Art Work of the Month :: Thoughts, Process, & Technique ::
This page archives a new work of Art by Ryan Seslow each Month. Commentary on studio practice, idea development and context are explored.
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Art Work of the Month :: February 2012
The images in this series above and below are based on my frequent confrontations with mass, form, and reduction. This technique, carving and subtracting mass away from a solid volume has forever found a place in my desire to create sculpture and 3-Dimensional art forms. Like most high school students being exposed to new art making techniques, this one stood out for me. When I entered my undergraduate BFA program, although not majoring in sculpture at the time, (my MFA is in sculpture) I did maximize the sculpture courses that were available. I reduced pretty much every solid material I could get my hands on. Reductions were taken away from clay, plaster, wax, foam, limestone, alabaster, and ice. I still enjoy and continue to work with these materials. I am drawn to clay because I can create with an immediate and urgent energy. Results are fast and measurable. Simply put, it is my intention to create and discover new forms. This is indeed the case with this series presented here. The whole process took about 3 hours. Two hours are dedicated to the reduction of mass and creation of negative spaces. Discovering complimentary positive and negative shapes help my eye travel through the piece. A continuous linear flow is important to me. As I discover secondary contours I tend to repeat the most interesting ones. This is a purely aesthetic process. I spend time observing the piece as it develops. Once the sculpture is completed I spend about 2 hours rendering drawings of the form. The forms in these drawings later become content for my paintings.
Link to the original post:: http://wp.me/p2SFO-CV
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- “Drawing Transcends”
Art Work of the Month :: January 2012
Happy New Year!
“Drawing Transcends”
Imprints are left in many ways, more than I can say here in one breathe. We are all participants in the process of creating them. The action of Drawing has always been my muse for expressive immediacy. Dancing may be faster, or even the spoken word, but I prefer drawing. Drawing gives me the ability to be communicative in several fast linear gestures. I can control them, or not. I can save them, or not. I can add to them, or not. As an artist, I want to leave temporary marks upon the world, marks that are as ephemeral as our physical lives. Like all things, even the context of my drawings will change. I created this piece as a metaphor for this idea. Its a sculpture. It is tangible. It can rest on a flat plane vertically or horizontally, but you, the viewer will not experience the work this way. You can only see it as an image. A flat two dimensional image. I have solidified an outdated computer mouse onto an etch-a-sketch ( a time transcending device ). These are two instruments that I have created drawings with. They are extensions of the traditional mediums that I learned to draw with. I liked that idea. I have not retained any of my etch-a-sketch drawings over time, they were all shaken away so that new drawings could be made. The power to decide when to this always intrigued me, even as a child. At the time, I digital cameras were not yet in existence, so I didn’t record these drawings. This was OK. I was more interested in making new drawings. I suppose I could purchase another etch-a-sketch, and do something with new technology, and perhaps I may. I will only reflect on that for now. The outdated mouse is another reminder of how all synthetic things evolve, both in function and design. Think of all of the countless invisible lines that you have created while using your computer’s mouse…oh, you never thought of it that way? Those lines are all gone. I painted the piece all one color. This unifies the piece as one whole form. They are no longer separate entities. Our perceptions, interpretations, and overall sense of awareness is powerful. It continues to redefine the way that I look and participate in the world.
This piece has been submitted as a part of The Fabelist’s Imprint Festival in London, 1/27/12 more info here:: http://www.thefabelist.com/imprint-festival
Link to the original post:: http://wp.me/p2SFO-AC
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Art Work of the Month:: December 2011
Projection Installation. Studies with Light, Space, & Ephemera, this installation challenges the context of my living space. I enjoy having the control over what happens in this space with my work. Technology expands with or with out us, that is kind of scary and exciting at the same time. It makes me think about what my direct relationship to technology is. Especially since I am interested in using it as an art medium. It seems more and more like an experiential perception of our own sub-personalities. Perhaps some that we do not know very well yet? I love technology, and how I am continuing to find more ephemeral uses of it to generate new art. This installation lasted for about 2 hours. I documented it by taking several photos, and some video, but now it seems to be transcending itself into sharable data. I had been playing with the idea for a while, but I had not completed a solid body of enough work to potentially show. Just recently my good friend and colleague Winn Rea and I had a conversation about some of the projects that we will doing with our 3D/4D Design students at LIU’s CW Post campus this spring semester 2012. The course emphasizes the principles of 3D design and studio techniques in sculpture. We have since added a 4D aspect to the class using video as a means to experiment, understand, and learn how to use “time” as a means of communication tool. The students resonate with this as most of them are tech savvy. Winn came up with a great idea to have the students create the time based video works by incorporating objects to project the works onto. I will share the results in progress and completed. I will also participate in this project myself.
