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Ideas, inspire, collaborate and share.

MasQUerade

8/10/2011

11 Comments

 
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I can feel a sea change coming, it is rolling in like the tide, seeping into all the cracks and crevasses. Creeping over like a blanket pulled up around me on a cold winters night. There is a thunderstorm brewing outside, gathering its forces, wind chimes tingle in the breeze.
It is nothing new these changes, I have grown to accept them just as the seasons change. 
Having a studio jam packed with paintings of all sorts of sizes has become some what of a burden in many ways, it weighs heavy on my mind and I am not sure it is a load I can carry much longer. It is depressing looking at years of work sitting there, doing nothing except reminding me of the countless hours spent alone. I guess that is why I have no trouble burning my paintings, in fact when I do it is a release because it is a sense of 'knowing' that they won't burden me any longer. The physical act of creating, "working in the NOW", that is the ONLY thing which makes me continue to paint. That is the orgasm, noting else. Maybe when I look at the culmination of my work together it brings the realisation of failure. 

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Painting is lonely and whereas I use to enjoy that loneliness and solitude, I now feel that painting doesn't bring me that same level of comfort and satisfaction. So in saying that maybe it is time to give it a rest for a bit (at least the canvas work), give myself time to reflect, to just contemplate.

So I have my open studio weekend coming up at the end of this month. I received my invitations today and I totally LOVE them, one thing I will give myself credit for is the ability to bring images together in a visually pleasing way. I think I should have been a graphic designer in truth he he he! I mean how can you not look at it and think at least 'This looks interesting, I want to go see'. Having said that, I have now come to realise that what I paint and the images I use are not so popular with a lot of people, especially in Norway (let me rephrase that...Norwegians in my area are more conservative, lots of religious people. So I guess I am not expecting to sell much art). I've been told everything from creepy, freaky, morbid, deathly, weird and bizarre. People don't like to be reminded of death and to be honest I didn't think that skeletons would scare a lot of people, one comment recently on my youtube channel " While I am a huge fan and love your approach to art, these canvases tend to turn me away. Must be because they remind me of the day of the dead art which creeps me out. Still, your techniques are worth watching as long as I don't look too closely at the death overtones ". 

Isn't that interesting? Because I have never thought that the Day of the dead was creepy! I think it celebrates life and it is hugely celebrated anyway. I use skeletons in my work to remind us of our mortality and that we should make the most of our time. Is that creepy? I think the problem is understanding the artist and their thought process because if people know me then they would understand where I am coming from. 
Growing up in the 80's as a teenager I was exposed to a lot of B grade horror films, because my mum use to work at a drive in cinemas and I would go out on weekends and help out in the projection room etc. I would always get mum to park the car right in the middle of the screen, put a blanket on the car bonnet and lay back on the windscreen with a drink and a hot dog watching these cheesy B grade films. For me there was a sense of comedy about them, the terrible acting, the over dramatisation, the ridiculous situations these people would get themselves into (Oh yes lets walk into an old mental asylum at midnight and see what happens).  I mean how funny is that! So in saying that any images I use which could be viewed as creepy are in fact not in my perception.  

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So where is this blog headed? I guess I better sum it up and pull it together! 
I am really keen on making masks at the moment, painting them all sorts of cool colours. I love them because I feel like they are real, they have eyes, meaning and expression in their faces. They all have their own stories and tales to tell and all though they all come from the same couple of moulds,  not one is alike. Just by laying the clay into the mould in different directions creates the subtle characteristics which makes them so unique and individual. 
They are mischievous, interesting and not perfect in shape or look and I like that!  You could really image them being alive and in my world they are. 
So I am going to be spending a lot of time making many more, adding unusual fabrics around them, objects, you name it I have a tone of ideas. At the next art fair I attend, I will be mostly selling masks. 

It is time to give 'painting' a little rest and focus on my masks, as it is I already have orders piling up... that isn't a bad start! 

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11 Comments
Mary
8/10/2011 07:16:20 am

Sorry to hear you are feeling burdened down by your artworks and not feeling like painting. For me, your paintings are the best things you do. I mean I like the masks alright but I always want to see you painting because I think it expresses so much more of the soul.

Anyway Gary, as always I wish you good luck and hope you accept my best wishes for your success. I am looking forward to receiving the painting I ordered soon.

XXXX Mary

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Gregori V.
8/10/2011 07:20:58 am

i completely understand and love your masks. you're work isn't really creepy...per se lol. you simply use memento mori in some. that's classical. i'm glad you can sell to other countries to people who appreciate your gift. rock on, gaz. rock on.

