TBD

It is going so well. Work is hitting new highs every day. The company I work for has gone national during my tenure. And I'm one of the horses...We've got a lot of horses right now. These are all very, very good things.

The art is going well. I met with a gallery consultant, I guess you'd say. Let me back up on this one and set the table, though. My mother met a lady. She was getting some other work appraised at the ranch, and the lady saw one of my pieces and liked it.  We met, and after going through my portfolio, she said that I had potential; I just needed more work. Once I got enough pieces put together, she'd look in on me again. Potential on top of potential. So, I opened the gates and started a few more pieces, finished a couple, but I've also got a couple finding new homes, so they need to be replaced....all very good things.

The show at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame museum ends this spring. Some pieces are being moved to the National Motorcycle Museum at that time, so a whole new group will see the pieces that were accepted into that show. The curator of that show wants me to submit a motorcycle sculpture. Meaning, no promises, but more potential. It helps that I spend most Sundays working on it right beside him. This is a recent partial progress photo:

  I will also have pieces in the National Show. These are very good things.

Boom. Slightly herniated disk. In my neck, where I haven't gotten them before. Slightly herniated is relative, of course. Relative to how big of a baby I become when my neck hurts. Plus, this one comes with nasty ass headaches, muscular issues, and it jumps to a couple of other spots. Over time, I've discovered my low back is the likely source. MRI. X-rays. Back in the System. 

The dirty is an old diagnosis of spondelosthesis; a lumbar displacement type thing, Scoliosis, an old herniated disc, a lumbar herniated disc, and a synovial cyst. Back in the fuckin system.

On a new art tip, tho, I've been loving me some underpainting; a technique used by the dutch Masters to add contrast. The Pure One put me on that trail, when I saw his work last year. This piece is just a sketch, but a good example of underpainting with several fat, dark colors over a thinned out 'primer' coat:

So, OK, I've got to reset. Been there. Several times, in fact. Been thru more therapy hours than some PTs practicing. Thought I had it licked, for a minute. 

Hell with it. We got this. We've always had whatever I could let go of. Thank you for that. And for this. And for next time., 'cause I'm letttin' go of some stuff. Artin' like a fool. Posting here, more. 

Shorter posts.

Peace.

How I spent my summer

I haven't posted in a while, but fear not, big things are happening. In these times, you've just got to ride the wave the best you can. Which, in a nut shell, is how I spent my summer. 

Just over two years ago, after 26 years as a full time design professional, I went half time. I had been thinking about "brand" and what the next 25 years should look like, and possibly, the 25 after that, if they perfect that spinal replacement ray. Said reflection and thoughts took in the appropriate level of gratitude for a career that turned out to far exceed what I expected, and for an organization that made it possible. I wanted these thoughts of gratitude, and the notion of not having expectations, to frame my goals moving forward. 

When I was recovering from surgery for cancer in 2011, soon after I started this blog, I called it the year of the artist. In the years since, I've been wondering each year if I missed it, because the art experience  just keeps on getting better. My role as an Engineer gets sharper. 2014, in fact, could be the year of the artistic engineer. 

Enough babbling. More art. And gratitude. My mentor, Ric, curated the Two Wheels and a Motor show at the AMA Motorcyxle Museum; I've got nine paintings and a sculpture in the exhibition. The exhibition is being installed in the National Motorcycle Museum. I've also been working on a couple of commissions. I posted the final for 'Kona Sunset", but here it is again:

This was sold to an old friend, and I hope the good vibes resonate long.

I was asked to sculpt a figure for a good friends, of his daughter. This one is still way too early to share, but I will share the gratitude. 

My mentor and fellow bronze sculptor forged a relationship with the Columbus Idea Foundry. I, of course, plan to tag along. I went to their Open House in June, and met the founder of the Fallen Feather project, and I had to be a part of it. Then I find out the feathers are only native Ohio wood. Did I mention I'm a BRONZE sculptor...? LOL, anyway, Graham notified me of an Ohio soldier falling, Justin Helton, and I jumped in.

