2010 #2

Secret 1...12x12 acrylic on paper and panel...07 Feb 2010

Conceptually, I am pretty excited about this new series that I just started.  For now,  I think I will name the series “Secret.”  As I do a few of these, I will re-evaluate to see if  that is the right title.  I have a few concepts that I have dreamed up in my head and I will see if I translate them on to panel.

I am also excited about an upcoming project that I will be facilitating with my son’s first grade class.  Twenty-two kids will be collaborating on a single canvas to create a painting that will be auctioned off as a PTA fundraiser.  Thematically, the painting will be similar in concept to my “winter trees” series, but on a larger scale.

2010 #1

workmanship...11x14 panel board...31 january 2010

January has been a really busy month for us that ended with an open house exhibition of  my 52 paintings from 2009.  The prepartion for this exhibition was a lot of work…from painting the 3 main rooms (living, dining, kitchen), to prepping the artwork (painting the edges of the panel board and installing hanging wires), to hanging all the artwork, to creating invites (and trying to invite friends to come in a way that doesn’t feel awkward-”come see my work!”)…Let’s see, what else did we do?  Oh yeah, cleaned the house and my wife made a lot of delicious food.  That was hard work, but the end result was a very fun and joyous time.  I was delighted and humbled that so many people came and they all offered me nice and encouraging words.

In the middle of all of that I was finally able to complete a new painting to kick off the new year.  “Workmanship” is part of the “Little Things (I should have said and done)” series.  I feel like I need a nice little nap and then I’ll be ready to jump back in the studio for some more work.

New Year New Goals

First off, I want to thank the many people who took interest in my weekly painting project of 2009 and thank you for the words of encouragement  both publicly and privately.

Let me give you some 2009 behind the scenes info:

• My first 4 paintings were on a flat 8×10 panel board.  I then realized these are kinda nice, so I graduated to using an 8×10 panel board on a 3/4″ cradle.  I felt the could be wall hung without a frame.  Then I really started splurging as I increased my size to 9×12 panel board on a 1 1/2″ cradle.  I think these look really nice on the wall.
• My process (idea)…I would use a journal to document ideas that I could reference if needed.  I might have loose idea in my head and I would use Monday thru Thursday to let that idea brew and come up with a concrete concept.  Sometimes there were moments when Friday came and panic set in because I had been too busy to think.  Usually there was a lunch hour trip to the art store to pick out a panel board.
• My process (work)…I had the lofty idea that I would be able to work a little bit each night, but that never really became the case.  This was a weekend project and more than that this was a late night weekend project…Fridays and Saturdays.  Start time was dependent on getting kids to bed or at the close of any other social activities.  I am a night owl, so it was no problem working late into the night.  As a rule, I tried shut down around 2am, but sometimes you want to finish a certain element and then there is clean-up.  Early on I would finish a piece late Saturday night, but as some of these projects got more complex, I found myself working on Sunday and sometimes even as late as a Tuesday.  This would really cut down on the time to dream up a new idea.  With kids and morning activities, I was never able to sleep in.  I lost a lot of sleep last year.
• My process (art)…as I made clear with my goals, I wanted these paintings to be simple and minimal.  My first painting was probably the purest expression of that idea.  From there I somehow wanted to see how far I could take it by making it more complex.  I would still love to get back to that original idea.  My “Winter Trees” series at the end were an attempt.  I also had the idea to paint paper and use with the painted panel boards.  The idea was that I could create a catalogue of painted papers to use from project to project.  That worked sometimes.
• That is all I can think of right now.

I have taken a much-needed two-week break.  I have been able to lay on the sofa and watch a movie on a Saturday night without the worries of meeting the deadline.  Actually, the only painting I have done recently has been the walls of our living room, dining room, and kitchen.  But I feel guilty and I am itchin’ to ge back to work.

I have been asked what my plans are for 2010.  I tried to come up with something clever like 12 paintings in 12 months, but that seems like a let down compared to last year.

2009 taught me discipline, so in 2010 I want to focus on freedom.  I want to be free from deadlines and restrictions.  I want to paint larger pieces that take longer time to develop, but at the same time work small if I want.  I might paint one piece a month or three.  I want to take more time to develop ideas.  I want  my sketchbook to take on more importance.  I want to slowly pursue the business side and learn about the art world.  I’d like to pursue more shows.  And I’d still like to capture a song into a visual.

