Check this out--myspace for artists, but better

You might have already known about this--but I just saw an article in the New York Times: www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk

Perfect Post

I just was looking into competitions, and I found the perfect competition to help inspire our next project
http://goforward.harpercollege.edu/page.cfm?p=1867

It's a competition for small works.

Kendra Binney

hey Colin -
check out this arist I found while perusing Etsy ----- Kendra Binney

Contest

It is almost impossible to get a good picture of a watercolor painting. Anyway, I am trying to figure out what pictures that I should submit to a contest, and the deadline is on the 30th. Let me know your thoughts. I also have to have an artist resume and art statment, but I will worry about that later.

Another Orchid

Okay, I worked on the orchid painting again--adding color pencil and some different colors, and another flower. I think it only needs a little more work, what do you think?

orchid

Okay, here is another painting. It's oil pastel on watercolor. I agree with your critique of the last post, and I will bring out the details of the building and see what happens. I also was thinking of doing a white glaze over the flowers--maybe draw in the building with pencil and then do a white glaze.

With this one, I am trying to decide if I want to put more flowers in or add the stick that adds support to the stem. I forgot how much fun it is to work with oil pastels.

Ghetto

This is a painting that I took a picture for in Detroit and then I just did the painting today. This, again, is the progression of my attempt to paint hope or optimisim. Of course, these paintings
keep going back and forth between hope and defeat. Hopefully, if someone is optimistic they will see the flowers as representing beauty in a tarnished setting, and, in turn, hope. Let me know what you think.

I am going to leave these painting for a little bit, just because it is hard to try to keep them coherent. I am going to try to do some super detail orchids for a contest that is coming up at the end of the month.

Sunflower

Here is another attempt at a train painting. I was going for a feeling of optimism, but I think it ended up more "watch out for the Ghost Flower!"

Let me know what you think...and if you have any suggestions. I might just use this as a sketch for a larger painting, so if there are any elements that you like, let me know.

Joana Vasconcelos

the work by this artist, Joana Vasconcelos is incredible - again, I saw a post about her on whipup.net - check it out.

dreaming of fish

Hey Colin - what do you think of my latest art therapy homework? it's very cool to have to create art for homework... anyway, we had to do a dream quest and then create a piece of art based on what we saw - so, I created two paintings to try to show the idea... I dreamt I was on a fishing boat and picked a fish out of the big net (it was actually two fish connected together), then I was standing in shallow water looking for a safe place to put my fish - it seemed very obvious to me that the patch of land with some tall grass was the safest place. The fish was (were) rainbow colored and reminded me of a pack of Lifesavers candy. hmmmmmm, what does it all mean?

Who needs a canvas?

I was thinking of starting a new profession, what do you think?

First attempt

Hey Kelly,
Here is my first attempt at a painting based off of my commuter train sketches. It is still in its beginning stages--and it might just end up being a watercolor sketch for another painting. Nevertheless, I think the basic idea is there, so let me know what you think.

Scientifically Accurate Fabric Brain Art

link

RED?

Woodcut printing blog

Hey Kelly,
Check out this blog: http://mleeprints.blogspot.com/ It is by an artist in Boston, who creates woodcut prints--really great work. Her prints look very layered, which I would think would be a difficult process with woodcutting.

9-11

As an artist, do you feel compelled to have your work relate to certain historical events? I mean at times, such as today, do you feel your work should blatantly reflect on the significance/sadness of 9-11. Or, should your work simply latently reflect on the tragedy? That is, you reflect personally and than create...not having any particular purpose but for conveying your particular emotions.

I have a lot of trouble with these questions (this question). I approach drawing as a personal diary keeping exercise at times, and at other times I feel that I am drawing/painting/etc. for the specific purpose of showing it to someone or for posterity. Is it truly a reflection of me that will be conveyed to others if I fail to create an image where someone can look at it and say---well, here, he was reflecting on the fiver year anniversary of 9-11? Or am I underestimating people?

the Campaign for Drawing

I just saw this post - The Big Draw - on whipup.net and thought would find it interesting... for more information, go here - Drawing Power -

there are events happening all over during the month of October - you can check the site The Big Draw to find an event near you - there aren't any events listed for the United States, however you can find some internet events...

Drawing no Conclusions - call for entries

the UICA (Urban Institue of Contemporary Art) is holding a call for entries for their Drawing No Conclusions exhibit " As part of an ongoing commitment to promote challenging, innovative practices in the visual arts, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA) is seeking artists to submit entries to a National Juried Exhibition of contemporary drawing."

deadline: entries must be postmarked by November 1st, 2006

new Artists foundation

United States Artists... (quote from site) "Welcome to United States Artists (USA). We are a new organization dedicated to the support of America’s finest living artists. After decades of dwindling public support, artists now have a home where they may find significant private funding to ignite the creativity that makes this country great."

