Yard Dog Road Show...

Last night, to celebrate Tony's birthday, we all went out to see the Yard Dog Road Show at the Orange Peel here in Asheville. It was a lot of fun! The traveling vaudeville troop of performers, musicians, and magicians evoke a certain carnival-esque vibe, combining costumes inspired by 1920's burlesque and road shows from the 1800's and energetic rock and roll. Be sure to check out their tour dates, as they're bound to be in a city near you!

New Suzanne Gonsalez ACEOs...

Here are two new ACEOs to add to my growing collection. They're both done by artist Suzanne Gonsalez who is based out of Lexington, Kentucky. She is apart of the duo Raven Wolf Gallery. I acquired these very textured and layered mixed media ACEOs through her Etsy shop. (Yes, perhaps I am addicted!) These particular ones come from two series she's been working on. One of them focuses on the use of ephemera from an old anatomical book, the other incorporating vintage illustrations from tarot cards and playing cards. They're great!

New Jenna Colby a.k.a. Soopajdelux Prints...

I've been on a print buying binge lately. These are two more goodies that I got from Etsy. Aren't they great? They're both done by artist Jenna Colby who also goes by Soopajdelux. Right now she's having a sale in her Etsy shop, two for one. But only until Halloween. Afterwards it's back to regular prices. I think these canvas-printed gems are a steal!

New Ashley Goldberg Print...

This is another print I've been admiring for a while. It's done by Ashley Goldberg, based out of St. Louis, Missouri. I picked it up from her Etsy store. Her graphic style appeals to my love of simplicity. I also love that she does bird girls! Aren't they cute? She also has her prints done on canvas for extra durability. Check out her blog by CLICKING HERE.

Corvus Vulpes...

Above: Mixed Media Painting, "corvus vulpes" for Lisa Blackwell, by me - Andrew Thornton.

To complete a trade with Lisa of Zoa Art, I made her a painting. I call it, "corvus vulpes". It's the scientific name for "crow fox". Lisa was telling me about a series of books she was reading that featured this creature that was part crow and part fox. The background is made up of hundreds of layers of medium, newspaper clippings, and some special tricks of mine. The newspaper clippings come from a house-hunting paper here in Asheville. This is a nod towards her and Tony's nomadic ways. All of this is coated with several different layers of resin and acrylic paint, and a matte fixative on top to seal it all up. I quite like it. Lisa said that she loved it and I'm really glad that she's enjoying it.

Food for Thought...

Haven't updated our food creations in a while! The other day, Cynthia made a Vietnamese Fisherman's Soup, I made some rice pudding and last night, Seven Bean Chili. My secret ingredient is adding maple syrup to the ground beef.

Above Left: A bowl of the Seven Bean Chili at my work station. Notice the Elmer's Glue bottle and scissors amongst decorative papers. No time for breaks!

Against and Together...

It's another late night and still rest does not find me easily. I've been smoothing my mind over ideas of abstraction and figurative painting. Of what these terms have become and how they've changed and are constantly supplanting one another in popularity and debate. I imagine that I do this to attempt to navigate my own work and rediscover what is important for me as an artist.

This brought me to think of two artists, which are in theory dramatically posed against one another and yet are very much on the same page - Odd Nerdrum and Mark Rothko.

Above: (Left) Oil painting by Odd Nerdrum titled, "Flock". (Right) "No. 14" by Mark Rothko.

Mark Rothko once said, "It was with the utmost reluctance that I found the figure could not serve my purposes. But a time came when none of us could use the figure without mutilating it." Instead of the figure, Rothko evoked the power of color, texture, and the sensibilities of light to capture pure emotion. Even though his work appears during the dominance of the non-objective and abstract art, he didn't consider himself an abstractionist. He denounced the idea constantly, saying, "I’m not an abstractionist. I’m not interested in the relationship of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on."

Odd Nerdrum is primarily a figurative painter. He is often referred to as, "the new Old Master" and his work is constantly compared to that of Caravaggio and Rembrandt. He writes extensively on his ideas of Kitsch and on the movement of the figure in the contemporary art world. In fact he openly accepts the mantle of a "kitsch painter". Nerdrum's works attempt to engage the sensuality of the experience of viewing art, appealing to the viewer and their humanity and how they perceive it. He uses his skill and craftsmanship as a tool to become a "better" artist. His ideas are often in conflict with that of abstractionists, saying that "it makes for pretty wall-paper."

