Focus

I spend a lot of time poring over artist websites. If I see an image on a blog or in a magazine, I hunt down the creator's site the very next time I am online, and just immerse myself in the drawings, paintings, etc... I was hitting the 'Next Blog' button here on Blogspot last night, and I was sent to several artist sites in a row. The one that stood out was Celia Calle. Her mastery of the female form is sublime. She imbues her subjects with such sass and kinetic energy that they appear as if they could walk right out of the picture and turn an ordinary night out on the town into a capital 'A' Adventure. She has done advertising work for major companies, comic book covers, and illustrations for Penthouse and ESPN.

I have a bookmark folder with many other artists whose work I admire, and go back to when I need inspiration. Tara McPherson has been a favorite of mine for many years. Her concert posters (many of them featuring favorites of mine such as The Breeders, Beck and Throwing Muses) are amazing, with bold colors and grab-your-nuts images that make you want to know the backstory. And her comic book covers always draw one's eye to them on the racks. She has an interesting perspective on the world, and on love's loss. I would like to have a print or two of hers on my wall someday.

Luke Chueh is another old favorite. I find his work a little bleak (and a lot morbid) now, but back during my 3 years on Cape Cod I could appreciate his dark commentary. He has a way of showing the dark side of pop culture icons, and a unique take on self-destructive behaviors and sadness.

The point of today's post is this: lately I feel a very strong urge to spend less time doodling, and more time doing serious work that might put me amongst the ranks of the artistically productive and significant. I have ideas (SO many ideas), but a relatively scattered brain. I need to focus on projects, and do them to completion, and not just jot down or sketch ideas and leave them to molder away in piles of dusty notebooks. And I need to choose a few things (or *GASP* one thing) to focus on and do so well that I could do it in my sleep. Going forward I am going to spend as much time (if not more) on visual design as I do on eating right, working out, and guitar practice. Not only will it hone my skills (and hopefully assist in charting a new career path), but there will be lots of original work to see for any folks who click the 'Next Blog' button and wind up here!

In-Blog Play:

Out of the Blue - Yonder Mount...