Jeffrey Collins: Fine Art Blog

My film campaign on Kickstarter is LIVE!

2012-01-16T15:29:00.000-05:00

I'm so thrilled about being able to put this project on Kickstarter to help get the funding I need to finish up my film. So far even in the first day I'm already up to $340 and lots of people are talking about it online. I'm so pumped about what the future holds for this campaign, I know there are so many in the future that will be glad to have this historical document to show the artists and art world of today and how they lived and worked.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/105716108/untitled-conversations-on-art-1970-2012-documentar

Please share this with all your friends too. Get the word out there and let the world know about this monumental documentary on modern art.

Quote for the Day. 01-07-2012

2012-01-07T16:08:00.004-05:00

Thanks to a colleague Matthew Allen. I was introduced to this wonderful quote by the great painter Helmut Federle.

‎"I see it more in an Asian way, that I, as an artist, don’t have to invent something, I just go down the same path as everybody else, and make distinctions in my period, my time. References are warm and beautiful energies. I am part of a history and not a statement of the moment. In the end I’m not doing something different than what Giacometti or Kandinsky did. In my opinion, an artist is always doing the same thing. The values are spiritual, philosophical, it’s always the question “Why are we here?” “Where are we going?” “What is it?” “What is an existence?”

Thanks Matthew for introducing me to this wonderful quote.

A stroll down Barnett Newman way...

2011-12-09T22:46:00.000-05:00

Through a Facebook friend today. I was able to find this little nugget of interest. A piece written by Barnett Newman for Studio International Magazine from 1970.

http://www.studio-international.co.uk/archive/newman_1970_179_919.asp

I can only wish that I had a copy of this particular magazine, as it seems like it was probably a really good one for that year.

Enjoy, and Thanks to Steve Metzger for sharing it on Facebook.

Salon Show

2011-12-05T16:07:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share a few pics of a salon show I am in right now in Columbus Ohio at the Marcia Evans Gallery. I'm very thankful to Marcia for giving me this opportunity. The show will be up through the holiday season. So if you are in town you still have plenty of time to head down there and buy a painting.

Marcia at work making all the nameplates for the show. Look closely and you'll see my name being the one she is trimming at the time. Funny accident that I just happened to take that pic at that time. ;-)

Storefront @ 8 East Lincoln Street. Columbus Ohio.

Memories sweet as stevia...

2011-12-02T22:21:00.000-05:00

Many wonderful things happening around the homestead. Spent a great week in NYC during the first week in November. Nice weather, nothing too cold to deal with. Got a fantastic amount of interviews for the documentary film. Had a wonderful time with Klaus Kertess, Karen Wilkin, John Zinsser, and Peter Reginato. While there I also got to hang out with other participants whom I didn't get to film this time. Including Pat Steir, Ronnie Landfield, and Michael Brennan. Also finally got to meet and hang out with Matthew Deleget, Daniel Levine, and Ruth Ann Fredenthal. Wonderful memories i'll carry with me the rest of my days.

I really can't wait to let everyone see these wonderful interviews. You can check out a few extra little interview sections on the film blog. Have fun. The Kickstarter campaign begins at the beginning of the new year. Get ready for one hell of a push.

Quote of the Day 11-16-2011

2011-11-16T19:20:00.000-05:00

‎"Intensity Depends on Restraint." Pat Passlof

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/arts/pat-passlof-abstract-expressionist-painter-dies-at-83.html

You can learn more about her in this clip from the Milton Resnick documentary.

New title

2011-11-15T23:27:00.001-05:00

I decided to change the name of this website to no longer pretend it had a focus primarily to painting. But to all fine art that I dig. I have decided to get rid of the Painter title with my name, as I figured it was too much of a play on the work of Joseph Marioni. Yes I still like the guy, who wouldn't.

I was in Moma, staring at the enormous Barnett Newman painting there and it hit me that I shouldn't feel a need to title myself. My name is my title and that is all I should need. Not to take anything away from anyone else. Everyone has their own ways of going about things. I just felt it was time for me to be Jeffrey Collins, and not Jeffrey Collins: Painter. There was really so much more to this idea when I was sitting there in front of Newman, but I guess I really should have written it down. I had a number of eureka moments in NYC during my stay while working on getting interviews for my film "Untitled: Stories of Painting 1970-2012". But like so many other times, I never wrote them down. Oh well. At least I got what I felt was the strongest one. The one that has stayed with me since that day.

I wanted to send out a web based Thank You to the many people in NY that I met and hung out with. Those I did film...Peter Reginato, Karen Wilkin, John Zinsser, and Klaus Kertess. Those that I didn't get to film or at least not yet...Michael Brennan, Daniel Levine, Ruth Ann Fredenthal and Ronnie Landfield. I had a blast with all of you. You are all wonderful people and I look forward to many many more conversations with you about life love and art.

Cheers.

I leave you with this image I got outside on 8th Avenue at about 10PM. A couple trucks getting rid of what the CW television station had put up but apparently not paid for. Since they left the advertisement turned around and it ended up looking like a giant Ad Reinhardt painting on the corner. It was pretty wild watching these guys. I hope I will get to see it again.

October Painting....

2011-10-17T19:22:00.001-04:00

I love the feeling of finishing a new painting. So new, a wonderful addition to my family of paintings.

If you want to learn more about it, check out my website.
Thanks for viewing.

Studio Update 10-09-2011

2011-10-09T16:35:00.000-04:00

Nice wonderful day, enjoying the light. New table for painting, trying out color. Making what would normally be characterized as preliminary paintings. The photos speak.

DuoChrome Films and "Untitled"

2011-09-07T23:27:00.000-04:00

I have been focusing more these days on my film project and a bit less on this blog. I am quite sorry about that and will not do that anymore. I do however finally have a blog where I am beginning to post more information about participants and other little links I find interesting that have something to do with documenting the arts. This is also my way of getting funding for travel expenses for the film, as I do have quite a bit of travelling to do. Until I get to my NYC interviews, that is. I am hoping to have a place in NY for about a month or two where I can get as many interviews as possible for the film at one moment. So please if you have $5 to $1005 to help out with...please do.

http://duochromefilms.blogspot.com/

Carl Belz

2011-07-29T12:43:00.004-04:00

My first of many interviews for the upcoming film "Untitled"

Included is Carl Belz: Director Emeritus of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University.

Looking forward to the next interview and the one after that, and the one after that. ;-)

Thanks for watching.

Marc Ross - Painter (My 1st Documentary)

2011-07-07T19:25:00.007-04:00

The first documentary film I have been waiting to share with everyone. About my good friend and colleague Marc Ross and his painting. I spent a couple weeks visiting Marc's studio once, maybe twice a week as he was letting me try out my new documentary equipment. I used this time to get to know Marc more and be able to record his work and his world for your to see and learn about here.

I do hope you enjoy it. I had a lot of fun and pain working on this and I know that it will help me make all my future films even better than I had hoped for before. Thank you Marc for allowing me into your studio and life for this film.

Documentary work.

2011-07-05T19:38:00.003-04:00

Many of you know about my desire to work on the documentary on Modern Painting that I have been talking about. I have recently gotten most of the equipment needed to do my work on the film. There's only a few things I have yet to get, and i'm not in much of a hurry to get them, as they really aren't needed.

I have in the meantime begun making a short documentary on a local painter who makes some amazing atmospherical paintings. His name is Marc Ross. And you can view his work on his site, but to tide you over, here's a few images.

You can also check out the previous post on his show in Columbus Ohio here.

I'm almost done with the video and will be putting it online within the next day or two. So until then. Aloha!

Mark Grotjahn

2011-05-27T17:38:00.005-04:00

Giving you many insights into Mark Grotjahn's paintings. I wish I could get to see these in person. I'm sure they are so much more intriguing in person. Check it out for yourself at Anton Kern's Gallery in Chelsea NY.

Big thanks to Loren AKA James Kalm for taking his time to document this event.

Learn about history for a few minutes.

2011-05-19T00:18:00.002-04:00

Thought I'd share what was at one time THE most interesting show on television. Well at least what I think was. This show Weapon Masters was amazing. A way of showing you the history of weapons and how this genius Chad would take those old weapons and update them in striking scariness for the new era. This one in particular was when they were going to try to better the old Sikhs weapon...the Chakram. They couldn't really improve upon perfection in a weapon...but you'll see what they do anyway. Very Cool.

One new painting

2011-04-23T22:46:00.004-04:00

One more painting done, many more to finish. Click the link below to take a look for yourself. You can also find a side detail image from my Facebook site.

Enjoy and have a wonderful week.

Quote for April 18, 2011

2011-04-19T01:03:00.003-04:00

Just came across a great thought from Mr. Albert Einstein that really caught my mind.

