Ready for Spring??

I'm gettin ready for Spring in a big way this year, how bout You?

I've already found some blossoms making their way here, they tell me to get ready for some real inspiration this summer...to get out there and see what i can see and put it to the canvas.

Perfect timing cause I'm really into Flowers and landscapes right now, likr you I've been cooped up all winter, if we don't make the best of it, then the worse will creep its way in somehow, like a mold and devour what is not being used.

So gear up those of you from the Northern Hemisphere, Spring is here!!!

'Mad Max City 1' by C.T. Rasmuss

Mad Max City 1  C.T. Rasmuss, Acrylic/Live Action Painting (2010).

When I first painted this artwork 3 years ago, it was untitled; then a few weeks ago I watched the movie Mad Max (Beyond Thunder Dome), starring Mel Gibson.  I've watched the Mad Max series many times(3 all together), but what made this time different from all the others was the fact I finally noticed the film for what it was, fantastically 'Artistic'!!!

I tilted the painting above, Mad Max City 1 because it reminded me of the city described by the girl at the end...also my way of paying tribute, posthumously to a film trilogy, that I spent my childhood fascinated with.

I searched it out at and as far as I can see, it was not awarded any major awards for costume or set design; while watching the film I thought to myself this should have won something!  How original and iconic it was, everything about it.  Mad Max Furiosa is coming out this year, can't wait to see it, maybe this one will get it's just reward, and maybe even shed some light on it's Artistic values.

Art comes in many forms and inspiration comes from many sources, hence this film noir is suitable for any and all artists as far as I'm concerned.

Georges Rouault: When Inspiration calls; Ride the Wave!

Upon visiting the Cincinnati Art Museum last Wednesday, I did a study of a Still Life by French Fauvist/Expressionist, Georges Rouault, cir. (1939).  Every time I visit the local museum, I've been oddly attracted to his works, whether they were his Clown, figure of Christ or his Landscapes; this time putting my Ego aside, I read the accompanying information accompanying the Still Life and read how he applied his Stained glass background to his works; something in me went off like a light bulb!!!

Now I can't stop, and as you can see from a few of my latest works, which I've posted for you above; I realized that I ran into unexpected inspiration, and can't wait to visit it again tomorrow(as I plan on going to the museum tomorrow), Thank you Georges Rouault for the inspiration, wherever you are!!

"Surfs up"!!!

Son_Art_A Re-attempts "Art or Die III" Friday @ Midnight.

Art or Die I  (2013).

Art or Die II  (2013).

Son_Art_A Performs Re-attempts "Art or Die III" Friday @ Midnight...

When:  This Friday Feb. 1st; 8th, 2013 @ Midnight.

Where: Hamilton/Fairfield Skate Park.

95 Joe Nuxhall Way  Hamilton, OH 45015.

Located on south side of Forest Lake Lane, west of Nuxhall's driving range and east of Joyce park entrance..

->click to view map to skate park<-

See You there or be Square!!!

Later Skater!

Jim Morrison: "Something Sacred".

MLK Day 2013- 1, inverted (live performance)  C.T. Rasmuss, India Ink (2013).

It is rumored that Jim Morrison of The Doors said once to a drinking buddy: 

"...they want something sacred."

This was 1st brought to my attention in watching Oliver Stone's Movie on the 'Electric Poet', Jim Morrison and The Doors...whether fictional or not,as an artist I can totally relate to this comment.  As I'm sure many others can as well, and its the reason for my blog today.

Today is my last day at Pendleton Arts Center-Cincinnati, because of this very concept!!!

It is in my opinion that the roof over 100's of artist's heads is only for the money; the people that own the lease and collect our rent, don't do it for the Arts(something sacred), but for the all mighty dollar alone(as far as I'm concerned ..again its my opinion based on a year's encounters, leading me to finally trust my first impression of this place-and places like this one all over the world for that matter.

I create because I want something sacred, and the best way I know how is through my artwork, I feel like a hypocrite when my work is headed in the opposite direction of the place in which I display it, therefore today is a great day!  

I'm leaving this place in search of "something sacred".. 

Son_Art_A Performs: 'Art or Die II' @ Midnight.

Art or Die I;  India Ink, (Jan. 12 2013).

Son_Art_A presents: 'Art or Die II',  in commemoration of:

The Z-boys of the 70's, where in the mid-1970s, a major drought happened in Southern Cali that parched Los Angeles. The drought brought on severe water restrictions, forcing many pool owners in the well-to-do neighborhoods to leave their swimming pools drained. The Z-Boys saw opportunity, and moved right in. They'd drive through neighborhoods scouting for empty or semi-empty pools...these kids saw an opportunity and took their craft to the streets..

