today’s luncheon of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF), I displayed my dot art paintings. I was there to represent ARTinA (Art in Algiers). I set up an A-frame full of my paintings near the entrance to the dining area at the Aurora Country Club. Before and after the luncheon attendees had a chance to view my work.Several folks complemented
my pieces.

The Alpha Alpha Series!

It’s been a little over four months and I have finally completed my Alpha Alpha Series. The paintings mark a journey back to a process I used on some 6” x 6” dot paintings I call the “Greek Code Series.” Each painting was named after a letter in the Greek Alphabet. Since all the names in the new bunch begin with “Alpha,” I figured I’d name this group the “Alpha Series.” For a while I couldn’t find that size. Once I did, however, I ordered a bunch of them. Below are the paintings in a checkerboard slideshow.

As I started posting photos of my new works, a friend mentioned that they looked like mandalas. Well, that was not the intent of these works per se, but I went ahead and continued to pattern them in a similar way. Because of some an upcoming show I will return to the smaller size as I begin the “e” Series. Simultaneously I will be working on some more 6” x 6”‘s and 20” x 20”’s. When I have more information will post it.

First Ultra HD Flip Cam Video: Mannequin

Recently I purchased an Ultra HD Flip Cam. Here is the first video I shot with the new camera. I simply secured a mannequin to a lazy susan and placed flashlights in spots around the mannequin. The music is “Soaring” from iLife Sounds.


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