Happy Birthday Bruce Willis, Lennie Tristano, Glenn Close, Curtis Fowlkes
But, First, The News:
- I created a video short on my Planet-Lennie YouTube channel (youtube.com/@planet-lennie) that you might find interesting. It is Picasso’s self-portraits in the span of his lifetime, all in 50 seconds. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1u-hzN_3x98 Please give me your thoughts in the Comments section below!
- It’s looking like my Cape Cod Art Talk in mid-April will happen and we’ll keep you posted on that as details come in.
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Last Week’s Comment Highlights
We are still working on being able to respond to your comments individually in the comments section (see below). Until we figure it out, I will recap here and respond. This might be an even better way, come to think of it. As my Mom would say (pretty much for everything), “We’ll see.”
First, THANK YOU for the positive feedback and congratulations for getting this going.
I love the format and hope I won’t disappoint. Honestly, if I had time I’d do it daily but that would cut into my overnight 1 am to 6 am “nap.”
A few of you requested (actually…demanded) that we change the white font and black background.
Done and done, thanks to Lee. I appreciate the suggestion (ie: demand), it is definitely an easier read now. Suggestions are still and always welcome.
To my friend Peter W.
I like the cow idea, time to book a flight! Also, Peter- Miles is long-ago completed. I’ll message you.
To Ken N.
I’ll try not to disappoint :)
And this from Theresa F:
“About 25 years ago I moved into a new home and needed some art for the walls. [I was stunned] by ‘La Jeune Martyr’ (‘The Young Martyr’) by Paul Delaroche.”
First, Theresa has great taste in Art (not just because she has a piece of mine :). This print of the Delaroche not only hangs in her house but the original is a mainstay at The Louvre.
“La Jeune Martyr”
Theresa says, “It was the first time I was physically and emotionally moved by a piece of art. I can’t explain it, but I had to have it”.
This is what the Arts, in all forms, can do for us and for humanity.
We are all so fortunate to be living in this age where we have instant access to the originality and innovations of the great creative genius minds throughout history. Accessibility that was unimaginable just 20 years ago.
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To Dig Or Not To Dig, That WAS The Question
An exhibition or on-line post of my artwork doesn’t happen without someone asking me if my work is “computer generated.”
The first time I heard that question was many years back at an exhibition in Worcester, Ma. about a piece of mine called “Music Is The Silence Between The Notes.”
“Music Is The Silence Between The Notes”
(40” x 28”, pen, brush and ink on paper)
At the time, I wasn’t sure exactly what that person meant by asking if the art was done with a computer. And whether I should be insulted or flattered.
These days, it is asked more and more often and I finally learned that the question depends on the intent of the person asking (doesn’t everything?). Some hope that my art is digitally created, others do not.
The question also came up frequently with my portrait of Franz Schubert before he was sold and moved to New York:
“Portrait of Franz Schubert”
(3 ft x 6 ft, pen, brush, ink and oils on paper)
Detail, Franz Schubert
Banned Nudes
“10 Women”
(30” x 22” pen, brush, and ink on paper)
This piece called “10 Women” was actually refused entry into an exhibit in San Bernardino, CA not because of the nudes but because of the museum’s suspicions it was created digitally, against their policy.
(Detail, “10 Women”)
I explained to them that it was not a digital rendering, that it was actually drawn freehand. They accepted it with the precondition of approving it once it was seen “live”. I took it as a compliment.
Keep It Clean
I assume the question comes because of the repeated patterns and intricacies of the details and, probably, the clean pen and ink style of my work.
“Lydia’s Reflection” CD insert for Brooklyn Rider’s “Dominant Curve”
(16” x 8”, pen, brush, and ink on paper)
There are no pencil sketches or eraser marks or smudges because I don’t use pencil or eraser and I always start at the left top corner of the paper or canvas so my hand won’t smudge the ink. Once I start in the top corner, I move downward diagonally drawing whatever comes “out of the sky” and through my hand; hopefully with VERY little thought or preplanning. Preferably none.
The Zone
Most of you reading this already know about my Synesthesia- medically defined as “a neurological condition which crosses two or more of the five senses in unusual ways”- related to music and shapes.
