Inspiration

My inspiration was the artist Peter Callesen, who create paper cutouts and 3-D paper models.







http://www.petercallesen.com/

Kent Williams

I think some of you might like his work:

http://www.kentwilliams.com/

Inspiration

Hi everyone, I didn't get to share my inspiration last week, so here is some of Chuck Close's work, one of my favorite artists. I really like the way he uses color and I also find his process really interesting . He works from his own photographs and uses grids to break down the face into different "mini-paintings." I was able to see some of his pieces at the Portland Art Museum a couple years ago that really show the intensive process of his work and it is so amazing to see up close. In 1988 a spinal injury left him paralyzed below the neck, but he kept working while doing physical therapy and eventually was able to get back into his work, which I think is really inspiring.

http://www.chuckclose.coe.uh.edu/process/process.html

This website explains some of Chuck Close's processes better than I can and also has some biographical information.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces of his :)

Jordan

It's kind of hard to tell in this picture, but this piece is done completely in fingerprints

Inspiration videos

I wasn't able to play my videos in class, so I had to take what I could find from Youtube.







I couldn't find subtitled versions of the latter two, so unfortunately I'm the only one who knows what is being said unless you have seen it yourself or know Japanese...

The clips are from my favorite anime of all time which is a constant inspiration to me and has lifted my spirits many times when I needed it. Anime as an art is downplayed heavily in America because of general snobbery and stereotyping (most anime brought overseas is a certain genre which they think they can mass market to American children rather than adults), but it's combination of music, direction, themes, and stylization are incredible. I can easily go on for hours explaining why anime and cartoons aren't the same thing, and citing facts for why American commercialization has killed its own animation industry, but I'll spare you that (unless you're actually curious why Saturday morning cartoons are more plot less garbage).

This series (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, if you want to watch it, I can provide resources [the Dubbed version is horrible, so you'd have to be willing to read subtitles]) is by Gainax (Famous even in the west for series such as Evangelion) is a Super Robo (genre term for giant robots doing unrealistic things) about growing up and challenging fate/authority. What really appeals to me about it (other than the incredible animation, designs, explosions, and acting) is that it borrows the stereotyped anime trope (ex. YELLING MAKES YOU STRONGER!) and uses it so that the more determined you are, and if you believe in yourself (the biggest theme of the series), your strength is infinite. I watched this series when I was doubting my drawing abilities, so this idea of self-efficacy and confidence really appealed to me on a deep level.

And blah, I could type an entire essay on every sentence in this post, so if you're interested in anything I've said, just respond, shoot me an email, or ask me in class; I'm always ready and delighted to talk about this sort of thing.

Inspirations Pt. 2

Digital Arts students probably already know of this site, but I recommend taking a look even if you aren't a DA student. Fun stuff!:

http://digitalblasphemy.com/