"Skate or Die"

  -Pop.Calypse says: "Art or Die", whereas: Son_Art_A will 'scout' empty parking lots to  paint and voice our rights to be alive!!!

Who:  T_Paine will be performing 'Art or Die II' to the words spoken by, Red-Rodney  (reading from 'Rights of Man'-Revisited Manifesto by Son_Art_A).

>-Rights of Man-Manifesto by Son_Art_A.<-


**Son_Art_A will announce place of debriefing afterwards, where Pop.Calypse will recite    one of his poems (it will be a nearby place in which to warm up with some coffee).

When:   This Friday, Janurary 18th @ Midnight.

Where: Boone County Skate Park in Florence, KY -                
               
                8100 Ewing Blvd. Florence, KY  41042. - click link below, for map:

                                           
->Map to Boone County Skate Park<-

X marks the spot! Come out and exercise your right to be free!


The event at skate-park, will start promptly @ Midnight, and end A.S.A.P.; a rule of 15 minutes or less; so get there on time!


It's "GooRilla Artfare"!!! 

not

"Breakfast at Tiffanys"

                                                         Original concept diagram for "Art or Die", India Ink. 

I did it! (wrap up 2 of 4); 'Ode to Vincent Van Gogh' by C.T Rasmuss.

Well I made it! 105 paintings in 30 days!!  Which ran from November 22nd @ midnight to December 21st @ midnight.  This marks the first 'Ode to Vincent Van Gogh' 100 Paintings in 30 days...I have had quite a few artists respond to it, being that they would like to participate in the next one, or appreciated the notion; no matter the artist or type of artwork one does..Participation, in my opinion is a big part of the legacy Vincent had left behind( from his 37 years on Earth)...

I had done many drawings in this time frame as well as a few sculptures and what not, but being said, I count only 105 as they pertain to the original parameters(paintings in the truest sense); with only 2 more posts dedicated to this 'Artist Holiday' left, I plan on exhibiting a few more paintings and new parameters that I will apply to the next Artist Holiday.

For those of you that have followed this process with me in any degree, I appreciate your attention and appreciation for the legacy of Van Gogh as I wrap it up, putting it away til next time, Thank you and have a Creative 2013!!!

C.T. Rasmuss

Ode to Vincent Van Gogh; '100 Paintings in 30 Days' by C.T.Rasmuss (wrap up 1 of 4).

Pews with Hues  C.T. Rasmuss, India ink (2012).

The above painting was the spark for this entire 'marathon', click below to see it in its original state and context:

Ode to Vincent Van Gogh; '100 Paintings in 30 Days'; original post from November 22nd

Not sure if I made it or not, I've been on vacation for the last few weeks, I plan on counting the final tally by the end of the week sometime.  I find so much to say on the entire experience, much more that expected; so for the next four short posts I'll be wrapping up this experience (which ended on December 21st at midnight).

One totally unexpected thing was an article my friend/colleague Shawn Abnoxious wrote, it was an based on the interview he had with me during the process.  His take was from when I stated that it was 'A War on Idleness", and i must say it was well done, and definitely kept me motivated to finish in style.

It was successful in so many ways, that I aim to turn it into an Annual Artist Holiday, where I plan on starting it again on November 22, 2013 at midnight to December 21st, where any artist can participate if they'd like.  I think Vincent would be quite surprised by this, that his proliferation was so contagious to this very day; as he liked to share his ideas freely and see others succeed, I believe this was to his standards, and tasteful in every aspect...even if my ego says so..

C.T.Rasmuss

Reflection, 'Fearfull Self vs. Hopefull Self'.

In life, try avoid looking back and exclaiming: "Who's there?!"; do this by facing your fears.  Try rather, asking yourself instead: "Who am I?"

Swim with Mondrian  C.T.Rasmuss, acrylic (2007).

                           AND..

"When you have something to say, to express, any submission becomes unbearable in the long run. One must have the courage of one’s vocation and the courage to make a living from one’s vocation."
     -Pablo Picasso

So I now say: go out there and show the world what you have inside you, waiting to be discovered, and whatever you do, remember..."Don't be afraid"!

C.T.Rasmuss

w Rasmu

Spend the End w/ Son_Art_A; 2012 - 'It's Goorilla Artfare III' @ Midnight, Dec. 21st..

2012, It's Goorilla Artfare I , India ink (2012).

2012-It's Goorilla Artfare II, India ink (2012).


Are the Mayan's right, is this it, what if it were???