Step1, get the history of the soldier and await the direction of the muse. After looking at the blank, and finding what I could, I decided on a totem, with the eagle, a baseball, and his company. After finding too many different logos, I went with US Army. His name will wrap the spine of the feather. At this point, I'm hoping the grain of the wood is 'feathery'.

Step 2, remove everything not sculpture: 

Step 3, rinse, repeat, until satisfied:

Then, add his name, sand, and finish. The final sculpture was delivered Sept. 9, for installation in the Ohio Military Museum in Masillon, Ohio: 

 I'm absolutely humbled by the sacrifice of our different tribes in service of this country. I'm grateful Fallen Feather Project agreed to allow me to sculpt this. I felt like I was way over my skis throughout the arc of this piece, and I hope it serves.

More kengoodsonart to come. Peace.

kga happenings

It's funny how the word "stability" has come to be redefined over the last few years. for me, anyway. Stable person, stable job, stable life; for me, they've all changed in nature as much as in definition. The "New Normal" has turned into an amazing part time Job as an engineer, and an equally amazing nacent obsession with making stuff. 

I've spent most of 2014 painting with the goal of a solo show. In the Spring, I also started working on a sculpture of a 1918 Harley Davidson Board Track Racer. I had the opportunity to do two solo shows; I had one commitment, and was short listed for another spot. Both fell through, but that turned out for the best, as a couple of painting commissions took their place, almost immediately. A good friend asked me to paint his last vacation spot at sunset. Here's a progress photo:

 

Other opportunities are spinning around, and I'll post updates. Another good friend asked me to do a piece about he and his wife's daughter. She is adorable, and I can only pray I can capture this much cute. I've got really poorly rendered maquettes at this point, so I'll spare you.

I've been traveling a lot, doing assessments of Veteran's Administration Facilities. I'm struggling not to inflame a highly charged issue, but let me misappropriate some Chuck D. and say "don't believe the hype!" The point, for these purposes, is that these trips may have an impact on future projects, to slow play it as much as possible...I will say that I painted scenes across central Montana while a friend of mine drove. Surreal, though this work needs work. I'll post updates in the future,  though I also did this doodle of a calf waiting for his bottle feeding. It's a Rohrshach test,I know:

Finally, I've been sculpting random stuff. This is a new thing for me, and totally influenced by a number of my piers, including Ric Tewart, Walt Herrmann, and Chad Cochran. I've posted this on my page at www.facebook.com/kengoodsonart, but this is a solar powered lamp using repurposed wood and wire ( the galvanized container is just for scale):

So, in summary, I've pretty much flown off the rails... Seems  to me like it's just starting to get real...

Funding the Arts; musings on an evening with Robert Lynch

I've been very lucky. Privileged, even. I've had a great career as an engineer, building the city of Columbus. I've designed apartments, Distribution Centers for the Limited, Research Greenhouses for Ohio State, and hospitals all over the state. After having cancer, I am healed, and have even been privileged to start another career as a part time engineer and full time artist. Maybe that's why some of.  The inequities bother me. Maybe , it's much, much simpler than that, and this is just wrong. Please read the open letter below, and make up your own mind. Once your. Mind is made, though, please act:

May 1, 2014

Mayor Michael Coleman

City of Columbus

43

Anytown,

Dear Mayor Coleman,

I was privileged to be a part of the crowd for the Arts mean Business discussion. As an artist, I have long been extremely gratified by the arts focus of your administration.  The presentation last night should add much to the creative fire of this City.

I  have been a Columbus resident for almost 35 of my 53 years. I’ve worked as a Professional Engineer for 28 years, and have been taking Sculpture Classes at the Cultural Arts Center for most of the last 13 years. I’ve been fortunate to watch the Sculpture Department at the Cultural Arts Center grow into what I would consider to be the premiere program in the City. Many involved in last night's presentation, yourself included, appear to  be as committed to the faculty, and the arts in Columbus, as I am.

