Friday, January 29, 2010

Perspective


I had a surprise this semester. I was offered a position as a TA (teacher's assistant) for an undergraduate course on perspective. I laughed, thinking "I wonder who told the powers that be, that I could use a review in perspective"?
Well, my first class was on Thursday. It went well. It is a large class, in a small room, so much of the time I was just trying to figure out where to stand so I was not in the way. Basically the teacher (Scott Settle) demonstrates on the board and I wander through the tables checking to see that the students are putting their lines in the right places. It was tiring as I did not have a chance to sit down and they really don't take a break - for 3 and a half hours. I will get there early next week and try to fit a chair at the back of the room.
After perspective I hauled my stuff up to the MFA building where I met with Joe for our mentor meeting. I really liked Joe. He is very direct and easy to follow. He has a much grander picture for me that I admit I had. I realise that he is right in saying that in trying to figure out how to communicate content I left my style and personality behind. I now have to bring the two together - my work is starting too look too much like a product of LCAD. I spent today journaling, sketching, searching the web looking at other artist's work, images and finally after many hours of this I came up with a seed of an idea that I really like. Let's see if I feel the same way tomorrow!
I am learning so much about process!

Monday, January 18, 2010

New Website


Hi all and Happy New Year! Well, I had three goals for the break. One was to get a scholarship application ready to go out - it is nearly there, just have to pick up some docs from school and it will be ready to go. Two, is to get one of my thesis paintings repaired and at a state worth showing to my new mentor - Joe Gerges. I am almost there on that one. Will paint at least six hours today and get it there. The third thing was a new website. That is done! It is much easier for me to update and much easier for you and me to remember. Just go to serenapotter.com Please let me know if you see anything I need to fix. One thing I have done is added a section called dailies, where I have put all of the daily paintings from this blog in one spot. They are much easier to view that way.
Above is a painting by Joe. I really look forward to working with him. His work is quite different from mine and I hope I can learn more from him about physiology - painting the figure in such a way that it tells the story through posture, expression and so forth. His work is realistic but not "pretty". I like that too. His web site is joegerges.com
I am no longer officially working with John Brosio. It is a good thing to get input from different sources. I do feel he has helped me immensely in my initial progress and I hope to connect back with him later in this MFA journey. His work is at Johnbrosio.com
School starts tomorrow. I am just hoping I can make it down the mountain! The wind and rain are torrential today and are expected all week.