It's funny how drastically opposed to one another they are set. Rothko thinks that craftsmanship is over-rated if done in lieu of idea and emotion. Nerdrum believes that "craftsmanship is what develops our thoughts... as a kind of miracle cure." He goes on to say that the mastery of a material ends in a "catharsis" which makes good work. Rothko refuses to use the figure and Nerdrum uses it as his primary vehicle. Both are seemingly at opposite ends.

Above: (Left) "1957, No. 20" by Mark Rothko. (Right) Another painting titled, "Flock" by Odd Nerdrum.

Even though they seemed utterly at odds with one another as far as their work is concerned, they are not so different. Each artist attempts to express emotion, whether as a manifestation of the spiritual or as a depiction of the human condition. Each tries to engage the viewer in feeling something more palatable than a passing consideration of color theory or art historical relevance.

Although I know it is never a good idea to compare work on just how it looks (as it will often times leads to false assumptions and misnomers), I will (in this case) be quiet and let the work speak for itself. And leave off with another Rothko quote:

"Silence is so accurate."

Awesome...

Since my sleeping schedule has been a bit off lately, I'm finding it hard to sleep at regular hours. I am very disappointed by this, as I want to look rested and youthful and not haggard and oily (I break out when I don't get enough sleep).

So, what does one do when they can't sleep and are tired of working? They surf blogs! (Either that or find a bottle Tylenol PM.)

Anyway, I came across a really humorous and helpful blog called, "AWESOME!" And it really is awesome. The sassy remarks are well-written and ever so clever. Not only that, but they feature really interesting and useful items that are highly covet-worthy. Check it out!

Kelly Lynn Jones Interview at Crafty Synergy...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I picked up a great print by Daniel St. George at Little Paper Planes. I happened to be browsing the Crafty Synergy blog and found a really great interview with the owner of Little Paper Planes, Kelly Lynn Jones. She's an amazing artist who is really in touch with architecture and space. Check out the interview by CLICKING HERE. And check out Kelly's blog by CLICKING HERE.

Body Modifications...

A bevy of talented young artists are participating in a group show curated by Jeanne Siegel entitled, "Body Modifications." Among the line up, this show will include the works of Elizabeth Castaldo, Katrina Contreras, and Amanda Amato. The show runs from October 5th to October 20th and will be at the Visual Art Gallery in Chelsea. The Opening Reception is Tuesday, October 9th. CLICK HERE for more information. Make sure to check it out!

An Interesting Idea...

WOOLOO.ORG is now inviting artists to participate in LIFE EXCHANGE - presented in association with PERFORMA 07, the Biennial of New Visual Art Performance in New York. LIFE EXCHANGE is a one-week exhibition offering applicants the possibility to perform actual Life Exchanges with other individuals for a time. 10 applicants will be selected to open LIFE EXCHANGE on October 31st, 2007. During the following week (until Nov. 6th), these selected artists will perform the 10 first life exchanges with members of the public attending the exhibition in Chelsea, New York City. To apply for participation in LIFE EXCHANGE, you must live in or around New York City (hotels included). You must also be willing to let another person live in your home for at least 24 hours. This includes handing over your home keys for this period, as well as letting another person use your clothes and other property. In return, you will receive access to another person's home, clothes, etc. To apply or learn more about LIFE EXCHANGE, CLICK HERE. The application deadline is October 21st, 2007. (Midnight/Pacific Standard Time)

Red-Eyed Monster...

I have been hard at work finishing up projects for Faerie Con. Lots of surprises and goodies will be at this show! It's coming up in a week and some change and is just around the corner. The backgrounds are almost all done and I'm trying to gather together some material for an up-coming newsletter and finish some designs for a magazine. CLICK HERE to go to Cynthia's blog to check out the latest Oracle Card, "Obstacles." Lots of work. So much so that I've been pulling quite a few all-nighters.

