Artist R.L. Gibson

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Artist R.L. Gibson

Tag: Xerox Art

FAMILY PHOTOS

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Click to learn more about the Do I Know You? series by Xerographist RLGibson!…and
FAMILY
HISTORY

I have spent the last few weeks gathering family photos to get a little planning done for DIKY –since most of the hand-drawn patterns are completed.  And as I sit and look into the collective face of my family, I find an almost overwhelming responsibility to get it right…

For me.  For them. 

 

For the ones I never knew.  For the ones that will never know.  The key is to not get so  bogged down in the responsibility that my ability to work creatively is paralyzed.

But, the faces… I cannot escape the faces.

Do I Know You? by Xerographist, R.L. Gibson

The Tārā Project

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Pieces of Me Ayra Tara by Artist R.L. Gibson!…om

 

I am not Buddhist but have a love of the idea of the Buddhist princess Tara.  Within Tibetan Buddhism, Tārā is regarded as a Bodhisattva of compassion and action.  Tara has 21 primary emanations, each of which performs different activities such as giving, diligence, the difficult, peace, patience and so forth.

Legend has it that she was urged to try to be reborn as a male, but she rejected that notion opting to pursue complete enlightenment as a woman.  And if you read the Praise of 21 Taras, you’ll understand how she became the inspiration for this little known work Pieces of Me: Ayra Tara (2007).  Aesthetically, this piece was a failure for me.  But, I never re-edited this piece because I came to realize that I didn’t make it to show.   It was and is personal.

A dual reminder that we are equipped to conquer all…
but all in due time.

Gluttony x 2

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Gluttony attempt 2 by Artist R.L. Gibson…AD NAUSEUM

A couple of weeks ago, I published both the original and the final of Gluttony: The World’s Fattest Woman from the Psychomachia series.  And I appreciate the feedback I received.  Several people have asked if there were MORE gluttony images.  There are.  In fact, I finished the Gluttony piece last in the series because I just kept trying and then changing my mind.

The image at left was the second attempt–just after the circus tent piece.  If you look closely, you’ll note an apple tattoo on the right hip.  I thought it would be a subtle Adam & Eve reference providing the religious tie-in to the seven deadly sins.  But, the longer I looked at it, the more subtle it seem to become.

Gluttony attempt 3 by Artist R.L. GibsonSo, I went back to the proverbial, read ubiquitous, drawing board–enter the ACTUAL apple.  In a humorous nod to stock photography, I added a heart-shaped bite mark in the apple.  I liked this piece for about 5 minutes.   I trudged through other versions that were never edited, or even saved.

Sometimes I remind myself that while taking pretty pictures would be easier, I would never be at peace with a pretty picture.

I would never sleep
with all the ugly images
tumbling around in my head.

PIXELS or paper?

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My Fair Lady by Artist R.L. Gibson, 2008decisions
DECISIONS
decisions

As much as I love the physical process of transferring images to canvas, the guts of my work happen as a part of DIGITAL collage.  Since the actual quality of the photograph isn’t my first concern, the photo shoots are all about capturing the content.  So, once again, the REAL STUFF happens in the collage process.  When I tripped across the Call below, I thought maybe I should mix it up occasionally and do a little hands-on collage work.  I wonder if it would alter the way I approach digital collage.  Hmmm…

This piece (above left), dubbed My Fair Lady, is one of a collection of found-object assemblage/collage pieces completed years ago at the request of a retail store in Gatlinburg.  This show (below) is a free entry and an all-hung exhibit.  Sounds like a no-risk opportunity.  Check it out, maybe this one will work for you too…

Learn more about the Collage and Mail Art show!CALL for ENTRIES:
Mail Art/Collage Art

ELIGIBILITY: All artists

MEDIA: Collage & Assemblage Art (newspaper, ribbons, papers, artwork, texts, photographs & other objects on paper/canvas) –per the call.

DEADLINE:  September 10, 2014

ENTRY FEE:  None

AWARDS:  All works will be exhibited online at http://collage–art.blogspot.com & at Tymutopiyapres in Lviv, Ukraine.

Interested? Read the Call at AAAD!

Gluttony: Before & After

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Gluttony by Artist R.L. GibsonLOSING
it

My intent is to offer my point of view with a nod to the humorous.  I can’t help my Southern passive-aggressive upbringing.  I was taught that lessons are easier learned if you wrap them in fluff that makes them easier to swallow.  And…

It would seem that I will never be able to shake the notion.

 

But, I HAVE noticed a change.  The first image is Gluttony: World’s Fattest Woman, as it hung when Psychomachia opened.  The image below, was my first attempt (that has since been destroyed).

Gluttony first attempt by Artist R.L. GibsonThis circus tent version that I started with certainly had a great sense of humor, but I didn’t love it.  This piece was a turning point for me.  it was missing a religious reference, and THAT is what forced me to make a second attempt.  But as I began trying to re-conceive this piece, I realized that the real problem was that it was simply too obvious.

I’m not good at subtle,
(except by Southern standards)
but I’m getting better…