Me drawing me drawing me

This is me sitting down on the commuter rail, drawing, basically, my lap. Very weird angle--and it is hard to draw what you see and not try to cheat and draw what you think it should look like.

I had time to fill it in more, but I liked the contrast between the detailed parts and the non-detailed parts. Let me know what you think.

Also, I am coming home tomorrow, so I will have some drawings from the plain. And, more importantly, Melanie and I will see you on Sunday.

Positive D

FYI, someone posting about the positive points of the premier city in our hearts. http://girl-in-the-d.blogspot.com

check this site out

www.fuel4arts.com, any thoughts?

Commuter Rail Tale

Here is a slightly better scan of the flower drawing. Also, here is a selection of some of my commuter sketches. I think I will post drawing from my sketch book about once a week to get some feed back. The idea right now is to combine the quick sketches with detailed watercolor paintings--but "the idea" almost always changes. I really like your art therapy daily log/sketch book, and I might try something like that. I tried sketching with a pencil today, and it did not work--but I will try, try again. Hope all is well...tell the fam I said hello.

art craft / craft art

check out this post from my art therapy / knitting blog - I love the idea of craft as art and mixing materials - fine art and craft.. really blurring the lines - in fact I had an idea a while ago that I would make knit "cozies" for everything in my living room - using all white yarn with different patterns like cables and stuff - a cozy for the big ugly couch, one for the tv and tv stand, one for the little coffee table, even one for the rug - like a rug over a rug - so when it's all put together the whole room would look white.... although, that would take a long time of knitting - but good knitting therapy - I'll teach you to knit so you can help me -

check out Craft:

Cool Art Blog

interesting realist watercolorist, any thoughts? http://watercolorist.blogspot.com

Blog Blast

To my left you will see a very blurry picture of a pen and ink drawing of a flower. I am posting it mainly because I said I wanted to blog today, and I kept bugging you about setting up blogger blogging ability (blog is a fantastic word, and I am pretty sure it can be used like smurf...smurf, smurfing, smurfed). Anyway, I wanted to post pictures from my sketchbook, but my computer is working at a blogging slow pace.

The sketchbook has a sketch, pretty much everyday, from my ride on the commuter rail. I am really facinated with the interaction between different riders, and the countless stories that each rider has to share (and, because I am not interviewing any of them, the stories, for the most part, are formulated purely in my mind based on their individuals looks of concern or excitement or etc.). I will expand more when I am able to upload the pics.

By the way, am I suppose to write to you or to the general world wide web?

justice - painting for Sean

recently completed painting commissioned by Sean - waiting to get it framed - can't wait to see how it looks in his office!

printmaking

review of Intergenerational show

TheDetroiter.com has posted a really great review of the Intergenerational Show at the Ellen Kayrod Gallery.

mini paintings added to website

these and more mini paintings available through my website:www.kellydarke.com

recent abstract paintings

a few of my recent paintings - the middle one is sold already and the small square piece on the right is still changing, I felt it needed a little bit more... we'll see where it ends up...

mini paintings

here a few small paintings I did a while ago - nine of them are on display at the Ellen Kayrod Gallery through Aug. 4th, 2006 for the intergenerational show. I framed them in black and they are hung on the wall in a 3 by 3 grid - they look really nice - you can kind of see them in some of the pictures from the opening night.

Ellen Kayrod Gallery Opening Pictures

The opening for the 3rd Annual Intergenerational Community Exhibition was last night and here are a few pictures - The show was a great collection of fun work, it all looked great together and the musical entertainment (Djeto Juncaj and Ben Temkow) was excellent!
The three large abstract paintings are mine and can be seen here: ocean, sky, and circus.

Intergenerational Community Exhibition

THE ELLEN KAYROD GALLERY PRESENTS:

THE 3RD ANNUAL INTERGENERATIONAL
COMMUNITY EXHIBIT
June 23 - August 4, 2006

The Ellen Kayrod Gallery is a venue for artists age 60 and over; however, once a year artists of all ages are invited to exhibit in an intergenerational show. This year's exhibit includes paintings, ceramics, assemblage, and sculpture by Kelly Darke, Rachelle Guenther, Robert Hyde, Harlan Lovestone, Azucena Nava-Moreno, Teresa Petersen, Rachel Timlin and Vito Jesus Valdez. An opening reception on Friday 06/23/06, from 5:00-8:00pm, will include acoustic guitar and violin by Djeto Juncaj and Ben Temkow. The performance begins at 7:00pm.

The Ellen Kayrod Gallery is located on the 1st floor of the Hannan House, located at 4750 Woodward. Gallery hours are Fridays from 9:00-7:00pm, or weekdays by appointment. For more information contact Mary Herbeck at 313-833-1300, x. 18, marylaredo@hotmail.com, or visit www.hannan.org.