Final Surface Project

So this is the last Surface project. After changing my original idea, I had to work quickly and when I wasn't quite sure what to really do. So I looked at my favorite artist Sheppard Fairey, but I realized that I didn't event really have the time to do some that complicated so I thought about how I could simplify that idea.
I went through some of my old sketches from high and found one of my random doodles from class and thought that it would be perfect to put t on a canvas.

The main concept behind the painting is a graphic portrait. I hid different qualities of my life within the whole design, including writing, running, piano, and art.  I am pleased with the  way it turned out. This was my first time working with this size but it was a really good experience because now I know what works and what doesn't. I will definitely go back and make this painting and make it even stronger.  I plan on continuing painting in this style and experimenting some more. Who knows maybe one day in a few years I'll have an exhibit somewhere...

James Rosenquist

 Yet again I have discovered another artist of the Pop-Art movement, James Rosenquist. Rosenquist received his interest in the arts from his mother, who was also a painter. His l love of art grew after he won a scholarship to study at Minneapolis School of Art.

Eventually at the age of 21, he moved to New York and began studying at the Art Students League.

I enjoy James Rosenquist a great deal. Before he started painting he worked as a billboard painting and then applied the same techniques to his larger paintings which really impressed me. What I like about Rosenquist's work is his use of elements of pop-culture and advertising. Its funny that even though these are traits of pop-art, Rosenquist didn't really consider himself a pop-artist.

After reviewing my blog and reviewing the works of Lichtenstein, Warhol, and Rosenquist I have realized the the Art-Pop movement is my favorite artist movement 

Photo Alteration/Collage

This project didn't take as long as I thought it would. I was actually really into it. 

I like the  graphic look that the painting took on that wasn't my original intention but as I progressed through I went with it.On the trip to the VMFA I was reminded of my painting when I saw Paul Caulfield's Paradise Bar which is part of the reason picked that piece to be put in the blog. The main concept behind painting the laptop is my interest in computers and other related things.  

 I have always loved technology and I enjoy being able to incorporate technological ideas related to it with my art.

One thing that turned out really well about the piece is the color coordination. I know it doesnt look exactly like it but its pretty close. keep in my i was working with slightly dim  incandescent lighting. 

I just wish that I would have been able to work on this in the studio at Bowe St parking deck instead of in my tiny room at home.

The Book of Chase

I have to say I was quite interested in being given the opportunity to make my own book and I learned a great deal in my research of the different methods of book making.


Out of the of the books the saw from the library archives I was most attracted to the "Flag" book. Some people may refer to it as a "Flap" book or "Tag"  book.  I prefer to call a flag book. I'm not exactly sure why that is, perhaps its because it was the first name that I saw and it just became burned in my sub-conscience.


I had a lot of fun doing this project. Once I figured out which type of book I was going to do. I wasn't sure what the book's content was going to be. I wanted to give myself options and I did just that. I took my camera every where with me and took places of almost every location I had been to.


by the end of the week I had over a 1000 pics. I took over 90 pictures a day of places that I had eaten, classes I had gone to, and even the places that I had slept.


Of Course there was no way I could use all these pictures so I decided to settle upon a central theme for the book. With so many pictures I had many themes to choose from but I decided to pick the one that I enjoyed the most Track.

VMFA: Patrick Caulfield

Patrick Caulfield is a british pop artist who came shortly after the Pop art movement was launched. Caulfield is known for using bright blocks of flat colour and thick black outlines in his painting. His style has influenced artists such as Michael Craig-Martin.

Some scholars have question the seriousness of Caulfield's work pointing out that it slightly mimics some abstract qualities 

I enjoy looking at Patrick Caulfield paintings mainly because of there graphic nature.

I saw this painting, Paradise Bar and  thought of it showing up some where in a magazine.

What also attracted me to this painting was the fact that it reminded of on the pieces I did in surface ( laptop ) because of the bold crisp lines. 

I think I am going to do some more research on Caulfield's work. I would really like to know what his process is for his paintings...

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VMFA: Ray Litchenstein

Roy Lichtenstein was one of the most notable American artist during the 1960's. He along with fellow artist such as  Andy Warhol and James Rosenquist became the leading pioneers in a new art movement known as Pop Art.By using parody Lichtenstein best displayed the basis for pop better than any other artist. Lichtenstein himself described Pop art not as American but painting but industrial painting.

What I really like about Lichtenstein's work is the comic book style that he uses. since I was a kid I have always loved reading comic books and to see it hanging up as art amuses me. What I am most impressed with though is the fact that Lichtenstein manages to make this oil and acrylic painting look like screen print. It is tuly an example of what man is capable of. This piece titled "Gullscape" has inspired me. And when I find some spare time, perhaps over the winter break I will recreate a scene from one of my favorite comic books. 

VMFA: Nam June Paik

I was excited to see this piece when I visited the museum. Especially because I recently did a paper on him and now know a lot about him. Nam June Paik is undoubtedly the master of video art. He helped to establish this medium in the 1960's. Although a he was a very prestigious Video Artist he also worked in other mediums including performance art and sculpture.


This piece is called "Buddha Watching TV". is a combination of video art and sculpture basically making it a video sculpture.  Nam June Paik actually made the concept for this piece in in 1974. However this version that rest in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was made in 1997.


Paik  used a real Buddha head from Indonesia and wrote his name aggressively on it. The head sits in dirt and seems to be watching it self on the television screen. The image on the screen is live and is constantly broadcasting the unchanging head. This piece supports the act of reflecting upon the age of technology. A theme that is present throughout several of Paik's works.


"The real issue implied in 'Art and Technology' is not to make another scientific toy, but how to humanize the technology and the electronic medium, which is progressing rapidly. We will demonstrate the human use of technology, and also stimulate viewers NOT for something mean but stimulate their fantasy to look for the new, imaginative and humanistic ways of using our technology." - Nam Jun Paik