Frank Stella Resolution: Happy New Year 2015!

Serpentine Belt  C.T. Rasmuss, Enamel/acrylic/found objects (2014).

Let me just say up front that: like any other piece of artwork that's lavished with texture, my 'Serpentine Belt' shown above, is better seen in person, more so than other of my paintings like it; This aside, it will act as the anchor for my New Year's Resolution of 2015, which is: this will be the first of a solid series that I'll focus on throughout out the new year.  

Reason being, to create a more consistent point A to B resolution in my art this year; in the spirit of "Frank Stella's Black Paintings series", which I've provided a link to a good article on his early works and an example of his Black Paintings series which: "first announced him to the art-world of New York":

link to article by New York Times, on Frank Stella's early works

link to Frank Stella: The MoMA Collection

Marriage of Reason and Squalor   Frank Stella, aluminum paint (1959).

Of course my (Jackson Method) action painting, Expressionistic style is the opposite of Stella's Color Field - Abstract Expressionistic style, this is no matter, as what I mean to take away from his example, in his series and other ones of his like it; is his focus on a common denominator, resulting in tangible results that clearly showed up in his subsequent series, which introduced evident new ideas and techniques.

* fascinating to me how Stella's "Black" series varied very little from one to the next, but were profoundly different at the same time..

In other words...If I'm more focused in a specific series such as this one due to my Resolution, it should allow me better discipline, less distractions, and a clearer goal in mind; even though I still have the slightest idea where it will go.  And just like all artists it takes much faith to realize your efforts, and ensuring that they will be worth while.  

Serpentine Belt - closeup  C.T. Rasmuss, Enamel/acrylic/found objects (2014).

Don't get me wrong, as an artist I can focus very well, and I wish to focus on one specific idea that's simple and basic; and I wish to incorporate it through slight/varying applications, from one painting to the next, where non one is the same, and none too different so much that I end up going off into an entirely different direction(but if it happens it happens, I will just set it aside for some other time).  

The element that will be my common denominator, is going to be the new final line composition: as shown above in a closeup of 'Serpentine Belt', is the solid black enamel line over gray acrylic line, which pulls it all together.  I introduced this aspect in this painting for the very 1st time, and I myself believe it's an element that's entirely new in this very style of the Post-Pollock era; which I've been working on here n there over the last year or so.

In closing I'd have to believe that it's easier to stick with one way of doing it in Stella's Minimalist technique, than my chaotic action painting style, but what they share is: this approach makes it easy for an artist to get stuck, just like Pollock did, whereas Stella was able to move forward because of it; and talking to artist friend/colleague, John Sousa, perhaps if Jackson wouldn't have hit that tree, he may have broke on through, which is what I intend to do for him..proving that this method can work work for any artist, I guess you can call it a method of micromanagement or connoisseur-ism, benefiting the artist in a painterly way tho.

Here's to progress in 2015!  &  A Happy New Year!!!

ZEN; Another Lucid Mosaic(in process) by C.T. Rasmuss.

'ZEN(in process)'  C.T. Rasmuss, Lucid mosaic(original concept by C.T.).



Here's the Lucid Mosaic I've been workin on since, late January of this year; I've posted some conceptual drawings below, in order of conception.  Just to verify to anyone who has followed my career and my original mosaic/painting method - My direct influences for this particular style is not just the pouring method of Jackson Pollock and impasto style of Van Gogh, but here particularly like my last Mosaic('Night & Day; A Modern Dilemma' by C.T. Rasmuss) my additional influences on this one are: Frank Stella for the color/grayscale effect, and M.C. Escher concerning composition and mathematics.

 

 

 



I have included these preliminary drawings to give you a sense of my preparation that goes into, coming up with the ideas for my mosaics.  Many people, other artists and professionals of all kind always talk about being afraid of others stealing their ideas; as for me, I am some what concerned, when the thought of it crosses my mind, but I feel in my heart that I'm blessed with a talent that is to be shared with those who are willing, and if my talent/idea is truly strong and unique enuff, as I 'believe' it to be, then I've nothing to worry about.

 

 

 

Enjoy and I hope you learn something, especially from how we can learn so much from the Masters..

 

 

Link to: ZEN Part II - The Finished Piece



 



Meet 'Night & Day - A Modern Dilemma' Everyone!!

Night & Day - A Modern Dilemma  C.T. Rasmuss - A technique invented by the artist. (2013-14).

