A silver lining: An introduction to The Roots Necklace.

The year 2020 will quite possibly enter the record books as one of the most memorable years in modern history, beginning with the unexpected and tragic death of global icon and basketball great Kobe Bryant. Since his passing it is as if the balance in the world as we know it shifted, and everything changed. We are faced with an American election which sees mankind staring down the barrel of a gun with the possible re-election of Donald Trump for a second term as President, Black Lives Matter (#BLM) asserting itself as a result of racial injustice against black people (and other people of color) by the police to COVID-19 having the entire world at a standstill and in quarantine- killing close to as many as 153,000 in America alone. Amidst all this death, government enforced quarantine and political turmoil art seems to be the brightest silver lining. There has been a surge in creativity as large sections of entire populations globally are stuck at home, where we see the entrepreneurial and creative sprit rise to produce some fresh, new, and innovative art. My creation of the Roots Necklace is one.

Roots Necklace

A fusion of cultures and artistic traditions guided me in creating the Roots Necklace. As a Jamaican artist who is heavily influenced by the consciousness of Rastafarianism, my affinity to share that same connection in spirituality- alongside the need for those of African descent to reconnect with their heritage birthed my idea. In my previous post where I examined African art from the intricate standpoint of form and function, I explored some of the traditions which are symbolical in the creation of each necklace.

From the usage of the wooden outline of Africa, which symbolizes our connection to the earth and the Black continent, to the uniquely customizable inscriptions that can be placed on every piece, these aspects combined serve as a talisman of remembrance, spirituality and physical connectivity. I blended my love for two-dimensional art and appreciation of three-dimensional renderings, offering the world a new look at four-dimensional fine art as each necklace moves through space and time on our person.

Each necklace is carefully strung with the foundations of visual art as a framework of design in order to achieve maximum visual impact. I chose to make each by hand, from the outline to the painted design to pay homage to my African ancestors who were skilled craftsmen and women. The custom option which includes but is not limited to personal flags as seen above is offered, further adding to the personal connection to your necklace. This exploration in art is one that has been in the making for some time, and like many of the happenings thus far in the year 2020, this is my mark, bred from a call to action as black artists, but also as citizens of a richly creative and innovative world. A world that needs a silver lining.

Window To My Soul Exhibition

 

The reception for the Window To My Soul Exhibition commenced on June 4th at the Athens Public Library, in beautiful Athens Ohio. The exhibition was a mixture of some of my most poignant earlier work that has resonated well with a wide audience, plus a few newer pieces that cohesively blend into my artistic vision and body of work.

 

 

The exhibit displayed 10 pieces, from limited edition prints to original paintings. It called for each visitor to have a sense of connectivity with fine art; connectivity that is increasingly lacking, as fine art is being vastly devalued because of what I believe is the de-sensitivity to it, partly as a result of the oversaturation of the market with bad or meaningless art. In my artist talk which is an important presentation at all my exhibitions, I challenged each individual to engage in provocative conversations surrounding each work as they engage with the symbology embedded in every piece.

Peilian Wu

 

I had the opportunity to share the space with another phenomenal artist, Peilian Wu. In her own words, Wu explains that her artwork is “influenced by formulas in traditional Chinese paintings which can be traced back to texture strokes in Ming landscape painting.” Her interpretation of the Ohio landscape in this style was a refreshing take on the natural beauty of the area, which I as a fellow international artist have come to love and represent in my own art. What I admired most about her work is her conveyance of cultural identity through her traditional style, which is seen as a direct extension of herself as a Chinese artist.

 

It was nice to see a few familiar faces who supported my previous shows in Athens, but even better to see some new faces who got introduced to brand ABFA that evening. My gratitude extends to each and every person who attended the exhibit and to those who helped to make it a complete success.

Myself and Curator Todd Bastin

 With another exhibition under my belt in Athens, I set my sights on surrounding towns in Ohio, aiming to diversify their artistic landscape and open doors of opportunity for artists of color like myself who have found a home in hidden gems across the American landscape similar to Athens Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

Artistic License​

 

As artists, we have the right to express our interpretations through artistic license, free from being held strictly accountable for accuracy and, to be free from those who wish to suppress our freedom in creativity. Artists are notorious for creating their works from the inspiration that may arise in being exposed to other original ideas but are interpreted differently. This partly drives new and innovative art and awards us with keys to open new doors in interpreting and representing what is in our own heads.

Bouncing Ideas

Artistic license has always played a major role in my career, for I find inspiration in just about anything. I remember while growing up- and even still today- pouring over magazines and picture books that simply stretch my imagination. I may twirl the idea around in my head all day, just to get a feel of each minute part which will all harmonize and coexist in a composition. With all these fresh and exciting variations, each jostling to find a foothold, it is very important to apply a method of ideation which will help isolate the useful gems of information that will allow your own creative interpretations to be applied. When dealing with a reference photo or something that has already been created, be mindful your final piece isn’t a replica, unless it is identified as a copy of the original.

Flying Too Close To the Sun.