So please check back often to see what I have been up to.

-Sam

Week 52

Cafe on the Square...16x20 panel board...27 Dec 2009

Painting # 52 – the last of the year.  This painting was actually a commissioned piece for a Christmas gift.  I am sorry for the poor image quality.  Since it is a larger size than my others, I could not scan it…so I shot it with a hand held camera.

Anyway, thanks to my friends who bought original artwork and I hope you enjoy this added embellishment to your walls.

Stay tuned as I figure out my future plans…

A lot of people have been asking me if I plan to sell these paintings.  The answer is yes…all paintings are for sale.  If you are interested please send an email to gfsamwagner (at) gmail.com.  My prices are very reasonable.

Week 51

red bird on snowy tree...8x8 panel board...21 Dec 2009

Ahh…One more week and then I need to take a much needed break.  I have really enjoyed doing these trees, because they are most in line with the goals I set out at the beginning of the year.  Simple and minimal.  I really need simple and minimal now.  This month of December has been crazy busy – in a good way with all the fun Christmas activities and family traditions, but also busy with many different art projects.  Besides my weekly paintings, I have done two white elephant paintings, helped coach my first grader  complete two paintings for fine arts program at school, and I am working with all 3 of my kids on a painting project for Christmas presents.  Oh, there is another project I am working on, too.  Busy, busy, busy.   So that is why (right now) I really enjoy these simple and minimal paintings.

Week 50

Winter Tree...8x8 panel board...13 Dec 2009

Again, this is another attempt at a real simple painting.  Things are getting super busy around our house, so the more simple this can be will hopefully mean less stress on me.  This tree was inspired by a Christmas lighting display in my neighborhood.  Instead of the traditional light wrapping around the tree, it has balls of lights hanging from branches.

White Elephant 2009 (number 2)

White Elephant 2009 #2...5x7 canvas...11 Dec 2009

This weekend my wife and I went to another Christmas party with another White Elephant gift exchange.  I found another 5×7 canvas in our basement that had been previously painted by the kids some years ago.  The fun part about reusing this canvas is working with the existing colors already on the canvas rather than totally paint over and start fresh.  On this one, moreso than my previous “White Elephant,” I let the origianl colors show through and I just covered the canvas with a white translucent wash and then added a sort of ground and horizon line.

Week 49

Snowy Tree at 30 Degrees...8x8 panel board...07 Dec 2009

So…the “White Elephant” was a bonus painting and this is the official painting for Week 49. 

I thought I’d try to end the year by going back to my original vision with simple ideas and minimal color and hopefully projects that are less time consuming.  With the Christmas season and the end of the year fast approaching, I have so many things to do and I don’t want to get stressed.

White Elephant 2009

White Elephant 2009...5x7 canvas...04 Dec 2009

Each Christmas season, there is always a party where you are suppose to bring a “white elephant” gift.  I have made it my motto to put the white elephant back in white elephant.  Rather than finding junk in the house to get ride of, I thought it would be nice (and fun) to do a small and quick (although it never is) painting of the infamous white elephant.  This is my third year, so I think I have a tradition strarted.  And yes I did find a canvas to reuse in the basement.

Week 48

Street Scene and Magazines #2...9x12 Panel Board...01 Dec 2009

I did not originally inted for there to be a “#2″ for Street Scenes and Magazines…but as I looked at the orignal, I could imagine what would happen around the corner and off the frame.  I had leftover sheets of painted magazines, so it made since to add a second painting.

Wow!  Only four more paintings left for this year.  I am trying to come up with ideas for a different project for 2010.  Right now I am thinking working on a larger scale.

Week 47

Street Scene and Magazines...9x12 panel board...24 Nov 2009

Happy Thankgiving!

This week’s painting is wildly different from my Flint Hills series.  The Flint Hills were so simple in form and minimal in color and this one is just bursting with noise.  I had an image in my mind of what I wanted this to look like and I just kept tinkering with it trying to find that right feeling.  Last night I finally got to a point that I felt it was finished enough to move on.  Any new ideas could be applied to a future painting.  There were many “what ifs…” on this one.