Once upon a time, I could go without sleep for days. Times have changed though and the toll is being taken out on my body. This morning, as the sun rose, I looked in the mirror and saw a frightening sight! A stubbly, greasy, unkempt version of myself with glowing red eyes. I'm not exaggerating about the color of my eyes. Azalea woke up not long after that and said, "Andrew, what's wrong with your eyes? They're scary. Are you sick?"

After finishing up a few smaller projects, I finally laid down to take a nap. Frick, the big blonde cat curled up with me and I fell into a deep sleep. I am much more rested and groomed now and am eagerly awaiting the completion of many of the works in progress.

If you can make it out to the convention, you should definitely stop by! It should be tons of fun and we'll have tons of things that will be made just for the show.

New Sarah Ogren Prints...

I have been hooked on Etsy lately, treating myself to a belated birthday present of sorts (or so I tell myself). I just adore the idea of a forum for artists and crafters that enables them to share their work. I especially love picking up new prints for my collection. I think it all started with Jen Tong's Bunny Boy, and now I've been possessed with collecting rabbit prints. I especially like the anthropomorphic ones that have human bodies. This led me to the work of Sarah Ogren.

Above: These are two of the prints that I picked up on my last visit to Sarah's Etsy shop. Both are open edition silkscreen prints.

Sarah is a mixed media artist based out of Goreville, Illinois. She is remarkably talented at combining her own drawings and vintage ephemera into stunning collages and prints. Her pieces evoke a Victorian sensibility, delicate and ornate with a touch of seemingly sinister darkness.

Above: (Left) Another silkscreen print in an open edition. (Right) A tiny ACEO card that's a perfect way to collect original artwork.

I am really happy with my finds from Sarah. (I just stopped by her Etsy shop again and selected a few more goodies!) Don't forget to check out her blog, by CLICKING HERE.

New Daniel St. George Print...

I've been coveting this print by Daniel St. George for a while now. (Of course I would; it has unusual bunnies in it!) I love the juxtaposition of something sweet with a little bit of something scary. It reminds me of that line from Shakespeare's "Scottish Play": "Fair is foul and foul is fair..." After seeing a guide on collecting affordable prints on Design*Sponge this past summer, I checked out the Little Paper Plane which features prints by a bevy of artists. This is a great resource for people looking to expand their art collections without breaking the bank. The print arrived in the post today and is just exquisite with all its morbid gold ink details!

Beauty is the Mystery of Life...

My main job on the Oracle cards is developing the collaged backgrounds. In essence, creating the world in which these symbolic, magical creatures exist. In their most basic form, the worlds are a horizon line that divides that which is above from that which is below - very minimal, but at the same time MAXIMUM.

Above Left: "Untitled," by Agnes Martin.

I hate to admit this, but at one point I did not like landscape painting. Perhaps it's that growing up in Florida, the only "art" I was really exposed to was landscape paintings via Bob Ross and his PBS show. When I fled to New York, I wanted nothing but to rebel against my "roots" and embrace formalist abstraction.

After years of study, I began to grow a new appreciation for landscape painting. At first I dissected the images with the eyes of an abstractionist. I boiled down the compositions into the fundamentals of line, shape, color, and their relationships to one another within a work. Eventually I found myself lingering in the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum that featured landscape work, instead of making a bee-line directly to the contemporary and abstract rooms. I had kindled a curiosity towards these paintings. In understanding the formal qualities which made up a picture, I allowed myself to bask in the sheer beauty of a piece. I let myself become enamored with their mystery.

Left: "Morning in the Riesengebirge," 1810-11, by Casper David Friedrich.

In working on the cards, I was struck by how much they relate to Minimalism and spiritual landscapes. One of my favorite Minimalists is Agnes Martin and her famous stripe paintings. They are the quintessential rudiments for natural beauty, perhaps exemplifying best the idea of capturing the horizon and summarizing the world in a single iconic image. So simple, yet very powerful. Many of the landscapes that I grew to love and appreciate that easily come to mind are from the Romantic Era of art, especially the works of Casper David Friedrich and J.M.W. Turner. Their work embodies the transcendental moment of beauty.

Left: "Staffa, Fingal's Cave," 1832, by J.M.W. Turner.

It's funny how my thoughts on beauty should come full circle, as I reflect upon the writings that Agnes Martin did. She wrote an essay, "Beauty is the Mystery of Life" (CLICK HERE to read it) that was apart of a collection of essays and ideas called, "Uncontrollable Beauty: Towards a New Aesthetics." The first lines read:

"When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection."

