Work in Progress

So, as you may have been noticing, this summer has seen a definite increase in blog activity, as well as art production, but it is rarely at a pace that is fast enough for me. One of the challenges in being a working artist, a productive artist, is finding enough time and energy to do all that you need to in order to keep up with everything you want to achieve. 

This particular piece is in progress, that would explain the different look of the photo posted. However, I feel that it is important to include people in the process with I create my work. Kiyomi, of http://kiyomimusic.com/ - she keeps a very well developed blog and talks about a lot of different aspects of her creative process. I thought about this and felt that I should be keeping a better record of my processes and thinking patterns as I make art. 

This particular piece represents the beginning of a shift in my work. I have been doing a lot of work in color pens and ball point pen, with the occasional accent of watercolor. I am going to start moving towards different materials and media, as well as a shift in content as well. Although, the content here is in line with what I have been doing lately. See the image below for a comparison to a recent image. 

The shift here starts with the use of Prismacolor color pencils. There are a lot of products made by Prismacolor, but these pencils have a type of oil base for them and give them the unique look at that you see in the picture. If you want to find out more about the pencils, look here. Prismacolor pencils are incredibly useful and are used a great deal by myself and my family in the creation of our art. Anytime you make a shift in media and materials, there is an adjustment period. The adjustments may be small or big, but there are adjustments all the same. I have continued with the subconscious imagery that has been present in much of my work lately, but ideas have come that move me back to a direction that is more architectural. I explored this type of subject years ago, and here and there in the recent past. However, I feel that this current shift will become more prevalent as I have the chance to work with it. 

Please keep in touch and look for this current completed work and for the new work in the new direction. There is no news about about upcoming shows, other than that September will be big and the date of September 27 is still in effect for us. We will be posting online galleries for both shows in September. Thanks for reading and keep up with us!

-Jesse Brown

A New Drawing on my way to 50!

As you can see, I am continuing forward with my quest to finish 50 new pieces by September 1. Sometimes these pieces really flow and are easy, and other times it does not flow so well. What I have discovered over the course of time in my art career is that art is very peculiar. You can try to break it down so it is more logical, more methodical, and makes sense. However, sometimes it is just so much easier to just go with your feelings and your instincts. This particular drawing felt right. It was inspired by one that I sold in October of last year. However, with this one, I created a stronger diagonal flow that goes from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. But the other thing that flows too is the color. My color is not logical, it is emotional. Sometimes the color flow, as I spoke about above. Other times, the colors are more...jumbled. In those pieces I usually don't share so much. I think part of that reason, though, is because my feelings are inconsistent and my flow is consistent. Chaotic feelings can lead to inconsistent coloring for me. However, for this one, I am quite happy with the result and they way it flows all the way around. I was not sure if it was done at first, but then I finally decided it was. 

I imagine that some of you may be wondering about the random number of 50. What is 50 about? I may have mentioned it before, but let me get a bit more into it. First, we have a few big shows coming up in the fall, so I want to have at least 50 put together by the time September 1st rolls around because the fall can get very busy and, like it or not, it takes time for me to organize shows and events. It takes time away from making art. Even this summer I am somewhat distracted since I am doing a lot of research for the potential opening of our own gallery. However, a lot has to happen before that can be done, and the first ting that is going to happen is a show in September and some art festivals later in the fall. So, there are going to be a lot of opportunities to see our family's art. Please stay tuned for the announcement of the time and place of our one day September show. 

This current series, the surreal/cubist series that I have been focusing on, will start slowing down soon. I have an idea for a new series and new direction. That is not to say I will stop this current series/style entirely, but sometimes it is good to change and make a shift, at least for a little while. Even so, it is not a completely new shift. If all goes as I am planning, (in art, we can change our minds so quickly about what we feel like focusing on), I am going to move more in an architectural/landscape direction. Beyond that, it is hard to say for sure what it will look like. 

I am going to  be creating a gallery specific to my work, so a retrospective view can be taken in. You will see it in the menu bar at the top of the blog. 

Thanks for reading and following and there will be more to come soon from me. Stay tuned! Thanks for reading!

-Jesse

#artforeveryone

#brownartworks

50 New Works by September

This part of my effort to crank you 50 pieces by September 1. In case you are wondering, why 50 pieces? Well, we are having a one day show in September that we have to be ready for. It will be in Chico, CA. The date will be announced soon, so stay tuned to here and my FB page and you will most likely hear about it. We also are planning to take part in a holiday art festival, as yet to be determined. There are many, many projects on the books and we have to create a lot of work to make it happen. So, between all of us at Brown Family Art Works, we should have a minimum of 200 new pieces of art on display in September. 

This particular piece is a continuation of my series of color pen and ink in a small format. I will probably continue with another 10 or so of these and move on to some different media. When you go a year without doing any significant art work, it is easy to come up with ideas. The problem is just getting them all out in a 3 month time frame. Fifty pieces does sound like a lot, but it is just about being focused. 

