Weekly progress and Process
By Mike • Aug 8th, 2008 • Category: Micheal SwattHours Description and process
6/23/8 Prepared supplies at home then drove to OHM Lounge, unloaded
supplies and set up to work on the back stage. Painted the initial
background on a 4’ x 5’ homemade canvas stretcher.
7/2/8 Began set-up at 9:00 and finished moving all furniture and getting all
supplies and canvas ready to go by 9:28. Joanna was here for the beginning
of the evening and took a few images of the process. I continued to paint
right until 2:30.
7/3/8 Edited last nights video’s and worked on making a movie mix.
7/6/8 Started learning the process of uploading images for the JSFblog.org
website. Filled in biographical information but couldn’t find where it’s
displayed.
7/6/8 Painted on the small stage tonight at OHM. It was a very slow night only
about 10 people in the bar through out the course of the night. It made the
painting process much slower as I like to feed off of the energy surrounding
me while I work. Their was one person that was interested in the process
and spoke for awhile with a lot of great questions.
7/7/8 Uploaded videos to my home computer. Put them into windows movie
maker to make one full consistent video. Uploaded my profile and
biography on the jsfblog site, this time successfully. And worked with still
photographs from the evening before.
7/7/8 Uploaded images to photobucket so I can put on the website.
7/9/8 Set up on the front stage again. Another slow evening, about 7 people at the
bar when I first arrive. Through out the course of the night about 50 people
in total. I did finalize the background of the painting, finishing all the
rectangles. Each one was painted separately and blended multiple times.
7/10/8 Moved several of my paintings down to CONTEMPORARY GALLERY for
for display.
7/13/8 Built two new canvas stretchers. Purchased wood from Home Depot and
Canvas from Commercial Art Supply. Built the frames, then sanded each
one. Added a sheet of wood over top of the frames then stretched the canvas
over top. Primed both canvases with a dark blue primer several times to get
a solid background.
7/14/8 Set up all supplies and paintings at OHM on the front stage. Mostly thought 4 hours about how to go about adding the right foreground layer and made several
sketches.
7/16/8 Downloaded and edited videos from the Flip camera.
Started to work on the initial foreground layers of the same painting. It’s a
very slow process of taping off a small section painting that section and then
allowing ample dry time before adding the next three layers of tape and
paint.
7/20/8 Continued working on the same painting on the small stage at OHM. Again
worked on the foreground layers, applying the same tape and paint process.
7/23/8 Continued working on the same painting on the small stage at OHM. Again
worked on the foreground layers, applying the same tape and paint process. I
got much closer to what will be the last step in the painting but still need
several more of the organic lines intersecting the painting. I also brought
down one of the new blue paintings to put in storage and prepare for the next
painting.
7/28/8 Picked up the three 4’ x 7’ foot paintings that we’re started the night of the
Everson Biennial. Brought them down to OHM to install on back stage.
Mike is a self taught artist. I materialize ideas to encourage interaction, reflection and ultimately beautify space. Initially I was inspired by NYC and Washington D.C. galleries and museums. I was influenced by the use of space, the Curation, presentation and the diversity of works.
My paintings strive to evoke a relationship between chaos and control. I use a systematic process of pattern and arithmetic with alternating fields of color. I allow the patterns I create to interlace, resulting in both diverging layers of airiness and premeditated geometry which together promote movement.
I choose to keep the entire process in my full control. I build and stretch each canvas by hand then prime, sand, paint and finish the edges. With each canvas I begin with either a colorfield or a system of shapes and colors for a background. From this background I move toward setting patterns of specific lines, shapes and angles. Last I incorporate color correction and color reversal in select areas.
I am currently creating my art in a new format. In the past I have produced primarily in a studio setting. Since December 2006 I have been creating in front of an audience. I paint on stage at night clubs, galleries, museums, private functions and outdoor exhibitions. Performance painting allows me to draw energy and stimulus from a crowd of people. Creating in this format grants me the opportunity to interact with other people, and it encourages feedback and a personal glance into my artistic process.
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