The August Struggle

After a bit of a hiatus, I am back in the studio and gearing up for my October show at the Georgetown Art Center here in Seattle. Since completing my term in the Painting & Drawing Atelier at Gage, I've been wrestling with big questions about my art.

What do I want it to embody? How do I want it to look? What methods do I want to employ in its creation?

I can't say that I've answered even one of those questions, but I've got enough of a handhold to move forward. What I do know is that I am not satisfied making strictly Realist art. Realism and representation are central to my artistic view, and I have no interest in discarding them. Yet, as a product of the A.D.D. world of digital postmodernism, I want my art to be both stylistically dynamic and philosophically sound. To that end, I am currently working on reintegrating some of the more disparate elements of my art. I hope that with some effort, I can push my art to the point where it can simultaneously engage with the visceral beauty of the observed world, the mysterious poetry of dreams, and the analytical complexity of the inner landscape.

Of course, I intend to always leaven that dense mixture with a healthy dose of Dada-infused absurdity and good, old-fashioned gallows humor.

I know that's a tall order, but a fella's gotta dream.

So, now I'm off to the studio to try to make that dream a reality... one brushstroke at a time.

Volunteer Park Gatehouse study

Oil on canvas board
9"x12"
Sold

I painted this study in two afternoon sessions at Seattle's Volunteer Park. The gatehouse, just off stage right, is a stone tower that reminds me of something out of New York City. The barbwire fence surrounds a circular reservoir, which was originally built to supply water for fire control after the Great Seattle Fire.

I learned this neat bit of trivia from Larry, the reservoir guard. He phoned into HQ to make sure that it was alright for me to be painting where I was. I think that Larry was secretly thrilled to have something to do and someone to with whom to pass the time of day.

A Tree Through the Seasons

The images below show, in order, the front, inside, and back of a wedding invitation. The clients, who are dear friends and avid gardeners, requested that the invitation depict an apple tree in various stages of the year. I designed the invitation with an unorthodox construction that provided the recipient with a novel and unrepeatable opening experience. Upon arrival, the invitation was sealed and bore no words. A string had been embedded discreetly in the front page with a tab instructing the recipient to pull it. As the string was pulled, it tore the paper, creating a door that revealed the inner portion of the invitation and transformed winter into summer. (In this version names and personal information have been purged) The client was very happy, and the invitations created a quite a stir among their friends.

The First Thursday

The Prince Fool
Intaglio, Ink, Watercolor, Gouache, and Acrylic on Paper with Stitchwork and Antique Frame
7"x5"
Sold

Tonight will be the inaugural 1st Thursday Art Walk for our studio. Drop by anytime between 6 and 9. I'll be holding it down with Jason Sho Green. We're in the 619 Western Building on the South side of the 6th floor.

I'm All Ears...

Cast of Ears
Charcoal on Paper

Over the years I have been incrementally improving my game. In time, I intend to be a A-1, ironclad, all-boxes-checked, fully annotated, every-dime-accounted-for Businessman. Right now, that means tackling one of my organizational nemeses-- the mailing list.

To that end, I have created a new email account to use exclusively for mailings. I'll only be using it for show notifications, open-studio announcements, and other related items. I solemnly swear that I will not email pictures of cute kittens, links to YouTube videos of people falling down, or any other drivel.

SO... if you'd like to be added to the list, send an email to:

McDevittmailinglist@yahoo.com

Use the subject 'add me,' and I'll do just that. If you'd like to receive show postcards, please include your snail mail address in the body of the message.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for your support.

First is the worst. Second is the best. Third is the one-- well you know the rest.

I'm happy to say that Billy Howard selected my painting More and Then Some as the Second Place winner of the Still Life category in the Best of Gage Show. At the award ceremony, the Kang-O'Higgins Atelier was rolling strong. My studiomates won First Place in Landscape (Jason Sho Green), Third Place Figurative (Aaron Hart), First Place Sculpture (Tamara Stephas), and the People's Choice award (Tenley DuBois). As you can see, the air at the ceremony was so charged with emotion that it actually became blurry. It was something to behold.

I also recently had the pleasure of being awarded the Second Place prize in the Seattle Co-Arts scholarship competition. Officially there is only one prize, but when they feel it is necessary they petition the board for the creation of a second award. Of course First Place has its own panache, but it's pretty flattering to have an award created just for you.

