Robert Reeves: Oil & Dust

As it turns out I was wrong about my Saturday night. I did wind up with some social obligations taht kept me out well into the AM. So, again no progress to report. I did realize, however that I although I’d shared some of my work in other genres I neglected to specify why it is that I don’t make it readily available via my personal site, www.robreevesstudio.com. The reason for this is that although I love the work it doesn’t fit in with my idea of presenting a solid, consistent portfolio. I use that site to present artwork to potential customers and galleries. What I want them to see is a cohesive body of work. Not just random pieces slapped up on a website. I want them to understand what it is that I’m doing and why. Posting links to the other work, to me, detracted from that ideal. I can thank my former painting teacher and friend, Deborah Zlotsky for the advice that led to me removing those links. She pointed out the potential issues and I tended to agree with her. Thanks, Deb.
So, when you’re designing your website (or having someone else do it for you) keep in mind what it is that you’re trying to say with it. Don’t just slap up any old pics of your work. Keep in mind that you may be using this as a marketing tool. Think about the tone you’re setting. Think about how the navigation should direct the visitor.
And don’t skimp! Get good images of your work. Have either a professional photographer do it or get lessons. OR you can do what I do: get full-sized hi-rez scans. Some better print shops can do this for you. The cost can be a little prohibitive but they’re great when you don’t have the setup/good camera and/or can’t get all of your work together at one time for a pro photographer to handle. They (scans) serve equally well for web images and as a basis for prints.

I really am going to paint tonight. HOPEfully I won’t have any more interruptions and I’ll be able to show you some real progress.

Cheers,

R

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Had sortof a long week at work. Decided to catch a movie before painting time last night. Watched the Ruins. So-so at best in my book. Laughable in places. The director made some odd decisions about when to go ultra-gory and when to leave it up to the imagination. I can deal w/ gore, but the true test of a director is knowing when to let the audience’s imagination run away with them. Like the torture scene in Resevoir Dogs. You don’t see Mr Blonde cut the ear off. You hear plenty tho. Makes it worse and that’s when it becomes truly effective. I’ll give the director credit for one near the end. Frankly tho I was so numb to it by that point I think the effect was lost a bit.

Anyway.. Just as I start getting a good groove going I’m interrupted. Long story short I wind up falling asleep while having to deal said interruption and losing a night’s work. Important to me to say the least. Haven’t been letting it bother me today, but at the time I was less than pleased, shall we say. I’m not counting on any social events tonight so I’m sure I’ll make up for it. Don’t let the little things get the better of you, eh?
So as a result of that I don’t have much in the way of progress to show on the latest piece. I was asked the other day if I did any other type of work. The answer is, Yes. I’ve got some posted on my site via an unpublished link.
I’ll let you see it tho:
http://www.robreevesstudio.com/content_profane.htm
AND
http://www.robreevesstudio.com/content_sacred.htm
Some of this work IS posted on some online forums like ArtWanted.com
I’ve also got it posted in a gallery on my FaceBook page.
Here’s one for you in the meantime

The figure is based on the body of Christ from one of the unfinished Pietas. Kindof has a comic book flair. I was reading a lot of HellBlazer back then. Great cover art. I suggest you check it out.

Hopefully I’ll have some progress to report tomorrow.

Cheers,

R

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For those of you that work in an office you know OOO means Out Of Office (or some permutation of that). I’m out today with a back issue. My office chair loves my back and my back loves the icepack currently pressed in between the two of them.

As it turns out I’m doing some work from home anyway. As long as I’m sitting here there are things I can still manage. So I blog. I’m not a journal keeper by nature, but putting this out here and saying the things I’m saying about my work is helping to make me feel accountable. If anyone’s actually reading this then there’s a witness. So if I say it I’d better do it. Sometimes easier said than done, eh?

Thought I’d put up the source photo for my current piece. Notice the large, 2001-looking monolith in the road. It was a screen put up for the festival. Didn’t work with my vision for the piece so I’ve taken it out. Might still work in that dark area tho…

Thought I’d throw in a shot of my work table. Used to be a decent drafting table until I got hold of it. The palette is covered in layers of paint. I’ve had it about 2 years. Needs some scraping. I leave it on the table. It’s too awkward to carry around anymore.

Have a happy.

R

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no catchy titles tonight. It’s late and I’m heading to bed as soon as I finish this post. Just wanted to get tonight’s work photographed, edited, and uploaded. Good sleeping weather tonight and I want to take advantage of that. Was kindof a tough day in general anyway. Time to put today down.

Here are tonight’s pics. I’ve started to add some more specific color areas. I’ve painted over the pavement portion in a very light yellow/gray. Once that dries I’ll go over that with the final colors. The light underneath will give it a good glow. I’ve started also to make some decisions about what to do with the area surrounding the group of figures in the background. Nothing’s final at this point.

