What’s shakin’ at Rodzart

What’s shakin at Rodzart 9-4-2009

Well folks, I’ve never been more proud of America than I am right now. It’s no secret that I’ve been a Barak Obama supporter since last summer, and now I’m so proud to say out loud “President Barak Obama”. Tonight as a nation, we’ve turned the corner, we’re headed out of darkness, and like it or not, we carry the whole world with us. It’s now time for us all to join hands and stand behind President Obama as we move forward into a new world of peace and prosperity.

What’s shakin at Rodzart 10-5-2008

Hi Folks,

I hope everyone had a good week.

I wrapped up the SouthPaw Project last week. My right wrist is working ok now, so I went back to painting right handed.

Just a review of the paintings in the project:

Airbag Deployment
The day I had the blues
Some days are better than others
Time flies

I got a couple more paintings finshed this past week which are:

Expression 823, and
Expression 824.

Remember the bigger versions of all these paintings are available on the website.

I also finished another painting, but the photography on it was not up to snuff so I haven’t added it to the website yet. I’ll get it posted as soon as I can. It’s a black canvas, and I’m having some glare problems with the photography.

I’m now offering prints of many of my paintings through www.artwanted.com/rodzart At ArtWanted.com you’ll find various sizes of prints available, as well as many other products featuring my art. It’s sure worth a good look.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Rod

What’s shakin’ at Rodzart 9-19-2008

Hi Folks,

I hope everyone had a good week. Things went pretty good this week, the arm is slowly getting better, although I kept painting left-handed. The SouthPaw Project now has three paintings finished, and one just about done.

The first painting is called “air bag deployment”. If you’ve ever had an air bag in your face, I think you’ll know what this one’s all about.

This next one was done on a day when I was feeling sorry for myself. It was miserably hot in the studio, my arm was sweating, and as you know, salt water and third degree burns are an upleasant mixture. So this one I called “The day I had the blues”.

Lastly is a painting I called “Some days are better than others”.

Fortunately I only have a week or so left as a lefty and I’ll get my right arm back. This whole experience has given me pause to think about the men and women in our Veterans hospitals who won’t be getting the use of an arm or leg back. I had enough trouble with just a temporary loss, I can’t imagine having to adjust to this permanently. So if you would, try to include them in your thoughts and (if you do so) prayers. I sure will be.

I guess there’s not much else new to talk about. I’m still looking for Gallery representation if anyone’s interested, and remember I’ve got lots of auctions going on artbyus. With any luck at all I should have my first print up for sale in the next week or so, I’ll keep everyone updated on that.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Rod

What’s shakin’ at Rodzart 9-4-2008

Hi Folks,

Hope everyone had a good week. Sorry that I’m a bit late getting this out. Heading the “stuff happens” department; last Wednesday, the 27th, I was involved in a traffic accident and broke my right arm. The Doc’s think that it’s just a hairline fracture, so it should heal up in a few weeks. In the meantime though, all the stuff that was in progress will have to wait. I am going to try painting left-handed next week just to see what happens. There are of course a lot of people out there who think I’m doing that now, so who knows? Maybe it’ll be an improvement. Typing one handed sure has been fun though.

On a more serious note, I don’t usually get involved in politics, mostly because there’s been so little choice. It’s usually just been a choice of which billionaires get to loot the treasury next. A couple of months ago I started to notice Barack Obama. After listening to what he had to say, I have to admit that I’m impressed. When you consider that, the Constitution is in shreds, the economy is in the toilet, the governmen t is spying on us every minute, and our jobs are being shipped overseas every day. I just decided this: what have we got to loose? Why not give him a try. If he doesn’t work out, then we don’t reelect him.
So I invite you to listen to what he has to say, and then make your own choice. As for me, I endorse, and intend to vote for Barack Obama.

That’s it for now, I hope everyone has a great week, and maybe next time I’ll have some left-handed paintings for you.

Rod

What’s shakin’ at Rodzart 8-21-2008

Hi Folks,

Well it’s been an interesting week watching TS Fay meander around. It turns out that on this end of Florida we just had a cloudy weekend and not much more. The east coast sure has been getting spanked though.

I’ve gotten on painting started this week which I hope a lot of people will find interesting. It’s a bit of a departure from my usual stuff, but I’m enjoying painting it. With any luck at all I’ll have it done and photgraphed next week.

I’m hoping to upgrade my photgraphic capabilities soon, mainly to get a better resolution on my photographs so I can have prints made. I’ll keep ya posted on that.

Hope everybody has a great week!

Rod

What’s shakin’ at Rodzart 8-14-2008

Hi Folks,

Hope everyone had a good week.

I finally got all four finished paintings photographed and up on the web site.

The first is Expression 814.
This one is really cool.
It’s an oil on a 16 X 20 gallery wrappped canvas. This is one of those paintings that you need look at for a few seconds before things start happening. Let it take you where it will.

