'Walk the Line' by C.T. Rasmuss

Walk the Line  C.T. Rasmuss, watercolor/ink (2012).

It was a Saturday night, last night in fact and I was in the middle of watching Walk the Line; a movie based on Johnny Cash's autobiography, hence the title for the painting/drawing above.  I's about the 5th time I saw the movie, but the best experience of watching it yet; as I have come to better understand his struggles personally since 1st seeing it in 2005. 

I've been intrigued by his persona (The Man in Black) ever since I could remember, and after an hour into it last night I had an urge to accomplish something myself.  During a commercial I went into my closet and grabbed the 1st canvas or 'watercolor' paper I could get my hands on and ended up with this one, a piece that already had this watercolor on it; rather using the fresh back I instantly recalled saving it three years prior in hopes of returning to it.  

So I just started on the unfinished side, filling in what I could see with an ink pen to finish what I started; and sorta like how Cash and Mrs. Carter returned to each other in the end for a great/true ending - so did I with this artwork so to speak, lol!

After finalizing it. I then wondered what to title it.."Walk the Line"! hit me instantaneously, but I thought it would be too cliche...then just after studying it some more today, it came to me again.."Walk the Line"!!  

This time instead I noticed the idea of a wild/meandering line leading from the bottom left corner up to the heavens fading into the top right corner; with the sun position in the top left and our moon in the bottom right corner.  

And so you have it, my correspondence to 'Walking the line"!!!

'Purple People Bridge' of Cincinnati, OH

Purple People Bridge  C.T.Rasmuss, watercolor (2010).


"When the Mood Strikes You!"

Sure!  We've all heard this one before and when it did; this is what I did in the early days of Spring-2010.  I drove down to Newport, Kentucky and set-up to paint this bridge; it's a bridge with a history, just recently re-opened I'd just encountered it after being back in town 6 months or so at the time.

 (Cincinnati that is)

I've visited the bridge only a few times to paint since back in 2011, and it's not because the mood hasn't struck me, as in fact the mood's struck me countless times.  I've been back down there plenty of times for art exhibits in the area, I even have a studio across the river in Cinci; and I park on that side all the time for Red's games, or the numerous events always going on downtown ..I guess it's just that 'it' hasn't struck me hard enough I suppose, and the thought of lugging all my stuff down there (not enough stuff for a good excuse); it also isn't the crowds of people that scare me away neither. 

 I really think it's just a force that mysteriously blows the other way:

The mood strikes me and then an ostentatious gust of wind blows it back in the other direction...so as of today I vow to take my brush to the 'Purple People Bridge' and apply it to the canvas; right when the 1st snow hits which seems to be my fate, a way to redeem myself.  It also makes for a good study, a study in comparing the bridge in the Spring to the Winter's Bridge-side of things..  

And you are all my witnesses to hold me to it; and to all of those of who read yesterday's blog, I did go into my class today and finished that artwork I promised myself teaching some good art-students all the while..summing up a great day as it will be a great day this winter when I attempt this 'Bridge' once again!!!

Relief at last!!!!! 

Acrylic I think I'll use..

Who are You?

                                                          The Violet Bridge, C.T.Rasmuss (2011).

What if this were any other medium, would it be the same? what if I were anybody else would it be the same?  So does it matter who you are, or who you are today?

C.T.Rasmuss

"No Man Ever Steps in the Same River Twice" Art Inspired by a Philosophy.

Range  C.T. Rasmuss, watercolor (2010).

                                                                                                      
What do you see here?  How can this come about ever again?  As simple in technique as it is, it can never be done ever again; in can never en-capture the same essence or outcome.  The medium here is watercolor, and water never repeats itself exactly the same as it flows; as GOD's(s) word is by 'Fire' which is the language in which the Torah is written.  These words will never come to the artist again exactly the same, just like water according to the Ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus' - 'river'.

No matter the topic or lesson  to be learned about life or our very existence and origin, the story and morals are always different as no flame is ever the same, like the (water)color from my brush.  How beautiful such a mystery is, never to be solved but always to be cherished and respected for it's elusive nature, by design perhaps??

 Amen!

follow the link for the inspiration and reference to this post:

http://www.websitesonadime.com/ffwic/histories.htm

Nature of a Painting's Outcome

Bridge over the Sun  C.T. Rasmuss, India ink/watercolor (2012).

If an artist's state of mind is completely calculated, especially in regards to the end result of the artwork, then what conclusion can be taken from a painting that's done over an extended period of time as well; is it considered to be forced since the end result is pre-determined, with the artist unwilling to expect a more 'natural' outcome..

Therefore...is it rather the artist's ability to listen to the conversation between the brush, canvas and what is being created or what the artist has set out to do, unwilling to compromise with the unexpected; that's most in tune with the 'Laws of Nature'?