My art is whatever comes out in the “flow” of the process of drawing while listening to music. What we see is the first and final result. In “The Zone”, there’s no time or reason for preliminary sketches or even “mistakes.”
So, with no pencil and eraser marks or smudged ink, it’s easy to understand why some viewers might see the clean lines as computer generated.
BUT…All That Said…
I do like digitally created Art.
I have many, MANY reservations about AI generated art and its tragic, unavoidable and fast-moving world dominance that everyone seems to be bragging about.
But that is a deep and dark topic for a future Blog entry.
Ethics, Shmethics
Though some may question the “ethical” similarities, digitally created art is very different from AI, in my opinion. Or some may call me old-fashioned for not liking and adapting to AI capabilities coming at us like a rolling freight train.
I see the computer and its capabilities as another tool to bring about creativity, not to let the computer do the creating.
I am a fan of the likes of digital Artists such as
Beeple (Mike Winkelmann):
Pascal Blanché:
Zim & Zou:
Marija Turina:
Steve Simpson:
Basically, digital art that veers away from the same old and new, stale, cliche video game graphics.
“Adagio”
Our friend Peggy saw my recent video short on the Lennie Peterson Fine Art You Tube channel (heads up for the office, it has sound) :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC63PLsjL5xt35lBxidWZSWg
Peggy wrote to me asking, “Do you actually do the drawings on paper or are they drawn on a computer and then printed?”
For her, she says it’s not a judgment on digital art as a bad or good thing but, as she puts it, she is “digitally curious”, which is a great term.
Before this piece shown in the YouTube video above, my answer to her question would have been “I do all of my work on paper or canvas.”
“Do common things in an uncommon way.”
Booker T. Washington
Now, I am happy to say I have also moved onto a somewhat digital format as well.
I say “somewhat” because I am still happily drawing freehand and my work is still synesthesia/music based. But, with the aid of my Wacom Cintiq Pro 27:
With a tablet, an Artist (me) can draw freehand, onto a tablet and into software. It took some getting used to but I am pleased with the results and here it is so far:
There is still a lot to do on this piece but, when completed, it will be called “Adagio” and will be available as Fine Art prints, in any custom size, from postcard to billboard.
The Curve
At first, this digital method was difficult to adapt to; a different feel from drawing on paper or canvas, a different set and approach to materials and a different process. But I like it.
I won’t stop creating “real time” and “hard copy” drawings and paintings on paper and canvas. But this, too.
The New Question Cometh
I am assuming that, very soon, the next logical, unavoidable question for all Artists’ work in all disciplines will be “Was this done with AI?”
Honestly, I already absolutely dread that inevitable day that a person’s creativity, craft, and abilities are questioned (actually, it’s here already).
But, for now, I continue to explore new tools including my trusted Wacom Cintiq Pro 27. It’s exciting for me and the process is opening up new possibilities of creation.
And I’m grateful you are here along for the ride with me.
Please do share your thoughts on digital art and, If you do have favorite digital artists that you follow, please share as well.
Thank you AS ALWAYS for the read. See you next week!
Lennie
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3 comments
The Picasso video is interesting. I can’t help but wonder what he was thinking when he drew each of them. “This is what I look like—or think I look like.” OR “I wonder what they are expecting? I’ll make it look like my present work.” or….“They are expecting something really off the wall. I’ll surprise them with something different.”
Lennie, your work is amazing. I really like your non-comic strip style. (I like the comic strip style, too, but that’s not what most people would call Fine Art.)
I might even spring for a copy of Adagio when it’s finished. Your style of drawing makes me think of the design of the universe, from mega-galaxies to sub-atomic particles. We first get the over-all picture and then when we look closer, we see amazing detail.Will there be a discount for long-term friends of the artist?
Keep up the good work!
Loved the Picasso’s short video. Not because I like Picasso, but because of your clever intersections of his works, his actual portraits, and his works. These intersections are extremely difficult to make, let alone summarize visually in 50 seconds. By ‘these’, I am referring not only to arts works and the lives of their creators, I am actually making a global generalization to all aspects of life. Social, economic, environment, etc. Only a very select few can observe those intersections, then summarize them in a short and meaningful manner. Great work!