John Murray classes week of October 27, 2014

Art makes life bearable. It isn't a luxury. 

Like our capacity for understanding, and our experience of love, it is a vitally important part of life.

-Gillian Pederson Krag

Don't forget my Figure/Narrative/Large Scale Workshop on Saturday and Sunday afternoons November 1 and 2. We have an excellent female model for both days and I will take the class step by step through the development of the painting.  

See you next week, John 

 

John Murray classes week of October 20, 2014

Representation and its discontents,

 

Plasticity and its adherents.

What does this mean to you?

Why did Manet deconstruct his work? 

Why do I and other artists (including Nancy Blanchard from my Tuesday figure class) work from a model and come up with images that are so stylized?

Next week let's talk about this concept of Modernism.

See you then, John.

John Murray classes week of October, 13, 2014

No classes on Monday the 13th due to holiday.
My Tuesday figure painting class and Supercharged painting classes on Wednesday are all in session.
Next week try playing with alternative approaches to your painting.
Don't be afraid to work over a piece...start with charcoal and use it as a thinking exploration...wipe it out if you don't get what you want at first.
Every layer of a painting should be pushed. Consider the weight and color (darkness) of your line...smudge
erase, use your non-dominant hand for vulnerability and freshness.
Fix it when you get it.
Start painting by mixing color and viscosity...try using a wider than usual brush.
Good luck!
See you next week, John.

John Murray classes week of October 6, 2014

making art is a constantly changing challenge
Finding a fresh way to begin is a big part of the process
Once you're on the surface the paint charcoal blood piss mud... Will help lead you forward
Generating the initial marks is a leap of faith for an artist
The virginal surface is a killer
Mess it up...spill stain scratch drip 
Break the spell of the void...

See you next week, John...

John Murray classes week of September 29, 2014

Disentangling the relationship between the natural world and the pictorial world:

What does that mean in your work?
All my classes deal with that issue.
Above are some images of the human figure, to me all are interesting and say different things about my perception of the natural world.
When, and especially before you begin to record as an artist, think about  how you feel about the Other... object/perception, and how you can utilize your tools on the the void in front of you to record these in a fresh way.
Of course the tools (pencil, charcoal, paint, mud, blood, dog shit?) must be exploited and allowed to do their part as pure plasticity.
The void is your paper, canvas, plaster panel, animal hide, cardboard, brick wall...?)
The fear is your illusion of self! 
See you next week,  John

John Murray classes week of September 22, 2014

Next week "Plasticity and the Postmodern Figure" class starts on Tuesday the 23rd at 1 P.M.
Our first model will be a male.
Please come prepared to draw and paint on both canvas and paper.
Wednesday P.M. Supercharged Painting is not in session due to Rosh Hashana.
Morning Supercharged is in session!
All classes please continue with work you began last week, or if you did not attend last week, please
talk to me about an assignment if you feel you need one.
See you then, John

John Murray Classes week of September 15, 2014

Welcome to my Autumn 2014 classes at New Art Center.

Summer was a gorgeous feast for the senses as New England usually provides.

Now as the Fall term begins let’s think about the possibilities of a new language:

the visual, specifically painting.

This term I am teaching five courses: Mondays- Acrylic and Oil workshop and Postmodern Assemblage and Painting, Tuesdays- Plasticity and the Postmodern Figure and Wednesdays-Supercharged Painting A.M. and P.M.

Next week for the first class please bring enough material to work (canvas, paint,  charcoal, fixative and paper).

If you want an assignment concept think about the close of the psychic landscape of Summer and the lose of innocence and warmth implicit in that.

See you next week, John.