Hello Friends (all four or five of you)
I've been SO neglectful of this, which is why so few of you have heard of this. You've not heard of me, because you've not heard from me. This is not a random statement. While I've been away, I've learned an essential reality about why certain people are on our radar, and certain people aren't. I'll give you a couple of really identifiable examples.
Lady Gaga. Seriously, who was she before she became who she is? A nice girl named Stephanie (I think) who happened to have a pretty awesome singing voice. But none of us knew that until we started hearing from her as Lady Gaga, who is, as anyone will agree, a larger than life persona in the mold of Madonna, and Cher before her. Once we started hearing from her, we all wondered what life was like before she got here. Whatever you think of her music (I try not to), she's on the radar and she isn't going to be easily dismissed. Love her, hate her, or simply be aghast at her, she makes an impact.
Example number two:
The cast of "Jersey Shore". Am I the only person who thinks "The Situation" is a symptom of multiple personality disorder which just happens to afflict an otherwise non-descript kid named Mike? What is it about this group of people that keeps us watching every ridiculous thing they do? What the Sam Hill is so special about "Snooki"? She's just a liliputian with a tan, for heaven's sake. Why do we care about their love affairs, their hook-ups, break ups, and whether Mike (the afore-mentioned "Situation") has a career as.... anything, after "Dancing With The Stars"? Really.
And yet, we're transfixed. Why? Because we keep hearing from them and they're just...self-absorbed enough and inappropriate enough to make them something you HAVE to look at, if only for a moment. Much like the way you have to look at a pile-up on the highway. It's just horrific enough. The problem with Snooki, Mike, Pauly D, and J-WOW, etc is you can't turn them off. They leave not just an impact, but impact trauma.
See?
Almost got me into a full-on rant. Which goes to show that when you hear from people who make an impact, it causes a shift.
Now, since this is an art blog, what's any of this got to do with art, you ask?
We'll answer that in more detail next post.
More later
KCD
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Follow Up to Last Month's Weather Rant
This will probably interest no one but me, but I was just looking at the weather stats on weather.com for September (which by the way, after that freakish bout of hot weather we had at the beginning, it's been just WONDERFUL! Sorry you beach lovers aren't getting any more blazing hot days to bake in. Really. Sorry. NOT!), and there were only six days where the temperature went above 80 degrees since I posted my rant. There were 15 days where the temperature was in the 70s including four straight days of rain and temps in the 60s. Now I don't want to get ahead of myself or anything, but I just wonder if the weather gods were taking notice and decided to give us a break here in Central MA. Obviously I'm grateful. Of course I did mind the humidity QUITE A LOT!
Nobody was happier than me for rain and cooler temps back down here the week of Aug.21st.
I was in VT on vacation at the time where they were having up there what WE needed down here.
Anyway, all that to say this: we've had in September 10 DAYS (so far) of sunshine, rain, and cooler temperatures and nice nights for sleeping. I am totally down with that. HAPPY FALL, EVERYBODY!
More later
KCD
P.S. The fact that I get to haul out my sweaters is also pretty nice.
Nobody was happier than me for rain and cooler temps back down here the week of Aug.21st.
I was in VT on vacation at the time where they were having up there what WE needed down here.
Anyway, all that to say this: we've had in September 10 DAYS (so far) of sunshine, rain, and cooler temperatures and nice nights for sleeping. I am totally down with that. HAPPY FALL, EVERYBODY!
More later
KCD
P.S. The fact that I get to haul out my sweaters is also pretty nice.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
First, A Word from Our Weather Center
WHAT IS UP WITH THIS DAMNED WEATHER?
