John Murray classes week of July 2, 2012

Don't forget the Plastic Fantastic workshop on Thurs and Fri this week...there's still room to attend.

The NY Times Fri. Art section has an amazing review today of a number of painting shows in Manhatten. 

Painting is alive and well and it is a brilliant way to internalize existence, while acting in the real world of material and friction. The work above is by Judith Scott at James Cohan, a Down Syndrome artist who is part of the show "Everyday Abstract-Abstract Everyday" at James Cohan Gallery. The blue painting is mine, Spirit Spout", which is inspired by a reading of a chapter in Moby Dick. Painting Rules! Show me how you are excited by its possibilities next week. Do a piece that incorporates your life, your point-of-view in a bold unapologetic way--any material, any size...I love Judith Scott's use of a chair, for instance. See you Mon. No class Wed. due to holiday. Workshop all day Thurs and Fri. john.  

John Murray workshop and Summer classes

I will be having a 2-day workshop "Plastic Fantastic" on July 5 and 6th. It's an experimental investigation into all aspects of acrylic painting. I've done this workshop before and it's a blast.
Also my Summer-long classes begin on the 25th of June and are every Mon and Wed 4:30-8:30 pm, a great time to work in a big open studio as the evocative summer evening drifts in and the stars appear.  Signup and I'll see you then. Happy Solstice! john.

John Murray classes week of June 11, 2012

Last week of the term! Please bring any work for crit.

John murray classes week of June 4, 2012

I'm in DC and just saw the Ai Weiwei fountain at the Hirshorn. Great piece, inspired by the Qing Dynasty zodiac clock (Garden of Perfect Brightness) royal retreat near Beijing, that was destroyed in 1860. Strange and strong piece. How do you feel about the post-modern idea of co-option of  images?

Do a piece about this idea either pro or con. see you next week. john

John Murray classes week of May 28, 2012

I noticed the work of Aaron Curry at Micheal Werner in New York and found what I saw online to be tough and compelling. The references to cartoons and postmodern comics, cave art and freewheeling visual connections looked very creative and smart. If you have a chance take a look online and see what you think. He uses the photos of the walls of his studio and sets cutout Calderish shapes and paint-smattered image in front of them. Nice feel to what I can see. 

For your own work this week try a justaposition of studio spatters and markings against shapes and drawings, perhaps what you drew from the stilllife of last week or the model from the week before. Combine and elaborate your personal viewpoint into a dense insistence on yourself. See you next week, john. 

John Murray classes week of May 21, 2012

The idea of working from a still life setup is alien to me and too easy on the artist in my opinion, but I have been asked by an artist in my DeCordova  class to do so. I will bring a few odd pieces to arrange in each class and you can use the setup or work from your mind, (a dangerous place). See you next week, john.

john Murray classes week of May 14, 2012

DeCordova class will have a model. Please bring a new canvas or surface on which to work.

NewArt Center, please work further from drawings and marks you developed last week with the model. Deconstruct, collage drawings, transfer or otherwise push the image of the figure. see you next week, john.