Artist Statement

I think you call it an Artist Statement. Anyway, I wrote one, not really following the rules. I just did it my way. Thanks Blue Eyes :)

I am beginning to deepen my profile on the Saatchi Art site, in an effort to present my work to those who are a little more inclined to purchase. Here is the statement I submitted to the Saatchi site.

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I am not a professional artist, though, I have sold a few art works. As I write this bio, I am 20 years in the business of Information Technology. Some years in the hospital environment, a few years in the wireless Internet Service industry, and currently running an IT shop for County Government.

My first passion in visual expression came in the form of still photography. As a teenager, I was very curious with the camera. As a young adult, I enlisted in the United States Navy, and worked as a Photographer's Mate. My tenure in the Navy was a life changing experience. I transitioned very well to the digital photography world, and not long after that, I began focusing my attention on oil paint.

I took a class at the local community college, and had a great experience with the painting instructor. She taught me how to think about art, how to talk about art, and how to allow myself to "let go" of the rules, and just let the painting happen organically. My favorite photographers are Edward Weston, and Sebastiao Selgado. My favorite painters are Joan Mitchell, Karel Appel, and so many more. Too many to name.

When I am out and about with the camera, I am enjoying the solitude of the landscapes I am photographing. I spent just a few years tinkering with digital art, and may return to it, but as I write this, I am very deep into the genre of black and white landscape still photographs. When I am painting, I am witnessing a battle between my inner being, and my outer being. Rather, my conscious mind versus my sub-conscious mind. The result so far - some non-objective works, that focus on action, color, shape, line, and texture. On the other side of the inner battle lies a painter that works very conceptually. The painting titled, One Zero, is currently my most significant example of the conceptual style. 

Stream On Youtube

Hey all ... just a quick note. I am continuing my blog with videos on Youtube. At first, I started pasting links to the entries there, but I don't think I'm going to continue that. Rather, I just will link you to my channel over there. Occasionally, I may still write some things here, but most of my updates are likely going to appear on my Youtube channel. Please feel free to surf the links, and let me know what you think. Hit the like, subscribe, favorite, and all that other happy horse sheeet. LOL ... Thanks

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCENcwWTQHuM1MtatJ7DHDRA?feature=guide

Mark Rohlf's Art Collection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIr7V3XivKk

My First Video Blog Entry :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8yRAn960zc

Final Paintings From 2012

Here are the last two paintings from my 2012 work. Thanks thanks and more thanks to Susan Copas for teaching me how to paint. Not just how to paint, but also how to talk about my paintings. How to think about my paintings, and how to let go of what you would typically think of as a mistake in a painting. The first image is of the painting titled "Intent". The title came as a collaboration with my friends on Facebook. I wasn't sure at first, so I put it out there for suggestions. Funny because the final title was suggested by me. However, it did help to hear suggestions from others. When I first started painting it, I thought it was going to be an epic fail, but as it turns out, it's one of my favorites. The second image you see, is a painting titled "Event Horizon - Poppy And Friends Prepare For Departure". Or just Even Horizon :). This was my first attempt with a large canvas. 5' X 3' ... actually not exactly five by three ... but pretty close. Susan showed me how to build the frame using 1X2 boards from the local lumber yard, and a few scrap corners of ply board in the corners for support. I love working in the larger size canvases. Every semester, the art students at the college exhibit their work, and vote on a people's choice. Event Horizon was chosen in it's category.

I think this is a pretty good place for me, with regard to where I am as a creator of visual expressions. I am so grateful to Susan for what I learned during her classes. But now I am ready to begin working on my own. I have easels set up in my homes both in Liberal, as well as in Hays, and I am beginning to evolve in the imagery I am wanting to create on the canvas. I am also going to begin experimenting with the acrylic medium. Stay tuned, and thanks for taking the time to look at my expressions. I wish I could show you them in person, because the screen display of these works do absolutely no justice at all to the actual work. Maybe I need to learn how to better photograph them. Maybe with more of a side lit orientation to accent the textures.

