New Work [Weeks 1-3]

What Ive been working on the past couple of weeks follows- I still have a ways to go on them- but these are starts. enjoy- and thanks ahead of time for any feedback :]

Spring 2010 Artist Statement

Wyatt Lance
Artist Statement
Spring 2010

Conceptually, a struggle and a celebration ribbon my themes together. My work addresses the war on the individual and human relations. Psychological direction and pull lends itself often in my work and that’s seen through the narrative that is built up layer by layer. It is by this fluid amalgamation that each piece is related and brings a voiced atmosphere to the table. To facilitate a level of deeper intuitive understanding beyond anything openly rational is my intention. To evoke a dialogue of thought and emotion with a visual language aligns oneself with the creationary foresight and mastery of the gods.

Figures, an integral part in much of my art, are reduced to relying on minimal assets of structure. These vary from shape revealing silhouettes or simplified details to describe form such as those seen in graphic art and comics, to sketches that lack gradients of their own and pull from their backdrops for coloration and description. Relying on less than individualistic representations of figures and spaces allows me to portray something that everyone as a viewer can relate to. Leaving spaces unfilled for interpretation pulls people out of their rational boxes and into the sandbox of free thought and flowing emotion. Colors play into inner psychology on many differing levels and as such, can be utilized to emphasize point and meaning already being described by forms.

Multiple medias always go into the mix when I’m working on a new piece. I draw resources from my manic sketchbooks that travel everywhere with me. These raw compilations are filled with sketches and textual quandaries that fuel my ideas and concepts. Digitally scanned into a computer, found objects also play an important role in my work for everything from fluid forms to rough textures. I work primarily in the digital studio when compiling a piece, but there are many stages to production resulting in a resolved image and those take place in every imaginable ground. My work is not limited to any single discipline. I’ll go anywhere I think there may be strong feelings evoked because its always worth it, both on a personal level, and when it becomes evident through a piece. These associations become evident through individual narratives and are then further enhanced when a body of work is seen together. Brush strokes and textures within my digital paintings play to different emotions and feelings as well, which significantly adds to the existing notions and embodiments of empathetic transfer already within the artwork. As long as the dialogue has ports within the minds of onlookers, a connection can be made and the journey can be shared.

Updates. X

Here are some updates on what Ive been up to the past couple of weeks- I still have two more of the 8x10 stage images to work on- Im going to start printing soon- were getting down to it!

Kara Walker

WHile at the MOCA in Cleveland earlier this week, I rediscovered my love for the work of Kara Walker, a silhouette artist that has brought paper cuts into its own wonderful art form- I was reading an article on her that was done by Time- I had to share (:


"" Artists are vigilant. But it's not the vigilance of surveillance. They don't dictate what is worn, thought, spoken and dreamed. Instead, theirs is a vigilance fueled by a heady mix of doubt, disbelief and hope. Few have managed to capture the collision between past and present, between histories and horror stories, between sexuality and shame, between skin and meat, as powerfully and provocatively as Kara Walker, 37.

Walker's vigilance has produced a compelling reckoning with the twisted trajectories of race in America. Her installations and films forcefully pluralize our notion of a singular "history." They create a profusion of backstories and revisions that slash and burn through the pieties of patriotism and the glosses of "color blindness." Restarting the engines of seemingly archaic methods, from the graphic affect of silhouette portraits to the machine-age ethos of film, she produces a cast of characters and caricatures with appetites for destruction and reproduction, for power and sex. She raucously engages both the broad sweep of the big picture and the eloquence of the telling detail. She plays with stereotypes, turning them upside down, spread-eagle and inside out. She revels in cruelty and laughter. Platitudes sicken her. She is brave. Her silhouettes throw themselves against the wall and don't blink.""

full: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1595326_1595332_1616818,00.html

Funnelstorm

Artblockkkkk! Hate it! Ive already made changes to some of the things pointed out during the critique, but I am in need of new direction- Ive been writing a lot on it- developing more concept. Were it legible, I'd put it here. Ive been exploring the work of other digital artists, if you have a chance, definitely check out the work of Mark Verhaagen and also Ryohei Hase. Ive really been appreciating their drive and direction as of late. Im experimenting with some new material, Ill have food for thought soon :) Hope everyones having a good week- busy busy busy!

Back Back bak!

Lots of new source materials obtained over break- Im working on formulating some new storylines to meld into a new series- I like where the work has gone so far- but Id like to start integrating some new inspiration into other conceptual pathways. Ive already started working on such things, but nothings concrete enough for critique yet- Im hoping to be able to have some new materials available for refining within the week. Thanks for everyones support and critique- its been such a help thusfar. Welcome back! I hope everyones break was as refreshing as mine was- ^____^

Progresssssssssss

Earlier in the week I took some time to work on my existing images and I've just posted the progress from those images. I think they're headed in good directions. They're just about complete. I've also started on a few new pieces that I've been in the clockwork with for a few weeks now in design. Ill upload some of those once I have them a little more completed. It may be spring break, but blogs still going on ;D Hope everyone is having some great time away from the hustle and bustle and enjoying their time off ^____^

Peace