The other thing that we are working on is trying to open our own gallery. When we do this, there will be a big grand opening that we want everyone to try to make, either in person or online. We will do both. Please be sure to stay tuned for all of our new works, changes to my blog, the family web page - www.brownartworks.com/ - and dates of upcoming events, etc. I appreciate everone's PATIENCE! It has been great! Trying to do something like this while we all work full time is hard to do. Once we are up and running, it will be great and we appreciate your support! 

Please enjoy the new work. Email us at brownartworks@gmail.com if you have any questions or you are interested in purchasing anything we share here.

#brownartworks

#newart

#50byseptember

A New Piece in Progress

This is a new piece that I just worked on this morning. It is similar to one I did recently and was bought (I believe) at our show in October. I have to say it is refreshing to sit down and make some new art. I have been so busy lately. I am trying to produce new work because we have a lot of goals for art this next year. If anyone has feedback on this while I am in process, let me know. I am not sure of what the title will be, if I title it at all. If anyone has interesting ideas, leave me a comment.

Be sure to stay tuned to my blog. We will be sharing and announcing many exciting new pieces, events, and ideas. We have a new show and opening in Oakland. That announcements follows soon.

Only Four Days Left to Sign Up for the FREE RAFFLE!!

You can sign up by:

1. Send an email to brownartworks@gmail.com saying you want to subscribe to our email newsletter
2.When you do this you are automatically entered into the FREE RAFFLE
3. The results will be announced on Saturday, August 17, at the end of the meet and greet. The drawing will be filmed and posted on this blog.

So email us at brownartworks@gmail.com !! Sign up now before Saturday!

Works being raffled:

1.

2. 

The print of this photo will be slightly cropped and without the watermark (my name)

Mendocino, CA and Fort Bragg, CA - Art Communities to Behold

This week we were able to spend time in Mendocino and Fort Bragg. Both of them are wonderful art communities, with Mendocino have more galleries than Fort Bragg, but both are equally wonderful and inspiring. I found the artists and gallery owners to be most friendly and knowledgeable about everything they are doing. 

Not is the art scene great, but the landscape and scenery is most inspiring as well. It just feels like it can help you produce more art by allowing you think better and expose you to scenery like the photo above. That is from the Mendocino Headlands. A wonderful place with trails to explore and sea caves creating a beautiful backdrop for the very clear water. 

There are some great artists and galleries that I will continue to follow-up on and talk about in the subsequent entries here on my blog, in addition to the show that we have coming up. If you have any thoughts about visiting this part of California, let me say that you will enjoy your trip, especially if great art and scenery are high on your agenda!

A Matter of Perspective and Point of View: Forming a Connection

 

 



As we approach our show that is going up on August 13, at James and the Giant Cupcake in Oakland, CA, I am motivated to start thinking about more ideas that can transform our group and our art. I was speaking with my wife yesterday about this idea that I had, and it led me to think about what is it about art that makes every artist unique, as well as their work. My solution came back to a matter of perspective. Art is really about perspective and point of view, no matter which way you break it up, look at it, divide it, or anything else you do.

 

Take this image of mine that I put up here. It is multi-colored and fragmented, something like that of a Cubist, with a Surrealist line of thinking, at least from my perspective. This is how I see things when I make my art. It was the way I saw things as I was drawing this image out. This is one of my favorites because it speaks to me strongly. Isn't that what each artist is really trying to do, speak to an audience? Coincidentally, it has a good home now where someone else besides me can appreciate it. This image found its audience, and that is the goal that I have for my art work. I want it to connect with people. I believe that is what we all want as artists. I also believe that is the essence of the human condition, to connect with others. We all form groups, work in certain areas, socialize in certain areas, all because we are wanting to connect.

 

What makes this connection difficult is when artists are trying to think up the next new thing or interesting idea. My advice, if someone is to take it, would be to just be yourself. Don't copy someone else. Find yourself and your audience will find you. However, finding your audience means you have to look for people who might like your art. That  is another subject for another entry.

 

Every artist has a way of looking at the world and the world is becoming smaller because of the internet. Just do what you feel represents your view of the world and do it well. People will stop to look and listen if you develop a way of working and representing yourself in a coherent way. I think that is the strength of our family. We all do what we do well and we remain true to ourselves, and we support each other as we work. We are our own collaborators and audience. We have individual and collective perspective that is valuable to us.

 

Bring people into your perspective so they can understand you and they will be your audience. Art, like so many other aspects of life, is about communication. It is perhaps the most basic of communication because it is communication through images (text-based art not withstanding). Images are a universal language, except perhaps those you cannot see and rely on hearing, where music would be a more universal experience for them.

 

Something that happens as we move forward through art history is that the visual language becomes more complex. Yet, what I notice, is that people prefer simplicity in their art experience, however you may define that. But, simplicity it something that people truly move towards. It is a challenge for us as artists to take a more complex visual complex language and simplify it for that true visceral and/or emotional response that a wonderful piece of art can inspire. It all comes back to perspective and point of view.