Various reports are out saying that the searing heat some places are experiencing (that would be due south and west of MA) is just the beginning of a trend that could become our new "normal" in about 40 years if steps aren't taken to reduce global warming or as it's called in some circles, "climate change". That means that the kids we're now having, literally or vicariously, could be grown and have kids of their own by the time the weather in Ogunquit, ME starts matching the current weather in Miami, FL and the weather in Miami starts feeling like a mild day in Iraq. Personally, I'm pretty tired of this little taste of one possible future for the planet. When you have people in Buffalo who can't wait for the snow, something's wrong. So maybe we all ought to stop fighting about whether climate change is happening. I'd say it is! So now that we have it, what do we do with it? I'm thinking letting trends continue as they have isn't an option. Just saying.
More later
KCD
Various reports are out saying that the searing heat some places are experiencing (that would be due south and west of MA) is just the beginning of a trend that could become our new "normal" in about 40 years if steps aren't taken to reduce global warming or as it's called in some circles, "climate change". That means that the kids we're now having, literally or vicariously, could be grown and have kids of their own by the time the weather in Ogunquit, ME starts matching the current weather in Miami, FL and the weather in Miami starts feeling like a mild day in Iraq. Personally, I'm pretty tired of this little taste of one possible future for the planet. When you have people in Buffalo who can't wait for the snow, something's wrong. So maybe we all ought to stop fighting about whether climate change is happening. I'd say it is! So now that we have it, what do we do with it? I'm thinking letting trends continue as they have isn't an option. Just saying.
More later
KCD
Sending Out Introductions
Today, I started contacting companies to do specific design and illustration for web developers. Now, why am I targeting web developers? Because even though a lot of web developers are good designers, most of what they do targets the back end of a web site. This is not to say the front end aesthetics are always an afterthought, but it's something that I've been told could be improved on. My approach (assuming I'm not blown out of the water by invective) will be to create from scratch, compelling, impactful, meaningful images for websites. In essence, to be an illustrator for websites that might otherwise rely on stock images that don't really communicate in a particular context to a particular audience. There is all kinds of specialization going on these days. Lately it seems that there's an "app" (application) for everything. I'm personally not terribly interested in all the things you can do from your Blackberry or iPad. What does intrigue me and always has, is the tendency towards sameness we tend to exhibit as a culture that wrings all the flavor and color and texture out of life. And the first place you see it is in design. It all starts looking the same. Web pages look the same, sign graphics look the same. Colors, shapes, all start looking like the last thing you saw and it gets BORING. And you know, I don't necessarily blame designers. I mean, maybe some would, but I don't.
I think it's a lack of originality in our culture. A sort of herd mentality takes over and before you know it, the thing CNN did, with its logo on the bottom right corner of your screen, EVERYONE is doing. Every channel is doing it, and throwing other ads at you, while you're trying to watch a damned TV show!
Now when I said I don't necessarily blame designers, I mean this: advertisers don't always go with what's original or fresh. A lot of them have to walk a fine line between grabbing an audience and not frightening them away, so they can tend to play safe. Money and time are factors as well. So it's easy to see how sometimes creativity can get sacrificed to expediency and the result is bland, banal design that doesn't move you. It melts into the landscape that you don't notice. This of course is not to say that designers don't get lazy or even cynical. Sometimes we do. But the idea is to be aware of that and resist that impulse.
So this is what I'm up to today. Fresh original images. Homemade.
Next post, I'll show you what I mean.
More later,
KCD
I think it's a lack of originality in our culture. A sort of herd mentality takes over and before you know it, the thing CNN did, with its logo on the bottom right corner of your screen, EVERYONE is doing. Every channel is doing it, and throwing other ads at you, while you're trying to watch a damned TV show!
Now when I said I don't necessarily blame designers, I mean this: advertisers don't always go with what's original or fresh. A lot of them have to walk a fine line between grabbing an audience and not frightening them away, so they can tend to play safe. Money and time are factors as well. So it's easy to see how sometimes creativity can get sacrificed to expediency and the result is bland, banal design that doesn't move you. It melts into the landscape that you don't notice. This of course is not to say that designers don't get lazy or even cynical. Sometimes we do. But the idea is to be aware of that and resist that impulse.
