Project 4: Coffee Table Books

Working With A Series

Since we are working with Couch Paintings it only seemed natural to move towards the requisite coffee table and the book on it.

Wikipedia describes a “coffee table book as a hardcover book that is intended to sit on a coffee table or similar surface in an area where guests sit and are entertained, thus inspiring conversation or alleviating boredom. They tend to be oversized and of heavy construction, since there is no pressing need for portability. Subject matter is generally confined to non-fiction, and is usually visually oriented (perfect for us.) Since they are aimed at anyone who might pick the book up for a light read, the analysis inside is often more basic and with less jargon than other books on the subject. Because of this, the term "coffee table book" can be used pejoratively to indicate a superficial approach to the subject.”

How perfect, since Couch Painting is also an artistic dirty word.

One of the more difficult artistic myths that I have noticed is the idea of the unique original. It seems to me it causes many an artist to move on before they have fully mined a topic. It is within series work that much is discovered. But what is a series? It is a group of pieces that are somehow tied together by either subject or content. They do not need to be narrative but sometimes are. Yet not in the same since that literature is. Not in an illustrative since. Images speak a visual language. What visual aids to you use? What images, styles and colors make up your artistic vocabulary? How would you know if you haven’t work an idea enough to see? What do you personally keep coming back to?

 So lets take this idea and literally bind it together! Make a series on interesting paper and bind them. Once bond you and others will begin to make connections, some intended and some not, orders will shift, as will meanings. Of everything that will be learned the largest lesson will be to hone your artistic voice.

The Rules:

1. It should be original art (how do you like that for a twist.)
2. It needs to be enough work to fill a book.
3. Again you must have fun with the idea. 

Some couch images

So we are not the first, look what I found!

Aisles of Couch paintings at Home Goods in Poway.

Remember this Tuesday 16th at HVStudios at 5PM.

Bring a canvas (new or used) and painitng supplies.

If you are still having trouble understanding what a couch painting is go by Home Goods in Poway they have several aisles of them.

See Project three below for more details.
Do check at the new links!

Exquisite Corpse Reception

Next Project...Couch Paintings

Real art doesn’t match the sofa...or does it?

COUCH PAINTINGS!

So what’s a Couch Painting you ask? Why yes, just as simple as it sounds, a painting that goes over the couch. Something has to fill that space, right? Historically it is a large rectangular painting in landscape position, most often just that a landscape. Often it’s a Twenty-dollar poster in a Two hundred dollar frame.

Couch Paintings have also been the concurred realm of Abstract Expressionist or Minimalist work of moderate color schemes that of course match the rest of the furniture in the room. The oft goal of a Couch Painting is to state, “yes I have taste,” while not risking too much. It is not often a conversation starter. So, Couch Paintings have long been tied to wall and furniture color as well as style. So lets take that rule to heart and tie them together.

The rules

1. It needs to be big enough to fill the space behind a sofa.
2. A couch or a chair must be part of the subject matter. Even if it is out of place, tiny or well hidden.
3. You must have fun.

Does a large canvas intimidate you? We are going to overcome the fear of going big, while we paint a new painting for your living room wall that will have you trading in that sofa for something that will match your new work of art.

Tuesday come with a canvas or an old couch painting to alter. Also you will need a thumbnail sketch of you composition. We will start with a slide show lecture and then a demo of how to get started painting large.  It really is only enough time to get an under painting started, but start we will. Think about color scheme and painting style from the beginning. I have added several links. One article on the history of Couch Paintings from the New York Times and one on Color Schemes and Painting Styles. The finish date is the end of January.

New Project

This project may need a play date or two.

“Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things”                                                                                                  Edgar Degas

Exquisite Corpse Reception

Got them to post on my blog??  click here

Susie's coming down the home stretch...

Here's 2 of my corpse in progress!

THE HALLOWEEN SHOW

TUESDAY NIGHTS RECEPTION: THE EXQUISITE CORPSE AND HIS TOYS.

DATE: OCT 26^TH

TIME: 6:30 TO 9:00PM

WHERE: HIGHLAND VALLEY STUDIOS.

Highland Valley Studios, Inc.

18528 Highland Valley Road

Ramona, CA  92065

Come dressed as your favorite Artist!

This is a one night exhibition so don’t miss it!

