What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1252632
MAY 31-JUNE 6, 2020 WHAT'S UP! 39 FEATURE 'Cyclopian Fox Totem' Josh Clark Mixed Media Embroidery Like so many of us and so many things, my work here started as one thing and ended up another. This started as an experiment to combine materials and colors together. I intended the central figure to be a jewelry piece, but I quickly lost confi- dence in its ability to be successful — until a friend pointed out what he saw as a fox. And as you know, once a thing has been seen, it cannot he unseen. And the choice was made to complete the fox. Who just happens to be a cyclops. 'Room With A View' Teresa Pelliccio Devito Acrylic And Paper On Canvas A number of years ago, I stumbled upon artist Mel McCuddin. Mel is 87 years old and has been painting since his early 20s. He has been described as a "figurative expressionist." He begins a painting with no idea in mind, randomly applying an undercoat and moving from canvas to canvas. At some point, he steps back from a piece and begins gazing at it from afar as you might gaze into the sky, looking for figures to reveal themselves in the clouds. And eventually an idea suggests itself. I have created many pieces over the years using this technique. I call them "magic" paintings." It's almost as if they create themselves. 'Whose Blood Did Your Ancestors Spill' Booker Garrett Mixed Media For me the viewing of art has often been a catalyst for change, understanding or sometimes acceptance. I can't predict the reaction or interpretation a viewer will have of my work. I simply sit down with thoughts about some- thing and create. 'Dancers' Carol Peacock Oil On Canvas The images I paint come from memories and pictures in my mind. Rarely do I look at anything when I paint! I hope that one day other artists are influenced by my paint- ings. Edwige Denyszyn Art Quilt Artists are the sum of all their experiences. Growing up in France, surrounded by ancient relics, was probably my first imprints. My mother was the next to influence me. She was an haute couture seamstress and made all my stylish clothes while I grew like a weed. But the first great impression was my second grade teacher, Madame Dufour. What a wonderful person she was. Her forte was finding the abilities of each child. What she saw in me was art. What a gift that was! Brews Continued From Page 9 'Lost & Found' Janalee Robison Digital Painting I gather inspiration from count- less visual sources, ranging from movies, artists and travel to toys, advertisements and fashion cata- logs. When I was young, I remem- ber being enthralled by the tight composition, curvilinear shapes and bold coloring in the works of Thomas Hart Benton, qualities which have greatly influenced my work to this day. I was also mystified by the Spanish surreal- ist painter, Remedios Varo, whose narrative, dreamlike imagery was unlike anything I had been exposed to before. She had created what I wished I had dared to draw myself. Presently, I find myself most drawn to my fellow pop surrealists. Pop surrealism nods to pop culture, has a whimsical and playful nature, and often combines humor and the bizarre. janaleerobison.com