I’ve been experimenting with different title image/text intros for my most recent videos. I had been thinking about having something static to go with the videos in the gallery, and something to give to those who helped me with the videos.

So, I made some drawings for the different segments. The Title Page—above—is color pencil on black paper. The title, Essence da la vie, translates from French to Gasoline of Life.

(detail)

Edouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergere (1882)

Diego Velasquez’s Rokeby Venus (1647-51)

Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Wedding (1434)

(detail)

number 4

a few more short steps in the painting process.

MILES MENDENHALL

August 24—September 14, 2010
Opening reception: Tuesday, August 24, 6-8 p.m.

* forgot the to link to the gallery

Step 2:

The very beginning—oil and white chalk.

Today, I took some pictures with a plastic prism. The prism I used has flat corners, so the light splits on either side with white light in the middle. The best angle for natural light does not last very long, so I’ll trying more combination with the prisms I have over the next few days.

I have been lost in painting (really more in my thoughts as the paint dries), and forgot to send in this caption to the Unhappy Hipster caption contest.

Despite her parents keeping the remnants of the old growth forest on which the house was built, she doubted their commitment to the environment. Who would speak for the trees, she would with the piano wire she held behind her back.

Work of Art: the Next Great Artist

I had also meant to write something about Bravo’s Work of Art.

But instead here is a link to Christopher Knight’s post on the show and the “new criticism” it has spawned as well as the video Television Delivers People by Richard Serra and Carlota Fay Schoolman (post here as well) at the end of the article are worth checking out.

I shot some models tonight, three into ones with some transparency and a number object (pump) with mirrors. Above are two working images that resulted.

Kate’s limitied edition of Loner Mask is available at LAXART. A billboard on La Cienega Blvd, part of LAXART public art initiatives, is forthcoming.

Painters Painting, a documentary from 1973 is on the Sundance Channel as I write this. It covers painters from 1940 to the present. There are some good lines in it. Barnett Newman gave his ornithology quote, “Aesthetics is for artists what ornithology is for birds.” On this occasion he said, as best I can remember, “even if they [aesthetics] are right and even if they can build an aesthetic analysis on an aesthetic system that can explain art or painting or whatever it is, is of no value, really, because aesthetics for me, must be like ornithology is for the birds.”

When looking online for the standard quote, I found this one which probably applies to me.

“When painters feel the need to make a shift toward self-discovery, they turn to black and white for a time.”