Moving on to an actual website

I finally got myself together and just decided to create an actual website.  I'm assuming it will be up and partially running within 48 hours, so my content will be transferred there.  So here goes,

www.dlamarstudio.com

"Realm 4 (Recovery)"

"Realm 4 (Recovery)"

D.LAMAR 2011

24"x48"

This piece was probably the most obscure piece to me as far as really bringing together thoughts and feelings. It happened at the right time though, thus forcing it be become most reflective of my feelings about KARMA and the natural cycle of life, spirit, and situations.  This place in my life has show to be a bit more of a roller coaster than usual, but I caught this painting on the upswing, the time when I felt like everything that was moving away was bound to come back together.  I was reading an article on Cy Twombly (R.I.P.) and found a statement that I have been concerning myself with through my paintings, and its been recurring.  I found in Twombly's paintings, Basquiats paintings, and forcibly...my paintings, there is a discussion about the existential nature of the human condition.  This meaning that situations, feelings, emotions, and outcomes will continue to exist, and there is simply no way around them.  Things happen for a reason, and life cycles itself time and time again.   From Twombly, to Basquiat, and regretfully, I forgot to mention Hyunmee Lee, I am continuing my education on this recurring theme.  

The day brings something new

A few hours ago, I was just chilling and hanging out with good friends/artists Cameron Malphrus and Kris Letlow.  It was cool just to sit and converse with them on life, art, art in Albany, and more.  One thing led to another and me and Cam are now working on some collaboration projects.  No real direction, just seeing how things go and what can be done.  And in his words, "I think of things that are random, but they fit".

Isolation

As of recent, quite a few things have taken place from my car's harmonic balancer going out, to a guy at the bar that I work with calling me an Uncle Tom (needless to say I called him an ignorant motherfucker right back which almost led to fighting), to really just being in my apartment by myself.  My roommate is in New York and I'm in the process of moving in with my girlfriend and I'm also job hunting...AGAIN!  My job is really not paying enough for me to live comfortably but I still like being a server.  The food service industry is trying at times, but its flexible and pays well outside of where I work at.  Going back a week, my vacation in South Carolina was great.  It was much needed and I enjoyed being out and a part of nature with my family.  Even the late nights trying to learn how to play Bid Wiz from my grandma (who never really put together a consistent set of rules) was fun.  It gave me company, and people to just sit down and talk to.  I've started working out consistently again, so I do feel good about my mornings and feel proactive about my days, so now all I'm really doing is waiting.  The only problem with waiting...a lot of the times I wait by my self.

From this I can say I'm learning.  I'm learning some sort of patience, and figuring things out about my personality, my art, and seeing things in life and doing them by myself.  I was always one to need a second opinion, but now, the isolation forces decisions.

I've also been considering where I want to take my graduate studies.  I'm 80(something)% on Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta, so really its just time to buckle down even more and continue to get my portfolio together.  I've started working on a series of 13" x 13" panels paintings goings strictly abstract.  Using litho crayons, charcoal, paint, gel mediums, I have been just experimenting with gesture and space.  How many I will do I'm not sure, but that will come in time.  So far I only have 2.

Urban Sketchers: Ai Weiwei at the Lisson Gallery, London

Urban Sketchers: Ai Weiwei at the Lisson Gallery, London: "The leading Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has been held by the Chinese authorities without charge for more than two months now. He w..."

A Good Read on Basquiat...(I had to scan it in)

Needed Space..working in square canvas/ panel

I've read so much recently...just really getting into the grit of my undergraduate college career as an artist and have really been moved by the concept that the process of art making is as simple as addition and subtraction.  Its mark making and the rendering of my subconscious and worldly issues, experiences, and thoughts on panel.  Its the window into my life, my soul.  I've decided that here on out I will work in square format.  It removed the automatic decision of my audience that my work should be horizontal or vertical.  I am really working at allowing the viewer to feel as though he or she can reach into or walk into the window of my mind.  I've been moved by the work of Hyunmee Lee and Jean-Michele Basquiat, hence the square format and mark making aspect and the freedom to make marks in an almost childish way and resort to works and phrases also.  I feel as though I am really growing as an artist, and as a result of the meditative experience, I am growing as an individual.  My REALM series has really been growing, or should I say, evolving and becoming stronger in my effort to put myself in my work. 

"Realm 3 (Premature Autopsy)

D.LAMAR 2011

48" x 48"