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.
It is the source of all true art and science."

Thank you sir for your wonderful insights.

.....Still searching for sound

2011-04-18T15:54:00.003-04:00

I wanted to share this great video of a film I am very interested in seeing. I hope that you will also be after seeing this extra long trailer. The film is in screenings all over the world right now so be sure to keep in touch via their Facebook page.

In Search of Sound

More Hodgkin..........

2011-04-18T15:47:00.002-04:00

Here's another interesting video of Howard Hodgkin in Conversation with (Phillips Director) Dorothy Kosinski. Always nice to hear the actual artists perspective on their work instead of someone who's really just guessing.

Quote for today...April, 16, 2011

2011-04-16T22:10:00.003-04:00

Whilst reading the book 'Japan and the West' which was an exhibition at the Wolfsburg Kunstmuseum. I came across a few interesting thoughts on how paintings can be filled and empty at the same time. One quote I liked came from the Tao Te Ching...

The Tao is an empty vessel;
it is used,
but never filled.
Oh, unfathomable source
of ten thousand things!

Such a wonderful un-thing as the Tao.

Pierre Soulages

2011-04-14T18:18:00.002-04:00

Found this wonderful film of Painter Pierre Soulages in his studio. I definitely need to get to work on my French. Enjoy.

Photo: AP

Stairwell

2011-04-13T18:03:00.005-04:00

Click to enlarge. Painting from 2011 and painting from 2000. Older work gives hints to newer work.

Structure and Imagery

2011-04-13T16:01:00.002-04:00

A painting colleague of mine recently began his own blog about his work and work he is digging around the NY area. Great photos and great art. Check it out....

http://structureandimagery.blogspot.com/

Howard Hodgkin

2011-04-12T21:14:00.002-04:00

Fantastic installation and behind the scenes videos of Howard Hodgkin's prints and painting.

Part I

Part II

You can see the exhibition up till mid May. Visit the Phillips Collection in DC.

Predominantly White...

2011-04-12T21:05:00.002-04:00

I love white paintings. The color white for me is so soothing. So quiet, so reflective of what is pushed upon it. I found myself slipping into these paintings when visiting the Phillips Collection this past summer. Of course the room they were in was lit so wonderfully with natural light that it really brought out the beauty in them. I hope you are able to take with you a little of what I experienced in person, here in this documentary about the show.

A series of moments

2011-04-12T21:00:00.007-04:00

Just wanted to share this moment with you...

John McCracken

2011-04-10T21:59:00.006-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/arts/design/john-mccracken-sculptor-of-geometric-forms-dies-at-76.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/04/artist-john-mccracken-whose-work-helped-define-las-postwar-aesthetic-is-dead-at-76.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCracken

Interviews

2011-04-04T22:59:00.002-04:00

Was spending some time today reading some interviews from the Brooklyn Rail magazine, and thought i'd share a few of my favorites here. Always better to get your history right from the artists or writers mouth than from a third or fourth party.

Here's an awesome interview of David Anfam (who has written books on Rothko, Still, Kline, Pollock, Kapoor) with John Yau. You really get a sense of how David set about learning about his favorite painters. And how that love helped him get to where he is today.

http://www.brooklynrail.org/2009/12/art/david-anfam-with-john-yau

Here's another great one by Phong Bui with Painter David Reed. I always love these interviews with David as he's a stickler for history and you always learn something new about him or his work with each interview.

http://www.brooklynrail.org/2010/04/art/david-reed-in-conversation-with-phong-bui

And if you want the audio version of this, you can find it here.

Enjoy.

New works on Paper

2011-03-18T14:09:00.005-04:00

Lately I've been making painting projections on paper for possible new works on canvas. It's been a great way for me to get a feeling as to how something is going to look on canvas. To be able to see how the colors either clash or compliment each other, to view their transparency and how another glaze upon that will enhance the pleasure I receive from the possible painting.

There are a number of images on my website. But I'm not going to share the images with you on here. As I wish for you to view them directly from the site, so that you have a dedicated computer experience with these works on paper. I will however give you peeks that lead you into the full works.

Enjoy.

Sean Scully Video

2011-02-28T17:59:00.001-05:00

Figured since many of my net friends have been sharing this. I would too. It's always cool to get to visit a painters studio and this one is a gift.

Slight changes equal big changes

2011-02-21T00:39:00.003-05:00

While working on my new painting '02-17-2011' I was contemplating the impending change in my life it could possibly bring. As would be seen through my catalog of paintings. I have been toying with the true allover color painting for a long time. In the last year my work has undergone what I feel are major changes, with this new painting comes the culmination of over 15 years of developing myself as a painter. From making hard edge to collage to paintings depicting who knows what, and onto my development as a painter of textural color. I have spent a lot of time making a lot of paintings and will continue to push the development of myself as a painter deep into my future.

Painting goes on.

"02-17-2011"
25.5 X 16"
A/WF/C
Click to enlarge...

Ryoji Ikeda

2011-02-20T21:14:00.003-05:00

Here's a wild video for Ryoji Ikeda @ La Casa Encendida, Madrid 2010

Please don't watch this if you have problems with flashing lights.

Big Thanks to Stephane Leonard for recording and putting the video online.

Callum Innes Tate Studio Visit

2011-02-11T21:34:00.009-05:00

What an amazing studio for an amazing painter. Let the video, do the talking.

http://channel.tate.org.uk/tateshots-blog/2011/02/10/tateshots-callum-innes-studio-visit/
For the full link to the page.

01-27-2011

2011-02-06T18:36:00.004-05:00

More to be seen at... http://www.jeffreycollins.us

Marc Ross & Molly McNitt

2011-02-04T20:55:00.006-05:00

Just got back from a tremendous show in Columbus Ohio. Painter Marc Ross and Sculptor Molly McNitt are having a show called Recounting the Sublime at Marcia Evans Art Gallery.

Marc makes paintings that contain layer after layer of beautiful color that makes for a very moving painting experience. One that changes as you move around it, along with how the light is illuminating. I'm definitely going to have to visit the gallery again this week to see everything in the wonderful glow of a southern light. Molly makes some amazing sculpture with bent and cut wood. She layers veneers together and bends them to her will and allows them to become gracious curves and flowing shapes. Definitely two artists who's work you would enjoy seeing in person.

Here are a couple photos from the show. I'll have more in a few days.

Here you can see how the paintings looked with the flash on.

And with the flash turned off. Here you get to see more of what they look like in person, and also how they change with the different lighting situations.

One of McNitt's sensual sculptures.

"Untitled" A documentary on Modern Painting.

2011-01-20T16:30:00.003-05:00

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/105716108/untitled-a-documentary-on-modern-painting

This is to become a historical document on modern painting at the beginning of the 21st century. And I hope one that will be as beloved 40 years from now as the seminal 1972 painting documentary by Emile De Antonio 'Painters Painting' is right now.

This will be a film with an emphasis on interviews with painters. Along with commentary from art writers, critics and curators.

Painters i have already received confirmation to be interviewed include...

Joseph Marioni:
http://www.thepainter.net/
Marioni is a leader in high modernist painting.

John Zinsser:
http://www.johnzinsser.com/
Zinsser is a leader in duochrome painting.

Max Cole:
http://www.artnet.com/artist/4256/max-cole.html
Cole is a leader in minimalist painting.

Michael Brennan:
http://www.michaelbrennan.info
Brennan is a powerful source in modern painting.

There are a number of other painters I am in negotiations with for being included in the film. You'll be advised on them as they make their decisions.

Writers and Curators I have received confirmation to be interviewed include...

Carl Belz:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss...
Belz is Director Emeritus of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University, along with being a writer in many art books.

Klaus Kertess:
http://www.amazon.com/Klaus-Kertess/e/B001K22I84/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1...
Kertess is the curator of the 1995 Whitney Biennial along with being a gallerist and writer of many art books.

James Elkins:
http://www.jameselkins.com/
Elkins is the writer of such books as 'What Painting Is...', 'How to Use Your Eye's' and is also a professor at the School for the Art Institute of Chicago.

Matthew Deleget:
http://www.minusspace.com/
Deleget is an artist, and runs the Non-Profit Minus Space in NYC. Which showcases the best in modernist and contemporary art.

I am going to be getting a lot of help from friends on this project, many of whom have a lot of film experience.

This film is currently in pre-production and donations raised will go solely into the funding of this documentary. This includes equipment, research, conducting interviews, editing costs, and miscellaneous financing. All funds will be used for the film. If we exceed our budget goal, all proceeds will go toward the production budget. With your funding help through Kickstarter, we'll be able to move forward on this film with less hurdles.