Original link:: http://wp.me/p2SFO-5Y
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Art Work of the Month:: November 2011
A new composition study based on 4 individual paintings. This will be a large series of pieces executed in oil stick, oil paint, and acrylic paint. The size has yet to be determined because I will make several variations. The original paintings, a series of 4, sold to a collector in southern New Jersey in 2009. I liked the paintings so much that it was hard to let them go. After the sale, I began playing with the individual images by turning them into drawings, stencils, and silk screens. I am still working out ideas with the printed matter, but I will make a return back to a more traditional approach as I feel the forms themselves are very strong. Mixed with vibrant day glow like color, the eye flows easily around the exterior contour lines while bouncing from color to color. These images are based on a series drawings that I did in 2006. The drawings are taken from a series of clay reduction sculptures that were fired and never glazed. The sculptures were created horizontally, but I find that they work better as vertical forms tuned flat.
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Art Work of the Month:: October 2011
JAZZ HEAD – This is an illustration that I created in 2008 based upon Cannonball Adderley feat. Miles Davis on “Autumn Leaves”. After listening to the piece over the course of several years, this is what I created to communicate just how the piece continues to move me. The colorful illustration has since been revised and transcended into several other pieces of art. Listen to the piece here:: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPHtQn1t1n4
original link:: http://wp.me/p2SFO-s5
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Art Work of the Month:: September 2011
Acrylic on Cardboard cut out mounted onto brick wall. Simply put. This is one in a series of cardboard cuts that are left on the streets. The pieces are mounted onto the surface of the wall delicately enough to only withstand several hours. They can easily be removed should someone “desire” to take or remove the pieces. This makes the work accessible, and it forces the viewer to engage and participate. Once the viewer realizes it can can be removed easily, it becomes hard to not accept the gift.
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Art Work of the Month :: August 2011
This coming January 2012 I will be showing my work with BORBAY in a two man show at the Chapman Gallery on the campus of Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. The show will feature a large scale installation as well as a series of my ongoing graffiti works. Some of the works will be recreated pieces dating as far back as 1998. I will be working on synthesizing fragments of some of the older pieces to develop a body of new works. Original screen prints in limited editions will be made for this show. Ill keep you posted on release dates.
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April, May, & June 2011 :: 3 Studio Installation Updates.
Art Work of the Month:: June 2011
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Art Work of the Month:: May 2011
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Art Work of the Month:: April 2011
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Art work of the Month:: March 2011
This is the last day of a 2 month studio installation that has challenged me. Most of the works in this piece are in progress, even though some would say they are complete. Its a grainy photo, it was taken at dusk and I have since taken better photos. I will post those over on my flickr page soon. When it comes to working with a wall I usually like to work less geometrically. But something about the composite idea attracted me, and I have since given it some thought. 15 paintings arranged, all at the same size, composed into a grid. This creates a visual harmony. I’m not sure if the content even matters at this point. I like the idea of creating a visual narrative, or even more so, allowing and inducing the viewer to do so. Storyboard #1, I suppose. All of the works have been painted onto recycled canvas’s. That’s right, mostly discards from my classes, and some donated discards.
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Art work of the Month:: February 2011
A Series of 3 Films by Ryan Seslow are NOW Live on the Streaming Festival: So, “Who is Professor Universe?”