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K Wayne
8/10/2011 08:59:39 am

Gaz Man!
Although I don't know what a car bonnet is, I am totally with you on the old classic creepy horror things. My introduction to the dark side was with my Mom as we would sit up and watch SCREAM THEATRE on the TV at night, waiting for my Dad to come home from the third shift. Seems we have more and more and more in common. This, in itself, is getting weird. Kindred spirits I guess. Keep doing what you are doing. Your journey as artist and teacher is aligned with the stars. Your biggest fan. (Read: Fan not stalker.)

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Mary J. Chadbourne
8/10/2011 09:04:34 am

I totally understand where your coming from and I think most artists would understand...it is good to "switch" things up a bit on and off, too! I love Day of the Dead and am in total agreement that it is a wonderful celebration of life, not death. Death is an inevitability for all of us, but some people are fearful of the unknown and don't know how to deal with it...love your masks and cannot wait to see more of them....they are so unique and each one has it's own personality!!

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Nic
8/10/2011 11:03:17 am

Is happy for you, these are positive moves forward and i recon you will start to feel liberated. The green n orange worked out really well, I love it, fab blends.

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Mary B
8/10/2011 01:50:40 pm

I am looking forward to seeing where you go with the masks, I think they are very interesting.

I don't think your work is creepy at all, and when I see skeletons I don't think of death at all. We all have them, does that person think a spleen is creepy? hehe Anyway, for me, I think of my skeleton as my frame, so seeing them on a painting makes perfect sense to me.

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Mad Bird Designs link
8/10/2011 04:39:16 pm

Hi Gaz Mmmmmmmmmmm I have the same painting overstock here!!! If you are prolific you and many other artists have STOCK. Some are not so honest about the amount of STOCK!!

Take heart I've sold one that has been lurking in my house for 5 years. Art is a funny old business, folks either love, hate or ignore your stuff. You got plenty of land, what you need is a retirement home - big shed - for old works. Then they will not be clogging up your new ideas in your workshop.

The other thing is if u r fed up with looking at them your artist muse is telling you that change of direction is on the way. We all get that, well I do anyway. Stop beating yourself up!!!

xx's Joan

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Lee Hynes link
8/12/2011 04:36:38 pm

I am not worried about you giving up painting as you cant! As long as your arse points to the ground you will paint. Divert and broaden you talent base by all means but you will be back. I was a sculptor first and foremost,when I walked into my first sculpture studio it was almost an epiphany I just knew it was what I was meant to do, but age and lack of strength take their toll and now as close as I can come to that high is to paint. I fully understand the joy of 3d working with the hands it's wonderful,sensuous!
I agree with Joan those older works must be packed up and physically stored elsewhere to set you free again!
Love ya! no matter what you are creating, my first fridge magnet arrived!Thankyou.
Lee
in Aus

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IN-grid
8/13/2011 05:19:56 am

Gary,thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings,I know they come from the heart.Lot of paople are going through changes in this very intersting times,and escpecially artist feel the changes more emotional than anybody else..me too I sometimes think what to do with my stuff...that's why I started to work on board=very cheap and it stores so easy.Painting keeps me in the NOW and like I said before,the journey is all that counts..I like your masks and find it a good idea to keep on working with them,the urge to paint again can come up very soon again,no worries,and have fun this weekend

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Palma link
8/15/2011 02:37:55 am

You know that I love your masks and you are a wonderful and very versatile artist who knows how to keep moving on, forever growing rapidly.You keep your creativity alive by changing and that I relate to. Along with all of this, you continue to inspire many. Your previous works brought you ,here and I agree with physically storing them.

I'm a fan of Day of the dead and Hallowe'en but I haven't always been. Once I read about those traditions and understood them, I began to understand and appreciate the imagery and symbols i.e I was less ignorant. We each have our own definition of 'creepy'.Don't let one comment bother you.

I understand about living in a place where the majority of tastes show appreciation for art that is classical and conservative.I do not show my work locally nor do I let folk know what my passion is.I've no time for ignorance and needless judgement.
I love your invitations :)

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Carol link
8/20/2011 01:48:52 pm

Hey Gary, your work is great - if you must, take a break from painting but come back to it refreshed. The masks look good, throw yourself into them for a while. You are one of the most generous artists I've come across and it's obvious from your followers that you are appreciated and loved. All the best, Carol in Aus. Oh, and I'm working (slowly) on my sardine can shrine. xx

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