So… more good progress. It’s been a busy day punctuated by some stress, disappointments, and bad news. On the other hand a couple of very good things have happened as well. You take what comes along. Things happen for a reason. Blah blah effing blah. But, as always I’m grateful for the opportunity to do this night after night.

Cheers,

R

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Good night last night in some respects. The boys and I shared a really good dinner. Even my little one at without any problems or push-back for once. Nice chat with my neighbors. No problems getting the little ones off to bed.
After they go to bed is when my time begins. I catch up on my web-work, social networking BS, email, and then usually make a few phonecalls.
Here’s where the Foot thing comes in. Have you ever made a mistake that was in no way your fault, was totally unavoidable, and yet you’ve caused someone so much trouble by way of your actions that you felt terrible and completely responsible? Me in a nutshell last night. I’m pretty sure I may never see my foot again unless I get hold of some ipecac. We’ll try to work that out today. Perhaps I can find another place to put it.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why they call it “The Present”
Thank you Master Oogway. The things you learn from animated, Kung Fu Master turtles…

After all of that I still managed to make good progress on my painting from the 80/35 Festival. I’ve laid out the major values and have moved into laying out the dominant colors. At this point I’ll start discarding elements from the source photo (ie: objects that don’t fit the composition, buildings, people, trees). Anything that doesn’t fit my vision goes away. That’s not to say that down the line a session or two they won’t return. Things change. From this point forward I’ll start refining shapes, making more decisions about color, and tweaking the composition.
I’m thinking I’ll have this finished by the beginning of next week. Possibly sooner at the rate I’m working.
Forward motion. Keep moving and moving.

R

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True to my word I began working on a new piece based on the pics from my photosafari in Ames this weekend. I’ve gone ahead with these because my current commission customer will be traveling for the next three weeks. She’s going to try to get her husband to meet with me. Hopefully that will pan out. I’d like to get moving, but in the meantime I HAVE TO WORK. Obsessed? Perhaps.

Here’s the preliminary sketch. I’ve gone straight to canvas (which is usually how I do it) and plan to start laying down colors tonight.

I’ve also begun working on another new one based on some pics I shot immediately after The Roots finished up their performance at this year’s 80/35 music festival here in downtown Des Moines. Got some gorgeous shots that night, but I really loved this one. I’ll drop the actual photo down later.

Both of these will be smaller-format pieces. I’ve made a recent switch to working small due to a few reasons. Firstly there’s the expense. For those of you that have worked large you know that the cost of stretchers can be daunting. Plus there’s the cost of paints, the time involved in working large, and hassels of transportation to contend with. Second, there’s the economy. Art is one of the first things to get written out of any household budget when money’s down. People may be more likely to put down the money for an original if it’s more modestly sized/priced. That’s not to say that large-format work won’t sell. It will, but it’s not gonna fly off the walls. Endure these conditions tho. Things have a way of coming back around.

Speaking of wich: Keep an eye on these pieces. I’ll be posting updates as they progress. When they’re done I’ll be offering them up for sale at a discounted price for a limited time before they’re taken to the galleries for display.

I do have one other commission waiting in the wings. I should probably get started on that one as well. I’m within my accepted time frame, but I can’t let procrastination get the better of me.

Off to the day job…

R

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Been spending far too much time in this chair this weekend. Thank God this thing loves my back. The armrests suck tho. Can’t have everything…

Up putting together pics for a commission I’ve been putting off far too long. Not a good business practice. Note to self: Knock it the f**k off. Thankfully the customers have been sympathetic and quite busy so it’s been ok, but learn a lesson from me, please.

It’s taken me quite a bit to dig out from a large commission earlier this year for a restaurant called, Bourbon Street. The owner, has been a good friend to me and is a long-time supporter of my work. A dream customer that gives me more or less full creative freedom. There’ll be more about him and all of my friends as time goes on. Rest assured names will be ommitted to protect the guilty.

Shortly after those pieces were completed and delivered I got on for the show at East Village Books. My customers were understanding. Treat your customers well, kids. Learn from my example. May I learn from yours.

At any rate many of the pics are beautiful and I’m going to start working on some commissioned or not. Probably tonight.

I also took the time to go through some pics I’d gotten of the Iowa State Fair midway one rainy night. An empty midway is an odd thing to see. Especially when it’s lit up. Some nice pics there too. Garish lighting, but that’s me.

My back’s all dorked up from carrying a mailbag while walking the ISU campus. Perhaps a backback next time. Too many hours carrying babies I suppose. There are times when I miss that. Then again there are times, like this, that I don’t. Go get the anti-inflamitories and icepacks. Time to pay the piper.

cheers,

R

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The paintings are done. The drudge work is done. All that’s left to do is get through today, pass the kids over to the grandparents for the evening, and pick up a couple bottles of wine. As soon as that’s done I’m rushing off to a wedding reception for a couple of friends from work. Should be a very good time and an altogether great night.
If you’re in the Des Moines area I’d love to see you tonight at the reception (www.eastvillagebooks.com). We’ll have food and bevs plus lots of great artwork.

See you there!

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