Journal Archives

 

 

[06.18.02]  - About the "Watching TV" series

 

The "Watching TV" series already seems old school in comparison to the idea of the "Caught in the Web" series; a new upcoming series which will feature people "on the net",  rather than people in town. They will be sending photos of themselves next to their computers, featuring their website of choice ..... or a different photo of themselves, or a favorite object ...... well you get the idea. Anyways I did the TV series in about a year.


For the "Watching TV" series I would ask who ever over to my house and they would put on their favorite video, or I would rent something for them. While I painted them the TV light would flicker different colors across their faces. I would chronicle not only the basic expression the person had, but also the different lighting effects during the movie as they appeared on the person's face. So the entire painting would be completed in the space of the single movie they watched; no retouching. I would then write the name, age, date, and the name of the movie on each canvas. None of the sitters were pros. They just liked the idea that Van Gogh painted the people who lived in his little village away from "Paris" .... so they did it for the shot of immortality, and because where we live is so tiny and very boring.


When I showed in Modesto at the now defunct Art Factory, every one came to see themselves and their friends. It was fun - people were recalling all the events that lead up and followed their particular sitting. I said that it looked like the pages from the year book from hell. Someone asked me if I got the idea to hang it that way from Andy Warhol. He wanted to have a show of his paintings of celebrities as if it were a single piece. That is why he did them all 40 by 40 so that they could be done that way. 


Basically I took roll canvas and paid a friend to cut it into uniform squares which I then taped to a board and painted. I had about 10 boards and a stack of canvas, so that I could have 4-5 drying (all of them are oils) and a handful ready to go in case I got a rush of sitters. I eventually did some other sizes, like the doubles and a few bigger ones.


So that should explain why the colors I used in the Watching TV series are so wild. Altogether they number just over 50. Many of the photos have been relieved of my presence. However I am looking for the negatives.

  Click here to view the Watching TV series

 

 

 

[09.02.01]  - First entry

 

There are several concepts coming together to form this single creation. It is the intention that this site becomes a virtual community not unlike the many virtual realities you visit by being sucked into a kind of mind space, or perhaps you are simply instructed to create and do. The familiar space creators are via story tellers in many different mediums; song, theater, film, TV, games, dance, books, 2 dimensional images... as well as 3 dimensional... in other words the arts. There is something magical about a mind that can create a mind space then build it in a tangible world.     

    The Forbidden Fairy Tale will contain story telling components.  This will be done like the old serial stories, mostly in a fairy tale format about things in their past. You will meet many other creatures and protectors. The next area will be like a chat room that you can not enter where the children from the Dark interact with each other, kind of soap opera style. There will also be a place for you to interact with the Children with e-mail. You will be able to meet 11 males and 11 females; Jack is kind of an angel. Each of the images will have a little flash and some tunes. Behind that there will be a kind of excerpt from their life story that more or less reveals a bit about who they are now, and why.     

     Deep Serenity is a crafts site. Your hosts there are Hybrid (the web mistress), and Lady Leviathan. They will be creating an ever shifting set of bobbles and tools that should catch your fancy. Many of these things will be based on the Forbidden such as tarot cards from Lady, and survival kits inspired by Hybrid.    

     We are planning to make a vintage retro site called "Out of the Closet" presented by the Forbidden. The children periodically will sell something from their personal closets ... this is where virtual realities once again begin to interface with the tangible world.     

     Right now you are in my fine art store. We are talking about what is up, and yes you are invited to come here as often as you like. I enjoy your company and I know the children are more than happy to be added to your list of play mates. Remember if you need toys maybe the mistress and the lady will make something especially for you. Just  be warned the children are grown and can be rough at times... 

Tah-tah for now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
 
Forbidden Fairytale Art and Story © Phoenix Smith, Web Design © Hybrid - Blue Nine Designs