Any donation is very appreciated to help me achieve this dream.

Quote for the day 1-14-2011

2011-01-14T17:46:00.002-05:00

Today I begin my year on this blog with a very worthwhile quote to make you think. Comes from a man who put his mind to his goal and truly achieved it.

"Once you say you are going to settle for second, that's what happens in your life."
John F Kennedy

These words have been ringing in my ears the past couple days...

Cheers and have an exciting and goal achieving year.
J

Quote of the day 12-31-2010

2010-12-31T17:13:00.004-05:00

For my last quote for this year. I make a very important entry. One by Marcel Proust...A French novelist and critic and one hell of a thinker.

"Authentic Art has no use for proclamations...It accomplishes it's work in silence."

Such a powerful phrase. It rings so true to most of the painters I admire today.

Thank you for reading...have a wonderful day.

Jeffrey

Quote for the day 12-22-2010

2010-12-22T16:50:00.004-05:00

Today's quote comes from the great painter Barnett Newman.

"The new Painter is concerned not with his own feelings or with the mystery of his own personality, but the penetration into the world mystery. His imagination is therefore attempting to dig into metaphysical secrets. To that extent his art is concerned with the sublime. It is a religious art which through symbols will catch the basic truth of life which is it's sense of tragedy."

Written in 1945 Long before the birth of Onement. But you can almost see the future out of this writing from three years earlier.

Cheers.

New thoughts on Brice Marden.

2010-12-18T00:06:00.003-05:00

I was watching this video on Brice Marden again today, and hearing him speak about his painting and the ways in which he was applying the glazes, all the webs of color made me think of DNA and it's ever stringy substances. I was reminded of what Julian Schnabel said about Brice that his gray paintings were a panel of meaning on which to begin painting again. I look at his work today as if he has moved into painting the DNA of art...of painting itself.

I'm sure my comments might have some repercussions, but alas if it weren't for people speaking their minds, civilization would never move forward.

2nd most interesting blog...

2010-12-10T18:17:00.003-05:00

As you would think, obviously I hold my own blog in high regard. But lately I've been spending a lot of time reading The Left Bank Art Blog.

It is a blog written by...
Charles Kessler

Irene Borngraeber

Tom Mcglynn

Carl Belz

Kyle Gallup

This blog has got some of the most interesting posts about art that I have found and I'm looking forward to new posts. I definitely suggest checking them out.

Cheers, Jeffrey

11-07-2010

2010-12-05T02:00:00.002-05:00

I just put up my newest finished painting on the website. Felt like this time instead of putting the same images on here. I'd focus this space on showing the detail images from the photoshoot.

If you desire to see the full original work, you can do so here...

Many Thanks for viewing.

Quote of the day 11-02-2010

2010-11-02T20:20:00.000-04:00

Today's quote comes from art critic Harold Rosenberg.

"Bad painters can be produced by a phrase, but a good painter is never identical with any definition."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Rosenberg

10-29-2010

2010-11-01T17:57:00.001-04:00

New painting.
"10-29-2010"
4ft X 3ft
Acrylic and Wood Filler on Canvas

Detail images of the left lower corner and the center of the painting lead you more into the many intricate details in variations on color and texture.

Enjoy, and thanks for looking. You can click on the images for larger views.
J

I finally got to see one.

2010-10-12T02:06:00.001-04:00

I finally got to see this wonderful Adolf Reinhardt painting. 5ft square. Black. But not truly black. It is a slow painting that unfolds with the more time you put into viewing it. Sometimes I began to wonder if I were seeing things just from looking at all the black for so long. But it did begin to work it's magic on me and I began to see the red, the violet within the painting. The strange thing is that, of the reproductions I have seen of these paintings. You usually can see what looks like a cross pattern within the painting, with the cross being painted with a glossy sheen and the rest a very matte paint. But this one in particular did not have any of the sheen whatsoever. Which kinda threw me a bit, as I always thought that each one had that cross pattern within it. For as much as I looked at it, I could see no pattern within the painting at all. There are slight views that let you think there is an almost checkerboard pattern within it, but I don't know what I think as to that matter. All I know, is that I FINALLY got to see one. After all these years...more than a decade, I finally got to see one of the Reinhardt square black paintings. After viewing the rest of the ab-ex show at Moma, I now feel even more minuscule as a painter. These were painters that really hit you over the head with their work. Which makes me wanna work on my paintings even more to find what they found. That power, that intensity, that scale. Seeing Barnett Newman's painting Vir Heroicus Sublimis really made me realize what scale is truly all about. It stands before you, defiant of your thoughts and pushes right back at you. I still can't get these images out of my head.

1963. Oil on canvas, 60 x 60" (152.4 x 152.4 cm). Gift of Mrs. Morton J. Hornick. © 2010 Estate of Ad Reinhardt / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

If you get the chance while this show is up. I highly recommend that you drop your preconception about New York and get there to witness this amazing show of all the Abstract Expressionists (Though I think they missed Milton Resnick)

http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3ATA%3AE%3AAbExFeatured&page_number=8&template_id=1&sort_order=1

Joseph Marioni in Art in America

2010-09-23T16:23:00.000-04:00

Wanted to share with all his fans, a great article on the painter written by Barry Schwabsky for Art In America magazine. It's from June 1999 when Marioni was in the middle of his exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art, which I wish I had spent more time down there by myself soaking up the color worlds.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/zjtdtv

Enjoy the article and the fabulous images from his show at Peter Blum in 1998.

Three.

2010-08-25T17:31:00.001-04:00

Since my trip to DC a few months ago. I have been working on these new paintings. Allowing each material to remain separate but yet unified with the final painting. These new paintings have a whole new degree of depth to the colors and to the surface. I'm looking forward to all my new work in the future. Especially trying this out on some large canvases.

"07-25-2010"
22" X 16"
A/WF/C

"07-31-2010"
22" X 16"
A/WF/C

"08-21-2010 (Above)"
34" X 26"
A/WF/C

"08-21-2010 (Above)" Side View
34" X 26"
A/WF/C

I do hope that one day you will be able to view and take in these paintings in person.

Papers on Painting and Color.

2010-08-24T23:06:00.002-04:00

I have been sharing these papers on Painting from The Painter: Joseph Marioni on his Facebook page for quite a while now. I wanted to take this moment to place these on here so that his fans and friends can read some of his amazing pieces on Painting.

In case you are wondering, Joe has given me full permission to share these with the public on here.

I have a number of his other older papers on painting, but will have to edit them again, as I have misplaced the PDF's of them, but will have them on here in the next few days.

Download The Radical Place of Painting.pdf here...
http://www.sendspace.com/file/u1ke3w

Download Marioni & Goetz - A Dialogue.pdf here...
http://rapidshare.com/files/390097744/Marioni___Goetz_-_A_Dialogue.pdf.html

Thanks and Enjoy these amazing papers on Painting. The paper "A Dialogue with Ingvild Goetz" is one of my personal favorites. Read it and I think you'll know why.

UPDATE

Here are the other three PDF's of Marioni's Papers that I have digitized at this time.

Download Joseph Marioni - Marioni & Hannelore Kersting - A Dialogue.pdf here...
http://www.sendspace.com/file/adktlh

Download Joseph Marioni - Noting Color.pdf here...
http://www.sendspace.com/file/p6z9lo

Download Joseph Marioni - Socrates and the Alligator.pdf here...
http://www.sendspace.com/file/zavpei

Enjoy!

Robert Ryman from Art:21

2010-07-29T23:44:00.002-04:00

Enjoy.

Brice Marden In The Studio (video)

2010-07-28T00:29:00.000-04:00

Enjoy.

Quote of the Day, July 24, 2010

2010-07-23T22:45:00.000-04:00

I'm making this for tomorrow since it's already so late in the day. I have been reading Joseph Marioni's paper on the Specific Performance of Robert Ryman and he has pointed out something that I think every modern painter would also feel.

"The practice of modern painting implies a development of the form. Let me also make it clear that this does not mean there is a quest for an absolute or an end game to its pursuit; the development of modern painting is for clarity and full disclosure of the form itself."

You can read the entire paper of Marioni's from Paul Rodger's gallery's website at http://www.paulrodgers9w.com, there you can find it under the writings section. Be sure to check out his site too, as he show's some amazing artists.

Trip to Washington D.C.

2010-07-09T17:13:00.004-04:00

I finally decided to write up a bit about my trip to Washington D.C. a few weeks ago. First off. It took about 6 hours to drive down there. What a journey driving in my car, I like driving in it as it's quite comfortable to ride in. I got to D.C. and when I reached the city, I immediately forgot a turn I was supposed to take, and ended up spending another 20 Minutes trying to get back to where I needed to go to make it to the hotel. D.C. can be even worse than NYC with their roads. NYC is way more efficient in their uses of road planning than D.C. is. I do not recommend driving through D.C. if you aren't already used to it. Take a cab or go on the trains and then walk the rest of the way.