So this is what I'm up to today. Fresh original images. Homemade.
Next post, I'll show you what I mean.
More later,
KCD
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Ogling Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel Photography
Lately, well, this past week anyway, I was doing a design style contrast with Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel. Actually I was ogling Pottery Barn's aesthetic the way some people ogle muscle cars. The furniture hasn't actually changed a heck of a lot from 10 years ago. There are some new pieces, new slipcovers and so on. But one change is the more determined use of color. That's more obvious on the blankets and duvets (yeah, you're spending some bucks to have this stuff; that hasn't changed) and pillows. There used to be an almost fierce reliance on whites and pastels and cream colors. Now they don't seem content with splashes of color. Now it's everywhere, and I think that's a welcome change. It's much warmer and more accessible. They're calling their latest branding effort "The Art of Living". I dig it.
What then to say of Crate & Barrel? They had a flirtation about a decade ago with some old French Country stuff that offset their more minimalist sensibilities. But they've since abandoned that for full-on contemporary styling. Clean lines. Bright colors. Everything nice and shiny. I get it. I can even appreciate it on a not-so-subtle level. More so than I can appreciate, say, IKEA. You can easily imagine this aesthetic in NYC or just about any urban upscale setting. It works great in lofts or apartments or really modern looking suburbs. All the newlyweds I've known recently registered there.
So what's the point of me going on about this? To discuss tastes?
No.
The point of the exercise was to help me define my own design identity and value statement. Every artist has what's called a "visual vocabulary", a sort of language or personality that develops over time. I was using the two aesthetics to help me define mine so I could articulate it to people if I needed to. It helped me see the way that I prefer to create images, how I like to place them and what kind of feel I want them to have. So you could say I really respond to Pottery Barn's use of light and color in their images. I love how they've staged the pieces and shot them. I also respond on another level to Crate & Barrel's cool, clean aesthetic. I enjoy their use of bright colors and modern settings, but it's not as ultimately satisfying for me as an artist to go to that well all the time. It might be necessary for a particular client, but I might want to suggest an approach that feels more "organic", for want of a better term.
And that helps me define my own visual identity.
More later
KCD
What then to say of Crate & Barrel? They had a flirtation about a decade ago with some old French Country stuff that offset their more minimalist sensibilities. But they've since abandoned that for full-on contemporary styling. Clean lines. Bright colors. Everything nice and shiny. I get it. I can even appreciate it on a not-so-subtle level. More so than I can appreciate, say, IKEA. You can easily imagine this aesthetic in NYC or just about any urban upscale setting. It works great in lofts or apartments or really modern looking suburbs. All the newlyweds I've known recently registered there.
So what's the point of me going on about this? To discuss tastes?
No.
The point of the exercise was to help me define my own design identity and value statement. Every artist has what's called a "visual vocabulary", a sort of language or personality that develops over time. I was using the two aesthetics to help me define mine so I could articulate it to people if I needed to. It helped me see the way that I prefer to create images, how I like to place them and what kind of feel I want them to have. So you could say I really respond to Pottery Barn's use of light and color in their images. I love how they've staged the pieces and shot them. I also respond on another level to Crate & Barrel's cool, clean aesthetic. I enjoy their use of bright colors and modern settings, but it's not as ultimately satisfying for me as an artist to go to that well all the time. It might be necessary for a particular client, but I might want to suggest an approach that feels more "organic", for want of a better term.
And that helps me define my own visual identity.
More later
KCD
Friday, July 23, 2010
New Design Blog
I happened upon a new blog for designers this week. It's called Statements by Thesis.
This would be the first blog I would recommend to all...four or five of you who might get a kick out of reading about what designers contemplate in the profession. Basically, these people post "thought papers" about trends and patterns in the design profession, and they address particular issues with what I feel is quite startlingly forward thinking insight. I've already commented a couple of times. They publish once a month, and their latest post is from a designer who admits to a dirty little secret that no one dares share lest they be ridiculed (or worse!). The link is here, and I'll be adding it to the list of blogs I read.