Week 46

Autumn in the Flint Hills of Kansas, #3...9x12 panel board...15 Nov 2009

This concludes my 3 part series on the subtle Flint Hills.  I will continue to explore the Kansas landscape and vernacular in the future.  Now I need to dream up something new.

Week 45

Autumn in the Flint Hills of Kansas, #2...9x12 panel board...07 Nov 2009

I don’t have much to say about this other than “Here is another painting of the Flint Hills with little cows.”  I am going to do at least one more next week.  I just thought maybe a group of three would look good together.

Week 44

Autumn in the Flint Hills of Kansas, #1...9x12 panel board...01 Nov 2009

Last week, I had a work related trip that sent me on a drive through the Flint Hill of Kansas.  I knew right away what I would be painting this week and the next following weeks.  I grabbed my camera and took a few photos for reference.  It was early in the morning and the eastern sunrise gave these hills a reddish glow.

This week I worked quick and loose and tried to keep things in their simple elements.  I kept the background sky sloppy rather than try to blend the blue values.  I was very happy to finish on time and also to have caught up on sleep.

Week 43

Two Drummer Boys...9x12 panel board...28 October 2009

Sorry that this is a bit late.  It took me longer to finish this one mainly due to not having a lot of time to work on it this past weekend.  I went to bed earlier than usual because I am trying to fight an oncoming cold.  Finishing up Halloween costumes also became a priority.

Last week someone cleverly pointed out that I skipped a painting with two people in costume.  The progression has been 1, 3, and 4.  I had not figured this out yet or had really planned a reason for the groupings, but it seems pretty reasonable from to add a two person painting.

I feel like I should be making a children’s counting book:

1 greek goddess shooting at the moon

2 drummer boy slightly out of tune

3 sisters ready for a walk around town

4 little clowns not clowning around
This week I used crayon on painted paper for the background and the boys are on painted paper with graphite detailing.

The White Show

These pictures are from the White Show opening last Friday night at Signs of Life Gallery on Mass. Street in downtown Lawrence.  We had a good time…how can you not when you are in Lawrence?  It was great catching up with old friends and new friends and meeting soon-to-be friends.

The show runs through mid-January, so if you are in the neighborhood as you do your Christmas shopping, come check it out.  There is a lot of good art to look at and it is interesting to see how the different artists responded to the White theme.

The White Show

Signs of Life Gallery

Week 42

Four Little Clowns Not Clowning Around...9x12 Panel Board...19 Oct 2009

My last several paintings have been themed around costumes and I guess I can attribute that to the preperation of homemade costumes that my wife and I are making for the kids for this upcoming Halloween.  But I also like how ‘costume’ or the idea of ‘costume’ can create a certain type of character and adds to the narrative of the story.

When wrestling on the floor with my boys, there is always moment when my four year old will leave the room for a couple of minutes and then coming rushing back with his superhero cape on and a new vigor of strength.

I tried something different on this piece.  The background has no paint but is created only with crayon.

Week 41

Three Sisters...9x12 Panel Board...12 October 2009

These ladies are dressed up for a fun night on the town.

Week 40

Moon Costume...9x12 Panel Board...05 Oct 2009

I really don’t know where this one came from.  The idea of the subject came from an old time theater photo I had laying around and the background was just an experiment with painted strips from different types of paper including a map of Arkansas.

I have ideas for using and taking from more old-time images.  I think I might move in that direction…oh, and maybe more cows, too!

Week 39

white cow, black cow...9x12 panel board...28 September 2009

More cows…I really wanted to add green (to keep the same colors as last week) but I felt like this piece really didn’t need it.  Who knows…

Week 38

Green Cow...9x12 panel board...21 Sept 2009

I have been meaning to explore more mid-western themes.  We have green cows in Kansas!

Week 37

Office Plant...6x12 panel board...14 September 2009

I am not quite ready to start my next series, which I am still trying to figure out.  I have been super busy with work, coaching, games, and art shows.  I just need a bit of a mental break.  So in the meantime, here is a plant that is on my desk at work.  Last Friday, before leaving for home I had not prepared anything to paint, so I looked at my desk and sketched it up.

Week 36

Untitled (week #36)...9x12 Panel Board...06 Sept 2009

I took a mental break after last week and had nothing prepared for when it came time to paint for week 36.  So I decided to mess with colors and ambiguous shapes in hopes that it would be simple.  It wasn’t as simple as I would have liked.