My good friends over at the Streaming Festival at The Hague in the Netherlands have so graciously offered me a solo show this month by hosting and screening all 3 of the Professor Universe films. It is the first time that all three films have been synced together in this format. You can view my profile page on the festival’s website here::
http://www.streamingfestival.com/video-artists/ryanseslow.php
Program’s duration – 2/1/2011 -2/28/ 2011 - http://bit.ly/dY3pls
direct link: http://www.streamingfestival.com/program/spaulding_universe.php
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Art Work of the Month:: January 2011
The Technophemera series is an ongoing examination in the ephemeral aspects of technology today. Here today, gone tomorrow. Devices like keyboards, from only 5 years ago look like dinosaurs now. Yet, we still recognize then, some of these designs were super sticky. They have grown on us, and we want to continue to interact with them, well at least I do. So, to keep some of these designs a part of my world I am altering their context and displacing them into the changing world. The keyboards function as sculptures. Mostly designed to active the floor and walls spaces on the interior, but also able to with stand the out door elements. They are also being photographed in places and spaces one may not expect to encounter them in ( Ill post those soon ). I have cast the keyboards in hydraulic cement. The hydraulic cement later caused cracks and splits in the keyboard mold as it tried to expand. A perfect metaphor for the ephemeral aspect of their purpose in this format. The Technophemera series will soon gets its own set on my flickr page. This will help me isolate it a bit more to develop it as it evolves.
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Art Work of the Month: December 2010
Yet another study of object and image in an attempt to capture the ephemeral. I recently dismantled an old keyboard from the mid 1990′s. I have a collection of them. I took off all of the keys and placed them into a cut off plastic bottle ( a recyclable item ) filled with water. I placed it into my freezer and forgot about it. To my surprise when I opened it again this week, Wahlah! An awaiting sculpture. The image brings up questions about context and the things we may quickly dismiss and discard. I see the potential of another idea forming.
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Art Work of the Month:: November 2010
A new studio installation is underway. This installation is temporary. I assure you of that. It took about 20 minutes to arrange and place these pieces onto the wall. I love the immediacy, and the sense of urgency that I seem to place on myself. I have two nice sized walls here in the studio that I can work directly on. My installations and wall pieces are a way for me to exercise and then gather my thoughts, but only for a short while. This is a mental collage, a fictional narrative that I will participate in today, and maybe only today. The works range from paintings on canvas, to stencils and screen prints on recycled cereal boxes. Its a contrast of high and low quality materials. Its created that way on purpose. Its a perfect dualistic partnership. You will find yourself inside this story, especially if I have crossed paths with you. It is my intention to evoke inspiration with in the viewer. This composition has been programmed to speak to you. Take action.
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Art work of the Month:: October 2010
The immediacy of the stencil and exterior enamel spray paint can all be realized in a matter of minutes. Sometimes we create so many things that we don’t quite see the multi-usable potentials at first. That’s the beauty of art making. These two stencils were just 2 of the 4 that I happened to have with me on this particular day, the irony hit me as I realized that I had several minutes before I had to get to where I needed to be. Act fast, conceptualize on the spot!
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Art Work of the Month:: September 2010
I love to make art that allows for me to quickly create many variations of the same idea. I’m interested in the transcendence of ideas. Mostly through various mediums in both subtle variation and extreme variation. NEWYAWK is a universal tag and also my t-shirt brand. I started writing that in 1995 or earlier. A recent rubber stamp has been made to promote the brand on t-shirts, as limited edition prints on paper and canvas, and for immediate expression when the energy takes hold. Rubber stamp print making always inspired me. It seemed like an even faster method to outcome than screen printing. Plus its a hell of a lot less steps in process. Don’t get me wrong, I love the process, but sometimes immediacy of process captures more of my attention. Rubber stamp prints retain the hand work as a drawing would. I like to enhance the gauge of the line. I just got myself a few boxes of rubber blocks at 5X7 per block. With a bit of duct tape on the back, you can join them together to make large forms, and fragment them later for printing. Variety variety. The image above is variation #52 from 2 stamps that originally started as other ideas.
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Art Work of the Month:: August 2010
The recycled Cereal Box installation grows. Each piece is created to function as both an individual work of art, whilst also working well as a fragmented installation. 90% of all of the works are created on empty discarded cereal boxes, the other 10% consist of other related discarded cardboard boxes. The works are light, and very easy to transport. Installation set up time is fast and immediate. It is also intuitive as I will never set it up the same way twice. With narrative works, this interests me. This wall piece consists of over 60 pieces. It is a sneak peek to the larger whole. I am exploring ephemeral contexts and the over all longevity of art. Are all works of art supposed to transcend time? Can a lasting impression be made with a work that only lasts 30 days, or even 30 minutes? What role does the time and duration of a works display play in the way that we judge the value of art? More on this…
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Art work of the Month:: July 2010
The image above is not a joke. I have been traveling a lot this summer, and I have seen many a things….but this mustache was indeed for sale. I approached the store owner, and asked her how much it would cost, and if she could size me up, to my surprise she responded ” Twenty five Euros “….. this was purely for the mustache itself, the sizing and application was an additional ten euros. With the most serious face I could muster up, I squinted my eyes and looked her right in the face and said ” I’m not sure if this is me “, the clerk matched my rapport, and leaned in closer to my face. She said with the the utmost amount of sincerity ” Its more you, than you know “. I responded with a witty quickness : ” I must sleep on it, I shall return “. I left the store, and told her that I would take a photo for the nights reference. Obviously, I did not return to the store, but I did pass by a few times en route to other places. She caught my eye one day when I had forgotten about it. From across the street, as cars raced by I say the woman holding her finger over her top lip, mimicking the mustache, her face, stone serious. I laughed for 2 hours.
