The LGBT Pictionary: Part III

Gay and Vivacious

I describe the idea-making-paperwork (ideation process) necessary to begin actual work on the first batch of artworks in the LGBT Pictionary.

I began work on the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Pictionary in the spring of 2012, and it is no surprise that “gay” was the first word that occurred to me. After all, I am gay. Then I thought to look at synonyms and antonyms for gay, and added “Vivacious,” “Jaunty,” and “Festive” to a list of possible paintings to make. I moved on to look at historic words used to denigrate LGBT people with the idea that I would reappropriate them in the more positive light of our times in which LGBT people have fought and continue to fight for recognition as equal to their heterosexual brothers and sisters. I also thought to look at historic symbols used against by and for various groupings within the LGBT category, like the pink triangle symbol. It was first used in Nazi Germany as a uniform patch to be worn by gay men in the concentration camps. Today that negative has been turned into a positive as gay men and women turn the Nazi triangle upside down so that it points up instead of down. The list of words grew until it filled a one page Microsoft Word document in two columns before I ever lifted brush to paint.

By May, 2012 I had begun to collect text and images that I thought might be appropriate to words on my list. I made a new list of images I would need to photograph for use in the first set of five artworks for the Pictionary.

Finally, in July, 2013 I began work on the first four, 8 x 8 inch squares that would become “Gay,” “Sapphic,” “Pink Triangle,” and “Vivacious.” Gay and Vivacious were the second and first artworks in the series to be completed on August 1st, and 8th respectively.

I will talk more about the techniques I used in making of these artworks in a future entry.

LGBT Pictionary: Part II

Sapphic means "poetic, and or relating to Sappho." The word "sapphic" is based on the ancient Greek poetess, Sappho who wrote magnificent works to women, and is assumed to have been lesbian, or at least bisexual.

The mixed media distressed painting is a small work, 8: x 8.” It is floating in a 10” square frame with a 1” space around it. The “floating” framing technique makes the artwork look as though it is hovering in space, a look I like for the small works in the LGBT Pictionary.

Several people have suggested turning this project into a book, and I like the idea. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to begin such a process. Does anyone have suggestions as to how to begin such a project? I already have 32 artworks, and more in process. However, I need help with who to talk to, presentation for getting the appropriate people (company) on board to create the book.

LGBT Pictionary

It's about time I added the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pictionary to this blog.

A-list, (8" x 8") June 7, 2013

I have 32 of these new mixed media distressed paintings that were created for the June Gay Pride month last spring, 2013 display at Camp Reho both in Delaware. Some of the paintings are currently on display at Storks Bakery and Cafe in Fort Lauderdale, FL, through January 3, 2014. I will upload jpeg images of the works to this blog 2 or 3 at a time until all are here.

Same Sex Marriage (Gay Marriage) 8" x 8," September 28, 2012

The original small mixed media distressed paintings are available framed (they float in a 10" square format for $145.00 ea. There are larger works that are more expensive and I will point those out with dimensions and prices listed when I place them on display here. Prints of these artworks may also be purchased for $25.00 ea., unframed.

Fun in the Sun (18" x 24" by 2" deep)

Upon first examination, "Fun in the Sun" is just as the title implies, a light hearted look at fun in the sun and on the beach. However, buried under the layers of paint, some completely hidden are my personal subversive fears and concerns about clean, safe, water being destroyed by our culture's oil dependency and general profligacy. Of course my fear is based in reality. The Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20th, 2010 and the subsequent Brobdingnagian oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico has all but been forgotten, though dead turtles and poupoises continue to wash ashore in Alabama, Louisiana and Florida, and marshlands continue to die as well.

I hope the "WATERWORKS" will serve to remind people that they depend on oceans and marshlands, not just for fun, but for their very lives.

More Waterworks

Two new mixed media distressed paintings

Clean Water, mixed media distressed paint, July 16, 2011(8" x 8")

I'm still hopping to put together a show of all "The Waterworks," including the mixed media distressed paintings, photo montages, and pastels. Meanwhile, these very small artworks should move better than the larger pieces. So, I'm cranking them out.

Life Without Clean Safe Water, mixed media distressed paint, July 16, 2011 (8" x 8")

"All These Thoughts"

I finished the first in a new batch of the small mixed media distressed paintings yesterday. All of these little works (part of a larger body of mixed media distressed paintings) are 8 x 8 inch squares. Hopefully many people will be able to purchase these inexpensive artworks. I so enjoy the process of working on the distressed paintings because of their accidental nature. It is so difficult to predict what will happen in each layer of the painting, and I maintain control over that through hard-lined division of space based on the American Precisionist paintings of people like Charles Demuth. This batch of paintings is part of the "Waterworks," all art about WATER in capital letters, the ocean, fresh water lakes, rivers! Because I live near two beaches and coastal water systems I have become supremely aware of the threat our litter and use of dirty energy poses to water, to all aquatic life, and by extension to all life on earth, including each and every human being. My hope is that everyone becomes more aware of the necessity of unpolluted water to their very existence on this earth!

Safe Beach

John Bittinger Klomp, "Safe Beach" (12" x 14")

This is the first frame I have sculpted. I made it as part of a lesson in Mixed Media taught at Lighthouse Art Center. There are many connections with other artists that build/make their own frames or containers for their artwork. Joseph Cornell's assemblage provides wonderful historical examples of constructed containers/boxes.

Joseph Cornell, "Unititled (Tilly Losch)" 1935-38*

Instead of starting from scratch, I bought a small raw wood frame and sculpted with craft clay over top. I glued actual beach sand and shells to the clay, gilded and stained the finished product. I'm pleased with the results, but want to take this further. In the future I will do more of these frames and boxes with found objects, gild and distress them in ways similar to the paintings that will go in them.




*Joseph Cornell (American, 1903-1972). Untitled (Tilly Losch), ca. 1935–38. Box construction. 10 x 9 1/4 x 2 1/8 in. (25.4 x 23.5 x 5.4 cm). Found at About.com, http://arthistory.about.com/od/from_exhibitions/ig/jcsfmoma_1107/jcni_02.htm. The Robert Lehrman Art Trust, Courtesy Aimee and Robert Lehrman, Washington, D.C. Photo: Mark Gulezian/Quicksilver. © The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation / Licensed by VAGA, New York. It is known that use of copyrighted images for one time scholarly porposes is lawful under USA copyright.