My original intent with these weekly paintings was for them to be simple and minimal, but I feel like these have been getting more and more complex.   So far I have been enjoying the direction I have taken, but it is starting to take it’s toll (…time and lack of sleep on the weekends.)  I might need to rethink and redefine the simple and minimal.

Week 35

Little Things I Should Have Said and Done #4...11x14 panel board...01 Sept 2009

This is my last “white” themed piece before I submit these to the “White Show” – a juried exhibit in Lawrence, Kansas.  Hopefully, one of these will be selected. 

I did #4 on an 11×14 panel board.  This has been my largest work yet for my weekly painting series.  My original mission was to work small on 8×10, but lately I have been using 9×12 and now this.

Quiz:  Can you name the bridge seen in #4?

Week 34

Flower Hound...8x12 panel board...22 August 2009

This is a last minute pet-themed art piece that I am donating for the Art Unleashed 2009 auction that benefits the Humane Society of Kansas City.  I have donated artwork for quite a few years now, but have missed out the last 2 years.  So, I am happy to paticipate again.  In the past, I have done similar beagle style paintings, but with this piece I am keeping it in my style of painted paper.

Week 33

Little Things I Should Have Said and Done #3...9x12 panel board...17 August 2009

…still working on the “little thing” series.  Again, I am submitting these for the “White” gallery show, so you can tell I am aiming for uniformity in content and style.

Week 32

Little Things I Should Have Said And Done...9x12 panel board...12 August 2009

Now that I am back home and not working on the road (week 30 and 31), I am revisiting the “the little things” theme.  I hope to submit these for an upcoming gallery show in Lawrence, KS that my friend Darin ( BALM ) is putting on.

Week 31

Moose Crossing...8x10 Panel Board...3 August 2009

As part of our recent trip to Colorado, we stayed in Silverthorne at my good friend Tim’s condo which has been nicknamed “the moose.”  I think the story of this nickname came from him seeing a moose walking along the property from his first visit to the place.  The condo itself has a wonderful charm with all things moose related.  I had no idea there was a market for moose hand towel hooks.  I was inspired by all thing moose, so I had to do my own take on this legend.  In my painting, I show the side elevation of the condo with Buffalo Peak in the background which is true to its location.

Week 30

Discover and Enjoy...8x10 panel board...29 July 2009

Sorry this is posted late.  I just got back from a Colorado rocky mountain vacation with the family.  I did pack a couple of panel boards and a light supply of paint, brushes, and other materials along side bikes, suitcases, backpacks and other various things to keep kids happy into a van for our 13 day journey.  Painting was more difficult that I imagined.  We kept busy all day and were exhausted at night.  I approached these paintings with no plans hoping to finds some inspiration in the mountains.  I came home with a few ideas that I saw.  I want the time to implement them properly.

“Discovery and Enjoy” (above) came after a rainy day.  The sky cleared around 5pm.  My 6 year old son and I decided to get out and follow a trail up this mountain that was close to our condo.  The trail took us through a forest and this is what I remember.

Week 29

Little Things I Should Have Said and Done...9x12 Panel Board...19 July 2009

I had something different planned for this week and then at the last minute (the above) came to me.  “Little things I should have said and done” is a theme that I will continue to look at.  It is a theme of sadness, regret, missed opportunities, but hopefully it is also a reminder for a redemptive future.

Iowa and White Circles

Iowa: Blue, Green, Red and White circles...(3) 9x12 panel boards

Week 28

Iowa: Red...9x12 Panel Board...12 July 2009

Here is part 3 of 3 for my Iowa color series. 

Lately, I have been exploring the idea of song and album.  No other artform moves me more than music and I was telling a friend that my goal is to someday visually capture that emotional connection of a song or album.  I am not confidant that this can be accomplished.  A song or album can take you on a journey slowly revealing itself to you, whereas a painting is fully exposed.  I cannot control the path of a viewers eyes…oh, I see this can become a deep discussion.  In the meantime, I have focused on stand alone parts that can be put together as a whole.  Hopefully, like how unified songs make a great album.