The next is “J-O-B”.

This one is essentially a nose thumbing to clueless executives everywhere. This one is in arcylic on a standard 16 X 20 canvas with stapling on the sides.

Then there is Expression 816.

Expression 816 is an acrylic on a gallery wrapped 24 X 24 canvas. I’ve been doing a lot of work in black and red lately, and I kind of like the effects.

Finally there is Life in the Fast Lane.

I don’t normally start a painting like this with a theme, but it sure seemed that life has been moving way to fast these past few weeks. This painting is an acrylic on a 24 X 36 gallery wrapped canvas.

These paintings are available from me directly, or I’ll have most of them listed on ArtByUs.

Have a great week!

Rod

What’s shakin’ at rodzart 8-7-2008

Hi Everyone,

Well usually I use this space to tell you about new paintings or to whine about my job, but to day you get neither.

I’ve got 3 paintings finished and waiting to be photographed, but to be honest, it’s been unbeliveably hot this week and my studio, isn’t air conditioned, and in fact only has one window. So since the temperature in there has gotten over 130 degrees this week, I haven’t spen’t much time there. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to get the new stuff photo’d and on the web for you, and maybe do a new one too.

So, sorry for such a crummy week, I’ll try to do better next week.

See ya

Rod

What is it? What does it mean?

What is it? What does it mean?

Every now and then I have people look at one of my paintings and ask “what is it, what does it mean”. So I thought I’d try to explain my take on abstract expressionism in particular and art in general.

What is art?
So here goes the big one. What is art? In my personal view: Art is a sensory input that evokes a mental, physical or spiritual response from the beholder. Now, this leaves a lot to interpretation, and intentionally so. The simplest way I can put it is this: one man’s crap is another man’s masterpiece; it’s all up to the individual. If its art to you, then its art.

While we’re on the big subject let me just say one more thing. I do not believe that art should be harmful to any living thing in any way. Personal opinion coming up here… starving dogs, recording suicides or cutting goats in half may be art to some people, but to me it’s just sadistic butchery…end of personal opinion.

What’s the scoop on my paintings?
I paint mainly in the “Abstract Expressionist” movement. There’s tons of good literature written on this so I won’t even attempt to explain it fully here. I paint in this manner because I enjoy it, and because I seem to be fairly good at it (a matter of opinion of course).

A painting doesn’t necessarily have to be a picture of something to be art. Most art to be sure, is representative of something, a tree, a bird, a person, whatever. I take that once step further, so instead of reproducing something that exists in reality, I paint feelings, emotions, or an image that happens to be in my head. There are also times, when I let the painting dictate the painting process, and I simply follow along. This is sometimes called “action painting” and quite a few of my paintings come from this particular source.

But, keep in mind, there is nothing random in any of my paintings. Every molecule of paint is deliberately applied. I don’t just throw paint at a canvas to see what happens.

So when you look at one of my paintings and ask: what is it? What does it mean? The best answer I can give to that is: that it is whatever you see it as being, the meaning is whatever you feel that it means.
Some paintings will make you feel good; others will be disquieting to some people;
some folks won’t like them at all, which is perfectly valid too; my work is not for everybody.

Just look at the painting and try not to look for an object, relax and look at them with an open mind I think most people will have a rather pleasant experience.
Remember, the only true freedom we have, is what goes on inside our minds.

What’s shakin at Rodzart 7-24-2008

Hi Folks,

Hope everyone is having a good week. Since my workweek (on the j-o-b) starts on Friday; yes your Friday is my Monday; the art week for me is over.

I did manage to finish one painting this week, which I hope to be able to get photographed and on the web next week.
It’s another one on a black canvas, and I think you’ll find it interesting. This was one of those paintings that, I started out with something quite a bit different in mind, but the painting seemed to eveolve io a different direction.
As always I sought to keep it simple, so I think most people will be pleased with the output.

I’m still looking for Gallery representation, so if there’s any Gallery Owners out there, please have a look at my paintings. If you like what you see, lets talk. Otherwise, thanks anyway.

Hope everyone has a good week[end].

Rod

July 6, 2008

Hi Folks,

I’ve upgraded the format of “what’s shakin’” a bit. I hope this will work a little better for everyone.

I’ve got a couple more paintings up in the site. I finally had some time to paint this week and got a couple of interesting works done. One The Jagged Edge I find particularly interesting.
Take a look at it and see where it takes you.

The other, Gravitational Imperative is a unique mixture of colours and textures I think you’ll find interesting as well.

I seem to be getting emails in KANA lately. I imagine they’re probably just spam, but if any of my friends in Asia are trying to contact me, remember that I can’t read KANA, at least no yet.

Don’t forget to check out my paintings on ArtByUs, there’s lots of good art there.

Hope everybody has a great week.

See ya

Rod