Friday, November 6, 2009

Mixed Media

Acrylic, Charcoal, Watercolor,

4' x 7'

It feels so gratifying to dedicate time to shit that has no purpose at all. Yesterday was one of those days. I began with 3 simple charcoal drawings that I made with my eyes closed in drawing class. They were influenced by what I felt from a song that was being played simultaneously to the movement of my hand. Each section is one of the individual drawings. It went from just adding a little color to amusing myself for hours on end with an assortment of media. Modest Mouse was exploding from my headphones. I had a whole studio workroom to myself, and I was in my own little world. After a few hours I knew I was done. I was filthy; I had charcoal smeared on my face, paint on my pants, and my hands were encrusted with material. I was in ecstasy and all control was adrift. Looking at the painting as it now hangs in my room, all I can say is “Damn that felt awesome”…

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Scanned Gelatin Silver Fiber Print

Kodak Tri-X 4x5 ISO320

8'' x 10''

I had this romantic vision of large format, yet I never knew it required such attention, time, and accuracy. Not to mention the actual cost of it all. It’s fucking expensive to get started. Yet after a few projects, I’m slowly seeing the trends I went through in highschool when I first began with 35mm; a successful exposure here, a nice print there. Of course there are many factors besides the new equipment. Being new to Boston would be one of them. I defiantly feel my photographs are reminiscent towards that too. Nevertheless, I would say this diptych is kind of the breaking point out of the minute depression I went through. I like the concept; taking three photographs from totally different areas to form a new space within an image. Plus my professor Laura McPhee loved them too. It’s exciting and has the qualities of many other art forms. However, I do feel that the subject matter could be pushed even more. I have a feeling I’ll be returning to this idea later on and maybe in color…

Monday, November 2, 2009

Last weekend was fucking awesome! I don’t really know what influenced my decision to head up to Portland, ME, but I somehow made it there on Halloween. Luke and I hung out in Boston on Friday, and then drove up in his Yota on Saturday. The drive went by fast with good conversation and music. It felt kind of weird walking around in MECA, yet driving back into Portland was easily comparable to returning home. The salty air, coble stone streets, matt shitting his pants, and the sighting of a bum on every corner put me at ease. It’s so pleasing to show up unannounced in a ridiculous costume and party like it is the last day of my life. It brought back so many good memories. Plus, instead of candy this year, I was spoiled with fresh new work AND a Polaroid Automatic 250 Land Camera from Luke. This year was a Halloween I will never forget...

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I honestly can say I have made the right decision to come to Mass Art. I recall telling my mom on the phone the other day that “everything just couldn’t be more perfect.” And holy shit, I have been so busy too. Seems like whenever I actually get a break to do something I’m either eating or sleeping. I must admit, it feels good to be back in the loop and being totally dominated by the work in my life. I have been growing this beard since I left home and today I actually had a legit day off. So I decided to shave it and make something of it. The moustache looked way too sick so I just had to keep it. The photographs were fun to make and it was a nice break from the view camera, which has been so insanely hard to use. I also took advantage of the schools CS4 package and added some sexy black boarders….

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Scanned Prints

Ilford HP5+ 35 ISO400

All Gelatin Silver RC Prints

8'' x 10''

I want to shred so bad! I’m up to watching at least one ski video a day and I continue to long for snow. We’re a bit more than a month away, but it’s taking FOREVER. The videos are just going to have to do it for now. I guess you could call it ski porn. Anyways, I made these photographs about this time last year. I love looking back on photos, especially one’s from Portland. I miss that town a lot right now. I totally love that black boarder too! This week Abe Morell insisted that we all print with black boarders because they’re “sexy”. I guess I can’t argue against that…

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Scanned Negative

Kodak Portra NC 35 ISO400

I’ve been in Boston for a few weeks now and I finally got to use my new camera! Shooting 4x5 is totally different, but I have a feeling I will warm up to it soon. Today was kind of lame because I was forced to shoot trees at the Arnold Arboretum with the rest of my class. I guess it was more about getting to know large format. It’s kind of hilarious how most of the kids in my class who are from Boston were so antsy and excited about making photographs of trees. I guess it’s clearly evident that surroundings influence one’s ignorance, because I could care less about taking pictures of trees while coming from Vermont…

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Scanned Negatives

Kodak Ektar 120 ISO100

I guess the reason why I was kind of shy about not shooting any fishing in Island Pond was because I did just that a few days before in better light. To be honest, I was also sick of seeing people fishing though my viewfinder. I felt like shooting something different for a change. Yet to get back on topic, Austin, his friend Simon and I all went up to the Waterbury Dam to fish the Little River. It was dope because thanks to Simon, I too had a pair of waiters and was able to get some angles that would have normally been impossible. I actually liked the atmosphere of the old damn and rock wall. Too bad we didn’t really catch much fish. We’ve had some pretty shit luck this summer. The portrait of Austin is becoming pretty typical whenever I’ve been shooting around him. I definitely feel that connection where he just always knows what I want now without me having to say a word. I know for a fact that I will continue to take pictures of him for the rest of my career. It will indeed be fun to look back on them years from now and be able to pick out trends and change within both of us...