Creative Happiness

For some of us, creativity can be a long drawn-out process. Such is my case, in many instances. I've done some paintings recently that I have lumped under the title of my "Designer Series". With about 5 pieces completed, I was moving at favorable pace before some personal issues became priority. With much of that aside, I have rebooted & the ideas are flying.

Art is subjective & the creator is "viciously judgemental". He forms & he binds; purges & fills ... separates ... spirals out of control. Then he steps back & absorbs. Many times the thrill of the moment is short-lived as he comes to the realization. Disappointment! So he retools. To make something out of the "nothing" that he has before him.

The 5 pieces have now become 3 pieces. Those other 2 ... well ... like I said: Disappointment. After weeks thinking that these paintings were finished & ready for a nice coat of varnish ... after constantly walking past them & smiling. Smiles became semi-smiles became grins became frowns. You get the picture. My soul was empty. There was no thrill anymore. I know a good painting when I see ... and they were good. But, in my world, good ain't good enough. I want GREAT. And a great painting will constantly feed you. You will feel in 10 years what you felt the first time you took a long hard look at it. I want to be thrilled by it. And I was not. So ... retooling. Results so far are promising!

Interesting Week

It has been an interesting week. I have been very busy with some outside issues, but have managed to keep the brain fluids churning with respect to new techniques. I have done a successful sketch auction & an ACEO auction that had some weird twists. It was a success also. Now that I have delved into two different areas of marketing, I can now focus on painting for the good part of this week. I am excited to be creating a couple of new pieces, as well as shoring up the details on some others. I will be testing out new ideas with acrylics & gesso this week.

An experimental 3-D creation of mine might become another test auction for me by weeks end, so look out for that listing.

New ACEO

I have created my first ACEO & have listed it on eBay. It is a simple design made with a metallic copper glaze as the focal point. I am curious how people react to abstract designs in such a format. There is not much room for creativity on such a small scale ... a good abstract painting usually has contrasts of space, negative space & scale within the area; in fact, minimalism is just like it says: the minimum used to (or on) the maximum space / area / scale.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=130290237263

Another sketch auction

I have placed 2 more of my sketches on eBay. I never realized that there were so many simple cool sketches in the "drawings" category & that people are into them because they are raw representations of the artist's natural ability. They aren't perfect. They show off a certain style without all the window dressing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130289866422&category=60436&_trksid=p3907.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D15%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D54

A little this, a little that

I just ran out of canvases today ... I do have one $2 clearance canvas that I buy to experiment on, though. So I will be trying some new techniques using some Montana artist spray paint that I bought a while ago.

I did blacken the sides of some gallery canvases today ... paintings that are already completed. Just one more solid black coat to finish them off. Dated two paintings as finished ... now just a month or so to dry before varnishing.

Sketch auction

In my attempt to pick the brains of the art buying public, I am starting with the most basic of offerings .... a pencil sketch. I am auctioning off this sketch in a 3-day auction as a sort of experiment. It is my style though ... one developed over years of drawing faces & expressions. Take a look & throw a bid in for good measure.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Pen-Pencil-Sketch-by-DAVID-MEL-OOAK-Face_W0QQitemZ130289418490QQihZ003QQcategoryZ60436QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

START THE FIRE

Welcome to my world ...

I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to put myself out there. I will enjoy this time to the fullest with the support of my wife & share this dream to it's fullest potential. My family means everything ... so let's get started!