Week 27

Iowa: Green...9x12 Panel Board...05 July 2009

I had a good  and busy 4th of July weekend.  Luckily, I had an extra day in the weekend, because family activities went late into the night.  After the kids are in bed, then I get time in the studio.

Here is part 2 of 3 in my Iowa series.

Week 26

Iowa: Blue...9x12 panel board...28 June 2009

This is the 26th week with my 26th painting.  The year is half over and I am really proud of myself for sticking with this committment  (so far) to do one painting a week for a year.  I actually look forward to my time (usually late at night) during the weekend to work in the studio.  There was a time early in the year when I thought that I would run out of ideas.  Luckily, this discipline has taught me  to quickly come up with new ones and at the same time be planning future ideas.  The key is to always be looking for that potential and to keep a pen, sketchbook, and camera handy.

Iowa: Blue is part 1 of 3.  I recently took a work-related road trip up to northern Iowa.  We drove through heat, massive thunderstorms, incredible clouds and skies, wind farms, farmlands, farmhouses, barns, and small towns.  What fun!

I have not seen this day before

I have not seen this day before...(3) 9x12 panel boards

Week 25

I have not seen this day before, part 3: Knowledge...9x12 panel board...21 June 2009

Part 3 concludes the end of the “I have not seen this day before”  series.  Now I have a few days to dream up something new.

part 1

part 2

Week 24

I have not seen this day before, part 2: Discovery...9x12 panel board...16 June 2009

I was suppose to finish this piece Monday night, but we had one of those fantastic Kansas thunderstorms…the kind where the wind is blowing so hard you are nervous about the trees over your house.  The kind where there is so  much rain showering down that the streets become little rivers and the night sky is more lit than dark because of all the lightening.  Wonderful and scary.  And yes, the kind of storm where you lose power and dig around for flashlights and matches for candles.  Anyway, the candlelight was not cutting it for a good light source for work, but worked just fine for book reading.

Week 23

I have not seen this day before, part 1: exploration...9x12 panel board...08 June 2009

 ***UPDATE***

I brought this piece into the office to make a scan from a photo copy machine.  There are not any options to preview the image and adjusting the color, but at least the image is clearer.  These colors, I believe, are more true to the original, but I think they are a bit on the dark side.

I have not seen this day before, part 1: exploration...9x12 panel board...08 June 2009

I apologize for the image quailty this week.  I decided to move up in size from 8×10 to 9×12.  The larger size does not fit on my scanner at home, so late last night I took a few pictures with a point and shoot camera.  I may try to improve the quality this picture, because I don’t think these are the true colors.

Anyway, this week I started a new series and this is part one of three.

Week 22

Untitled (week 22)...8x10 panel board...01 June 2009

I have really enjoyed working on this current series of grid and white blocks and there are still many different angles to explore, but it is time to take a break to pursue other ideas.  I still want to contribute to this series here and there, but I would really like to dream up something new right now.

Week 21

Building Blocks...8x10 Panel Board...26 May 2009

I was out of town this weekend, so I thought now would be a good time to re-explore my original vision of  “simple and minimal.”  This piece was inspired by the way I have been constructing my previous pieces.  Part of the final process is removing all the white blocks that I have laid out on my panelboard and setting them back in order on the table that I work.  My table top is a dark color and that is where I go the strong contrast idea and I loved the look of those blocks as I was laying them out, like an incomplete puzzle.  It almost had a building or skyline feel to them.  I might explore more of this.

Week 20

blue streak...8x10 panel board...19 May 2009

Sorry this is a little late.  I had a busy weekend with early mornings, which means I didn’t stay up late into the wee hours of the morning like I usually do.

I never know what to name these pieces.  Mabye it will make since later and I’ll rename the whole series.  I know a songwriter who comes up with the titles to all his songs first and then builds music and the lyrics based on those titles.  If I was good with words, I might someday try that approach.

Week 19

Everything (In Its Right Place)...8x10 Panel Board...11 May 2009

This version of white grided blocks is about order and rules.  There is a color pattern rotating around a center point and the voids in the white blocks follow certain rules given it’s shape and size.  Previous versions were random and arbitrary, which I very much liked because I didn’t want the piece to look forced or predictable.  Even in the previous versions, I think I was still applying rules to create randomness but just not pattern.  Anyway, I wanted to see what happened if I gave in and allowed the rules and paterns to take over.