Okay, I'll be starting the list of blogs I read with this one. As soon as I figure out how to make the list.
More later
KCD
This would be the first blog I would recommend to all...four or five of you who might get a kick out of reading about what designers contemplate in the profession. Basically, these people post "thought papers" about trends and patterns in the design profession, and they address particular issues with what I feel is quite startlingly forward thinking insight. I've already commented a couple of times. They publish once a month, and their latest post is from a designer who admits to a dirty little secret that no one dares share lest they be ridiculed (or worse!). The link is here, and I'll be adding it to the list of blogs I read.
Okay, I'll be starting the list of blogs I read with this one. As soon as I figure out how to make the list.
More later
KCD
Monday, May 24, 2010
After Long Abstinence
Back on the air again, folks!
I could regale you with the latest tale of computer woes (in short, the computer burned out a processor which is an expensive fix), but I should not bore you with those details. Everyone has had a computer glitch that threatened to bring down if not civilization as we know it, certainly life as you've known it. There's a Holy Cross professor who was telling me about his steady descent into the technological concentric ring of hell over the last two weeks. It's truly amazing how dependent we've become on all this little gadgets. Even our president could not fully assume his duties as President if he were to be somehow parted from his Blackberry. One can only imagine how the Borg Collective would survive without its cybernetic appliances.
Shifting gears...
The other week I visited the Prints and Potter Gallery on Highland St. where I saw the most fascinating collection of figure drawings done by the Worcester Life Drawing Group. The exhibit is called "Body Work" Very tastefully done nudes and evidence of real talent. This tells me that Worcester is beginning to broaden its horizons to include more visual art. I think that's a good thing! Now I'm quite sure that some out here will look askance at me and say, "What the hell are you talking about? Worcester appreciates visual art." I realize I'm speaking from my own limited experience, of course and I don't have a bunch of evidence, but most of what I've seen here in this town has tended to be more craft-oriented. This stuck out and I thought it was telling that a gallery would display this kind of work right in its front window. It suggested to me that there's a bit of broader thinking going on. And as I said, there's nothing salacious about the pictures. It's just nice artwork, well displayed. Check it out. It's on through May 29th. If you can't physically get there, visit www.printsandpotter.com Like I said, this may not register with some folks, but for a visual artist like myself, I found this really encouraging.
KCD
I could regale you with the latest tale of computer woes (in short, the computer burned out a processor which is an expensive fix), but I should not bore you with those details. Everyone has had a computer glitch that threatened to bring down if not civilization as we know it, certainly life as you've known it. There's a Holy Cross professor who was telling me about his steady descent into the technological concentric ring of hell over the last two weeks. It's truly amazing how dependent we've become on all this little gadgets. Even our president could not fully assume his duties as President if he were to be somehow parted from his Blackberry. One can only imagine how the Borg Collective would survive without its cybernetic appliances.
Shifting gears...
The other week I visited the Prints and Potter Gallery on Highland St. where I saw the most fascinating collection of figure drawings done by the Worcester Life Drawing Group. The exhibit is called "Body Work" Very tastefully done nudes and evidence of real talent. This tells me that Worcester is beginning to broaden its horizons to include more visual art. I think that's a good thing! Now I'm quite sure that some out here will look askance at me and say, "What the hell are you talking about? Worcester appreciates visual art." I realize I'm speaking from my own limited experience, of course and I don't have a bunch of evidence, but most of what I've seen here in this town has tended to be more craft-oriented. This stuck out and I thought it was telling that a gallery would display this kind of work right in its front window. It suggested to me that there's a bit of broader thinking going on. And as I said, there's nothing salacious about the pictures. It's just nice artwork, well displayed. Check it out. It's on through May 29th. If you can't physically get there, visit www.printsandpotter.com Like I said, this may not register with some folks, but for a visual artist like myself, I found this really encouraging.
KCD
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