I finally got to my hotel which is called the Embassy Inn, not a bad place, but not worth the $160 a night to stay there. I ended up in a basement room which barely had any air conditioning. No view whatsoever, but you don't go to D.C. to stay in a hotel all the time. I don't know why these places never have a mini-fridge so I can keep drinks cool. They are not dedicated to customer service I guess.

Joseph Marioni speaking on Robert Ryman.

I met up with Joseph Marioni, Wade Wilson and Paul Rodgers after checking in. We all decided to meet up later at the Phillips Collection to hear Marioni's talk on Robert Ryman, which BTW was intense. I got to walk to the Phillips with Wade and we quickly got to know each other and found out we have a lot of the same thoughts on many fronts.

The Phillips Collection is an awesome place for modern art, and also for portraiture and landscape painters of the past. Lots of fantastic painting in that place. They had a wonderful small De Kooning that I was interested to see. Though it's always hard to view a painting behind a piece of glass. I was searching for a wonderful Guston painting from the 50's but alas they must have put it in storage. That was a real let down for me, as it's the only Guston from his Ab-Ex period that i've gotten to see and it's quite stunning.

The Rothko Room as always is quite amazing. Always a very quiet place for introspection. The lighting in there seemed to be even darker than I remembered from the last time I witnessed the room. The paintings always look so somber in there. The tension within the paintings really get's one in the gut, twisting your insides, only letting you go when you finally decide to leave the room.

Friday, the four of us decided on another trip to the Phillips where Marioni told us about the ways he is planning on doing his show there next year. I can't wait to see the show. I know with Joe's love for art and how things are situated will make the rooms look quite exquisite.

Next up was visiting the Hirshorn Museum and the BIG Yves Klein show. Oh man, it was amazing to finally see these 12 ft wide paintings you only ever dreamed about seeing. The scale is overwhelming when you've only ever seen them in a book. Times like these make me think that art books should always be very big to help give you a slightly better sense of the scale of the paintings. It is amazing to get to walk around a show, well shows with all the extra rooms of art they have at the Hirshorn, with a group of gentlemen that REALLY know their art. I felt like not only was I getting to finally see these paintings, but I was getting history lessons and painting lessons at the same time. After the Klein show, we escalated up to the third floor to see their permanent collection. Which included a room of four HUGE Clyfford Still paintings. I think each one was about the same size. One blue painting in particular really grabbed me and didn't want to let go. I felt like to really take this room in, I would have had to stand...they didn't have a bench in that room...in front of each painting for a few hours and really soak in it's aura.

The Sugimoto room really messes with your head as you walk in there. The room was almost completely dark, other than a set of I think 6 large format photographs of his famous seascapes. All lit with theatre lighting to really keep each photograph under it's own special light, not disturbing the others. Another room I wish I could spend a day inside. Along with the Satie like music coming from the film next door, it really made for an ominous room. I made sure to pick up the Klein book there, which is the most photographic intense book on Klein ever produced. I also made a point to pick up the DVD there, which is an hour long documentary on Klein that is very in depth and allows you to see so much more video of Yves than seen before.

After that was the NGA. But this time it was only myself and Joe. As Wade had a meeting and was also meeting up with Painter Jill Moser. Joe went almost right for the Barnett Newman room with all the Stations of the Cross paintings. I gotta admit that the room does look way better than before. They have closed it off from the other rooms that were behind it, so now it is it's own space. I think they even lowered the lighting a bit as the paintings looked really great in this new room. Outside the room they had Helen Frankenthaler's Mountains and Sea painting, which is known as the first of the Color-Field paintings. So pleased was I to finally get to see this monumental painting. Which after repeated viewings, really began to look like an abstracted painting of flowers, and not necessarily a color-field painting. It was amazing that Helen let the NGA have it for a time, THANKS Helen for letting me finally get to see this amazing painting!

After a while we finally met back up with Wade and I got to meet Jill Moser, who I've known of since 99 when she had a show at Jan Maiden Fine Art in Columbus Ohio. That place was the eye opener of my life. I got to learn of oh so many amazing painters that she had shown. We all went right back to the Newman room. I think maybe Joe wanted to set up camp in there, I could tell he Really dug that room, as I did. Now I just wish that the NGA had a big "Who's Afraid" painting, so I didn't have to go across the pond to see one. We finally made it to the Rothko Room in the tower a bit before the place closed for the day. Man what a sight....I made sure to let them all walk way ahead of me so when I saw it for the first time my view wasn't blocked by anyone. Seeing a group of paintings like that really does make you feel small and insignificant. Which is what Mark was probably going for when making them. That along with the Morton Feldman "Rothko Chapel" playing in the room made for a very serious and ominous feeling that just kind of penetrated your core. I can only wish that I can see it again and there not be anyone else in the room to walk past me next time. I wish Paul could've seen it with us, but i'm sure he's probably seen it when it first came up. He had to head back to NYC that day. And after we finished our viewing of the NGA, we all took Jill to the train station too so she could head back home. I tell ya it must be nice to know you are only an hour or so train ride from NYC to DC. But I guess like anything, you do it so often and eventually you take it for granted.

The next day was pretty much packing, hanging out a bit with Wade and Joe, and heading home. Another fine trip to DC under my belt. I definitely think next time I'm not going in summer and i'm going to stay a few extra days to really see more museums and galleries. We did go to the Lincoln Monument and the Vietnam Memorial along with walking down the mall to see the WWII memorial. All amazing monuments dedicated to those who helped shape and protect our country.

Here's the photos from my trip...enjoy.

That first look was amazing.

I always look at the edges. It's really one of the best ways to take pics of these paintings.

Joe standing with the Rothkos.

From Joe's talk at the Phillips. That's Wade and Paul. Not taken very well...but it's a great memory for me.

The night sky above DuPont Circle.

Anthony Caro in the NGA. It was one of his "ledge" pieces.

Joseph Marioni: The Painter and Wade Wilson at the Memorial.

Joseph Marioni and Myself at the Lincoln Memorial.

The Washington Monument as seen from the Lincoln Memorial.

The WWII Memorial.

New Painting...New Seasons

2010-06-15T00:17:00.005-04:00

As the seasons are about to change from Spring to Summer. Change is literally in the air. So I thought a little change up in my methods were in bloom. Though it's not really a change, I thought I would make a painting reminiscent of an older painting. But more with my knowledge of painting as it is now.

"06-12-2010 (Seasonal)"
22" X 20"
Acrylic and Wood Filler on Canvas

If you wanna take a look at the painting past that I wished to revisit. Please take a look at it here.
http://www.jeffreycollins.us/images/2001/Untitled_Red_Orange_LARGE.jpg

Michael Toenges on Rudolf De Crignis

2010-05-18T00:26:00.003-04:00

Translated with love from the German into English by myself.

I am with Rudolf in the summer of 2005 on tour, a day when we have time to take us a drive, leaving the town slowly and always looking to the sky. We let ourselves drift, drive through the backyard, through streets and small parks - also increasingly out of town.

If on the former and long since forgotten by the airport, where the Trummer-flowers grow between the remains of the concrete slope, where some minor places are few, and where the sidewalks of a small garden next to the motorway, and cross under about.
The underpass of the railway to the big auto factory is half under water, some small trips we push. Industry terrain are emerging between the small woods, not to mention the row houses and suburbs. We look at the garden and eat an ice cream at the old church sitting under a tree.

Meadows and forests are great, some corn fields are now between the settlements. Over a narrow bridge, leads the way now between the forest and a green field toward the silvery leaves of a group of trees. The leaves move in the wind and the field extends for a moment into the infinite. Every time I arrived at that place, I hold otherwise.

Rudolf is ahead and I will have to pronounce and say to him, he sees it too. He sees it very well and he had to do myself. He stops and says to me: Look, is it not ready?

August Hoviele on Rudolf De Crignis

2010-05-16T22:41:00.008-04:00

Translated from Dutch to English by Jeffrey Collins (ME).

When I was in 1992 for the first time the studio in Soho Rudolf De Crignis visited was a very special experience for me.

It was my third studio visit that day, the two previous artists were Americans and talking about their work as pastors of their church on the west coast. In the studio of Rudolf De Crignis silence came over me, the artist Sat silent at his desk, there was no word spoken.
Was silence, only silence, or silence and contemplation. The atmosphere gave me a very wonderful feeling. I was quiet and undisturbed look at some beautiful blue paintings.

