Water and Stone

Water and stone form one of the starkest contrast in nature. I love this contrast because water is just an element that brings peace to those who are around it. Stone has this ancient quality, even when it is being recreated by people, that gives this timeless type of presence. In a way, this is going to be one of my themes I am looking for in my new work - peace and timelessness. The elements of nature, and of forests, speak this to those who try to experience it. To be able to capture the fluidity and strength of water, while portraying the historical presence of stone, that is what I would strive to do to help a view understand what it means to be in a city-scape where nature and cities and co-exist and work towards a green and sustainable environment.

Urban Forest - A thought process on Nature vs. City

This slide show is a visual thought process on a theme that is close to what I am already working on for my current series. However, since it is a theme for an upcoming juried exhibition, I decided to go (with Gina)  on a photo exhibition into San Francisco to get ideas and see what I could find that reminded me of what an "Urban Forest" might look like. The very thought is a contradiction unto itself. A forest, which is an ecosystem created by nature, usually evokes visions of green trees, plant life, some animals, sources of water, and very few people. However, something urban is born of a city and usually can be found a variety of presentations, all quite often appearing artificial and separate from anything natural. However, what I find fascinating, as I explore this subject, is the varying degrees of efforts used to blend the city scape with a nature scape that calls to mind images of a forest, or aspects of a forest at least. It creates a unique contrast of organic and human-made objects that often bring either peace or good feelings to people. One thing you can notice, at least from my view, is that when a city incorporates more natural forms and objects into the city-scape, people gravitate more to that than if it were simply concrete, steel, and glass. In these photos of the slide show, the forms and contrast are more of the focus than the interaction with people, but it is an unmistakeable attraction of people when the soft forms of trees, flowers, and shrubs contrast the hard edges of buildings, bridges, and streets. I particularly like the contrast of the sculptural founntain in Embarcadero Plaza, because the fluidity of the flowing water created such a stark contrast to the hard, geometric forms created to funnel the water through the fountain system. Flowing water is the center of a thriving ecosystem for a forest. Trees and plans need water, just as people. It was unmistakeable how popular the flowing water was...and the hard stone, while in the form of some very un-natural geomtric shapes were layered with some very familiar earth and stone textures to call to mind rocks that are often found with flowing water. All of this, in short, is just the beginning of a thought process of where I will go with this new work. I hope people like the slide show, and, always, please feel free to comment.

-Jesse

Sphere of Influence

This is a third one in the trading card series. I call this one "Sphere of Influence". While this one is not the first one created in the series, it could be title piece of the series. I am interested and fascinated with the ideas of spheres of influence. As we look around at nature, we see everything inteconnected. There is no way around it. It is the bottom line. What we do in one place will affect someone or something somwhere else. As I write this, there is a devastating drought on the Horn of Africa. I have friends there right now, as we speak, who are dealing with this. If you look at the spheres in my picture, they are interwoven into the primary image, to the point where they are transparent, but extremely obvious. The patterns I use within each sphere are used to work with the natural composition and design of the primary image, yet the sperhes have a pattern all their own. These patterns remind me of certain things. The jagged lines of one remind me of fractures. These fractures are occurring everywhere as we continually persist with agendas without regard to the consequences. There is a sphere with horizontal blocks, that remind me of sky scrapers put on their sides, but with an organic feel to them. This takes me to a human-made sphere, one where the influence is created by humans. The third sphere is one that is wrapped by organic shapes...maybe leaves, maybe something else, but it is one that is natural in feeling to me. Notice how this one blends the most with the background image. It should be our goal to leave as little foot print as possible and work with our environment. If we look at the world and life, we should view it in layers...I truly try to achieve a feeling of layers with this image. In my others ones, not so much - part of that is a limitation of the colored pens...but then I let the colors speak more, and put away the layers for another time with those images. However, even with those, There is a certain amout of interconnectedness represented in the color drawings. I draw upon the subconscious to guide me and allow myself to respond as each part of the the drawing unfolds, so it is spontaneous...only following a feeling, not trying to drive the feeling before me. I simply talk about my thought process here as it unfolds in my work. Thanks for viewing.

Jesse

A New Image in the Trading Card Series

This is a new one in my trading card series. It is untitled as of this moment, but I wanted to share with everyone to see if I can get some feedback. I like this one a lot for several reasons. I have gone in a different direction, using the imagery of a fish and a lizard as a focal point, and incorporating the pattern of a tortoise shell into the background. I am still working in pen and ink...I am set on completing this series of 20. I want to be able to put them all in a row and get a feel for what they say, and then determine where to go from there...think about what I may want to do next, ask what else needs to be said, and then approach my next series with the idea if I should push farther with what I am doing, use only part of what I am doing, see if I need to switch mediums, evaluate that size of each work and see if I need to go bigger, recombine, or alter the approach and use a different format...the possibilities could be endless...but the bottom line is that I am working through this series and trying to figure out what I want to say as I go...and see what the series as a whole says as well. I hope people like it, and leave comments if you can. Thanks.

Jesse

Trading Card Series

This is a new piece that I have done as part of a series. This is a very small piece, approximately 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I am working in a series exploring ideas related to the environment and nature. I don't have a specific idea going into a picture like this, I simply create an image and respond not only to the flow of ideas, but to the aesthetics of the picture as it unfolds as well. I am concerned as much with the push and pull, as well as the flattening of space, as I am with the images I use. What I have discovered over time is that color really grabhs people's attention, not to mention the fact that nature is full of incredible colors everywhere. I do not strive for realiztic color, but exaggerate color use it as an emotional response. Quite obviously, this image is not a realistic representation, but an emotional and subconscious representation and reaction to a thought process that is constantly revolving around states of nature, things I have seen, and experiences I have grown up with. I like the contrast of the black ink against the bright colors and what it can do for the image. I look forward to your responses. As a final note here, I have yet to name this piece...it is complete, but I have no title. I am not even sure if I will give it one. Thanks for stopping in.

-Jesse

Kenpo Slide Show

 This slide show is a small movie of some of the moves and environment in which I train in when I go to Chico. I train at Epperson Bros. Kenpo Karate Dojo...it is a great place to train and learn and Nathan and I have spent a lot of hours training there and learning the rules and principles of Kenpo there.

Another reason for this post is I am working with a new format for the blog and really would like some feedback on how it looks and what people think of it, so if you come by and take a look at the blog...please leave me a comment or two. Also, if you really think it's cool, can you share it via the facebook and twitter links towards the bottom. I have some links in the side to speed up the navigation of the blog and you can search for some key words also in the top right of the page.

Please enjoy the slide show.

Jesse

The Way of the Warrior - Timing and Distance



So, what is this business about timing and distance? It is not a very dynamic title, I am sure. However, this is yet another critical point of understanding if one is going to be effective in martial arts. Timing and distance dictates the ranges from which you fight. Notice that I am in very close using an elbow with Nathan. Elbows are not for the feint of heart, to be sure. You are in close quarter combat and looking to finish the whole situation. But, even more so, it fits the context of the situation. The short range weapon fits the position and allows for the combatant to maneuver. Also, notice how my hand is opposing my elbow, this gives a certain amount of borrowed force because the pushing coming from my hand creates an opposing force to the elbow - therefore the strike borrows additional force in that way.

There are other zones of operation, as I call them, that affect weapon choice, etc. There is kicking range, punching range, and grappling range, which is even closer than the elbow range here. These are all important concepts to consider when executing Kenpo, or whatever art you practice. Hope you guys like it...talk to you soon!

Jesse