March 7, 2013
Perhaps you have a wild animal behind a potted plant in your home, and you just don’t know it.
So I liked the little sketch I just posted so much I did a digital version of this little lion hiding. I didn’t have the original with me when I created the electronic image. I find it interesting to see how I edited and changed it based on what I recalled from the first one, as well as what I found visually worked. No bottles in this one, but there are tools and rope.
January 26, 2013
With any drawing I think the hard part is trying to figure out when it’s done. I chose to let the top and left side of the image be more open, while compacting more line work in the middle and with the figure.
Thought I’d drop a sketch I did on my I-Pad this summer on here this morning. I wanted to experiment doing an image that looks like a pen drawing when I was working on this. The advantage of the I-Pad was I could easily work back in on the image with the actual color of the background, so I liked the effect of drawing with the background color as well. Regarding the content, for this one I began it while at intense men’s weekend I was staffing. Let’s just say I was in a position of leadership and was working through that.
December 6, 2012
I wanted to work with a limited palette of browns and golds with this one. I also liked the idea of little lights lighting someones way. “Flying Light” is what I came up with.
More images have bubbled up on the i-pad as of late. Here are the most recent pieces I’ve come up with. I’m still enjoying building up the images in layers and developing the final forms in layers of line.
“Support” began as an exercise in muted shades of green and red. Content wise I was thinking about how we all need the assurance that someone has our back on occasion.
October 14, 2012
“Conversation with a Bear” was drawn while out on the Oregon coast. To me it looks like a children’s book illustration. I liked the idea of critters getting together for a conference of sorts.
More digital drawings have been appearing (let’s say I’ve been in a lot meetings) and I did some thinking and remembered that I have an account with Imagekind where I could post them for purchase. After wrestling with my computer keys for two hours or so here, I uploaded the current digital images of the drawings there – so look there Megan, and you can purchase a print of “Saint Wheel” if you so desire! Thanks for the comment. Here’s the link:
“Nights of the Moon” was an interesting experiment in layering imagery and creating a conceptual narrative of sorts. The images in the back are moons, but observers of the work have also thought he’s in a wine cellar. That works for me too…
Koodo and Quagga was drawn during a Craig Goodworth artist lecture. He and I both have an affinity for wildlife, but these two were on my mind prior to that evening. Let’s just say they are animals with a history.
September 15, 2012
So, back to the art here… I thought I’d show you a few more of the small paintings that I cranked out this summer. One thought I was playing on is what if what was going on in your head appeared on top of it? Here are some more of my musings:
“Hans” was based on a sculpture I made that is part of a larger piece I did several years back called “The Whole Night Sky.” I thought he needed a silver lamb or sorts on his head. Don’t ask me why.
“Traveler” – it’s all about the journey, eh? We’re going somewhere….
I named this piece “Richard” after my Uncle who I feel has been a very productive person in his life.
I was playing in part with the idea of flowers growing out of ones head like antlers, and based the figure off of a small metal statue that I have. It was fun with all of these to be a bit more “painterly” in my approach.
August 25, 2012
“Burden” oil on wood, 16″x20″ 7/12, Tim Timmerman
One of the artistic adventures I have been on as of late is to create a sculpture and then make a painting of it. These sculptures are all based on people I know or have met in the men’s work circles I run in. They all start with sketches in my notebook, then I search out materials that will work with to create the figure. The concept of this figure has been cooking for a while. I was motivated by the impression of an individual who is encumbered by something of which they actually hold the strings to.
The back side of the sculpture. Some folks have monkeys on their back, others have tigers.
The sculpture in full. Approx 7″x9″x5″
A close up of the sculpture of the figure. His ears are made out of the metal part that a cub scout would hold his scarf on with, which I split in half.
August 1, 2012
6″x6″ this painting was based on a toy dog I was looking at as well as some sketches I had of wooden figures.
So dogs have been a long-standing image I’ve relied on. Historically they are an image of loyalty and fidelity dating way back to medieval times. I think we need more images of loyalty and fidelity in our day and age, so here’s to more images of dogs art! Several of the 6″x6″ paintings I cranked out lately were canine-themed. So, here they be.
6″x6″ I liked having the under-painting show through in this one. “Heidi” is what I titled this, named after a German Shepherd we had when I was very little.
This 6″x6″ painting was based on a plaster statue I have like the one above. She’s named “Ginger” after a neighbor’s German Shepherd that was the sister of our dog. Lots of German Shepherds huh?
