Receiving one of ten merit awards (and $500) at the Parkin Drawing Prize last night was a good way to start the week.

In talking about my work 24 Drawings, Head Judge Kelcy Taratoa made reference to my artist’s statement and the phrase, “Keep churning them out”. Here’s the full, and very short, statement:

Smushed oil stick slips and sticks, resists and gives. Push here, drag there. Push there, drag here. “Keep churning them out”, he said. And he wasn’t wrong.

I’ll post a full picture of the entire work in time, but here’s half a dozen of the 24 drawings. Meanwhile, if you’re in town do get along to see all the finalists’ work. Consensus last night was that it’s a really strong show, and there really is something for everyone.

24 Drawings (detail)
oil stick on A3 Kraft paper
2018

acrylic on A2 watercolour paper

Two more unpossible objects / imknowable forms. I’m particularly liking the movement in the bottom drawing. It has a lightness and vigour, and feels nicely balanced. The top work, in comparison, feels unresolved though quite how it needs to be progressed I’m uncertain. For now I’m happy leaving it as is.

One of the things I’m exploring with these drawings / works on paper is finding points where I’m uncomfortable with what I’ve made. I’m trying to push the drawings into places I wouldn’t normally go, to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and part of that includes leaving works unresolved.

You know we want to look at paintings. If you walk into a group show your eye doesn’t go to the thing you understand, it doesn’t go the the thing you like – I love apples. That’s a fantastic painting of apples. I can almost taste them! – We don’t do that. It’s the thing that confounds us. You know, What the hell is that? Why would anyone do that? That is so fucked up, you know. And you look at it. And you think about it and sometimes that’s really the stuff… If there’s something we are going to love… that’s going to be the route to it.

– Thomas Nozkowski

Transcribed from a video interview from 2012.

I did some painting:

Acrylic on A3 watercolour paper

The top work reminds me of some of Phillip Guston’s drawings, which is no bad thing.

I read this article – What Happens When a Computer Runs Your Life.

Max Hawkins

I wish the article went deeper but having used and been interested in the random for my practice this is fascinating. Find the guy’s website here: maxhawkins.me

I rewatched this:

Webstock '11: Merlin Mann - Scared Shitless: How I Learned to Love Being Afraid of Pretty Much Everything from Webstock on Vimeo.

Webstock ‘11: Merlin Mann - Scared Shitless: How I Learned to Love Being Afraid of Pretty Much Everything otherwise known as The one where Merlin cries.

I listened to the Stone Roses a lot:

And this, from the Guardian, made me smile. (Did you have Panini stickers in NZ?)

And don’t forget there’s a new gallery opening in town tonight – Millers O’Brien.

I know Jhana and Laila have been working their arses off to make this happen. It’s been a long and crazy ride so it’s great to see things come to fruition. Launching both the gallery and their first exhibition, the doors open at 5pm. You can find the gallery at Level 1, Mibar Building, 85 Victoria Street (It’s the building Lido cafe is in, with the doorway between Lido and Vessel). It’s great there’s another galley in town so do pop in and support them and their artists.

Have a great weekend!

Acrylic on A3 watercolour paper