Trying to catch up......
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Trying to catch up......
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The first quarter of the year went well. I experimented with some new drawing techniques. Using a skill saw to make marks and textures. It was interesting and I like the outcome. It was harder to erase than traditional media though.
I also made a trek to St. George to ride Gooseberry mesa with my brothers in law. It was more fun this year with some bike experience under my belt. Challenging and some of the most beautiful views in the world.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
MICHAEL CLARK
Artist Statement
When making these Rothkoesk, more minimalist works, my inspiration came from the horizontal lines and large fields of color found in the landscape that describe a vast panoramic view. The addition of texture, physical as well as visual, represents to me the up close and personal landscape. For example, the walls of a rock cliff, the side of a canyon, or even a rock mound at the state park. Landscape you can put your hands on.
To me, this combination of vast panoramic vistas coupled with the personal and textural qualities, give these pieces a life and environment of their own. Although these pieces start out as landscapes in my mind, they finish up as something else: they become their own reality less about landscape and more about paint and texture, beauty and history.
Beauty today is esteemed by the perfectness of a thing. Or, in reality, perfection is achieved by the ability to cover up imperfections. Images are airbrushed, cropping and filters are used, all with the purpose of making a more acceptable and palatable image.
To create works using rough and uneven textures, materials that are typically discarded, sand and earth, areas of paint that have worn off allowing past marks of history to show through, is rewarding because it celebrates beauty in its imperfections. All these imperfections work together to create beautiful and interesting visual works.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
They have recently joined in a partnership with Horizon Art, an exclusive custom frame shop located in the Arizona Design Center in Scottsdale, to supply high end fine art through their professional showroom.
If you are an individual with excellent taste and desire an original painting from Michael Clark in the Phoenix, Arizona area, please contact:
Costello-Childs Contemporary Fine Art, in downtown Phoenix, Arizona
costellochildsart.com
602.252.3610
or
Horizon Art
horizonart.com
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Due to much ridicule and banter, as well as embarrassment on my part, it is time to update.
Much has happened since the last posting. My work has changed quite a bit. I am quite happy with the changes and the direction of the work.
I was in conversation with a friend and colleague over another artists work. The comment was made something to the effect, "I like the work but is it realism or abstraction, it doesn't seem to know."
It took a day or two but I realized he was talking about me. Which put me to thinking.
For some time now I have not been able to let go of the realism aspect of my work. I finally just let go. I spent a month or so making works that were very experimental for me. Splattering paint, collage work, assemblage, and gestural and controlled abstract experiments. Mostly exercises, and challenges to keep me out of my comfort zone. And as with most challenges in life, after the pain and suffering, the lessons learned were well worth the pain.
The end result was that I discovered how much I love texture. The discovery of adding materials to the under painting to create different effects has been quite liberating and rewarding.
When I go to museums and galleries and see the original works, I love the added bonus of noticing the under drawing or layers of paint that reveal the working history and a glimpse of the thought process involved in the creation of the work. That bit of insight or discovery adds appreciation, enjoyment, and personal value to the viewing.
That bit of understanding of my viewing tastes, lead me to the use of texture and adding of materials to the base, or under painting process of the work.
The general composition of horizontal lines started out as simplified, abstracted versions of the landscape, with the patterns representing the flat signs and billboards that litter the landscape.
The color harmonies and how they work together, the texture and how it functions with the colors creates underlying composition. A bonus you get when noticing a small piece of color peeking out at you, or a texture that sparks your interest. These subtle things make you consider the history and process of the paintings creation. These are the driving force behind the work presently.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
The Painting ConderWhiteSpiral, 30" x 84", Oil on Board, 2007, is a commission piece for Mike and Carley Conder, of
With this particular piece we had the chance to work together and design the size and material of the painting to fit in a particular space of their collection. It was a pleasure to collaborate and work together on this piece with two such professionals.