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 my easel today I have yet another landscape painting, and you know well my love of creating beautiful landscape and seascape pieces. In this new work, I intended on portraying the majestic beauty of clouds and the effect they have in this work of art. In the piece, perspective plays a vital role, and this is primarily as a result of the clouds. Take a look below.

 

 

In landscape art, the understanding and usage of values and the principle of perspective is the most important thing to consider. In representing nature, one has to capture the essence of 3-dimensional space on a 2-dimensional surface, so the sense of depth is essential and is achieved through the proper treatment of the elements contained in a composition. Even in non-representational paintings such as abstract landscape painting, the paint can be used skillfully to convey depth. This is where Atmospheric Perspective can come into play. The clouds in the artwork recede into the distance, taking your eyes along a visual path deep into the horizon. Pay close attention to the cloud formations and their relationship with perspective, coupled with their direction in the composition.

 

Like many of my other “scapes”,  they boast a deep understanding of how to achieve depth in an artwork. Always paint with the principles and elements of art in mind. They are your framework for successful representations and connecting visually to your audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Between the Lines. Draw More.

 

Drawing has always been a BIG part of my life.  My love for drawing started when I was quite young.  During those early days of my engagement with print media, I was mesmerized by the Hardy Boys illustrative Classics and Archie comics, and I started to draw “childlike” creations of what I was reading. My love for drawing remains true till this day, and it is the basis of my illustrative paintings – and let’s think about it, every great painting begins with the act of drawing to some degree.

While in school, I learned to utilize my ability to sketch and draw to my advantage. Essentially, I was able to encapsulate the large volumes of information presented during lectures in sketches, and sometimes in detailed drawings. One had to be “quick on the draw” to keep up. This led to a personal discovery of my most astute ability- my visual/spacial intelligence.

A recent post on Fast Company highlighted recent research done by the University of Waterloo, Ontario that discovered that drawing is particularly beneficial for older adults regarding memory. This is so because certain regions of the brain dealing with memory remain intact in spite of aging. As human beings age, the brain deteriorates; oftentimes leading to diseases that affect memory like dementia and Alzheimer’s, so episodic memory is directly affected. What is interesting however, is that while structures like the hippocampus in the brain (thanks Fallout 4) that deal with memory retrieval and coding may deteriorate, regions associated with visuospacial skills remain mostly intact, and this is what aids in the memory retention despite the effects of aging.

  

Illustrations by Adrian Blake.

There are myriads of studies that prove the positive correlation between drawing and memory development and retention. Each individual has unique skills and talents, and I know that not everyone will become famous artists and illustrators. However, if only for the fact that drawing promotes memory retention in humans as they age, or simply just passing the time without the guilt of wasting it, it is a good enough reason for everyone to explore their creativity and simply draw more. For as Paul Klee said: “A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.”

 

 

 

 

On The Easel Today.

On the Easel Today features a painting that boasts some of the most powerful imagery yet in my portfolio. This piece, still untitled contains the image of two figures: a male and a female- with the male figure laying in languid repose and the female figure closely embracing him in her lap. The idea behind this piece suggests that her embrace is one filled with sorrow- but is it only, as she holds him with her hand over his face? What could she be feeling or saying to you the viewer?

As with other paintings I have done before, I leave the door open for interpretation. You can decide if he is alive. You can decide what she may be feeling based off the emotion on her face and body language. I will leave it up to you to have a story in your mind as to the possible explanation of this piece.

 

 

 

 

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.  

 

Beauty, Strength and Grace, A Series.

 

“Dipped in chocolate, bronzed in elegance, enameled with grace, toasted with beauty, my lord, she’s a black woman.” – Dr.Yosef Ben-Jochannan. Dr. Ben said it perfectly, echoing some of my own thoughts when it comes to the Black woman. Skin color and culture aside however, my series of paintings titled Beauty, Strength and Grace express my feelings towards the traits I believe the ideal woman possesses and demonstrates.

Complete Surrender

Beauty. “ True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.”- Audrey Hepburn. As much as beauty can be superficial, and be defined through outward characteristics, it should be more of a combination of factors that aid in the realization of the essence of true beauty. In my painting Complete Surrender my subject represents that outward beauty, but also that inward beauty that makes what the eyes see so much more appealing.

 

 

 

Blissful Reminiscence.

Strength. “She’s been through more hell than you’ll ever know, but that’s what gives her beauty an edge”. – Alfa. This trait manifests itself well when one is under duress, and to some extent is the defining characteristic of a person’s existence. Throughout my life I’ve seen strength demonstrated by the two women who have helped to make me into the man I am today, my mother and grandmother. Their sacrifices, sweat, tears and resilience are represented in my painting “Blissful Reminiscence.”

 

 

Finally Free. 

Grace. “ Grace is the beauty of form under the influence of freedom.”- Friedrich Schiller. In Finally Free, my subject has found her liberating force, and in doing so puts on display that gracefulness a woman develops when she finally knows who she is, despite adversity. That moment of acceptance of who she was and the realization of who she truly is meant to be as a result of her triumph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Margins Exhibition.

   

    The In the Margins Exhibition was created with the intent to give a voice to the marginalized groups in the local region. The exhibition featured artwork from talented artists with varied backgrounds, who brought their own unique take on the premise of the exhibit. The curators had a vision of tackling the unique questions surrounding life within the margins as artists; and the artists, which included myself posed answers to those questions through our submitted works, ranging from painting, to sculpture, photography, poetry and dance.

Life within the margins as an artist is oftentimes arduous. We are subjected to rigid confines of social conformity, and sometimes face political backlash because of our willingness to express our individuality- especially in times where it is challenged by social norms. The impact of these margins can be seen in our individual communities and globally, and if not addressed with our platform of expression, our future as artists and creative individuals could be tremendously affected.

Above, I stand with Kasey Jones, one of the curators of the exhibition. There was strong encouragement for people of color, women, LGBTQ, immigrants and people with disabilities to apply, in order to set the stage for diversity in thought and creative assertion. The gallery was a wonderful venue for the exhibit- very spacious and promoted a fluid movement of people, and accommodated the performers perfectly.

Exhibitions like these are very important, especially in communities with diverse populations. They speak their own language of acceptance of all people, and promote creative expression of all those who feel pressured to live life within margins that seek to confine us in so many ways.

On The Easel Today.

On the easel today July 5, 2017 features my newest painting titled “Complete Surrender”. This piece culminates a series of work that I have been brainstorming for some time. The title of the series is: “Beauty, Strength & Grace”, and features two other works, which you have possibly seen a time of two before: “Blissful Reminiscence” and “Finally Free”. All three paintings embody the essence of the title of the series; yet stand alone in their individual meanings.

In this painting, my subject is adorned in a warm, radiant light, which envelops her in a rather intimate fashion and crowns her with a halo. Her posture and subtle expression is that of complete surrender, as her stark beauty is glorified. I challenged myself with this piece, as I do with all my paintings. This challenge was creating transparency and softness in texture in the fabric that adorns her. Those two aspects of painting are two of the most difficult for any artist, but in trying numerous approaches I am at the brink of accomplishing what I intend to.  There is more work to be done however, in spite of the current successes throughout the piece. My paint is still wet, and my brushes are eagerly waiting to be summoned.