To a Turkish Friend

Dear Adem,

Because of people like you the old art history paradigms are breaking down more and more. Like I mentioned before, I'm coming to believe that the ancient artist drawing squares with a stick in the dirt is fundamentally no different than Frank Stella drawing squares on canvas with paint. And the caveman drawing bison on his rock wall is not fundamentally different from Chardin painting one of his still lifes. I know that they have different training and different materials and different paradigms, but the head and heart is the same.

The older I get, the more I believe that the idea of "progress" in the arts (as art historians tend to define it) is an illusion. Traveling to Turkey and seeing the ancient Anatolian art and the spectacular Ottoman architecture and design made me more sure than ever that art has always served the same intellectual and emotional needs. BUT! without a doubt something is greatly changing and that,I believe, is how we as artists see ourselves. For example, in my opinion you can, and do, draw inspiration consciously or unconsciously from thousands of years of art. One day you might do a completely abstract painting, the next day it might be from nature, the next day it might be both. Believe me, I know how annoying this can be to collectors and art critics. And here is the point - I think that the terms realism, abstract, modern, international, local, old fashioned, progressive, etc., etc., are all mistaken because they are based on the assumption of art evolving, like Darwin's theory of evolution. Darwin may work well for biology but it's meaningless as a way of describing art.

Today (in my opinion) artists with many gifts like you are now free from all labels that in the past have been useful to historians but actually have nothing to do with what you actually do and why you do it. This is a wonderful thing that has never been possible before, but it does imply a new danger. If you don't make a point of defining yourself and setting your own agenda, then critics and dealers will rush in with new categories to explain you, and the whole cycle will start again. This is one of the things I meant by turning the entire chess board over. I think we have no choice. We are the first and only generation that will have the possibility of doing this. If we don't do this, mark my words, in our life time "art" will become more and more trivial and artists like us will wind up being cranky old men muttering to ourselves by the seashore and thinking, "I should have done something, they got the labels all wrong."
Adrian

Exhibition Pressure

I’m surrounded by names like “Happy Hours,” “No Worries,” “Southern Treasures”. I’m trying to soak in all these beach house names and their pleasant themes. I’m supposed to be on vacation, relaxing and taking in the fresh smell of the salt air, not to mention the salt from the rim of my margarita glass. Nope, I’m thinking of what I should paint when I get back to the studio. With the impending show coming up, I and I think all artists, put on this self-imposed pressure to create masterpieces.

I have the most beautiful thought, a vast expanse of large, blank, freshly painted white walls of a gallery anxiously awaiting my paintings. The thought quickly turns to anxiety; how many paintings do I need? What will I paint? Should I have a theme? Does it need to be a cohesive body of work? The questions swirl in my head creating self-doubt and paralyzing my creative non-linear thought process. How can the past 15 years of painting all of a sudden be discarded as practice? With every show, not like this is my first, it is a struggle to get started. Once I realize that I’m not curing cancer, I’m not saving the world from hunger or coming up with an alternative fuel source, I can relax. Really I’m just making paintings…I’m putting my whimsical thoughts that dance in my head onto a board. I play with imagery, texture, light and color. It’s this “playing” that got me into this position in the first place; to create paintings to grace the blank white walls of the gallery.

I’ll convince myself that I have the confidence of a master and the innocence of a child to create something that someone can relate to, something that will let their own ideas swirl in their head or inspire in a way I couldn’t imagine. I’ll go back to the language of painting that I have created over the last 15 years, the skills, the things that worked, and the things that didn’t work. I’ll break my rules that I have become comfortable with while borrowing others that I find inspiring. I’m going to have fun with this. Speaking of which, I’m on vacation and I’m going to go have fun.

Cheers,

Jeff

Lunch Finale

It's good having lunch with artists - some wine, some cheese (will you have a venison burger with that?), perfect weather, green trees all around and conversation that just might change the world, or more likely supply some thoughtful lines to mull over later by yourself in the studio. Tipsy but "no worries" Leah's driving home.

After our art meal started winding down, Jamie and Marie had to leave because of a previous commitment. Rhoda and Mike, Leah and I decided to see what Jeff was up to in his studio.

When you've had a bottle (or two) of Spanish wine, his flagstone walkway is not the easiest to negotiate. Once inside, I sobered up faster than an ice water bath. The paintings Jeff has been working on are stunning. One in particular made me gasp. It was of his wife, Desiree. She was painted larger than life, glowing with golden colors, arms resting on a table and completely surrounded with a vivid inky blackness that only the encaustic technique can manage; believe me I know, I've tried many times with oil paint. No gold or diamonds could be as priceless as this enveloping blackness that held all possibilities and promised everything.

Part of my esteem for this painting came, of course, from respect for the technical achievement. But several glasses of wine and Jeff's skill alone could not account for the awe this painting inspired. The reason in a way is simple, though art history scholars will start backing out of the room at this point. With preternatural skill he has fashioned a portrait of his wife into an arrow of meaning that simultaneously strikes both the head and heart. This most intimate of paintings has, paradoxically, a universal quality. It's a marriage of analytical and intuitive, logic and poetry.

P.S. Of course, no repro can have the punch of an original, this is especially true for encaustic work. As far as Jeff Schaller's painting goes it's simply impossible. If you want to see Desiree's portrait you have to travel to West Chester, PA this fall. I assure you it will be worth it.

------Adrian Martinez

lunch continued...

Brownies...did I say that? Leah's double chocolate brownies certainly rocked. I already put in my order for yummy Yellow Springs Farm goat cheese for the opening....now at least I can check one thing off my list. So did anyone really paint after that lunch? I had good intentions to work in my studio...but it was awfully hot in there.

So, I think I want to buy one more kiln. A big one. Not for the brownies of course, but I keep making pieces that don't fit into my existing kilns....funny problem...perhaps I need a new tape measure instead......naaaa...I'll get the kiln.

Hasta luego
Rhoda

A Luncheon to Take Over the Art World

Ok so this is not going to be a surprise attack since I am blogging about it. It is my way of giving everyone warning that we are gathering; we are creating and we are coming to a gallery near you!

The well attended lunch was launched yesterday. The artists in suspect were; Adrian Martinez local hero and classical painter, Rhoda Kahler with her fast acting, energetic fury of sculptural accomplishments, Jamie Paxson man of all trades with the skill and patience to see any project to completion and myself Jeff Schaller painter, entertainer and host. We were all equipped with our very patient sidekicks (aka our spouses) that graciously smiled as we rambled and dissected intellectual thoughts.

The wine flowed as we discussed the best ways to make everyone aware of our gallant efforts in the studio. We discussed ideas on what we wanted to accomplish and what we could accomplish. Rhoda suggested brownies for the opening, having tasted the salad she brought this is an accomplishable task. Jamie told us about his recent trip to Spain and how he snapped some pictures of unusual juxtapositions. Adrian’s wish list of accomplishments is to sell a painting in Dubai for $2 million dollars. Considering the show is at West Chester University and I’m not sure about their foreign exchange program, this is still something to aim for. I, on the other hand reached for another piece of that farm fresh goat cheese and reconfirmed the deadlines in which we had to get everything done by, November 10^th.

— Jeff Schaller