I was no longer in new york but in Sénanque, in the chapel of the Cistercian monastery. This special feeling is I always stayed. If I were a painting by Rudolf De Crignis stand and try to penetrate into that beautiful blue plane, I feel that sensation still.
In later years, I spend many warm and intense contact was fortunate to get to know the artist. It was a very quiet but strong personality, honesty and integrity, highly critical of his own work, open to other artists.

Although his artistic path to be followed very well knew, he was anxious and uncertain about the things he was doing. Paul Cezanne was never far away.

With the death of Rudolf I lost a very close friend and adviser, but we all have lost a great artist.
Rudolf, the beautiful moments I will never forget and I will continue your work I personal effects lovingly cherish.

Goodbye

Quote of the day 4-13-2010

2010-04-13T14:05:00.003-04:00

Another Rosenquist quote for today. Reading this book has got plenty of remarks about the state of artists these days and I wanted to share some of his wisdom with all my friends on here.

"I felt as if the craft of traditional painting had gotten mislaid; you no longer learned your trade from a master painter, but from books and classes, and it occurred to me that looking for art in art schools was like looking for your wallet under a streetlamp when you hadn't lost it there."

Enjoy your day. Now go do something and be creative about it. Just don't hurt anyone in the process.

Cheers. J

Image taken from...
http://www.topsyturvystyle.com/2009/04/james-rosenquist-starting-over.html

Quote of the day 4-12-2010

2010-04-12T16:17:00.004-04:00

Today I'm just beginning my read of the James Rosenquist biography. The book is called "Painting Below Zero". I would put up a link to it somewhere but no one is giving me a percentage if you buy it from my link. ;-)

Anyway. I've perused it's contents and have now begun to truly read through it. I'm only 4 pages into it and I've come across a quote I would like to share with you.

"There's no scale in the brain. An image of the most colossal monument and the tiniest ant can rest side by side in your mind. The mundane and the bizarre can fuse into a language of images that float to the surface when you least expect it."

Already I'm finding more and more amazing thoughts from the mind of Rosenquist. I'm already rating this book 4 stars...I can't give it 5 already because that would be favortisim now wouldn't it. ;-)

RED

2010-04-08T01:47:00.007-04:00

Nothing more needs to be said.

New Paintings 2010.

2010-03-26T14:39:00.005-04:00

Just got the website updated with these photos of these paintings. As you can see here. Click 'em and you can see in amazing detail.

"01-15-2010 (Always Up To You)"
34" X 26"

"03-13-2010 (For D.A.C.)"
36" X 30"

"03-20-2010"
36" X 30"

Enjoy. Be sure to check out JEFFREY COLLINS: PAINTER for full updates every month or so.

Video Document.

2010-01-25T22:22:00.001-05:00

Video from my newest painting.

Online........

2010-01-21T23:20:00.004-05:00

I finally went and added myself to the Irving Sandler Artist File Registry from Artists Space. I know many great painters have shown at this respected Non-Profit space in New York.

http://afonline.artistsspace.org/view_artist.php?aid=13877

Just another avenue for curators to find my paintings. Enjoy.

New paintings, new year.

2010-01-19T19:34:00.004-05:00

Just got a few new paintings finished. This is the newest and so far the only one I've taken pics of. Deep Black-Violet over Ultramarine on a very slightly yellowish ground. A hauntingly deep color that is deep enough to want to swim inside.

"01-18-2010 (Shield)" 36" X 28" Acrylic and Wood Filler on Canvas.

Click the pic to see the full image. Any interested parties are welcome.

Selling a few art books.

2010-01-10T00:10:00.001-05:00

Trying to sell off some of my art book collection. I've got a great book on Basquiat, a fantastic one on De Kooning from the NGA, a Gagosian book on Baselitz, and a book on Fabian Marcaccio.

http://shop.ebay.com/greatartbooksandmore/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

Perhaps next week will see some more of my collection being put up on ebay.

Keep your eyes out for them. And please do tell your friends if you think they might be interested.

Jeffrey

Quote of the day, Jan 4, 2010

2010-01-04T16:35:00.006-05:00

Wow. New year, new thoughts, new plans, new creativity. And here's a quote to light your artistic fire for the year.

It comes from my favorite sculptor Richard Serra.

"Unexpected youth will always change the course, because they'll always transgress, those people whom have come before."

Big thanks for those that have taken these wonderful pictures of the artist.

Hope everyone has a fantastic year.

White Painting

2009-11-21T23:04:00.004-05:00

My second in my new group of paintings concerned with white. This really is a hard painting to photograph. Even though I took it in the sun, i'm tired of taking photos under interior light, the sun is oh so much better for photography. I just wish there was a way you could get to see the interior of this painting and how it looks almost metallic with the undercoats of color.

"11-20-2009 (White 2)"
18" X 10" Acrylic and Wood Filler on Canvas.

Here's a side image of it from outside where I do my photography now. Unfortunately it's not on the best of surfaces, so I had to put some white paper behind the painting to make it easier to photoshop. Enjoy and have a wonderful week.

Has anyone Seen Leger’s Palette lately?

2009-11-21T00:16:00.005-05:00

Painting has also probed the wall as origin of support and surface. A sequence intellectualized: construction, reconstruction, deconstruction. Carved cave wall first, then fresco wall erected and honed for illusion – into wall as perspective, in front of it as cubism, as environment for installation – all around but not in or on the painting as object. Three modes of painting made today: representational; abstract, actual. Where or why or how a painting is made. Question, pause, answer. A litany of trinities.

Frederic Matys Thursz: taken from…

“Has anyone Seen Leger’s Palette lately?”

Studio Photo. Taken by E. Tulchin

JEFFREY COLLINS: PAINTER

2009-11-16T20:42:00.003-05:00

Got the website finally fully updated. It's more like a ten year retrospective now. Ten years. Shouldn't I be getting a call from a museum by now. ;-)

Click the link below and enjoy. And remember the large images are found through clicking the thumbnail images in the galleries.

JEFFREY COLLINS: PAINTER

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More Drawing...

2009-11-10T00:06:00.007-05:00

I recently got some R+F Handmade Paint Pigment Sticks and have been trying them. If you are interested in Oil Stick/Oil Bars/Pigment Sticks, you will love these babies. Buttery consistency and fantastic color and transparency. This first drawing is done with a Paynes Gray Pigment Stick. A bit more on the messy side of things working with the Pigment Sticks, but that's something I need to work on fixing myself with some gloves.

15" X 11" Oil Stick on Arches 140lb Watercolor Paper.

Detail in raking light to see the textural elements.

The second one was done with the W&N Oil Bars, Cadmium Red Deep

15" X 11" Oil Bar on Arches 140lb Watercolor paper.

This was done with Shiva Oil Stick, and I quite like the matte in it's color.

15" X 11" Oil Paintstick on Arches 140lb Watercolor paper

Thanks for viewing. In the next few days I'm going to be having a few interviews of artist friends of mine who live here in Columbus Ohio.

Working with R&F Pigment Sticks.

2009-10-29T14:54:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to take a moment to let all my friends know about this. I recently began using R&F Handmade Pigment Oil Sticks, although they refer to them as Pigment Sticks.

I recently did a new drawing using the Paynes Gray Pigment Stick and the consistency was so buttery and easy to work with. The colors are both transparent and Opaque at the same time depending on how you use the sticks.

I'll be showing the drawing and a few of my W&N drawings within the next few days. Just wanna wait till this new drawing is done. For the time being, check out how they make these Pigment Sticks.

Quote of the day, Oct 29, 2009

2009-10-29T02:42:00.006-04:00

Today's quote I just found from Agnes Martins writings book. This woman has such amazing insights into the world of painting.

BTW, If you ever get the chance, check out the documentary on Agnes. It's fantastic.

"When we go to Museums we do not just look, we make a definite response to the work. As we look at it we are happier or more sad, at peace or more depressed. A work may stimulate yearning, helplessness, belligerence, or remorse.
The cause of the response is not traceable in the work. An artist cannot and does not prepare for a certain response. He does not consider the response but simply follows his inspiration.
Works of art are not to be purposely conceived. The response depends upon the condition of the observer."

Enjoy.

Douglas Witmer and his SKTCHBK

2009-10-20T16:47:00.000-04:00

Douglas Witmer from Philly has been showing everyone who is into it, his sketchbook online. Photographing the whole thing and day by day, putting up new images of the works inside this book. Check it out for yourself.

Looking forward to hopefully meeting Douglas for the first time in a week or two in Cincinnati, Ohio. As he's one of the artists in a show curated by Jeffrey Cortland Jones. Called "TOUCH FAITH"
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131670264894&index=1#/event.php?eid=148928669868&ref=mf

http://douglaswitmer.com/weblog/2009/10/sktchbk/

Oil Sticks and flattened out wood pulp...