Opposite Charlie - 2012

Here is a closer look at Opposite Charlie. Charlie didn't start out as a figurative representation. Rather, it started out as an exercise in the utilization of opposing curves. Thus the name. I ran into some lines that were overlapping in ways I didn't think would work aesthetically, so I turned them into a solid shape, which then became what appears to be Charlie's hair do. I want to continue exploring the possibilities with the opposing curves. I think there is a lot of potential there, even if they don't end up the way Charlie did. When Charlie comes home, I want him to hang next to Greg's Velvet Elvis. I think the two will hit it off famously. :)

Forest For The Trees - With Artist

Here is a shot of the beautiful print and mount of the Forest For The Trees image. I absolutely love the aluminum frame. Notice how it looks like it's floating on the wall. Next year, I plan to print the 2nd FFTT image. It will be the same dimension, except it will be in a landscape orientation. The two images together will make a nice presentation on the wall of my office area in the basement of the Seward County Administration Building.

Playful Poodle - 2012

When I was young, Mom had me in piano lessons. I hated it, because I was a pretty typical kid. I didn't want to play the piano. I wanted to go outside and ride my bike. I'm sure it was hard for mom, because she had to constantly get after me to practice the recommended amount of time. Needless to say, my piano playing career didn't last very long. However I did last long enough to play in one recital. I had 2 songs that I played. To this day, I remember, not only the name of the first song, but I can still play it from start to finish. The name of the song was Playful Poodle. As I was photographing this painting today, I had an idea that I would immortalize that song by giving this painting the same name.

Synthetic Storm III - The Elephant In The Room - 2012

I should have posted this one first, because I started this one first. This is the 3rd, and most likely, the last in the series of Synthetic Storm images.

The Protagonist - 2012

This painting was a very spontaneous creation. I began by tracing my hand in the upper left portion of the canvas. I then just built the design from there. Very enjoyable experience. Spontaneous creations are definitely a positive experience. I have received some pretty positive feedback on this one.

Dora My Dora - 2012

This painting was inspired by Pablo's portrait of Dora Maar. At first, I had some trouble with this image. Not the figure, but the room in the background. So I did some adjustments, and felt pretty good with the fix.

Dancing In The Moonlight

This painting created itself. It is early August, and I am really anxious to start the Fall semester. I am excited to begin a new set of paintings. I am wanting to explore the non-representational abstract style.

This one is titled Dancing In The Moonlight - 2012

Fear Nymph

Here is my first effort for the summer 2012. I started with a plan to NOT plan the design, but rather to let the design create itself. I planned to do this by starting with a random mark on the canvas, and then just kind of build it out from there. As I finished the underpainting, I was not very confident that anything would come of this effort. However, I am pleasantly surprised to be rather happy with the finished painting.

Print 2/2

Here is a capture of print 2/2 of Turbines And Fog - 2010. This image will never be printed again in this size. 18 1/2 X 36. However, if you would like a print, I would be willing to start a new series, and round the measurements up to 20 X 40. I would be willing to print 25 of those. These prints will be framed differently however, but I think you will really enjoy them. I am going to print and frame them using a printing company out of Greeley, Colorado. They have a cool framing process, using what they call Alumiplaq. The name describes the materials. The frame is made entirely of aluminum, and there is no glass. The print is adhered to the aluminum, and then coated with a varnish, to protect the art.

When I am dead and gone, and I am considered an internationally renowned artist, these prints will be worth a billion, kagillion, schmedulakachilion .... dollars (evil grin). So be sure and get them while they last. Again, there will only be 25 of them. :)

Zag

This is the last painting from the Spring 2012 semester at Seward County Community College with Susan Copas. Zag is the alter ego that helps me define the vision behind my art.

Playful Partisans

It's an election year, so I thought I would paint something in honor of our great American political process.

Synthetic Storm II - Playful Partisans

Synthetic Storm

The purpose of my painting is not to match the couch. Rather, the purpose is to start a conversation. The length of the conversation is a yardstick to its significance. A good painting creates a long conversation. A great painting also creates a long conversation, well into the future.

Bob And Betty

I made a few last minute tweaks to my Bob And Betty. Here is the final iteration :)

New Kansas Images

Here are a few new Kansas images. :)

New Art

Some new art images. Bob & Betty is my new painting. :)