Smrvl.com // Redeeming Art

The Apple Fell, by Tommy Cleveland

Feb 2, 2010 Uncategorized Leave a comment

This is the kind of work that makes me want to paint more, and better.

Thanks for being awesome, Tommy.

If I were really smart…

Jan 27, 2010 Sketchbook Leave a comment

If I were really smart, I’d schedule my day so that all the creative work went on in the morning when I’m afire with energy and ideas. And then in the afternoon (especially after 3:00) I’d do boring work and listen to an audiobook. That would be really smart.

I did do one smart thing recently, though … took Tommy up on his suggestion of compositing together a preview image of what a finished painting would look like. Although I think he meant it more literally, I took it in a somewhat impressionistic direction and created something pretty scattered. Still, I’d love to share it with you.

For the ongoing Eyes to See project:

And with the sketch overlayed…

Your thoughts and comments warmly welcomed!

Ex simplex ad decorus

Jan 22, 2010 Sketchbook Leave a comment

Any time you want to try a new idea out, translate it to latin. It makes it sound way cooler and more official.

I’ve had stupendous conversations with Casey lately about art, and as a result, I’ve been trying to sort out what really matters to me in my own work. What do I do well, and what makes me feel like I’ve succeeded with a piece?

Hence, the latin in the title. I was talking to God this morning, asking Him for help to sort out what it is that I bring to a piece, and where I wound up was the idea of “Progressive revelation from the simple to the beautiful.” I love taking something basic, like a scribble, and adding to it until it becomes something recognizable, emotional, complex.

So that’s what I’m exploring… “From the simple to the beautiful.” “Ex simplex ad decorus.”

And the really cool thing is, it’s helping me see the gospel more clearly too… getting to  know God seems to me to be a progressive revelation from the simple to the beautiful.