Artist Group.
I’ve been thinking of starting an artist group here in the twin cities. There are many out there already but most are just general artist groups where they let pretty much anybody in. I’ve thought about limiting the group to members who are primarily painters or work in a “painterly” approach.
The problem with this is that I’d still want to limit this group to fine artists who have solid, good work that’s not underdeveloped. And also, artists who know how to talk about art and give constructive criticism.
I love to meet new artists no matter what medium they work in, but do not want all artists to be in the artist group. I don’t feel that it is very beneficial to have crafters, photographers, or designers in a artist critique group. It makes more sense to have people with similar work and ideas to connect with and discuss each other’s work.
I’d like to even break it down to “fine art figurative painters” if possible. The problem is that we are getting so selective here that is it even possible to get enough people in the group. But then again, I think it is better to have 4 or 5 strong artists together than 50 random artists that share nothing in common.
When I saw “figurative painters” – I don’t mean work that is just of portraiture or the narrative figure. I am interested in finding artists that are influenced by the figure in their work. I have work that would be considered more abstract to most people, but it was influenced and derived from the figure. So I think this really opens the group more.
The other issue is that there should be either some sort of review process and/or seeking out artists to join. It may come across as a bit “elitist” but I think it is necessary to have a successful group.
Improv Everywhere
If you have any extra time on your hands, you should visit the Improv Everywhere website. My absolute favorite so far are the Redheads protesting at Wendy’s. I was laughing non-stop while reading and viewing the page. I actually got side-tracked and lost on this website for almost 2 hours yesterday. But it was worth it.
I have been getting up at 5 am every morning recently and completely wide awake. I’m ready to go down and work in the studio. It’s warmed up here in the Twin Cities, so I think I’ll be able to work in the studio without heat just fine. When the temperatures go negative, it is almost impossible to work in the studio. You can actually see your own breath it is so cold.
But away I go……
Art Happy Hour
Art Happy Hour
The Independent, on Wednesday, February 13 (3 to 9 pm)
The following information was taken from the Art Happy Hour website:
“The Art Happy Hour! is a monthly gathering of Minnesotans who appreciate the finer things in life, especially: A.) Art, and B.) Happy Hour.
The Art Happy Hour! posits that the world would be a much better place, on the whole, if more people enjoyed the following things: A.) Art, and B.) Happy Hour.
For those of you who still aren’t getting what we’re saying here, consider this:
Art (according to the fine folk at Wikipedia) (for lack of a more convenient source of information) “refers to a diverse range of human activities and artifacts, and may be used to cover all or any of the arts, including music, literature and other forms.”
We take art to refer to the same, and anyone who is into any of these things is welcome to join in the Art Happy Hour! Meanwhile, also consider this:
Happy hour (also according to Wikipedia) is “a period of time in the late afternoons, Monday through Thursday, and sometimes Friday (usually taking place between 4 pm and 7 pm…) during which some restaurants and bars give discounts for drinks, especially alcoholic drinks. The idea is that it acts as a promotion of the venue during the quieter times.”
Art Happy Hour! considers happy hour to be one of civilized society’s better rituals, the best time of the week to unwind from work, to join in good conversation, and allow oneself have high spirits (in all senses of the phrase). Plus, happy hour makes the wheels of commerce go round!
Here’s our mission: The Art Happy Hour! will take place once a month somewhere across the great metropolis of Minneapolis-St. Paul. It will a good time for all. It will be sometimes epic, sometimes underwhelming (especially if there’s a snow storm). It will be artistic and happy.
Of course, we promote the idea of responsible and safe drinking and encourage participants to consider arranging transportation when engaging in a good happy hour. We want everyone to live long ornery lives full of art and happy hours, but we can take no responsibility for people’s behavior, such as it may be.
Happy Art Happy Hour!”
arthappyhour.com
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This is the first month for Art Happy Hour. I like the idea and seems like a good opportunity to meet and network with other artists or art enthusiasts.
I want to go to this. Any other artists wanna go with me? Shoot me an email or give me a call. 
Thank you for attending the "Anxiety Dreams" opening.
Thank you for everyone that attended the “Anxiety Dreams” opening friday night. It was very successful and so crowded that you could barely walk through the gallery rooms. I had over 30 close friends and acquaintances attend who I had invited personally. Multiply that number by all the other artist’s friends and you get a tons of people.
Plus, the “Bitter Fruits” opening was going on at the same time and there were 80 artists showing work. I think that it would have worked better to have had the openings on separate nights. It was so crowded and so many people to say hello to that it was pretty much impossible to have a conversation about my work. I was so busy meeting and greeting that I couldn’t take the time to go over to my work with individual people and have a real discussion. I also wasn’t able to meet too many of the artists sine they were so busy meeting and greeting everyone around them as well. So I was a bit disappointed in that aspect. But I had a great time and it is exciting to see so many people show up for the openings.
I only have a few photographs that were taken so far. I know some friends were busy with taking pictures and hope they ended up with better ones than I did. I actually just gave my digital camera to my roommate before we headed out to the opening. I asked him if he would take some photos of my work, of myself, and friends whenever he had the chance. I usually bring the camera, but am always too busy talking to people to be able to take photos. We actually had to wait until the very end of the night to take the photos of my work because it was too crowded to get any good shots.
If you didn’t get the chance to come to the opening. You can still view my artwork as well as all the other artwork in the exhibit for “Anxiety Dreams” at the Q.arma building in Altered Esthetics Gallery until February 28th, 2008. Please stop by if you have the time.
“Anxiety Dreams”
Altered Esthetics Gallery
1224 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis
www.alteredesthetics.com
Not-so-sweet dreams exhibition wakes us up
Molly Priesmeyer at Minnpost has written an article about the “Anxiety Dreams” exhibition. It would have been nice to have had my work mentioned, but I am glad that we have extra advertisement for the show. You can view the article here : http://www.minnpost.com/mollypriesmeyer/2008/02/01/752/not-so-sweet_dreams_exhibition_wakes_us_up
Pet peeve words from a fine art snob
There are certain words that really bother me, make me cringe, or even hold my breath when I hear them. A lot of people have the same issue with certain curse words, especially women with words like cunt or pussy as an example.
I am really bothered when people use the word “style” when referring to a fine artist’s work. I will usually correct someone when using this, especially when referring to my own work. I guess you could just call me a “fine art snob”.
One of the major distinctions between illustration and fine art is that illustrators have a specific style in how they work, while a fine artist “reacts” and “approaches” subject matter. Yes, a lot of fine artists have similiarity within their work but it is not stylized unless influenced specifically by illustration.
Personally, there is a wide variety within my work because I approach things based on the concept and subject matter. I don’t want to force a “style” just to create consistency within all bodies of work. I think it’s important to have an honest reaction to your subject matter, even if that means that you have many different approaches with all your work.
Please, please when you are discussing fine art use the word “approach” instead of “style”.
Another phrase that really bothers me is when people say “artsy fartsy”. It is a repulsive term. It really undermines the fine art and makes it seem like you are dismissing it as low-brow or bullshit art. I know it’s usually used in a more playful manner but I am very bothered by this term no matter how it is used. I think it’s much worse when an artist refers to himself or herself as being “artsy fartsy”. Why can’t you just say artistic or creative?
One more thing that drives me crazy is what many artists write for their artist statement. This really isn’t a pet peeve word, but it makes me roll my eyes every time I read the sentence. “I have been creating art since I was a kid…..” “Every since I can remember I have been painting” “I started drawing when I was 5 years old…”. Don’t write this EVER in an artist statement!
EVERY artist started drawing when they were a kid. Actually every body on earth started drawing when they were a kid. You shouldn’t talk about artwork you did as a kid unless you are still a kid or teenager. I even see artists that are in their 40s that still have this in their artist statement.
You don’t even need any information about high school in there. Just put a quick sentence on what degree you have if you went to college. That is good enough. Move on. Talk about what you’ve been doing since you have been a serious artist. Of course it is okay to mention childhood if your work is influenced by it, but don’t say you’ve been painting since you were a kid. It’s a given.
There are other pet peeve words or sentences in relation to fine art that bother me, but these are the major ones that always come to mind and unfortunately I see or hear way too often.
Come to the "Anxiety Dreams" opening tonight!
The art opening for “Anxiety Dreams” is tonight from 7pm to 10pm. Please come meet the artists and enjoy the exhibition.
Altered Esthetics Gallery
1224 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis
www.alteredesthetics.com
I will be there from opening to close. I look forward to seeing all the work and meeting everyone tonight.
-Jessica
February Art Openings!
This Friday is the art opening for the “Anxiety Dreams” exhibition at Altered Esthetics Gallery in NE Minneapolis. I am showing my large scale drawing “Altered States”, which will be on exhibit until the end of February. Altered Esthetics Gallery is also having another exhibition titled “Bitter Fruits” that will be taking place at the same time as “Anxiety Dreams”. Both shows share the same opening night on this Friday, February 1st from 7pm to 10pm. There will be food, drinks, and musical entertainment provided during the night.
“Anxiety Dreams” Opening
Friday, February 1st, 7pm to 10pm
Altered Esthetics Gallery
1224 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis
www.alteredesthetics.com
Also, I will be having a solo show at Java J’s on Friday, February 22nd. Java J’s is a fairly new upscale coffee and wine bar located in the downtown warehouse district of Minneapolis. My artwork will be on display for one month and can be seen during regular business hours which are posted on the Java J’s website listed below.
The title of the show will be announced. I haven’t decided which pieces I will be showing at Java J’s yet, but all the pieces I show will be for sale. I just visited the space last week to take measurements of the walls and get a sense of how many pieces I will be able to show in the space. I will announce the title and other information by next week. I will also have some postcard sized flyers printed and distributed as well.
(Title to be Announced)
Art Opening, Friday, February 22nd 8pm to 11pm
Java J’s
700 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis
www.javajason.com
I hope to see everyone there for the upcoming openings!
How to repair your damaged paintings (for artists)
I’ve been doing some research on how an artist can repair their own damaged paintings. After a few hours, I finally found a detailed method of repair for flaking and blistering on an oil painted canvas. Here is the information gathered from restoration-advice.org
Flaking and Blistering
When the paint is flaking, blistering or scaling, a condition in which the paint and ground lifts from the canvas, due to the deterioration of the ground (then material used to smooth the canvas before the painting was applied).
The paint then is re-adhered to the painting by strengthening this ground.
This is usually done by impregnating the area with a mixture of Beeswax and Damar resin, known as the Dutch Method.
We recommend the impregnate most canvasses with this mixture as it prevents deterioration of the canvas and the ground, as well as the overall conservation/ preservation of the whole painting.
Beeswax and Damar are molten and mixed together by heating firstly the Damar until dissolved and then slowly adding the Beeswax.
This mixture is applied warm ( 70° -80°C or 160°-175° F).
A mixture such as above doesn’t shrink upon solidifying.
Epoxy is sometimes used in those sort of repairs, as it also is non-shrinking due to the lack of an evaporative vehicle, it (epoxy) solidifies by chemical reaction, however great care should be taken with the use of such materials, as those restorations are non-reversible, and no long term experience is available, while contrary to claims, epoxies do deteriorate.
I personally like to dissolve some of this Beeswax and Damar mixture with some pure turpentine and then flood the flaking area with a brush very carefully so as not to disturb the loose pieces but still let the mixture impregnate the area behind and around the flakes and blisters.
Those flakes can then be re-adhered and flattened with a heated palette knife.
After thorough drying I paste some paper over this section, for protection, then after drying I apply paper over the whole painting, this protects the texture of the painting during the ironing process.
Then after drying I turn the picture over and apply the mixture of Beeswax and Damar warm ( 70° -80°C or 160°-175° F ) on the back, then with an Electric Iron, I iron the area down so as to impregnate the whole picture with this preservative mixture, this flattens and re-adheres the blisters and flakes back against the now impregnated and strengthened ground.
Those with flat heated platen can of course do this by vacuum pressing the painting against those platen, this also allows the painting to maintain its texture.
After cooling I then carefully wash the paper away, the examine the result to determine the further processes needed to complete the restoration.
The reason I prefer this, Dutch Method, is that it is reversible, one can always reheat an area and relocate any pieces of flakes, which are not where one wanted them, something which is impossible if epoxy is used.
I have not yet tried this method. I have a large painting that has been rolled up in storage for several years now and it has some flaking that I’d like to correct. Although the painting is quite large, I don’t consider it an “important” piece of my portfolio, so I’m not so worried about the outcome of the repairing the damage. The only worry that I have, is if the painting will crack or flake again if it is rolled and put in storage.
By the way, I do not sell paintings that have cracks or flakes in them. I’ve only had one painting with this problem and it was due to handling and storage when moving to many different studios over the years. I also don’t recommend for art buyers to repair oil paintings themselves. You should contact the original artist, if possible, and/or a fine art conservator.
I will post an update once I am finished repairing the painting.
-Jessica
Art Crawls
I LOVE the Minneapolis and Saint Paul art crawls that we have annually. It’s so exciting to get the chance to go through and visit other artist’s studios. Sometimes it seems there can be a sea of mediocrity but eventually you stumble upon some shining originality.
I’m sad to say that I do not have a studio in NE Minneapolis or Lowertown Saint Paul to be able to participate in these events. I do have a couple friends who have studios in Lowertown. I went to school with some people who have studios in the NE area.
I’ve come up with the idea of “renting” out wall space from another artist’s studio during the art crawls. I will either pay them an upfront fee or a percentage of my total sales during the crawl. I’m still waiting to hear back from some people regarding this.
I’m excited and hope that I will be able to show my work with the other artists. If I am able to have this happen, then my art will be exposed to a much broader audience. Plus, I get to be there and greet the visitors and talk with any potential art buyers.
I’m trying to work on my networking more since I feel a bit isolated since being out of college and living in the East Saint Paul area.