Week 18

4,3,2,1...8x10 Panel Board...04 May 2009

…a continuation of color, grid, white boxes, and voids.  I want to work on a few more of these, because I like the look of the whole series together.

Week 17

Big City #2...8x10 Panel Board...26 April 2009

I wanted to build off the idea of last week’s painting.  I still feel like I can take this in a few different directions.  I like the idea of creating a series of similar themes.  It documents the process and growth for me as I explore an idea, but I also like the unity of the work together.

Week 16

 

Big City...8x10 Panel Board...19 April 200

 I realized that my new interest has been white gridded blocks.  I think I just happened upon it, although when I look back on old sketches and notes, it is a recurring doodle.  My 4 year old was watching me work on this.  I asked him what he thought and he told me it looked like a “big city.”

Week 15

Empty...8x10 panel board...12 April 2009

Most weeks when I approach a painting, I am ready to go.  I have spent a few days mulling over ideas in my head, sketching, and laying out the concept like it is a design.  This style of working comes very natural to me as I have spent many years in an architectural studio.  But this week was a bit different.  I mulled over ideas and wasn’t happy with the concepts and my sketches weren’t producing anything concrete.  All I had was an impression with no form.  So with no plan to follow, I started…and worked it out on the panel.  This process is more exploratory and it already leads to new ideas of that impression.

I have some interesting post-it note sketches that I may post someday.

Week 14

 

Palm Sunday...8x10 Panel Board...05 April 2009

Today is Palm Sunday.  Earlier this week, I was thinking back to when I was a child in Sunday School.  A week before Easter the lesson was always about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  It seemed like the kids would alway act out the scene.  The big boy would get down on his hands and knees playing the role of the donkey.  A smaller boy would nervously play the role of Jesus riding on top of the donkey.  The rest of us made palm branches out of green construction paper and made a tunnel for  Jesus and the donkey to ride through as we all shouted “Hosanna!” and waved our palm branches.

That was my inspiration for this weeks painting.  I wanted to capture that childlike innocence of the Palm Sunday traditions.

Week 13

 

Birds & Wires (wk 13)...8x10 panel board...28 March 2009

Okay…I decided to do one more week of “birds.”  Four is a well rounded number anyway.  I had this concept already worked out and the truth is that I had a busy week and did not have time to develop any new ideas.  I promise that next week will be a different theme.  I have an idea of what I want to do, but I don’t know what it will look like yet.  Hopefully, I’ll have it figured out before the weekend.

Week 12

 

birds & wires (wk12)...8x10 panel board...21 March 2009

I am having fun with this “birds & wires” series.  I have a few other ideas, but I think I might try something different next week.  We’ll see…I’m in the mood for a change.

Week 11

Birds & Wires (wk11)...8x10 Panel Board...14 March 2009

Here is another variation of birds and wires.  I really like this subject-the simplicity of wires and the random patterns of birds.  Last weeks painting had many colors, so my goal this week was to create a depth of texture with minimal color.  After finishing this weeks painting, I have some new birds & wires ideas I would like to explore for next week.

week 10

 

Birds & Wires...8x10 panel board...07 March 2009

 

 

I am starting to take an interest in birds or maybe it is not just birds, but forms that create space in the sky.  I think this is a theme I will continue to explore.  Maybe, it is the sky I am interested in.  I will find out.

Back to birds…It is interesting how other peoples interests can interest you.  I once worked with a guy who was an honest-to-goodness bird watcher.  Every weekend there would be day trips to find a specific species and at least once a year there was the exotic big trip with the local bird watching club.  I was always fascinated to see his pictures and hear  his stories.  There were always a few pictures that were just stunning.  Anyway, I think I am somewhat interested in birds in terms of form and composition.

week 09

 

wheat...8x10 panel board...28feb2009

 

I realize that I keep changing styles and themes from week to week and I think I am doing that to keep the paintings fresh for me.  I see the potential to do many versions of “Eden’s Flowers” (for example) but I don’t want to become just a flower guy when there are other areas to explore.  (Yes, I will revisit the flowers again.)  ”Wheat” along with “Geese” are similar in that they are both have many layers of subtle texture yet they  still read very minimal.  I tend to think of these as musical paintings.  I you were to ask me what I like in music, can I just show you an image?