Third Journal from 1/28/2010

Dexter Dalwood Book

-At first, I thumbed through the images and wasn't impressed; then after reading the 'about the artists' section, it made me realize the complexities within such simplistic room settings. These paintings are very collage like and I enjoy the settings of such mysterious places such as Kurt Cobain's green house, Bill Gates bedroom, Stalin's war room, etc. All of the paintings are naturalistic but stylized in a manner that references the subject matter itself. All of the pieces in the book interest me more just by knowing its title. The paintings themselves are an odd conglomeration of styles that actually work well together due to the subject matter. Kurt Cobain's Greenhouse, 2000 oil on canvas: This painting was done only a few years after the famous musicians death. I have an emotional connection to the Gruge god so naturally the title pulled me into the painting. The collage like effect used by the artists appleas to me; but the subject matter is what reels me into the painting. That makes me wonder if it had been titled something else; would I have been as interested? I think I would have been slightly interested due to the stylization of the artwork but who really knows. So...title is everything? (This journal left me asking more questions than I had expected, leading me to question myself and the way I create and present my own art..interesting huh?)