"300 Plates"

Please Join Us at the 10th Annniversary of the 300 Plates Fundraiser and Exhibition! Fundraiser Event: Thursday, May 17th, 6 - 9 PM Preview: May 14 - 17                 Mon. & Tues., 10 AM - 6 PM                 Wed. and Thurs. 10 AM - 5 PM Registration Information: $25 through May 13 $35 May 14 - 17 and at the door REGISTER ONLINE NOW BY CLICKING HERE Where: Art Access/VSA Utah 230 South 500 West #125 Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 801-328-0703 http://www.accessart.org What is 300 Plates? 300 Plates is the annual Art Access fundraiser and exhibition. Now in its 10th year, this signature event presents unique artwork that is both affordable and highly collectible, created by approximately 130 established and emerging artists from the local community. Using 11 x 10 inch plates (either aluminum, galvanized steel or plexiglas), each artist prepares small works in their recognizable style. Finished plates include everything from landscape to assemblage to pop art to photographic emulsion and more. During the fundraiser and month-long exhibition the plates are hung in the Art Access Gallery, creating a kaleidoscope of one-of-a-kind artwork. This year a small selection of plates from previous years will also be on sale. As one of the 130 artists, I have created and submitted three plates.  On the plate entitled "Homage," I have actually included seven paintings in the style of seven of my favorite artists with quotes by these artists on the reverse side.

Take a Look at me No -ow -ow!

Jerry Hardesty, White-Headed, No Glasses

When we moved to Utah, I had to list my hair color on my driver license.  I was only 50 at the time, and uncertain if it should be gray or white. The agent informed me, definitely white.  I didn't have a chance as I started graying at age 16. Ouch! Oh well, white hair is a sign of wisdom...  though I never thought of myself as being wise. I'm looking pretty good for a senior citizen.  I no longer have to wear glasses (after 50 years) for distance - let's not talk about reading.  And I've dropped almost 20 pounds in the past year; but thank God I'm not down to my high school weight of 115.

TMI?  As the young people would say. You could delete me, but please don't. If I'm to interest you in my art and I hope I do, I thought it imperative to share my journey. Don't worry, I'm not going to give you a complete chronological review. Just the highlights.  f it's too much, you can respond with a comment, but only if it's positive.  

First, I have to say I'm very proud of my wife, three kids, their spouses, and the six grandkids. Pam and I met on a blind date in Kansas City, Missouri and were married six months later. We've moved a lot, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Nebraska, and now Utah.  I've had several careers... 13 years as a band and choir teacher, 2 years in the music industry, 25 years as a Manager with Union Pacific Railroad, and now...  drum roll please, an artist.  I'm a surviror... having suffered two heart attacks and two strokes in 2006.  This allowed me to claim disability and therefore take up painting to combat depression.  

As an artist, I label myself as an abstract expressionist.  I first painted landscapes but became easily bored. I switched to abstracts about four years ago and love it.  I've had a number of shows and exhibited in several galleries, the latest being House Gallery in Salt Lake City.  Am I making any money?  Hell no, I'm not even making expenses.  But other than Pam, who cares?  The journey is the fun and the challenge.  I'm lovin' it!

Balancing Creativity vs Business

Green, © by Jerry Hardesty, Acrylic & Cement,

10x10 on panel

Okay, I have "creativity" covered.  I spend time each day in the studio...  painting.  When I'm not painting, I'm thinking about it...  thinking about the next canvas, or in my studio that would be several canvases at once.  Thinking about experimenting with a different technique, material, or different tool to create texture... my latest material being cement (see image "Green"), and my favorite tool a trowel used by tilers.

For me, I find the business side of art to be difficult and challenging.  Ironic, isn't it...  I spent over 25 years in the business world of corporate America.  Now, I'm going back to Business 101 (never actually previously had that course), but you're already ahead of me.  I've read several books, among them Alyson B. Stanfield's I'd rather be in the studio.  Guess what?  I would.  Oh wait, I haven't left...  my computer is in my studio.  But I'm not painting, I'm blogging.  Oh well.  I've created a business plan and both short and long-term goals (at my age, they cannot be too long-term... just kidding).  Weekly, I create a task list which I transfer to my calendar so I can see on any given date what I need to do that day.  I've got spreadsheets!  Spreadsheets, gee, now that is definitely the business side of making art!  The bottom line, I am getting more organized.  I'm juggling my priorities and tipping the scales to create balance. 