While working on the oracle cards and planning out my future works, these are a few of the things that are floating around in my head - meditations on life, beauty, mystery, and perfection.

Pervigilium Veneris...

In working on the Oracle deck, I've been thinking about the work for my next show. One of the literary sources I've been contemplating is The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot. I love how rich it is with allusions and mythological connections. One of the references is to Perivilium Veneris. CLICK HERE for the translation.

"Cras amet qui numquam amavit; quique amavit cras amet."

- "Let him love tomorrow who has never loved and let he who has loved love tomorrow."

The Endings Card...

Cynthia and I have been working so hard on the oracle deck! Oh my goodness! It is unlikely that we'll finish up on target for our scheduled debut at Faerie Con. That's sad, but we're really putting a lot of energy, time, and consideration into these cards. Each one is loaded with symbols, layers, and meaning. We all have agreed that we'd like to really do our very best and not just get it done. I'm proud of our decisions.

We will be featuring prints and possibly greeting cards of some of the images that have already been completed.

To the above right is a preview of the "Endings" card. In summary, this card symbolizes inertia, standstill, freezing, obstacles, a halt of progress and the ending of a situation.

You can see a preview of the "Enchantment" card with a mandrake root on Cynthia's blog by CLICKING HERE.

Still Busy...

I just finished a special painting. I hope that the intended recipient likes it. I spent a long time on it. We'll see. I'll post a picture of it once I hand it over.

It was a misty morning. Everything behind the tree-line was consumed by a glowing whiteness. It's very dream-like when it becomes like this. The first time I experienced this, I panicked a bit.

The oracle deck is coming along. Slow, but steady and with much progress. I'm almost finished up on my end and will be working on some prints that I want to have done for Faerie Con. I'm looking forward to it. The other day, Cynthia, Azalea, and I went to Mr. K's for some more collage material.

Earlier this evening, Sheila and I met up with some of our friends. I met up with my friend, Gus (who was working on a very interesting series of conceptual paintings a few years ago), and Sheila's friend Adam came with his roommate Jason. We went to the Flying Frog. It was such a treat to get out of the house and spend time talking with friends.

In any event, I'm pretty beat and am looking forward to getting some rest.

Making Strides...

Amidst a busy day, I got an email from my good friend Heather Wynn. She's an amazingly talented jewelry and bead artist, and a truly beautiful person. Heather is participating in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Pensacola, FL. It's a great cause. Make a donation; I did! CLICK HERE to go to their team page, Pink Flamingos, to find out more.

The Dweller in High Places...

Cynthia and I have been working on finishing the oracle deck, which look GREAT! We've been pulling some LATE nights. Tonight, to keep mentally occupied, we listened to a lovely Susanna Clarke story, The Dweller in High Places. It originally appeared on BBC-7, (which has since been taken down) but can be found HERE.

Draught of Immortality...

While Cynthia was in Italy about four years ago, she happened by the Italian Lush store and picked up the Draught of Immortality. She shared some with me and it was amazing at how my skin felt and looked. Nowadays Lush (domestic or foreign) no longer carries this rejuvenated cream and our rationed store is depleted. While I am here, we'll try and recreate this magical formula.

A Special Place...

If you're in L.A., check out the work of the talented, Jeremiah Ketner. He creates a topography of whimsical enchantment filled with daringly cute characters inspired by Japanese aesthetics and pop-culture. Elizabeth Page Smith Atelier will feature 28 new paintings in his solo exhibition, "A Special Place". Opening reception is this Thursday, September 27th from 6PM to 10PM. CLICK HERE for more info.

Planar Re-adjustment...

If you're in Toronto, swing by Interim Committee for Surface and/or Planar Re-adjustment. It's an exhibition of installations that deal with space and location. The show is up from October 17th to November 10th. The reception is Thursday, October 18th, from 5 PM to 7PM at the OCAD Student Gallery.

Karen Kraven, an awesome artist, will be participating. Her work is a psychological analysis of spaces, whether the mechanical blue prints that compose structures, to intimate spaces between people and bodies. Look closely! Her work is often filled with hidden surprises, such as delicate drawings of pipes and ducts rendered entirely from her own hair.