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Art Work of the Month :: June 2010
I’m currently in Switzerland. It is an amazing place, especially at 1,500 meters high in a town called Verbier. I consider myself a multidisciplinary artist. I like to work in many different mediums and transcend my ides through those various processes. It is a lot of expressive micro testing, process and discovery. For me, there is nothing better than this formula, but every so often simplicity captivates me. A single moment saturates my curiosity and all in the split second of immediacy an image is born. I’m taking a ton of photos here. The light is better than anywhere in the world that I have been ( so far ) I’m aware of this, 110%. The moment ruled in this photo. What I love most about digital photography is the immediacy and the ability to trick the mind into believing that a single moment is being preserved. Possibly forever, hmmm, little do I know at the time, the image will get lost in a sea of over 14,000 existing images captured with this medium since 2002 ( consciously ). A glass extends its existence as it is pummeled with late afternoon light, proving it is more than it knows that it is. Much like us human beings, so much more than we are taught to think we are…until we break free of that.
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Art work of the Month:: May 2010
Recycled Cereal Box Ephemera Series : New works in 2010
The image above is a part of the Recycled Cereal Box Ephemera Series. This is a series of paintings and silk screen collage arrangements all completed on used cereal boxes. Admittedly, I am a cereal lover. Uses of and for the used boxes occurred to me years ago, but I waited to implement a series dedicated to its use. I’m not sure why, yet. Most of the boxes are of the same size, making it easy to arrange them onto a wall in a horizontal and vertical grid. This is my first intention for display. The series will house over 400 individual boxes. I have lost count on production, but indeed, I do see a lot of boxes here in the studio…. What I like most about the use of the boxes are their form. A semi sturdy 2 inch rectangle. I like rectangles, most people prefer the square I have found. I’m not so sure that a square cereal box would hold up aesthetically? That’s another can of worms. The images on the individual boxes are various. Mostly being produced by means of stencil cut outs and silk screen prints. Several of the boxes are also hand drawn with oil pastels and oil sticks. I do not want to give away the message before the 1st official showing of the installation, but I do believe this image gives you some direction. All of the graphics and content play a role as a whole. Each piece can hold up independently but can also play a role in the very modular installation. ” Spiritual Revolution ” would be a great name for contemporary cereal, wouldn’t it? Stay tuned for more fragments as they leak.
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Art Work of the Month:: April 2010
The cut and paste process allows for me to work fast. I must admit, I love to cut things out. I love to draw with a pair of scissors. I get e-mail on a regular basis asking me about my painting process. How do I do it, and why do I do it this way? I wouldn’t call my process a traditional painting process by any means. Most of my paintings are based on narratives that I have with myself first. Content becomes fragments of thoughts, people, or other popular things interacting with each other, or with in the space that they will fill. I draw a lot. I have been trained as an illustrator, but never really wanted to just create illustrations. Most of my drawings become material for silk screen, and inevitably prints. I also like to cut out linoleum and wood blocks. I love to later cut the prints out and arrange them. I like the textures and printed quality of a silk screened image arranged together with my brushwork. Composing with all kinds of things excites me. Not only with flat or 2-dimensional images, but with all ” things”. Most of my work does end up plugged into large scale installations, but each piece does start as an independent piece of art that can stand on its own, should it be removed from the clustering process. In this particular painting, we see two characters, one appears to be a boy and the other a human like figure. The screen prints floating about are unconscious thoughts, they are hidden representations of the human imagination. The back round is subjective and colorful. It draws your eye in slowly and moves you to each element. 20″ x 20″ Acrylic, Oil stick and silk screen prints on wood 2010.
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