Thursday, September 10, 2009

98. Wave 2


98. Wave 2
Originally uploaded by art progress
98. Wave 2
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

I'm back.



Hi.

I'm back. I feel the need to explain my absence.

Over the Summer I have been in quite an artistic slump. Now and then I had found myself able to scratch out a painting here or there, but I haven't been able to really sustain any effort. The fall into this slump didn't feel like going off a cliff, it felt like a really gradual tumble. I could once feel painting in my bones, but then I couldn't. I felt myself gradually withdraw from art.

It was right after my show, A Ton of Bricks, came out. It felt like the end of a really huge effort. When the show was completed I felt relieved enough to put down my paintbrush for a break, but it went on and on until I didn't feel like I could paint any more.

95. What Now? is one of the paintings I made while in my slump that pretty much explains how I was feeling at the time.

95. What Now?
95. What Now?
Originally uploaded by art progress


A couple weeks ago I sat down and decided to try to paint again. I put on The Beach Boys' Surfer Girl and began to paint a wave. Then I listened to Surfin' U.S.A and finished the wave. It only took me about an hour. I've painted a couple more waves since then and I'm about to start my hundredth painting. I can kind of feel painting in my bones again. This slump has taught me that if I ever want to want to see the heights reached by great men I must keep moving and working.

96. Wave 1

Thanks for your patience while I was slumping. If you peep this last page and a half of blog, I've posted most of the A Ton of Bricks show. See you soon.

Blake

PS: Here's a review of A Ton of Bricks that was in a real newspaper!

And here's another (from a REAL newspaper!)

87. Selective Morality of the Lord

87. Selective Morality of the Lord
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

86. Cadence Weapon


86. Cadence Weapon
Originally uploaded by art progress
86. Cadence Weapon
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

81. Lauren and Boo


81. Lauren and Boo
Originally uploaded by art progress
81. Lauren and Boo
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

80. R.E. Biesinger


80. R.E. Biesinger
Originally uploaded by art progress
80. R.E. Biesinger
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

79. Jenny


79. Jenny
Originally uploaded by art progress
79. Jenny
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

78. Travis on his way


78. Travis on his way
Originally uploaded by art progress
78. Travis on his way
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

77. Imagination 4000


77. Imagination 4000
Originally uploaded by art progress
77. Imagination 4000
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

76. Two Artists


76. Two Artists
Originally uploaded by art progress
76. Two Artists
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

74. Sean Taylor Meets Punisher #1

74. Sean Taylor Meets Punisher #1
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2009

69. The Big Bang


69. The Big Bang
Originally uploaded by art progress
69. The Big Bang
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2008

68. Ira on the Street


68. Ira on the Street
Originally uploaded by art progress
68. Ira on the Street
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2008

66. My Love


66. My Love
Originally uploaded by art progress
66. My Love
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2008

65. Rene Pascal in Nepal

65. Rene Pascal in Nepal
oil on canvas
Blake Betteridge 2008