Naho Taruishi at DUMBO Art Festival...

My friend, the amazingly talented Naho Taruishi, will have a piece featured in the DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival this weekend. Her piece, "CLOSE YOUR EYES" will be shown this Saturday at video_dumbo. For more information CLICK HERE.

Birthday...

Today was my birthday. The day started off later than normal for me. I stayed up really late working on the oracle deck. I tried to get as much done as possible. By the time I got up, Sheila had already made breakfast. Yummy Southern style grits with scrambled eggs. Azalea helped crack the eggs. She's a good little helper.

It was a quiet, sleepy day. Later in the day, Sheila and I worked on some ceramics and had a couple movies playing in the background. I'm afraid that my project didn't turn out that great. I wanted something super organic and very arty. I wanted to make something that looked like it was growing and melting, like some alien fungi. We'll see how it holds up when it's fired and glazed. It has been over five years since my last experimentation with ceramics. Perhaps I'll take a class like Sheila to rekindle my interest in it. I have a fantasy that I'll create an entire world of different flora from an alien world, or somehow graft it into the existing one. Like a extraterrestrial strawberry that's been placed with regular ones.

I've been in my head and dreams a lot today, drifting in and out of them. Since I've been down here, I've been looking for my copy of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho to send to a friend of mine. It was one of those books that you kept as long as you needed it and passed it along when you thought it was time and when someone else was ready for it. Within it were inscriptions from the previous owners. I was number seven. I can't seem to find this particular copy. I picked up another at the used bookstore and have been flipping through it over mint tea. Perhaps I'll put another book in circulation.


Later in the evening, Cynthia and Greg took us out for sushi for my birthday dinner! Tony and Lisa of Zoa Art joined us. It was quite tasty and there was an over-flowing abundance of goodness.

Here Sheila is hamming it up for the camera and trying to cram a HUGE piece of sushi in her mouth. Sheila has been doing this ever since she was little. Azalea does the same thing and I believe that there's a picture that's fairly similar to this one of her.

This is the gratuitous food shot (everyone knows how I like them) of one of the sushi platters. A Yumi roll, a Dynamite roll, an eel and avocado roll and a shrimp tempura roll. Very tasty indeed.


Tomorrow we're going to pick up a cake from Filo Pastries and Coffee. It's like what my friend Monica Cook says, "It's not really a birthday unless there's cake, candles, and a wish."

Usually I use my birthday as a day of reflection and write out all the things that have happened and how I've changed and what I'm thankful for. Kind of like a warm-up for Thanksgiving. Perhpas tomorrow I'll tackle this.

Another Busy Day...

Sheila and I took Azalea to the park and checked out some art supply stores. We also checked out a local used book store, which was very good. I'll definitely have to stop back in for some collage material.

Most of the rest of the day was devoted to working on the backgrounds for the oracles cards. They are coming along. Slower than I would like, but still making progress. Cynthia is finished with one of the cards and it looks great!

Tomorrow is my birthday and I don't know what I want to do with the day. I am thinking that I would like some down time. Maybe go to the movies or take a bus out to the beach for a day or two. The only problem with the latter idea is that I've got loads to do before Faerie Con. Maybe I'll try and drum up some of the friends from when I lived here in Asheville. Or have a quiet cup of tea at one of the cafes since I can't have my Wonderland Tea Party.

I was really touched and moved quite a bit by one of my friend's recent postings to their blog. Jean's blog is great! I check it out daily.

Quick Now...

The days have been flying quickly past. I've hardly had any time to blog at all. I've been trying to keep up, but alas... I've fallen behind. We've all been really busy. The cards are coming along a little slower than I would have liked, but I'll just pull an all-nighter tomorrow night to get everything finished on schedule.

It has also been an interesting few days, because it's the autumn equinox and my birthday is just around the corner. Only a day or two away now. Usually this puts me in an extremely social mood. I usually have a big party with all my favorite people. This year I had planned to have a Alice in Wonderland themed tea party. All the beverages would be served in tea cups and be "tea" themed. And I had visions of building Wonderland in my apartment. However, since I'm down here... all of those plans have been dashed and I've been in a hyper-meditative space lately. Although I don't really even acknowledge my real age (many would be surprised what it really is...) I use my birthday as an opportunity to celebrate my friends and the bonds we've made. So being away from everyone has forced me to look inward and deeply, at what is important to me, and where I want to direct my future.