Yourself, Councilwoman Priscilla Tyson, and Alan McKnight made a compelling case for the arts, and funding the arts, before Mr. Lynch even made the stage. I made note of your references to the role of artists as the "Marines of Economic Development", as well as by the statistics related to the dearth of arts education in our schools and communities. You announced a new executive order, funding the arts. Mr. McKnight commented on the Center's world class teachers. As Mr. Lynch indicated, attendance AND income for the arts have risen of the last few years.

All of these statistics seem to fly in the face of recent developments at the Cultural Arts Center. Walt Herrmann, whom one would think would be the pride of the center, recently had his contract not renewed. This is an instructor, who, along with Ric Stewart, has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of sculpture at CAC. He has created one of Ohio's largest arts organizations, The Art and Artists of. I have known Mr. Herrmann for 8 years, and consider him a friend. I’ve found him to be thoughtful, articulate, and extremely talented, as well as an exceptional teacher who has inspired a huge cross section of this City who take classes at the CAC. 

I was there the day that Walter was informed that his Contract would not be renewed. I was also there on an evening when one of the CAC staff told incoming students that it was a mutual decision. I've since heard it characterized as a firing for cause, and a unilateral decision by the Director. Not having heard the conversation, all I can say is that is odd that so many different stories seem to be coming from staff. The real issue for me, however, is that the void left by his departure. To terminate Walt with no plan for his replacement is unconscionable. 

I would also like to comment about some recent staff contract discussions that I've recently gotten wind of.  My understanding is that the teaching staff is simply looking for a living wage, and to get paid for the time they spend improving the brand of  the center. and teaching Columbus residents the fine arts. I'm told that teachers at this center are paid for the three hours of class only, and any time spent burning out molds, or firing sculpture,or pouring. Bronze,is simply donated. Perhaps your administration has not been made aware of this situation, as so much has been made of arts education, and the arts focus of your staff,  that I have. A hard time believing these situations to be real. Perhaps, in your zeal to address the myriad issues involved with your vision for the arts, these apparent contradictions to the vision of the arts. In Columbus have yet to be addressed. 

Hence, the reason for my letter. If,as you promote, the arts in Columbus are to fulfill their role to improve so many aspects of our community, we need to give some love to the artists. If, there is any interest in shoring up our eroding arts education, it is time to focus on staff retention. If, in the bright shiny vision of Columbus arts, we expect the artists to be the Marines of economic development, they do need to be paid a living wage. The timing could not be better to act. If, we intend, as a community, to do more than talk, it is time.

Sincerely yours,

Ken Goodson

Engineer

Columbus resident

Artist

Colors

I've got a confession; Color, to me, can be a pretty random thing, in terms of how different people seem to relate to it. Maybe  I'm a pop artist, but for me, it's more about how the color makes the painting feel, than the actual real life color. My goal, most of the time, is to try to capture a moment in time. If I'm plein air painting on a flat grey day, with the cooler colors, comes off that way from my palette. That warm,sunny day may get some fluorescent green, bright orange, making the finished product just flaming hot.

As I've been working with a couple of other artists on a weekly basis, I've. Been rethinking some general notions of composition, or hacks. An example is how I represent grey with green, blue, purple, or brown; or in a more classical model, how the renaissance painters would underpaint with greys, blacks, sienna, to render such brilliant work. 

it's worth looking a the same piece, done one Saturday morning, from each of our  perspectives. I'm just going to set the stage this way: is it setting the scene? Does it capture an instant?

The first:

Definitely like the contrast here. Good color rendering, seems pretty accurate.

The next:

I can see this piece going a lot of directions, just from its final presentation. How it's framed could change the mood of this piece, or the artist could keep working layers, and make a totally different piece.

Last:

Three grey outhouses in the snow. Three different points in time, from the use of color. These are the things I do love about painting...