"Resonance" at House Gallery

"Wrapped," Mixed Media - Cement, Wire Mesh, Twine, Acrylic, Canvas Strip, 10x10 on Panel

I have created a series of 10x10's for my show "Resonance" to run from April 3 through April 28 at House Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah.  I adopted the use of cement from an artist on Facebook.  I thought long and hard as to how the use of cement could complement my other works for the show.  "Wrapped" is just a teaser - come see the rest of the show.  These 10x10's are my smallest pieces.  The largest is 36x48.

Lest I forget, the Artist Reception is from 6 to 9 pm, on Friday, April 20.  See you there!

Performance Painting, "Tango"

Painting live with an audience can be quite challenging.  My focus on February 17, 2012 was to finish a painting that would satisfy not only me but also the audience.  I accomplished both these goals.  When I painted "Chameleon" for South Towne Orators (see previous post), I did not finish as I had too much interaction with the audience.  At DF Dance Studio in Salt Lake City during Gallery Stroll, I had one hour in which to complete my painting; therefore, I asked the audience to hold questions and comments until the end.  I could have talked more as I painted but I was "in the zone" and focused on a finished painting.

I first drew spontaneous marks on my 36x48 canvas with charcoal, and explained that as I added paint these would bleed and that they could be covered with paint.  My purpose was to energize the canvas and to have something to look at other than a white-painted canvas.  I then applied acrylic cobalt blue paint with my gloved hands.  I used all the blues I had in addition to the cobalt: cerulean, light blue, ultramarine, phthalo, also dioxazine purple, red and white.  Blue is my favorite color followed by yellow.  I did not want to use yellow as combined with blue would create green which would dominate the painting.  I also used a tempera blue.  I use water and various tools to create textures and interest.  

After taking comments and questions, as a finale I squeezed sweeping lines of white and blue from their tubes (one fan called this     my signature)...    I titled the painting "Tango," afterall we wer at DF       Dance Studio...  Watch for the video.

Chameleon

At a weekly Toast- masters meeting, I painted a live, action per- formance painting and gave a pre- sentation along with it.  Because there was so much audience interaction, I was unable to finish.  I started with a white canvas, 36x36 on which I drew some haphazard lines with charcoal.  I concluded with the painting you see here.

I felt the painting was unfinished and I was unsatisfied with it.  I therefore brought it to my home studio and proceeded to lighten it.  If you look closely you may be able to see the charcoal lines beneath the paint.  I tried to preserve some of the elements of the painting.  See the blue on the left and the yellow shape on the right.

I further lightened the painting by scraping and wiping and using several techniques.  Note the blue on the left and the yellow shape on the right.  Finally, as you'll see in the next image, I had to give them up.

I had scraped back quite a bit of paint which was a dark brown due to all the pigments mixed together.  I then used this brown to highlight some of the charcoal lines underneath the paint.  I then painted within the confines of these lines.

Tada!  The finished painting became a chameleon as it went through several changes.  Note that I used scraping, dripping, and texturing to create....


Chameleon, Oil, 36x36.

Watch for the video to follow sometime next week.

www.JerryHardestyFineArt.com

Take 5

Take 5, Oil, 36x36.




I have been asked to paint live...  a performance, action piece.  At first, I was somewhat reluctant as I've previously never done this.  I then thought I needed to see others paint live.  I watched an LA artist friend, Vera Aruntyunyan and became enthralled.  I then went on to Youtube and watched other performance painters.

I began to practice in the studio without an audience.  I next wanted a small audience and drafted a group of some artist friends.  There were five of them.  I took approximately an hour to create the painting posted here and named it "Take 5" in their honor.

I painted with my hands (using latex gloves for protection).  As I talked about what I was doing, we shared back and forth.  Occasionally, I asked the group for suggestions... color choices primarily.  Their involvement added to the excitement.

Now, I am still getting prepared for the big performance on March 3.  I would like to do one for a non-artist group.  In the meantime, I do feel more prepared than before and I will continue to practice with or without an audience.  I need to videotape a performance; however, don't have a video camera.