2009-10-12T23:02:00.004-04:00

Lately on top of my working on my paintings. I have been focusing again on my oil stick on paper drawings. If you could call them drawings. As they are definitely not recognizable forms. Though the first oil stick drawings I have done were using your basic shapes, squares, rectangles, etc. This has become one particular thing I have liked what it was and wanted to develop it more.

Color is the primary focus of these works, and the ways I approach the materials is a physical mannerism, which helps make the drawing turn out the way it does.

The works here were done on 80LB unsealed paper, within the most recent of drawings, of which I have yet to take pics of. I have begun working on 180LB Primed cold pressed watercolor paper.
For archives sake.

All oil sticks were Windsor and Newton Oil Bars. Very wonderfully workable oil sticks with gorgeous color.

More to come...

A very rare interview with Robert Ryman

2009-09-05T16:22:00.002-04:00

Didn't know how many people have seen this yet. It's a very rare recorded interview with the painter Robert Ryman. He does get very in depth with his methods and reasons, even though it seems he get's cut off at times when he really should have just kept talking. He really gets into ideas about painting, and about what it's like to be a painter as opposed to a picture maker.

Watch and enjoy.

David Novros...almost, all your questions answered.

2009-09-02T15:15:00.009-04:00

I've been quite intrigued by David Novros these last few days. Not to say that I haven't been a fan of his paintings for years now. But last night I did some serious searching for interviews of him online and here's all the nuggets of interviews and info on the elusive painter that you might wanna know about. There is even a great video of him at the Getty Center in LA speaking about the conservation of two of his paintings that were at MOMA and the Menil Collection.

Here's a video on his new show at Paula Cooper Gallery in NYC from James Kalm.

http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=1551731224&share_id=154505921270&ref=nf#/video/video.php?v=122822958231&ref=share

Here's a great interview in three parts from White Hot Magazine with Thomas Butter.
http://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/with-david-novros-part-1/1927
Part 2
http://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/with-david-novros-part-2/1931
Part 3
http://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/with-david-novros-part-3/1934

Here is another great interview with Novros and Phong Bui.
http://www.brooklynrail.org/2008/06/art/chuck-close-with-phong-bui-june-08

This is not really an interview, but it's still a great read with Novros in it.
http://onthelam.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/sevilla-by-john-j-healey/

And a piece about Novros from artnet.
http://www.artnet.com/Magazine/features/brennan/brennan6-9-98.asp

Here's that video on conservation with a panel speaking about two of Novros' paintings that are now in MOMA and the Menil Collection.
http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/videos/object_in_transition_day2.html#2
You'll find this particular video I speak of in the Session Three section.

Here's a very interesting letter Novros wrote to Paula Cooper, you will understand more about him through this reading.
http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/searchimages/images/image_8072_21124.htm

I hope you enjoy these readings and videos. For there is a lot to learn about this tremendous painter.

Have a great week. Jeffrey

Rothko and uses of materials.

2009-08-31T19:32:00.005-04:00

After visiting the National Gallery in DC last year, and taking a number of photos. Most of which didn't come out the way I had hoped because these new cameras pretty much always need a tripod, if you aren't using the flash.

I was visiting the section with all the Rothko's and Newman's, one thing really hit me about the one particular painting from the Seagram Mural job he did. How crappily it had been painted.

As you can see in these pics. The one painting from the Seagram murals has got some pretty crappy paint that Rothko used in these paintings. I don't know what the hell kind of paint he had used on these paintings. But it sure wasn't artists grade oil or acrylic paint.

I've heard many stories about how he was always using cheap materials in his paintings. Which is not what one should be doing when you are a serious painter as he was. You can look in these pics and see where one section of paint has bled through the rest of the paint on top of it. It almost looks as if someone had taken a torch to that section to make the other paint seep through the top coat.

Seeing this really bothered me, as I really try to take as good care of my paintings as I possibly can. As do my other painter friends. Only in my very first paintings were I not using high grade artist acrylic paint.

Thinking about this painting and it's bad aging, leads me to think of the Rothko Chapel in Houston where he has his largest paintings. Which from his uses of materials, and his being stingy with the cash flow he had been given for the set of paintings. We today will never be able to see the paintings as they were when they left his studio. I know they have been "restored" but in cases of restoration, it never turns out the same way as the original had been the day it was finished. If you want to learn a bit about how restorers can be, just read the book "I was Vermeer"...it'll tell you about a number of ways restorers over the years have screwed up painting after painting.

Here's where you can really see some of the results of using inferior materials. Thankfully he didn't do this on all of his paintings.

So in lieu of the above. Please let me say to all of you painters out there who wish to be selling paintings like crazy. Give a thought to the future and how you would want these paintings to look after 50 years, 100 years, and then ask yourself...is this house paint really something I should be using on this canvas. Think about the people who will become your patrons, spending their well earned money on a painting of yours only to have it fall apart after 15-20 years. And go to your local artist supply store and put down some money on the good stuff. You'll feel a lot better about it in the future, when you can look at your paintings and they still look as good as the day you finished them.

I have also seen a number of older Twombly's where they are now under glass, as the paint has literally fallen off the weave of the canvas.

Oh it's so sad to see great paintings go bad.

Lyrical Colorist...

2009-08-29T16:41:00.000-04:00

A new term of painting I have just thought of. Lyrical being one with movement and texture, to see that there is the hand of the painter within the painting.

Colorist being one whom focuses their canvases upon color. A strong sensation which guides one painter to choose one color for a painting, or for a glaze, over another color.

My paintings have been called Sensuous, which I will give them that. And at the same time Painterly, that I guess is given up to the idea that those viewing my work really have no idea how I construct my own paintings. Which for myself and my way of painting is quite a gift. For when they don't know how it was conceived, it only adds to the allure and the mystery of a painting of mine.

I have been trying to come up with a term for my particular brand of painting. And being that I am the painter of these paintings. I too am a part of that brand. Before I allow some critic who really does not know of my ideas about painting and my true ways of working. When they take their idea of me and put it into a category. I believe I will save them the time and categorize my own paintings myself.

I do not belong to a group, I am friends with many painters, but they have their own mark, as do I. Brought forth by many many steps into the unknown in painting. It gives me the opportunity to say that I do not paint as anyone else does. I am not a copycat painter who simply tries to mimic another painter he greatly admires. Because I want my own page in the book of art history, not to go down as one of the many who imitated the one. But to be one of the one.

August, 28, 2009 @ 2:06 AM
Jeffrey Collins

A Rookie Mistake

2009-08-13T00:32:00.002-04:00

Yesterday. I reverted myself to an earlier state of being, when I realized that I had thinned down the paint mixture a bit too much, while finishing up a painting. Why didn't I simply work with the paint the way it had originally been in it's nice plastic can. Doing the directions I normally use for creating the pouring on my painting. I remembered back to how thin and gorgeous some of my earlier paintings had been and wanted to attempt to produce something akin to that feeling again. I guess back then I must have really been on the edge of pigment destruction, for all those pourings came out in a very matte manner. While the paintings I make today have much more of a gloss surface. Through my attempts and successes at glazing, I might have went a bit far in that manner also which didn't allow more paint to stick to it...but I don't think that was the problem. I simply got overzealous and mixed far too much water into the containers I use for this particular stage of my painting.

Even before I began work that day. I knew something was a miss. When I went to mix the colors with the end of my paintbrush. I noted that the paint seemed to really wanna come off the brush when I pulled it from the can full of color. It's always the little things that you should REALLY take note of and make sure that when you see little hints, you take them into consideration. Had I done that yesterday, I might be sitting here looking at a newly finished painting. Alas, I now sit here looking at the results and remains of the mistake I made yesterday. A wonderful yellow painting with errie, ugly, dirty looking paint caked upon many parts of the surface. Sections of the wood filler that I could not get the wasted paint from.

Not to worry too much about it. I will begin from stage 4 and will rectify this into a beautiful painting, of small scale but large in heart.

Not About Alan Ebnother

2009-07-30T00:54:00.007-04:00

I could probably write a thousand words on how much my life has been touched by the personality and painting of Alan Ebnother...but I won't. I'll leave that for my archives.

One thing I can gladly tell you is how I got to know Alan and his painting. We met in July 2004 when I made my first trip to NYC to visit our mutual friend Joseph Marioni. I originally thought that while sitting in my crowded and smelling greyhound seat for around 11 hours, which I didn't sleep at all through it. That I would simply be meeting Joe and hanging with him through my visit. Not so. After meeting Joe in the bus terminal and making my way down the street with my arms feeling like jello, and trying to take in the situations I was in. I'm a 29 year old guy, visiting the biggest city in the world for the first time. Going to visit and hang with my favorite painter. Trying to take in all the sites at once during that first stroll down 8th Avenue.

Skipping ahead a bit. We met Alan at Joes, and proceeded to hit up the Hells Kitchen Diner for breakfast. Awesome place with great food. Heading out to Chelsea to see the galleries, and hearing Joe and Alan speak about the different spaces, I felt for the first time like a real artist, hanging out with other real painters. Trying to soak in as much as I could, and writing this. Realizing I can remember a LOT more than I give myself credit for.

Since that day, it took me a while to get back in touch with Alan, but I knew it was something that I really wanted to do. You know how sometimes you feel compelled to wanna meet someone. You feel that maybe they have something that you are supposed to learn from that person, and you wanna find out what it is.

It wasn't till about a few years ago...I think. That I finally met Alan again online. Thank God for Myspace and it's technology which helps you to get to meet and learn about other people. This was before everyone jumped on the FB bandwagon, which I have found far more interest in.

Alan is always on FB, sharing new photos of his new paintings and him mixing his own paints. He's given me countless ideas about painting and about life.

And I just realized that i've said too much. The rest is between the two of us, and all of our friends on Facebook. HEHEHEHE.

So go add him as a friend and get to know Alan and his wonderful paintings. The rest is up to you. You'll just have to wait for the Biography to learn more.

Cheers and have a wonderful week! J

Larry Poons video I had to take down

2009-07-27T19:24:00.002-04:00

Well, I am now against another company I was trying to do a service for. I went and spent my time to upload a video of Larry Poons the other day. Today I get a message from artnewyork who since they didn't take their time to upload a video on Poons themselves. Thought it of themselves to make me edit the video or take it down. I have taken the video down and now am telling you to boycott http://www.artnewyork.org/ and their videos. They don't apparently realize that when people like me, spend our time to digitize and upload a VHS video, and in the process, promoting a film for the people who actually made the film and doing it solely on my own, without asking for $$ for my time and effort. They in turn simply piss of the people who are trying to help them.

Customer Service really is crumbling in this world we live in. What I am doing here is the equivalent of word of mouth advertisement and instead I'm being asked to shut up.

Two New Paintings...and a dream.

2009-07-26T17:46:00.006-04:00

It's been a while since I last updated my blog. I've been doing quite a few things. Trying to plan for a book, trying to make some $$, researching painting techniques I have yet to try. Here are the results of my journey into more colors and more depth in my colors within the painting.

Both are painted within a month of each other. And are both the same size. 24" W X 25.13" H.

07-23-2009

Within this painting, I was focusing more on creating color I have yet to use. I wanted a nice creamery color to try out. I feel it is a success and will be working more in these creamy types of colors in the near future.

I have begun to take my photographs of my paintings differently. In the hopes of giving the viewer more of a sense of the scale of the painting, and of the subtleties of the color and texture.

I was speaking with a painter friend who noted that when we cut the painting out of the background, we take away from the scale of looking at the painting where it belongs, on the wall. And therefore it makes our viewing of the painting unrealistic. So he suggested taking pics of the painting in three sections. First, to take a full image of the painting with it's background and the views of the shadows on the wall. Second, to take an image with more items around the painting, which gives more of a sense of scale. Just how big the actual painting really is. As it is in relation to other items. Third, take an image of the painting from it's side, as taking a photo from the side gives more a sense of depth in the painting, as it also gives you a sense of the texture within/on the painting.

I have been following this method and I feel it truly is making the imagery you see on this computer screen, just a little bit more like being there in reality.

The color got a bit away from me in Photoshop with this detail image, but from the previous images, you can see it's true color.

_______________________________________

In this set of images on this painting. I was experimenting with pearl colors. These are colors that have a slightly glittery look to them. Some people think of it as a gimmick, alas, others find it adds much depth to a color. I will not hazard to tell you my thoughts on it, as of right now I still have yet to form a concise view on the subject of pearls in color.

Using a great green for the ground and a paynes gray for the poured color. It creates a very deep sense of darkness within color. I haven't worked very much in dark colors in the past, so I'm still finding my way around with many many colors. There is much work still to do. Thank God!

07-02-2009

Hope you are enjoying your day. Jeffrey

Thursz and the Radical Painting Group

2009-06-28T19:32:00.008-04:00

I've been doing some snooping around the net and recently came across a cache of photos of Thursz and his paintings. I was even lucky enough to find a photo of the Radical Painting group of the late 70's and early 80's. Which included (L-R) Erik Saxon, Phil Sims, Merrill
Wagner, Dale Henry, Doug Sanderson, Susanna Tanger, Anders Knutsson, Marcia Hafif, Jerry Zeniuk, Frederic Matys Thursz. But missing from the photo is Joseph Marioni and Olivier Mosset . I really don't know why they were missing from the photo. Seeing as how much a part of the group they were.

There was a lot more to this group than meets the eye. They were a group of people who were looking to begin painting again. Hence the term RADICAL. With it's meanings in the word ROOT. They were looking to get to the root of painting, which is simply color and it's surface, it's objectivness. Most of them just took different means and techniques to get to where they wanted to be with their paintings.

Thr group itself was begun with Olivier Mosset and Marcia Hafif, and grew from there. Until around 1984 when the group all but disbanded.

I wanted to share this great photo I also found of Thursz' studio in Ossining New York. What height to that ceiling which allowed for so much light to reach those paintings, there was probably almost no reason to even have artificial light in the room.

Studio Photo by E. Tulchin.

I also wanted to share some other photos of his work here.

Orison 1 and 2. 1990-1992 221X74cm each.

#4 1974 74.5 X 74.5 cm

Enjoy the wonderful paintings.

A Sanctuary for Light

2009-06-17T17:33:00.005-04:00

Just wanted to show some photos I received from my friend Alan Ebnother and the people at Art:Basel who took the last two pics of the installation from Joseph Marioni's Sanctuary for Light at this years Art:Basel. I'm looking forward to getting more photos from Joe of the installation, which should be in my inbox in a few days. Then I'll be happy to share these pics with everyone on here.

Pic courteousey of Alan Ebnother.

Pics courteousey of Art:Basel.

Included here is a press release for the show.
____________________________________________

This is a unique opportunity to see a major work installed to his specification. The room is 750 meters square and part of the presentation of a four part work designed for the room as one piece, each working in transition to each other within the scaled environment that he designed.

"Marioni has conceived this special project as a model for painting environments that he proposes to create in specific public and private spaces. The unique element in Marioni’s vision is that his paintings will be created on site and in an encounter with the natural light of each location. Each Marioni ‘Contemplation Room’ will belong to its special environment. My sense is that this initiative represents something innovative, and I am confident that you will want to discover this experience for yourself in Basel.

Mindful of Rothko’s thoughts on how his paintings should be grouped together, which culminated in his celebrated chapel at the de Menil Foundation, and embracing later notions of site specificity from Minimalism, Marioni envisages an exploration of the encounter between color, local natural light and specific architecture. Where Rothko’s paintings look inward and seek seclusion, Marioni’s vision leads painting into a distinct relationship with the global environment of the future."

Enjoy and have a wonderful week.
J

My week in PA

2009-06-03T14:26:00.007-04:00

Been spending a few days reflecting on my past week with my friend and painter Joseph Marioni. It seems like everytime I talk to Joe, in person or on the phone, I learn a ton of new things. About painting, about life. The guy just seems to know a ton of fantastic information. So much so that when I'm around him I don't wanna ask too much to tick him off from this young'un asking too many questions.

I remember him telling me about his space in PA and how nice it was. I never got the idea in my head about how it was until I saw it. It just made me wonder if I have any depth to my imagination, as I seem to not be able to do much for visualization of spaces and the scale of paintings. It could very well come from the scale of my paintings being so much smaller than those of the painters whom I admire.

I took a few photos while I was there. I never did ask Joe to take a photo with me, I don't know why I did that, could come from my desire to not impose myself onto people, but sometimes I do need to be a bit more on the pushy side.

Anyway here are some of the various pics I took.

Here's a photo of the first floor gallery space with Joe's paintings and some of mine that I brought to show with him. He had only seen my work in reproduction, like so many other people.

Here's the wall with one of Joe's stretchers. A friend remarked that this stretcher is more Art than most people's art...which I agree. If only you could see this magnificent piece of woodwork.

I got to help Joe uncrate this painting after Joe, Stephen and I spent some time moving the crates around. Man those things are built like a tank.

I also got to meet another great painter while I was there. Stephen Bennett, the Portrait Painter. An amazing painter who travels the world painting indigenous people of the land. Along with his many commissions. A truly nice guy who has a love for life and a love of music. The guy is really into House music, so I gave him a few cd's of my mixes, to which he remarked that they were better than a bunch of the cd's he had actually bought. So THANKS Stephen!

If you are going to Basel this year and the Art:Basel. Make a point to check out the Joseph Marioni exhibition there with 4 of his large format paintings. They really are tremendous and I can only wish I too was going there to see those paintings.

Have a wonderful week. J

Brice Marden and FLYP Media.

2009-05-14T13:55:00.007-04:00

I just found these on youtube and HAD to share them with all the wonderful people whom visit this blog. Some wonderful interviews with Brice Marden, Thanks to FLYP Media for putting these out there for all of us.

BRICE MARDEN on Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko

BRICE MARDEN on Jackson Pollock

BRICE MARDEN's theory of painting

BRICE MARDEN on Asian art

BRICE MARDEN on Cezanne

Enjoy!

Quote for the day...5-04-09

2009-05-04T21:37:00.004-04:00

Today's quote comes from the documentary on Brice Marden from 1977. It's all about painting today.

"It's hard to look at paintings. It's really difficult, very strenuous kind of activity, but very very rewarding. Just like it's strenuous to listen to a great piece of music, they're very complicated, you have to think a lot. You have to be able to bring all sorts of things together in your mind, your imagination, your whole body. Really get off on it. It's a very high experience. It isn't something that comes out and hits you over the head, it's something very deep and felt."

Bruce Pearson at Ronald Feldman Gallery NYC.

2009-05-02T22:21:00.007-04:00

I just saw this today on James Kalm's page on youtube and had to share it with you. Bruce Pearson is a pioneer in his ways of making paintings today. I can't believe everything the guy goes through just to make one painting. It really must take him a lot of time to really get into making and finishing up one of his paintings.

I can only hope to see them in the future when I get to NYC finally.

Enjoy and have a wonderful week.

Just showing off a bit.

2009-04-26T21:16:00.004-04:00

Felt like showing off a bit today. So here's a nice review from the Columbus Dispatch that Bill Mayr did for my show back in 2004 at Studio Ash.

Enjoy reading....Thanks Bill
Thanks, Jeffrey

Quote for the day...4-11-09

2009-04-11T18:07:00.009-04:00

Today I bring you a quote from Jason Martin. A painter I have admired for quite some time, since I first saw an advert in Art In America back in 1999.

"I find that whenever I see a painting I always look at the edge anyway, because the edge informs you of the history of the painting - what's gone into making the surface. The time aspect of what has built this surface up. You can tell all sorts about the painter by the edges of their paintings. Just how open they are, I suppose." Quote taken from Transcript Magazine in an interview with Alan Woods.

To me this quote rings oh so true. Almost immediately after being confronted with viewing a new painting, I always check the sides...somewhat to see how it was attached to the wall. And to see just how the painter made said painting. Sometimes I feel as if I am more interested in the sides than in the surface of the painting.

You can learn more about Martin's paintings through the links below.

http://www.artfacts.net/index.php/pageType/exhibitionInfo/exhibition/15252/lang/1

http://www.artnet.com/artist/11227/jason-martin.html

Words of wisdom

2009-04-07T14:06:00.004-04:00

I was just reminded of something Dirk DeBruycker told me when I met him back in 1999. We were speaking of the use of materials in a painting.

I was telling him about my being quite stingy with materials, being that I was relatively new to painting and didn't have a bunch of money. "If you are afraid to use too much materials in a painting, you'll never make the paintings you really wanna make."

Of course I am paraphrasing. It's really damn hard to remember something someone told you ten years ago. But the meaning behind the words rings true today just as it did ten years ago when I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Jan Maiden Gallery in Columbus Ohio.

If you ever get the chance to see his paintings in person I highly recommend it.

Thanks.

Quote for the day...4-06-09

2009-04-06T13:36:00.002-04:00

Today's quote is brought to you through the Painter Joseph Marioni.

"I am not a post-modernist, I am a modernist, it means I practice a very disciplined art form."

You can learn more about Marioni's painting through his website, and through a few entries on this blog. Including a digitized version of one of his art catalogs.

http://www.tiac.net/~marioni/

http://www.jeffreycollins.us/Joseph_Marioni_-_Blue_Paintings.pdf

New writing

2009-04-04T14:27:00.002-04:00

Painting isn't about now
Painting is about forever.
It is the reason to afford the starving artist
Alone in his studio
Readying himself for the days work.
Knowing in his heart, that this painting
Might not be seen for a year.
And yet the painter pushes himself
To create something of unbelievable value
No money can match it's worth.
You may visit with my paintings
For but a minute or two.
But what you take with you
Is greater than gold.
It is but a sense of true humanity.

3-19-2009

Slow music for fast times.

2009-04-03T15:46:00.002-04:00

Thoughts on painting in the modern day

2009-04-01T00:08:00.002-04:00

Painting today, unlink picture making. Is but an alternative to pop culture. Those who make the three second image onto canvas. Something you don't need to spend time with, soaking it in, digesting it's textures, it's colors, it's forms. It is not made of borrowed imagery from everyday life. It is apart from imagery. It has more to do with the spirit, than to do with a shovel. A painter spends many hours with his works. Living and learning all their intricacies, and giving the painting time for it to work it's magic on him.

Most people today are so hung up on movement, that even when visiting a slowly moving space, such as a museum. They do not learn to slow down, and proceed to blast past each and every painting. Treating the visit almost as a contest to see how fast one can view every piece. Spending more time reading the captions than breathing in all the life that surrounds them.

3-19-2009
Thanks for reading.

Quote for the day...3-30-09

2009-03-30T13:29:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to share some words of wisdom from Wayne Dyer today.

"Keeping your thoughts on the mistakes of the past. Guarantees that you'll continue manifesting them in the present."

Some very wise words about ways to live and learn in your life.

Enjoy this day.

Quote for the day...3-28-09

2009-03-28T20:26:00.003-04:00

Today's quote comes to us from Frederic Matys Thursz.

"Dust to dust, to ashes, to dirt. Paint. It is said, turns to stone. Sculpture. Then crumbles to sand. Sand painting. Painting once more."

This painting is entitled "In Praise of Hands"

Quote of the day 3-27-2009

2009-03-27T14:42:00.005-04:00

Today's quote is brought to you by the painter Georg Baselitz. From 1992. This is a wonderful quote about the differences between our child persona and our adult persona.

"When children draw, they sit hunched over the table, treating the paper by turning it, constantly around, bending and rocking, especially their heads, almost gymnastically. Grown-ups, perhaps just because they have no choice physically, have decided to fix the paper with nails and to peer very earnestly as if disturbing a hare while it eats. No one understands at they are doing, perhaps they themselves least of all." Derneburg, March 3, 1992.

I had to share this awesome photo of Georg in his studio.

Cheers and have a fantastic weekend.

Quote of the day 3-26-2009

2009-03-26T15:29:00.003-04:00

Today our quote is from the great painter Morris Louis from 1954 when he wrote this.

"Your bad paintings hold the key to your development, and you should risk failure by pursuing what these, rather than your better works suggested."

So the moral of today's words of wisdom is to not be afraid to go too far with your painting, because it can be those times when you have a tremendous breakthrough in your work.

Have a wonderful and colorful day.

Quote for the day...3-25-09

2009-03-25T13:02:00.005-04:00

This one is a good one. It come from an artist known as Julian Schnabel. It is from his book CVJ. Which you can find out there if you do some digging.

"NEVER LISTEN TO ANYBODY WHEN IT COMES TO BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN PAINTINGS."

I have heeded this advice many times when someone who doesn't know about painting will try to tell me how I should paint my paintings. So next time someone says that you should change something in your work. Just politely say thanks and keep on doing what you are doing.

Updates to my online showroom

2009-03-18T20:45:00.003-04:00

Just finished updating some of my paintings with the online Saatchi Gallery.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Jeffrey+Collins/1728.html

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/saleroom/index.php?artist_name=jeffrey+collins&x=17&y=2&artist_location=

Interview with David Reed

2009-03-03T18:55:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to share a great interview with the painter David Reed. David was the artist who picked one of my paintings (one called "Gaining Acceptance") to be in the Ohio Art League show back in Sept. 2000. I got to finally meet him in 2004 when I made my first pilgrimage to the capitol of the American Art world. NYC.

Here's a wonderful interview with him, he speaks a bunch about a favorite painter Milton Resnick and what his thoughts about painting were. I only wish I could have been engaged by a teacher like him.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/visualarts/2008/10/web_exclusive_an_interview_wit.html#post

Enjoy the read. You can see more of David Reed's work at... http://www.davidreedstudio.com/