Travel Sketches

My work is heavily influenced by my travels. I always keep a sketchbook on me and many of my sketchbook renderings act as preliminary drawings or inspiration for more finished pieces. I often sketch quickly in pen because it forces me to record what I’m seeing more accurately. Sketching also helps me to really study and observe my surroundings on a whole different level than the casual observer. I'll be sure and post sketchbook drawings periodically.

These sketchbook renderings were drawn on location from the following places.

Capitoline Hill, Rome, Italy

El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Mexico

Venice, Italy

Charleston, South Carolina

Salzburg, Austria

Subiaco Abbey, Subiaco, Arkansas

Student Exhibit

Just thought I’d showcase some of my last semester, Intro to Studio Art students’ work from the December, student art exhibit which hung in the art department halls at NWACC. Many of my basic studio art students had little art training prior to this class. They worked really hard and ended up with some impressive results.

Light and Shadow Pattern Objective: To learn to render full value and perceive light and shadow with close up of found object. The overall design of the finished product is the most important aspect of this project. The end result may be so close up that it hardly resembles the object you are rendering, but rather, a strange landscape or abstract geometric or organic form.

Rhythm Objective: To create a sense of rhythmic variation and to explore visual emphasis.

Rectilinear and Curved Shape Composition Objective: To Investigate composition using design principles of repetition, similarity, variation, balance, and harmony, using the whole picture-plane and creating figure-ground interrelationships with rectilinear shapes.

In Progress

Our mind can produce images that are not completely dependent on external stimulation. These images can be mistaken for real objects. My work is often based on the mysteries of perception and consciousness. At this point the inner workings of the brain are still shrouded in mystery even within the circles of neuroscience. Much of what we experience is the result of information being passed through neurons in the brain, but it is still unknown how neural information is coded. How memories are stored and retrieved or how time is represented within the brain is unclear. Neuroscience is hazy about what exactly is consciousness or why we dream. I continually explore examples of this though my art.

My work often involves layering of images and the juxtaposition of organic and geometric forms. This piece I’m currently working on is an example of this.

Altered Book Class at ACO

Ages 10+
Fridays 4:00pm - 5:30pm

April 2 - May 14

Instructor: Sean Fitzgibbon

Students will blend collage and text to create their own striking and colorful altered book. They will learn about layering and working with various media and type as a graphic element.

Fees: ACO Members $75 / Public $85

Art Center of the Ozarks is located at 214 South Main Street, Springdale, AR 72764-4446 / (479) 751-5441.

An Arts in Education, Arts Curriculum Project grant was awarded to NWACCC and Central Junior High School for a "Diversity" themed mosaic mural. I would like thank Susan Hutchcroft and fine folks at NWACCC for allowing me the opportunity to direct the mural design and to work with art instructor Laurie Foster and the talented and hard working students from Central Jr High. The mural is expected to be completed January 2010 and installed Spring of 2010.