My transition back into academia is going well. It’s certainly a challenge, but I’m sure it’s similar to anyone who would be entering graduate school. So far its mostly internal. Questioning, thinking, wondering, and channeling new material/ideas.

Thursday was a mental breakthrough for me. “Contemporary Art,” the curriculum, routine, class rhythm are all starting to settle in. It’s been tough adjusting to long critiques/lectures after working for 3 years and setting my own schedule. 

I’ve been working as a commercial illustrator with a design mentality, but I now I find myself in the realm of performance art, video installations, conceptual art, etc. What does that mean to me? Am I supposed to be drawing? or painting? Can I still be emphasizing my work on image making? Can it be graphic? Or should there be more to it? 

All the reading and research and questioning myself left me paralyzed, unable to “make” but I’m working through it. My new studio is becoming home. 

Above you can see that I’m experimenting more with ink & brush as well as trying out some sculpty for the first time. Here I am developing my interest in the drawn stylistic still life becoming a dimensional installation that would create a booooombastic atmosphere evoking nostalgia and pulsing visual rhythms. 

Think along the vibes of David Byrne, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, David Lynch, Kenny Scharf mixed with vernacular typography, found materials, and a signature visual voice akin to Haring. This is only the beginning, so it’s still difficult to describe. 

It’s exciting and I feel that this first year will be groundbreaking. I’m not going to change the world, but further my place in it for the time being.