Why I have decided to get my MFA in Illustration instead of Fine Arts

Watching a show on recent modern artists on PBS inspired me in a way that was probably very unintentional by the producers of the show. It showcased Paul McCarthy, Cindy Sherman, and Yinka Shonibare (his art was the best of the three, actually, and Cindy Sherman had some interesting pieces that I have, in the past, responded to positively). The artist that did it for me was Paul McCarthy. Watching his improved "performance" of two guys yelling at each other and knocking things over, and listening to him talk about feces and dildos really brought back a flood of bad memories of my last few years of art classes in San Francisco, having to listen to people go on about their fava bean paintings, postmodern this, signify that... going to see BAD performance art, being sent links of people crapping in clear plastic underwear by mentors, and just generally realizing that, as a working class suburban woman I really was just too practical and down to earth to be able to not think that so much of conceptual art SUCKS. And is a huge waste of energy. That it rarely challenges anyones ideas or preconceived notions and that it's extremely immature and retro to think that there are still preconceived notions in the artworld today to challenge.

So I got to thinking, and talking, and googling, and thinking some more. And the conclusion that I have come to is that I must get an advanced degree in Illustration. As I am a practical person with practical concerns, and I need a JOB. And the idea of trying to somehow make my very practical down to earth art fit into some conceptual 1980's postmodern (can we move on from this now, please?) ideals in order to get into an MFA program, and then trying to get hired as an Art instructor at the college level, and then having to hear the bullcrap that will be coming out of students mouths, and trying not to roll my eyes and gack, just seemed impossible and not that desirable.

And I got to picturing what I really thought would make me happy. And that is to make art. To make pictures. And maybe to see those pictures in print. And have them be about something. Tell a story or represent something. Because I'm blue collar. And I need to go to work every day and actually work. I need to get my hands dirty and stay busy all day long, and not sit there dreaming up some heady intellectual bullshit that's already been done a thousand times before, which will never ever make any difference to anyone. So there you have it. I'd rather be decorating fast food bags than putting up some video art in the SFMOMA. So that is what I shall do.

Now I just need to go about finding a program, applying for it, applying for student aid, and hoping I get in.

So thank you, Paul McCarthy. For 50 foot tallk inflatable Santa Claus holding a dildo has inspired me NOT to go into Fine Arts. I cannot thank you enough! (Actually, I have to admit that the 2 story tall inflatable dog poop does amuse me a bit)

Flying

Illustration Friday - Infnite (2)

2nd try. I think I will do it again in watercolor, though, as I don't like the way it came out in Photoshop. It's hard to color in pen and ink done by hand.

INFINITE - "Stephen Colbird" - Illustration Friday

This week's Illustration Friday topic is "Infinite", and for some reason I immediately thought of Stephen Colbert's portrait within a portrait within a portrait. Although it's not infinite, it could be...

Here we have Stephen Colbird preening in his portrait within a portrait within a portrait before his fireplace. I did this quickly last night and would like to fix it up all fancy with color and such tonight. The scanner at work cut off the left side.

More birds

animated gif

Birds

Published Illustration - Book Cover

I'm a published illustrator. Here is the final copy that was published.

Here is the previous version:

Hoard (Illustration Friday)

An oldie but a goodie "The Cat Hoarder" -

Illustration Friday - Seed

This is a drawing of a California Poppy that I did last weekend while at Cascade Canyon with my Field Study Illustration class. I am not that thrilled with it and think I could have done much better. But here it is.

Illustration Friday - "Homage"

This is an homage to Joan Miro, Paul Klee, and Piet Mondrian. An homage. Done in watercolor.

Heavy part II

With or without shadow? I kinda like it better without shadow!

Heavy - Illustration Friday Theme

Heavy - Spider is too heavy for the leaf.

Quick little sketch. Spider needs a shadow and maybe there should be a web somewhere. I will go back and add details. But whatevs! Enjoy.

LEAP

Illustration Friday - "Choose"

This is my latest Illustration Friday entry. Click on my blog for other new posts with new illustrations! Thanks.

choose

न्यू स्तुफ्फ़

Blanket

This weeks Illustration Friday topic is "Blanket". I've always loved the decorative blankets they put on elephants in colonial Indian. I'm sure it wasn't fun for the elephant. But the decorative aspects of it are great.

Illustration Friday - Extremes

This weeks Illustration Friday topic is "Extremes". I can't believe it's been almost a year since I posted on Illustration Friday. I guess I have been very very busy. I check it every Friday and keep meaning to post to it.

In any case, here are my submissions for this weeks topic - A couple of drawings from my Fashion Illustration class. I thought they fit the topic very well, since they are exaggerated.

Wind (Illustration Friday)

Two tries at this weeks topic. One in my monoprint class and another with watercolor. The monoprint didn't quite work because the second plate I put down didn't cover the bug. Oh well. I am new at monoprint and will keep trying.

Monoprint:






Watercolor: