Currently I am at the beginning stages of my project and I am focusing on isolation in contemporary society.  I am in the process of finding artists that have worked with this subject in the past, like Edward Hopper.   I plan on doing a piece that consists of many small paintings, done possibly on paper or wood that would contain wires and would connect all of the pieces, but each subject would be alone in their own space. For my paper I am still trying to find the name of a photographer that took pictures in the dark and focused on light sources inside houses so I can use his pictures in my paper.  I still have a lot to do, but I am making progress even if it seems sometimes that I take two steps forward, one step back.

Long Bus Ride by Liz Austin; acrylic on panel; 48" x 24"               

Liam Gallagher once said, "It's about the music and that's it. I'm not an entertainer. But I do entertain people, see what I mean?”  This quote I hope will define the art that I am producing.  It’s about the art, but it will entertain people.  If it doesn't I guess that is just part of the art.  Nothing more than rock n roll I guess.

PacMan by Shane Ebel; mixed media

installation on upper campus

My Art has always expressed dark humor, be it sarcasm, sardonicism, or gallows humor, presented as a commentary on everyday life.  The form my art has taken is comics, a form of narrative illustration that incorporates word and image to tell a story.

Rock on!

These Men (Working Illustration) by

Mary Beth Grimm; micron pen and pantone

marker on bristol board, 7 1/2" x 12"

I like the element of conversation.  Conversation can be about anything...ANYTHING!!  It can take any form. I like the flow of a conversation between friends, "bullshitting" if you will, about nothing in particular...this can lead to unexpected subjects and stories even though you started with no particular agenda.  Why do small parts of a story trigger a completely different subject?  Could it be the mention of a particular word or could it be that the other person was just not listening...so what the heck am I talking about?  Art. What? Pay attention!  A good listener is as good as gold sometimes.

Barcelona by Jamie Lichon; acrylic on panel;

24" x 24"

At this point in the development of my work, I continue to be inspired by delicate, simple and elegant aesthetics, nature and feminine themes, and craft mediums (especially embroidery).  I also draw from work that can project universal moods as well as intimate individuality.  I hope to create beautiful and intellectual pieces that convey senses of pensiveness, humbleness and melancholia.  My pieces have a feeling of tainted contentment... this is a feeling I see personified in nature, in myself and increasingly in contemporary society.

Two Faces (detail) by Tracy Matthias;

muslin, thread & paper; 10" x 17"

Right now in my project I am trying to connect the vast array of ideas and influences that I’ve been experiencing from the beginning of this project.  Working on the subject of conversation allows for a window through which random subjects, emotions, and themes flow out and sometimes get lost in space!  I have found that working on a humorous project really isn’t that funny and is giving me trouble when trying to render simple ideas.  So how is my project going?  Well, you know—amazingly.

Shelf Life by C.J. O'Reilly; acrylic on panel; 15 " x 32 "