July 28, 2012
Here’s what the booth looked like as you passed by. It’s interesting how viewers will stand back a bit like looking over a house before they decide to enter.
Thanks to all of you who took the time to drop by the booth in Salem. The show went swimmingly although I’ll confess that I personally had a wonderful time purchasing art from other artists. So much for keeping the money I made. We all have to support the arts now don’t we.
Here’s the “Starting Here” piece with a number of the newer paintings.
Salem is a fairly conservative town, so I did receive some comments like, “I’ve never seen anything like this!” Education is a good thing, although at the fair I had a copy with me of Sculpture magazine and Art News that I was glancing at between talking with folks. I was struck at how very tame my work is compared to artists that are getting air time in major museums. Due to a large piece that I put central to the space called “Starting Here” I received plenty of pumpkin, tin man and wizard of oz references from folks, I just hope that the scarecrow and Toto link into the bigger archetypes I’m trying to reference with the work, well then there are the medieval references, and nods to the Dutch Baroque vanitas, Bruegel, Arcimboldo, Rouault, Hals etc… but who’s checking? My work is a dance between concept and method, and some that come to the fair may just be looking for good technique to put on their walls, ah mine is that and so much more….
There were plenty of folks who “got it” I was struck when one woman stepped into my tent and simply said “Dark night of the soul,” when she looked at a piece of mine entitled “Plea” where a figure is on the ground as a tornado approaches. I replied, “I’ve read it, John of the Cross.”
The longer mixed media monoprints were hiding around the corner.
Other comments included: “Here is where the Wizard of Oz comes together….” “Oh my gosh have you ever seen the movie Wall-E?” From a kind fellow artist he commented, “At $90 each these paintings should be flying off the wall!” and from a 5 year old boy, “I like the funny guys. We’re going to get ice cream!”
Why don’t we all get ice cream right now….
Here are the “Little Ones” on the back wall. They were a big hit- I think they’re going to be a regular at shows now. (Click so you can get a better view of all the little guys.)
July 12, 2012
A little 6″x6″ painting I’m entitling “Prescott” this little guy is based on a salt shaker I picked up when I was about eight years old in Prescott Arizona. Let’s just say anyone in the house has been at risk of being painted as of late. He’s been featured in a painting some years ago as well, maybe you recognize him?
So I commented to you in the most recent post that I’ve been cranking out a series of little 6″x6″ and 5″x7″ paintings, in fact I have finished now 43. Which is wonderful indeed, but wait, I need to frame these things now don’t I?!
The blades in the shop have been spinning as I have been sanding down layers of paint off of old brick molding or reclaimed lumber and subjecting them to rabbits and ninety degree angles so they can be happy little frames. Then off to the porch or downstairs to the studio they have ventured to be lovingly brushed with varnish, stain, or oil paint. Hallelujah that the Oregon weather has been perfect for drying sticky wet things.
Keep your eyes peeled for more results here. I’ve got to put a layer of burnt umber and quinacridone pink on a frame that is quietly looking homely just to my left right now. Time to give it a little attention.
“Mr. Bock” (5″x7″) was based on a little wooden owl I had around, but I decided to change the painted eyes into a ball bearing and a marble. I felt it gave him and interesting flair.
“Fork Mouth” (5″x7″) was thought up while sitting in a church service. Now I’m not saying their we’re untruths being spoken, I’m just saying that is where the idea for this little guy showed up. Make what conclusions you wish.
June 19, 2012
Ah, here are some of the 6″x6″ paintings not framed. Some build from ideas like: “What if who we are manifests itself as plants growing out of our head? What would that look like?”
So mark your calendars. I’m going to be at the Salem Art Festival July 20-22 http://aff2012.salemart.org/
As of late to loosen my painting bones I have given myself the assignment of doing forty paintings. My sketchbook is chocked full of images and ideas I’ve laid out this last school year that have been left uncreated. And so, it seemed only appropriate to give myself a series of small paintings to crank out. -Why then they’ll be smaller affordable works for those visiting the Salem Art Festival in July! They’re coming along and come across as funny, quirky, thoughtful and absurd. They seem to reference a gambit of artists from Arcimboldo, to Georgeus Roualt, and medieval misericords and green man, as well as pop art. So, there you go.
Keep your eyes open here, as I will post better images of these when I “seriously” begin photographing them.
Well- back to work!
Others of these were playing with the idea of “What if our ideas manifested themselves on the top of our head and people could see them?” (Perhaps some would not want what is on their mind to be seen by others huh?)
