Artwork of the Week, December 24

20"x17" - oil and acrylic on birch

This is a remote post from Arkansas, and I have found myself without photoshop, so this post looks a little different, if I were a home I would have removed the black background, which would make the edges of this piece a little easier to see, (something I'll take care of next week).

I just got the CD of new work from my photographer the day before we left Virginia, and tossed it in my bag so i would have something to post here this week. I'm excited abou the new work, and no I don't have the title nailed down for this one yet, still stewing over the list of possible titles in my sketchbook, where I keep a running list while working on a large group of them. The lists consist of sentence fragments taken out of context that I may hear in a passing conversation as well as from the sometimes silent conversations I have with myself while working in the studio, taking a hike, or staring at a body of water that I am currently fishing. i pour over these lists, editing them down into meaningful fragments that make sense with an indiviual piece in the studio.

The new paintings I will be posting over the next few weeks are a bit of a change for me (some subtle, some not so subtle). More on that later, but its time for me to get back to the in-laws. I'll be back in Virginia later this week, and I plan on banging out a few more posts before the year ends. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Artwork of the Week, December 17

Sitting Still 42
oil and acrylic on oak panel
10"x8.5

Is this were the pink came from? I don't remember thinking pink when I created it, it just sort of happened, but this time was about a year before the recent revelation. Sitting Still 42 was completed concurrently with my previous Artwork of the Week.

I was asked recently at the open studio about the process of numbering as a portion of the title?

I tend to group the painitngs into "movements" as they are completed. The paintings are constantly jostled from the wall to the palm of my hand. To the table, back to my palm, and back to drying rack. I start to get into rhythms of working on a few in relationship to each other in terms of color or mark, and I finish them roughly at the same time, each one takes its part in a "movement", and they are labeled as such. Each "movement" begins number on the tens column (4) and progresses upward through the ones (2), or Sitting Still number 42 (fourth movement, second piece). A movement is composed of less than 10 pieces, and could vary from 2 to 9.

Thats a mouthful, more on the title and its relationship to these pieces later this week. Next week, brand new paintings fresh from the studio, posted later this week or maybe on Christmas Eve, so check in when you get a chance.

Once again, this artwork of the week is one of four currently at the Touchstone Gallery in the Art on the Small Side Exhibition. This exhibition opens this Friday, December 14 and runs through Friday, January 5. The show focuses on artwork smaller than 18 inches square.

406 7th Street, NW, 2nd floor
Washington, DC 20004
202-347-2787
Gallery hours:
Wednesday - Friday 11-5
Saturday - Sunday 12-5 and by appointment

Artwork of the Week, December 10

Sitting Still 32
oil and acrylic on birch panel
10"x8.5

I'm pleased to announce that this week's artwork of the week will be one of four of my paintings on view at the Touchstone Gallery in the Art on the Small Side Exhibition. This exhibition opens this Friday, December 14 and runs through Friday, January 5. The show focuses on artwork smaller than 18 inches square (makes a great gift for a loved one or yourself). The Opening Reception is open to the public and will run from 6 pm to 8:30pm. I hope to see you there. More info on the gallery below.

406 7th Street, NW, 2nd floor
Washington, DC 20004
202-347-2787
Gallery hours:
Wednesday - Friday 11-5
Saturday - Sunday 12-5 and by appointment

Open Studio Report

Thanks for a successful open studio, we had a packed house and the newest work was well received. It was great to see the usuals as well as those of you who were seeing my work for the first time. Through out the night I heard two questions several times, so I thought would post the questions and answers in case they were on a few people's minds. However if you have questions about a specific painting or drawing, please drop me a line.

1. I have a specific location for a painting, can you take a look at this location and figure what size painting would fit there? Sure, I've also done site specific drawings for specific location such as Relentless Continuity 2007 at Artomatic 2007.
2. I'd love one of the larger works, could I work out a payment plan? I have done this in the past and I am open to it at this point, provided that the work stays with me until the balance is paid in full and I have permission to exhibit it until that point (however the work would be marked not for sale).

Artwork of the Week, December 3 (well part of it anyway)

Detail of a work in progress
detail size 5"x4", artwork size 20"x17"

Yeah I know this is a little late, but hey I've been focused in the studio and really excited about the new pieces, of which this is a detail of one. In fact its the same piece I posted a little over two weeks ago when I announced the open studio. Like I said I've been busy. I have a ten a.m. appointment with my photographer in DC, and I am sweating if the paint will be dry (yeah I am still tweaking things) I guess will have to get creative with my packing job.

If you want to see the rest of this piece, you will have to come to the open studio. Color schemes and textures have mutated into something new and I'm excited to see peoples reactions to the variety (and quantity) of work I've produced this year, in spite of all of the big life changes. Three brand new large paintings complement the four I completed earlier this year for my solo show at the Arlington Arts Center this past spring. A selection of medium format paintings (20x17) are the first I worked on in this range in something like two years. Some brand new small paintings on birch as well as brand spanking new tape paintings on paper that are extremely affordable and tend to get snatched up quickly.

Drop me a line if you have any questions.

Open Studio this Saturday December 8

I'm knuckle deep in paint - I hope to make some posts later this week. I hope to see you at my opens studio this Saturday, December 8 from 8pm-12am.

Feel free to email me at johnmadams75@yahoo.com for more info. I appreciate and email or a comment to let me know you are coming. I look forward to seeing you, and thanks for the support!

A few new images...

Current, Broken

acrylic on acid-free tape on paper
6"x4" - 2007

I thought I would preview two of the works on paper I've finished this week. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. These are two slightly different directions that are being explored simultaneously with the tape drawings.

Where It Does

acrylic on acid-free tape on paper

6"x4" - 2007

These intimate paintings started as a by-product of larger works. Late one night last year, when removing tape that I had used to mask areas on a few paintings, I was sticking the "trashed tape" to the side of my work table and to my wall near my chair. The next morning I walked into the studio and started admiring the images made by the tape on the wall. I started to cut the tape and created a few unsuccessful drawings, but I knew I was onto something.
I started deliberately making these "tape drawings" and found success with a backing material on which to attach the tape while painting it. Then I would cut and remove the tape, rearranging the placement and orientation of each piece of tape on the final piece. This re-mix of the original piece maintains its unity, but provides and additional twitch and flutter that I think directs the viewer into and around the image effectively. Space and form is shifted, re-directing movement in the piece.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these pieces before the open studio next Saturday, shoot me an email (johnmadams75@yahoo.com). They tend to go fast. I hope to see you next week at the open studio here (December 8, 8pm-12am).