John Murray classes week of March 30, 2015

Welcome to the Spring term.
Thank you for choosing my classes and somewhat radical approach to art making.
I love Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, and like to see what artists can make of it in plastic form... the ballet is phenomenal and the music caused a riot at it's Paris opening in 1913.
What can you do with it?
I will play for all classes next week.
Some will love it.
Some will hate it.
See you next week.John.

John Murray classes week of March 23, 2015

Masterpiece?

I love incidental paint stains and accidental marks and blemishes.
I took this picture with my phone camera in the slop sink room behind the studio.
What a magical mess akin to Bosch or maybe Twombley.
Images like this feed my neurotic urge toward the deconstruction of traditional painting procedures and push my visual and metaphorical concepts toward the vanishing point.
I find great pleasure in using ideas like these in my pictures.
Perhaps you could try a picture next week that uses found painting scumbles/stains and accidents in concert with your more intentional visions.
See you next week, John.

John Murray classes week of March 16, 2015

AMERICA
Has fusion ruined jazz?
Is the heartland best known by its ubiquitous architectonics/
Is the soul a superstitious construct/
Where does the reptilian tarmac intrusion lead/
but from sea to dying sea...


So what do you think?
Is there an idea here?
When was the last time you were in a McDonalds?
Have you ever driven across America?
Make art!
See you next week, 
John.

John Murray classes week of March 9, 2015

Rest in Peace You Funny, Lovely Bastard.

I met Bill on a beautiful June day in 1967 and we have been friends, fellow artists, fighters and cohorts ever since.
I will miss him more than I can express.
See you next week, john.