Fall Dancing

I have returned to school for this fall semester and new year. Can I tell the world how happy I am? I have a wonderful semester in front of me. One of the courses is an Individualized instruction in Watercolor. I have already begun painting. I have not felt in me the drive to paint for some time. I have been taking photographs here and there, many of them self-portraits. I spent the weekend reading, eating, and walking around town. The weather is a comfortable summer hot. I wore a short pair of black shorts. Walking through town it felt like a heated blanket covered my skin. The feeling was refreshing from the cold air conditioned apartment. I have been productive with my work, staying on top of my 'to-do' list. I read much faster than I have ever been able to before.


I have so many different ideas of what I'd like to paint. The first assignment I was given; build my first painting around a title. I have never taken this sort of approach before. It makes me consider painting 'on behalf of' other's intentions. A friend of mine used the word 'mending' in an e-mail. Something about it stuck out. I chose that world as the title of my first painting. The sketch holds structure and and element of an organic pair of branches mending light in the center of the piece. So far it is about 45% finished.


I wanted to paint this previous summer, but never felt motivated to do so. I began with a small collage and experimentations, testing out how to make gel transfers from magazine photographs. The sociology course I took last semester 'Sociology of Sex Roles' inspired me to write about the male gender and American culture. The strongest phrase in my writings was, 'We live in a White, Heterosexual, Male, Dominate Society." I wanted to talk about defining masculinity, and how some of my personal definitions conflict with the social norm. There is something about these sort of paintings that requires writing, poetry, or words printed right one the canvass.


My art primarily focuses on identity. I struggle pulling myself from this theme. I consider myself a detailed artist when it comes to my skill. I feel Watercolor painting is my forte. Intellectually I am abstract and a conceptual artist. I think I'd do well in criticism. I have this drive to dance, move, and express myself with sound. Having a dance course this semester also has been exciting me, and I find it hard not to dance for 5 min when taking a break from reading in my room. So far, I love how things are going.