One of the attributes of ideation is that it is open to constant change, and with artistic license, you are free to represent those ideas however you wish. Challenges may arise however, for with a lack of correct information an artist may find his/ herself having to explain why a certain element takes on a certain appearance, especially in representational work or realism. With this thought in mind, it is possible to unintentionally use artistic license which may be to the demise of what could be a rather good composition, especially if it is of a more artistically ambitious or complex subject matter.

Take for example being an artist in Westen civilization and attempting to convey historical events or the like from Eastern civilization. Without accurate and detailed information, representing events would be vastly different and even grossly erroneous based on misinterpreted accounts. The artist may not be deliberately trying to misrepresent the inspiration, but not having the correct knowledge, he/she knows no better.

Feel free as an artist to find inspiration in the works of other artists. Inspiration is a very personal experience, but never should you feel reticent to disclose where it came from because of a fear of opinions about originality. Ideas exist in a free world and artists are oftentimes the ones with the inclination to snag them and create works of art.

 

 

On The Easel Today.

On the easel today July 15, 2018 features yet another painting that explores my appreciation and reverence to the female figure- exploring sensuality and feminine sexuality. In the piece, a rather scantily clad model lays flat on her back with her legs raised, supported by a flat surface. In an apparent state of comfort and ease, her body relaxes; arms showing carefree abandon to her repose as the essence of her femininity is captured in a single moment.

    Artists for centuries have sought to capture natural beauty, whether governed by ideological status quo or by accurate observation and representation. In my painting, her body- curvy and mature in womanhood, shows her self-confidence unapologetically, and puts on display her natural beauty regardless of ideological interpretations. She represents the beauty that comes with age, timeless experience, failures and blissful triumph. A true woman of character displays that triumph by simply bearing it all for it to be appreciated, for as they say “true beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”.

2017 Year in Review.

It is hard to believe that yet another year has gone so quickly. It still seems like it was yesterday I was entering my first art exhibition in high school. 2017 was a year of new and valuable experiences. I was apart of four exhibitions, got introduced to gallery operations and the exhibition process and was even tapped to be as a guest speaker. With a few goals in mind, the ball got rolling fast, and the entire year proved to be a very productive one for Adrian Blake Fine Art.

       

The year began with the creation of one of my most visually compelling illustrations, “When the Rain Comes”, which proved to be a favorite in the exhibitions I was apart of. My first solo exhibition Freedom in Creativity turned out to be a tremendous event, planned perfectly to fall on my birthday, so it was a two-in-one celebration. The turnout surpassed my expectations and the support from those who attended made it even more special.

Doors kept opening after my solo exhibition, and I ended up in three other exhibitions that year: The Introspection Art Exhibition held in Cleveland Ohio, the In the Margins Exhibition held in Athens Ohio and Majestic National Juried Exhibition in Nelsonville Ohio. At each of these exhibitions I had the privilege to interact with some extremely creative artists, most notably Robert Peppers- art professor at Ohio University, who curated and also displayed works in the exhibition in Cleveland.

 

 

 

Adrian Blake, ASU Presentation 2017

The opportunity to be a guest speaker at the annual African Students Union Gala at Ohio University presented itself, and I embraced it with open arms. At the event I spoke about taking the responsibility as creative individuals; being aware of the things taking place in our society, and realizing that we can directly affect change through our creativity. This end of year event along with the completion of my Beauty Strength and Grace series of paintings culminated one of my most memorable, productive and inspirational years as an artist. 

 

2018 has begun friends, and with it new challenges and opportunities will be faced. I give a big thank you to all who supported Adrian Blake Fine Art in 2017, for with each of you I create more confidently knowing that I have earned that support through art that connects with each of you in their own unique way.  

 

Notable Commissions.

This commission was done for a family who lost their son to an ailment. The family requested a piece be done that would always remind them of how they saw their son, as an angel, who loved the beach and being in nature.  This painting is primarily set around being in a warm environment (similar to that of their family unit), with a beautiful backdrop landscape and the waves rushing on the beach. Their son’s representation is in a peaceful environment, which symbolizes the peace that his life brought to theirs. This painting captured specifically what the family had in mind, and it is now their personal piece that they all cherish in their home, in loving memory of their son.

In this painting the subject matter is very similar to the one above, as this was the second commission done for different members within the same family unit mentioned above. Despite the similarity in subject matter the environment is different. My clients requested this difference in order to add a contrasting dynamic from the first commission. What made this unique is the difference in atmosphere. The colors are cooler, and the moonlight hitting the waves adds its own visual impact in the piece.

This drawing was done for a client who was interested in having a professional portrait of her daughter done for her daughter’s birthday. This portrait was to capture her childlike innocence and personality. Both my client and subject loved the piece, and it made for a wonderful gift that they both cherish to this day.

One of my favorite things to do is draw portraits. To draw a portrait and represent the sitters likeness is no easy task. It takes a very different level of seeing and hand eye coordination. The difficulty increases even greater when the portrait is done live, in real time. This portrait was one such piece, and the likeness of my subject was captured wonderfully and presented to the family members who requested have it as a part of their personal collection.