The days are passing quick now. The falling of the leaves, marks the diminishing light and the turning of the wheel... yet again.

Food Update...

Oh, I didn't mention what we've been cooking up in the kitchen recently. In the absence of Rice to Riches, last night I made a rice pudding. All the little pieces and parts came together by happenstance and it came out pretty darn nice, if I don't say so myself. The texture was velvety and creamy, and the taste was rich and decadent. I also made a pear gelato and red-wine braised pears (we'll have these for lunch tomorrow). For lunch today, I whipped up some herb roasted potatoes and Sheila made a nice noodle dish in a brie cheese sauce. Yum!

The Vortex...

Back in New York, I don't own a television. It's strange how one of the first possessions I would buy in New York, would be one that I have effectively eliminated from my life nowadays. I've done this because I am easily drawn into watching television, any television really, and have a hard time focusing on my work.

Being here in Asheville has provided me with the chance to catch up on the world of television. Up until now, I've been pretty conscientious about not watching too much television. However, my head started hurting today and I got sucked into watching these really bad teen dramas on The N. Apparently after Azalea's programing on Noggin is over, it magically transforms into Dawson Creek-esque dramas about young people and their troubles.

I was raised watching soap operas. My mom would have them on while she was watching us or they would be on when I came home from school. I was also one of the ones that was caught up in the boom of prime-time soaps. Insert Dallas, Knots Landing, Dynasty, Melrose Place, and the countless others that sprung up but couldn't survive. Does anyone else remember Central Park West? Or Pacific Palisades? Or Savannah? Or Model's Inc.? Probably not. But I am now gifted in aptly predicting the slow song in accompaniment to the montage, can foresee plot-line twists, sniff out hidden drug habits, detect secret homosexuality, sense on-coming kissing in the shower or rain scene, and uncover relationships that will transform from sweet innocent romance into domestic abuse and the eventual redemption and inevitable failure of said redemption.

Come to think of it, perhaps I should go into soap scripts. The best are the ones that don't get too complicated and are easy to relate to. The worst are when they get too convoluted and grasp for straws or ratings.

Yes, I've been sucked into the vortex of bad television. But it'll only be for today, because I've got to get cracking on the oracle card backgrounds.

Busy Day...

The new backgrounds look really good! I worked on them all day yesterday. We did some scale shifts and size adjustments to see how they'll look smaller. And I am happy to say that they look awesome. I'll try to post a couple before the debut launch at Faerie Con.

Today we had a very busy day. Sheila, Azalea, and I went to the French Broad River Park. They're having an outdoor sculpture show that's up right now. It was nice to walk around and enjoy the fresh air. Especially after spending several hours with my nose to the grindstone yesterday, it was nice to take a little breather.

Left: Azalea in front of one of the installation sculptures in the park. She said that they looked like My Neighbor Totoro, which is a Japanese anime about these magical cats that live next door.

Right: This is one of the piece in the installation. It's a piece of intricately cut metal that's been suspended in the tree branches. It mimics the natural pattern of the branches nicely.

Left: Sheila and Azalea posing in front of another of the sculptures in the front of the park. It was a type of shadowbox filled with various dark-colored glass fragments and ceramics.

After the park, Sheila took us to her studio. I haven't been there before and it was nice to see the space that she was working in. It made me miss my studio space greatly and yearn for the community that springs up around a space like that.

Right: Sheila and Azalea in Sheila's studio. Azalea loves visiting the studio.

When we finished up at the studio, we dropped in Highwater Clays to look at their colored slip selection and to see if they have these fancy pencils that write on ceramics. I'm not sure how they work, but they seem pretty cool. We decided to drop by downtown to have a quick look around while we were in the car. So, we stopped in at Malaprop's, Ariel Gallery (to check out the Daniel Essig books), Mobilia, and Chevron Trading Post. While we were at Chevron, we said hello to our friends Deb, Georgie, and Melissa.

We were so tired after our adventures out that both Azalea and I were falling asleep at the table.