Life Size Painting Class

This semester I have learned a lot about all sorts of things. Victor Wang is one of my teachers at Fontbonne University, he is an amazing artist to say the least. When it comes to figurative painting I would not have another person teach me. I am realizing what I have one in the past and where I can push things from here on out. this is were I'm at with my Life Size after 6 classes.

Drawings

Here are some drawings that I am working on. It's about process at this moment, rather than ideas, proportions, or even story telling.  I do have an idea of where I would like more of these to go, but as usual I'll just have to be patient.

ME

This is me, a banana going bad. I know, I know, its already been done by the great Andy Warhol. But this is a representation of my own self. See I really struggle with depression, and eventually will die from something. Never knowing if my depression will get the best of me.

I choose these great fruit due to its likeness of a males reproductive organ, along with the general idea that I am the same, a Dick. Bananas are great for our healthy, if you want to gain weight eat a few dozen and this will certainly get you on track. If you want to get a good source of Potassium this is the way to go. If you want to battle depression this is not the cure but it could possibly help.

According to Dr. Caroline Longmore, author of The Serotonin Secret. She says depression could be blamed on lack of serotonin, the "happy hormone," and that you can boost your body's serotonin levels by eating foods rich in the amino acid tryptophan like cottage cheese, turkey--and bananas! She recommends eating at least four bananas a week.


This is statement above, isn't a cure for depression. I just find a great deal of happiness when it comes to thinking, why should we take all these chemically made medicines when nature is trying to help us. Well I shouldn't really keep going.


This painting was produced over 7 days. I started with a fresh banana off the shelf, and painted it every night. Thus creating a sickness that grows in me. While mine last longer this is what it feels like, staring out fresh then growing sad and worthless. As in all my paintings I left my marks, not covering up anything, showing the decaying fruit as it shrivels to nothing. Its approximately 35x52 inches.

The London show( select images)

The top piece is a mono-print measuring 22x15. I like this image, for the reason of it's darkness. Creating work like this is very fun, simple but the image itself is not. The layers caused by translucency pushes the image forwards and backwards, offering great depth. Soy inks help a lot also, and the use of gum. Already stated before I love figure and the emotion we give.

The bottom image is a woodcut, 13x14 maybe?! Not sure to be honest. Trying to create a wood cut is hard but it becomes easier once drinking. This image was created in that area of reality, drinking!!!

where I've been....

So I haven't really paid much attention to anything art related lately, a bit confusing really. I have had a lot of things happening in the past few months. London was a big thing for me, had 3 shows meet really fucking cool people, sold some art work and partied. Since then i have done jack, its disappointing. so hear i am telling you and myself I'm back on track.

Amazing Print Video

http://www.printeresting.org/2011/02/08/bill-fick-at-work/


This is a great video, an idea i never thought of.

 This is the new start of more Abuse. I posted about the idea behind it, and now its starting to be put into effect.

 These pictures were taken today, just seeing what i want to do with this along with seeing where i want my colors selection to be. I need to narrow my pallet but also bring new colors in, creating a nice transition between colors.

I like where this is going so far. The canvas measures 30"x40".

more Abuse

Sitting and thinking, pedaling with a few ideas I have running through my head. I do this a lot, and to be honest, not many ideas really strike me with such force.  But this concept has the potential to go somewhere; strictly my opinion. Once refined, I believe this will be quit appealing to all sorts of viewers.

The idea being again based solely on sexual abuse, not in the future per-say, but in the past. It delves into what we conceive to be "sexy" or "unusual" behaviors.  By exploring this, it will exploit my feelings, and I don't think I will be the only one, on forms of self-pleasure.  What we are seeing now in the present, can sometimes lead to a conversation of past tortures, and give way to reasons of these behaviors.

an idea

What this is might be disturbing, but at the same time, life.  This intaglio process was a creative way to get suppressed feelings out.  This, in a way is a reflection of my past, present, and future.  The figure is spewing up matter into the air, while his shadow being a false shadow, replays my past hurt.  Coming out of the ground, the shadow is almost alive, reflecting everyday adventures.

These false images we put into our heads are like bugs, cock-roaches, they never die. We are always messing with our thoughts, transforming ideas into reality. Or putting a damper on our memories, making what hurts us the most, go away in a sense.

Stop

A print that I made on a whim, not sure what the meaning is behind this but it was fun to make.  I believe i will be entering this print into several art shows, one being Art St. Louis.  The opening for the show is March 11, from 6-8 and it's free to the public.

Drunkards

Memories come to me whenever I am just sitting around not thinking.  A new idea I have going into this year is making a series based in the eyes of a kid looking at their so called elders, passing out at the table from at night of playing cards and drinking.  The series would most likely be in printmaking, but I'm not necessarily sure on how I am going to render the images.  I will most-likely take a few pictures at certain angles from a kids view, or maybe even let my four year old take the pictures.  That would really let me get a good feel on how a child might look at the situation.  Is the kid going to be watching what his parents are doing, or will they be wanting something but not verbalizing just looking at a certain object, trying to get it without their parents getting upset.

These are a set of three sculptures of dragonflies I had built in October of 2010. While a challenge to build they were fun and exciting once finished. They appeared in a small group show at my college in which they sold!

new works in progress....

Hi I'm Matt Lawson-Boothby. Currently I am looking through my brain for some very flavorful ideas for a new series of paintings that has to do with my past. I have ideas worked out in my head, which is a good thing. My art is, in my opinion, becoming stronger as i delve deeper into memories, conversations that I have had with individuals, feelings and above all abuse. All of this is pertaining to only being able to remember what we want, when we want, and it shows us not all memories are correct. As I say this, we only remember things that enhance our lives, whether for better or for worse, but only specific parts of that event.