The Best of Gage

Tonight is the opening for the Best of Gage show at Gage Academy of Art. There will be a ton of work from the entire Gage community. Special guest juror Billy Howard of Howard House Gallery will present prizes. There will also be artist demos as well as free food and booze.

Did I mention free food and booze?

Gage Academy of Art
1501 10th Ave. E
Seattle, WA

6:00PM to 9:00PM

Miscellany

After nearly nine months at Gage I am considering selling my life drawings by the pound... please remember to write down your PLU on the tags provided.

Cast of Hermes Praxiteles

Pigeon

Randy

Ruth

Apocalypse Now! (and a little more later)

Despite the Damage He Could Recognize His Own Face
Acrylic on Panel
12"x 24"
Available

As the days grow longer and Spring turns to Summer, people all across America are thinking about one thing-- the Apocalypse.
Flowers. Sunshine. Hellfire. Plagues. It's pretty much a matched set.
To celebrate this festive season, I'll be taking part in Ouch My Eye's June show, Apocalypse Now. I'll be including Still Life with Hellmouth, Still Life with Virgin Mary, and the painting above, which is part of the Lost in the Park Series.
Looking past the cookouts, camping trips, and rivers of fire, Fall is beginning to show her colors. In October I'll be having a solo show at the Georgetown Art center. I'll be branching out from the work that I've been doing at Gage, pushing for more ambiguous space and using composite elements. Like my 2005 October show, On Dark Ground, I'll be dealing with themes of memory, mortality, and the connections between the past and the present.
So, come down to scenic SoDo on June 13 and help ring in the new season with a bit of apocalyptic cheer.

Letters from the Inquisition

For some time now I've been meaning to start a second blog. Feel Free to Wander is dedicated primarily to displaying my work, publicizing events, and generally keeping folks informed about my whereabouts. I've made it a general rule to only post images that are my own. There are a few exceptions, but mostly I've limited myself to linking to images that belong to other people. Likewise, I've tried to keep the rambling and meandering to a minimum. While I've been quite happy with the results, I've had a nagging desire expand a little. I'd like to post interesting photos, write some essays, share the occasional poem, and tell a few stories. Furthermore, I'd like to be able to display and discuss the work of my peers and predecessors (properly linked and credited, of course).
To this end, I have begun work on Letters from the Inquisition. I'll be looking to blogs like Hungry Hyaena, Bioephemera, and Monkeys For Helping for inspiration. I'll be continuing to post about my work here, so please do keep stopping by.

New Digs

My time at Gage is coming to an end. While I hope to continue taking classes and workshops, I will be leaving the Drawing & Painting Atelier in just over a month. As one thing comes to a close, however, something new begins to open. With the arrival of summer, I move into a new studio on the 6th floor of the 619 Western Building in historic Pioneer Square. I'll be sharing the space with Jason Sho Green, a sculptor named Mathew, Ryann Donelly of Schoolyard Heroes, and her mother, Linda.

The space is open, bright, and airy with an entire wall of windows. The floors are beat up hardwood, and everything has an industrial feel. The building is a warren of studios and gallery spaces. It gets a great turn-out every 1st Thursday during the Pioneer Square Gallery Walk. We also have a sound-proof recording booth (structure with door above) that was left to us by the former tenant (a music producer whose name I am supposed to know but can't remember).

My space is next to the windows. It has a great view. I look forward to painting the ivy-choked buildings shown above. The smaller of the two is actually slanting at a remarkable angle.

Here you can see how the camouflage of the wild Sho Green allows it to blend into its native habitat.

So, stand back kids, there's gonna be some art goin' down.

"A Dialog from the McDevitt Show"

[As related in an email from Curtis Bathurst]

Three people in their late 50s and 60s wander to the back of the gallery.

Person 1: Is it snow?

Person 2: It could be snow.

Person 3: It could be snow or it could be sand.

Person 1: It says, "Return to distance."

Person 3: It could be snow on the sand, too. This guy has on special shoes.

Person 2: I wonder if there was a computer used.

