Site just launched and still under construction - 14 Jan 2012
Will update much more this weekend... so please come back!

#02 - Overlapping Curves and Shapes

 

Red Chairs ~ Ed Buziak (1977)

I have been drawing seats, sofas and chairs since studying at art college in the early ’60s. I have also been reworking some old ideas including this drawing dating from 1977. I can’t remember who the furniture designer was (Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni perhaps?) but I liked the curves very much and the sometimes smooth, sometimes confusing mélange of overlapping shapes.

In this working study the shapes on the paper background were drawn with a soft 4B lead pencil whilst the overlapping shapes on semi-opaque tracing paper were drawn in red and yellow crayon. Using a semi-opaque overlay I was able to make drastic changes in the overall design by rotating the support through one or more 90 degree steps - or even reversing the tracing paper - and also make slight changes with millimeter by millimeter shifts in vertical, horizontal and/or diagonal alignment.

Image © 1977 Ed Buziak

#01 - Art College Exercise

Abstract ~ Ed Buziak (Untitled, 1963, 20” x 30”)

I originally posted this abstract painting from my art college 1963 year on a couple of Tumblr sites thought to use it again to illustrate an interesting article on Tyler Tyrvooren’s "Advanced Riskology" site “How Long Does it Take to Create a Masterpiece?” in which he writes…

“…it’s an innocent question and the person asking is just curious how long it takes a professional to create something they can’t imagine creating themselves. Sometimes, though, the question isn’t so innocent… it’s a criticism of an artist’s work. It’s meant as an underhanded way to say, “That’s so simple. I could have made that myself in an hour.” Rude, no doubt, but people do ask.

Far more interesting than the question, though, is the answer. An artist who’s unsure of himself and his work might answer something like, “Oh, it took me about 2 hours, and I used 2 tubes of paint. I screwed up once, so I had to buy a new canvas. It cost about $20.” On the other hand, the artist that’s confident in his work recognizes the question and simply answers, “My whole life.”

Image © 1963 Ed Buziak