Tempest: Fire and Rain

I have decided, for me at least, winters are not good times for art. About three months ago we started a small remodeling job. It's like we can't stop. Nearly half of our house is in some way impacted by this remodel. Alas, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We should be finished in about 3 weeks.

So, I have created this encaustic on panel specifically for a new space in the remodel. I call it "Tempest" because that is what my life has been for the last three months!

"Tempest", 2010, 48" x 18", encaustic on panel

Is This IS or Is This ISN'T?

Some years ago the venerable master, Chuck Close, made a series of drawings and prints using scribbles with a limited number of colors to create self portraits. To own one of these original scribbles would require a significant portion of my net worth! Why? Because when you own a Close original you own a part of his practice - his oeuvre. Also, quite frankly, he can get it.

I made this drawing using only four colors of pencils: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. I drew it using the same curly-q doodles featured in earlier posts. In doing this drawing I am investigating...
1. the monetary value of art and its relationship to creator vs. creation. Though my drawing is more detailed than Close's, it is not nearly as valuable - because it isn't by Close.
2. the role of appropriation in contemporary art. Often appropriation serves to comment on or otherwise subvert ideas in contemporary art.
3. the CMYK process in contemporary printing.
4. the artist (human) emulating the machine, as I am doing when I use the CMYK process.

So while this is a drawing of Chuck Close, it isn't a Chuck Close drawing.

"This IS - ISN'T a Chuck Close Drawing", 2009, 22.5" x 19.5", colored pencil on paper on foamcore