Questions? mailto:studio@helenwilsonartist.com

            We’re at it again, a group of Ramona Artists has gotten together to play Exquisite Corpse, and the results just seemed perfect for a Halloween Exhibition.

In August I (Helen Wilson) invited 20 artists to play the game "Exquisite Corpse." This is a method by which a collection of words or images (images in our case) is collectively assembled. The game was invented by the Surrealists and is similar to an old parlor game called Consequences in which players write in turn on a sheet of paper, fold it to conceal part of the writing, and then pass it to the next player for a further contribution. The technique got its name from one of the initial writings, "Le cadavre / exquis / boira / le vin / nouveau" (The exquisite corpse will drink the young wine). It seemed like the perfect game for fall and Halloween.

            We played with a bit of a twist. The body was broken into proportionally correct sheets of paper, i.e. the head is around 1/8 of the body. First we word associated body parts to warm up. For example, what does an arm make you think of? Then we all drew, one section at a time. The results were then put on the floor where each of us chose our body, one part at a time.

            This is where we really changed the game, everyone went home with their body and we agreed to reassemble for the exhibition. Once home, your body was the inspiration for a piece of art. Everyone is working with a 2’ x 4’ format, but matters are open ended. The only obligation was to your art and to keep the sense of play - after all it is a game. We have had one play date, but really no one has seen the finished work.

            In the mean time in Sept we started a new game, reconstructing toys. So it looks like the Exquisite Corpses are going to be joined by remade toys. We picked a toy and built a sculpture using it.

            The players are Susie Amundson, Carole Anderson, Liz Boggeln, Deb Briggs, Antonia Cosentino, Cindy Dodson, Nancy Ferguson, Lyn Feudner, Andrea Forgnone, John Gardner, Janene Hanson, Karen James, Ralph Jenson, Bob Norman, Tracy Potter, Kathi Rothe, Heidi Schlotfeldt, Annie Shields, Nancy Winslow and myself. We have Painters, Sculptress’, Quitters, a Mosaic artist, Glass Artists and Mixed Media Artists in this group - so the show is sure to be interesting.

            These artists are all part of a class/group called Tuesday Nights. Lead by myself, it meets once a month (sometimes more when we want a play date.) Each meeting is built around one project idea. Some of the projects end in exhibitions but mostly it is a way to advance your creative skills while socializing with others of your artistic ilk.

                        The Groups Goals are: The building of an artistic community through socialization with other artists. (There is something to be said about breathing the air of other creative souls.) Building artistic community through exhibitions. (It’s not about selling; it is about developing artistic energy through sharing with a larger community. Think of it as A Happening.) To learn to critique your own and others work effectively. To develop technical proficiency in a variety of media and/or methods, by planning, designing and completing projects. And it’s just fun to play!

Could anybody use 2 decapitated babies??

Really we are just your normal group of artist....

Heidi say's Aaagh...

I think she should be saying Auh, this is getting cool!

Kathi's Progress

I've changed a few things but I keep plugging away. I don't want to get to detailed, I like the minimalist look!

John's Updated Corpse

Look I have a profile picture!

At least we hope.

The Defendors

Looking for a few good men!

The dolls are coming!!!!!!!!

Tuesday night was alot of fun, and the toys you guys brought!
My favorite line was,
"I want to make this doll into the toy I really wanted!"
I love the idea of working with board games.
And the Etch-a-sketch....cool.
Toys are such loaded items both personally and socially, this should be fun.
How about a play date so we keep the energy moving!
Perhaps next Tuesday?

And another...Kathi's corpse

She's working it!

Poppyman rides again!

Ann Marie's corpse is coming along also....
Too heavy to bring on Tuesday,
Ann Marie sent us a photo of her corpse.
Great!

John's Corpse in progress

This is the progress of John's corpse.
Yes those are real wings, it was great to see in person.

First concept lynfeudner

Here is what I found just looking around, I don't plan on bringing fish and water Tuesday Night so I thought I'd post pics. Fused glass wing, will probably have fused eyes.  Snake arm...who knows?

In the beginning...there are parts, body parts

Original


Stitched and Stuffed Muslin

I was originally going to use canvas but I realized
that canvas weight would be difficult to manipulate
when turning fabric and machine stitching. I decided
on muslin and then gesso'd pieces once stitched up.

The face will be sculpted, then painted.
All cloth pieces will be painted.
Each piece will be attached to each other.
Final display not resolved.


More to come...