Success at last!!  To spare you the details, and redundancy:  I simply accomplished what I set out to do and more!...  

I 100% believe that this is a solid artwork in everyway, and like all art, it can be built upon; but what I'm most satisfied here with is: I took a chance, a risk, a BiG! risk!  - Considering this work took me around 225 hours or more to complete, even after its original conception, and corresponding sketches.

It opened my eyes to see how Art can be separated in another way: 

Art that is & art that BECAME...

Below you'll notice two masterpieces created by two masters of the arts, that have paved the way for artists such as me; my Above art-piece is an amalgamation of my own artist intuition, direction given by the masterpieces below, and the will to discover the unknown.

                                            Day & Night  M.C. Escher - woodcut (1938).

                              Link: Day & Night blog by C.T. Rasmuss

                                 Jasper's Dilemma  Frank Stella - alkyd on canvas (1962-63).

                              Link: Jasper's Dilemma meets Modern Dilemma blog post

Oh yeah and please let me know what you think, please leave your comments - join my blog if you'd like !!  I want to hear from you, Thank you!!!

'Modern Dilemma' by C.T. Rasmuss, Continued.

'Modern Dilemma' in process by C.T. Rasmuss

I'm not so sure as to what the actual "Dilemma" was in Stella's 'Jasper's Dilemma'; but I've come to realize, that I know in my current 'work in process-Modern Dilemma', that he may have been stuck by certain rules, he perhaps wouldn't allow himself to break(as I found myself).

Just a theory, but for instance if Stella pre-set rules such as: Dark Gray = Dark hue of Red & Light Gray = Light Red, Medium Gray = Medium Red, and so on for all other colors(3 primary/3 secondary).  He then would have either started with either the Grisaille side or poly-chromatic side; with this set rule, and others alike, not to be broken.  Given that he also finished one side 1st then the other(not working both sides simultaneously), as you can see that I have done in my Lucid Mosaic seen here, I started with Grisaille and finished to full completion, I'm currently working the poly-chromatic.^ 

Point being, after finishing my Grisaille side 1st, I then of course started with the corresponding right poly-chromatic side, but after trying to match up color with the gray-scale on the left, finished side, as Stella had done; I realized the "Dilemma": Quantitative -Grisaille vs. Qualitative color values, which I learned after reading more on Frank Stella, this was the case.

But instead of fighting it and sticking to my guns, I am able to look into the past, and learn from these two masters of their craft, being, Jasper Johns and Frank Stella; I searched for a solution, and believe I have found one.

The Solution??

Stay tuned to find out, as it is just theory now and may change;) Right now it's in Faith's hands..

'Jasper's Dilemma' Meet 'Modern Dilemma'- (Rasmuss' dilemma meet Japser's dilemma).

Modern Dilemma   C.T. Rasmuss, oil (Nov. 2013).

I bought a new art book today with a 40% off coupon at Half Priced Books, a book on Frank Stella(MOMA - 1970); guess what I found on page 46?? (also happened to be my last page I chose to read for the night)

'Jasper's Dilemma' (1962-63) by Frank Stella, big whoop right?! but this happened to be a painting titled in respect to Jasper Johns, the artist that lead me to the purchase of this book; it also happens to be a very similar composition to my next mosaic I had planned.

Weeks ago, I had decided to do a geometric landscape, in respect to works I've been inspired via M.C. Escher.  Then a week ago I thought of an "inventive" way to use my geometric composition: as a side by side perspective, involving a gray-scale mosaic next to the same picture, full of color.

Modern Dilemma  C.T. Rasmuss, ink on paper (Oct. 2013).

I thought it was a genius idea, and still do, but after seeing the existence of  'Jasper's Dilemma'; I realized it wasn't totally new in it's conception, specifically in being two identical geometrical images next to each other
:(

Jasper's Dilemma   Frank Stella, Alkyd on canvas (1962-63).

Doesn't mean I'm not seeing this through, as I am! I feel that it's just the blow to my ego for good measure & the fact "the show must go on".  I also don't believe in unworthy coincidences, this perhaps is my dilemma; as I thought much of my geometric abstraction was completely new and inventive, before running into Stella haha..

One thing for certain is as far as I know, the only differing aspect of my work(in progress) is not just my mosaic method(inventive in it's own right) but that I chose my gray-scale to be on the left!..rather than the on the right!...as shown above^