Well...with the end of days happening this Friday, Son_Art_A is still taking chances; Join T_Paine, Pop.Calypse, & Red Rodney as they bring in the end with a blast(of paint/spoken word that is).Pop. is performing his would-be obituary at the nearest White Castle, where we will debrief; T-Paine performs 2012-It's Goorilla Artfare III, to spoken word provided by Red Rodney, come out and be a part of this Happening, it could be the last!!!

Where-  Mayan Mexican Restaurant of Cincinnati, Parking Lot:

    click here->Map to Mayan Mexican Restaurant.<-

When-   Friday, Dec. 21st @ Midnight.

How-     In style!!! 

Why-     Cause they can. 

**White Castle location/details for debriefing will be provided at Happening..

                           Art.Or.Die.  -Pop.Calypse

Updated as of 1/23/15: 

Today we are still here and Son_Art_A is back!  Bigger and better than ever, see my comment below for further detail and for sure check out our latest footage: of Fred Tarr, previously known as Red Rodney, singing Opera outside a United Dairy Farmer - convenient store:

->click here to view Live footage of Operatic performance at a local UDF

M. C. Escher, Moorish Artists of the Alhambra & Jung's 'Collective Unconscious'.

M. C. Escher, Periodic Space Filling, Utrecht, 1958:

"...periodic drawings are not merely a nervous tic, a habit, or a hobby.  They are not subjective; they are objective.  And I cannot accept, with the best will in the world, that something so obvious and ready to hand as the giving of recognizable form, meaning, function, and purpose to figures that fill each other out, should never have come into the head of any other man but me.  For once one has crossed over the threshold of the early stages this activity takes on more worth than any other form of decorative art. 
    Long before I discovered a relationship with regular space division through the Moorish artists of the Alhambra, I had already recognized it in myself. . . later the designing of new motifs gradually came with rather less struggle than in the early days.."

                  -The Magic Mirror of M.C. Escher  Bruno Ernst, Taschen (2007); pg. 45.

Above images, taken from Alhambra Palace in Spain.

Perhaps all artists encounter such a thought now and then, I know I have, and in this particular passage from Escher, I would like to particularly focus on, "...I had already recognized in myself.."

both images, by M.C. Escher.

                                                                           
This seems to be the perfect example of Carl Jung's Collective unconscious at work; a prominent Dutch artist of the 20th century, Escher's unique Periodic Space Filling method drawn from the same well perhaps.  The same well from which Moorish artists who decorated the Alhambra Palace in the 10th century, 1000 years before Escher was even conceived, and yet, without ever being introduced to these ancient motifs til after his own artistic discovery; Escher was able to produce them on his own in Northern Europe.

We can draw our own conclusions from this, but what's the best way to explain the phenomenon?  Where from, how and why does it seem that we all inherit very similar archetypes, and without ever having to see them physically? if so, where are they hidden?

I tend to agree with Jung, in that they are stored in our subconscious, and perhaps a shared subconscious(Collective unconscious), one in which we all draw from the same "well of life"..

'Ode to Vincent Van Gogh', Day 20 by C.T. Rasmuss

25 Post-it Paintings  C.T.Rasmuss, India ink (Dec. 2012).

I recently discovered that an inner circle exists in the WAR ON IDLENESS, thanks to being part of a group called, Son-Art-A within the group, CREATIVA; in which I was able to create much more that (Saturday) night, as opposed to than just being on my own as, C.T. Rasmuss.

To me it's proof that together we are far more prosperous than on our own as in isolation..granted, I create some of my most satisfying work on my own, but I also believe it's important to be part of something bigger than just yourself, as in the words of Steinbeck's Tom Joad(Grapes of Wrath):

"Well, maybe it's like Casy says. A fellow ain't got a soul of his own, just little piece of a big soul, the one big soul that belongs to everybody..."

During this great event last Saturday night I was able to finish over 50 studies compared to just the 1 finished work I normally plan on(via Live Action Painting).  And if you actually count the number of paintings 'posted' above; you'll end up with 27, but I'm only counting 25 because two of them are technically play on words, rather than actual paintings.

May the public decide for themselves on this one, for I am comfortable in my decision of adding these 25 miniature works of art to the 100; as they took over 4 hours in duration & are by the least, 'finished' studies at that.  

Art is art and I am content with the outcome, as you can quote me in my original blog on this subject, seen below:

"...and after 30 days whether I have 100 masterpieces or just 100 studies, it's the experience that's most     important to me here.."

Ode to Vincent Van Gogh '100 Paintings in 30 Days' by C.T. Rasmuss

                    ***Original blog on Nov. 22nd, Ode to Vincent Van Gogh, Day 1 of 30 by C.T. Rasmuss