General

Working Large – Drawing as movement

September 9, 2010 12:46 pm

You can really put your whole body into a larger drawing. When I was younger I discovered I loved to swing my arm around when I drew. It helped me be more expressive in my work. Drawing at smaller sizes was confining, like being put in a box. As a result I never work smaller than 18″x24″ except on anatomy studies, and when working out technical problems. Even that size barely accommodates the motions I like to make when drawing.

Lately on by working on even larger drawings I have discovered the ability to put more of myself physically into working. I dance around while I am drawing. I lean, push and pull into and out of the marks I am making. I can slide across and around the paper. As the drawing builds I am able get a whole body rhythm going. I don’t have to put as much thought into it. It just flows out of me. It helps me express the energy I am feeling. Its totally a blast. Its incredibly expressive. Its something you can’t do working 9″x12″. There are hassles working this large, especially in pastels but I have found few greater feelings and for me it is well worth the rewards.

For me it’s drawing as movement=-]

Beat ME “like a wife”

September 6, 2010 10:06 pm

Not too long ago I was at a large outdoor birthday party. I was sitting around a table. A few men and their wives. I hadn’t payed close attention to the conversation. At some point it came to a joke. One man said “Be quiet woman or I’ll beat you…I’ll beat you…like a wife”. The table broke out into laughter. The men at the table laughed heartily. The women sat quietly in obvious frustration. “Oh its just a joke” he said.

I was absolutely infuriated. I wanted to say something. I was by far out numbered and frankly out muscled. These were the type of guys I felt would have had no problem beating me senseless and dropping me in a ditch. Probably the same way they would have a woman. Speaking out surely would have caused conflict. I was a guest of a friend and didn’t want to make a scene.

I am non-conflicting, non-violent. A fire grew inside me. I was soo pissed off. What could I do? Speak up among these angry violent men? I sure contemplated it. I sure didn’t laugh.

This is the fire I am faced against every day. Speak out against these types of men? Speak out against these types of comments? I hear them and other derogatory comments towards women far too often. Absolutely speak out. No more. I will not accept this any longer. Don’t say those kinds of things around me, don’t say those kinds of things at all.

We all need to speak out. We need to say these attitudes and types of statements are simply not unacceptable.

I am starting to speak out. My anger against these comments grows, against the acceptance of these attitudes grows. My lack of concern for myself in speaking out against such comments grows. I’ll speak out. I put myself at risk, gladly.

I’ll speak out. Go ahead, beat ME, beat ME “like a wife” so that she may be spared. I’ll gladly be the whipping post for the brunt of your anger. Just don’t touch her. Beat ME PLEASE!!!

Back In the Studio

August 10, 2010 11:56 am

After hiking the Appalachian Trail for 2 months I am back in my studio and working again.

I am currently seeking models for the following projects:

  • Pregnant Models
  • Women who have had a mastectomy
  • Breast feeding

Full descriptions can be found here

If you are interested or know someone who may be please contact me.
Thanks!
-Chip