Fog & Other Mysteries

Artist's Reception
Friday May 2nd
6-9PM
Gallery 070, Vashon

This evening is the opening of my new show at Gallery 070 on Vashon Island. In addition to the requisite food and booze, my opening will feature the mysterious musettes and foggy tangos of Maggie Kim on the accordion and the incredible voice of Maeg O'Donoghue-Williams as she performs traditional Javanese songs and original compositions. While you are out on Vashon, you can enjoy the rest of the first Friday art walk featuring... more food, booze, and music!

Also, my show is included on the Vashon Studio tour, which will be going on Saturday and Sunday of this both weekend and the next.

Here is the artist statement that accompanies the paintings:

The paintings in this show are from the series ‘Fog & Other Mysteries,’ which explores the mysterious within the mundane. The work, all of which is new, is executed in both oils and acrylics. I made numerous preliminary studies, drawing on a combination of direct observation, photographic reference, and imagination. It is my first major return to oil painting in five years, and the first time that I have combined oils with extensive acrylic underpainting.

When I began ‘Fog & Other Mysteries’ I intended to create a series of monochromatic paintings that used tone and atmosphere to evoke a sense of light and space. My goals, as you can see, changed significantly between conception and completion. My initial sketches focused on scenes of fog, snow, and dusk, and it was from these images that the series earned its name. As I worked, the series grew to encompass a range of imagery far wider than the original dim scenes. The sunny fields, craggy heights, and ramshackle greenhouses that emerged pushed me to open my palette, increase the size of my canvases, and create the work that hangs before you.

‘Fog & Other Mysteries’ was both challenging and rewarding to paint. The process of its creation involved both technical and spiritual struggles. I emerge from this process with a greater knowledge of my craft and a deeper appreciation for the mystery that is at its core.

Fog & Other Mysteries

The following images are from the series "Fog & Other Mysteries," which is currently hanging in Gallery 070 on Vashon Island. For purchasing information, contact the gallery at 206-463-9280 or email info@gallery070.com

[Note-Two paintings that are included in the show are not posted here.]


Fog #3
10"x8"
Acrylic on Canvas
Sold
........................................



Hoodoo (Yellowstone#3)
12"x12"
Oil & Acrylic on Canvas

Sold
........................................



Seaside Shrine
12"x12"
Oil on Canvas

Sold
........................................



Filigree
5"x7"
Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
Available
........................................



Undone (Yellowstone #1)
12"x12"
Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
Available
........................................



Selective Memory (Yellowstone #2)
12"x12"
Oil & Acrylic on Canvas

Sold
........................................



The Persistence of hope in the Face of Doubt
48"x36"
Oil on Canvas

Sold
........................................



L'Incertitude des lumières
36"x24"
Oil on Canvas
Available

Fog & Other Mysteries

More and Then Some
36"x24"
Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
Available
........................................



The Oral Tradition
36"x24"
Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
Available
........................................



On Progress
12"x12"
Oil on Canvas
Available
........................................



Return to Distance
45"x72"
Oil on Canvas
Available
........................................



The Thin Line Between Dreams and Memories
36"x24"
Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
Sold
........................................



The Trials of Dismas
36"x18"
Oil on Panel

Sold
........................................



The Solace of Heartache
12"x12"
Oil & Acrylic on Canvas

Sold

Maeg O'Donoghue-Williams

I just finished this poster for Maeg O'Donoghue-Williams, a talented Seattle singer. Maeg sings traditional Javanese music as well as original compositions. If you can't catch her at this recital, you will be able to hear her perform at the opening of my new show, Fog & Other Mysteries on May 2nd. Catch her if you can, because soon she will be flying across the Pacific to study her adopted music at its source.
My reception will also feature the music of Maggie Kim on accordion, who can be seen performing at the Pink Door every Thursday.
For a sneak peak of a painting in progress (and a silly picture) click here.

Hard Candy

Crocodiles will do all sorts of neat tricks to get a giant lollipop.
Look how excited the little guy is.

Updates

study for The Oral Tradition
Charcoal on Paper
18"x12"

We're entering the home stretch for "Fog & Other Mysteries." The paintings are lining up, and I am preparing for a new semester.
While I get the work together, I am also working on other projects and booking new shows. Next March I'll be showing "the Voyage of the Manticore" at the Joe Bar on Capital Hill. Look for new Hard Candy posters, and there's a chance that I'll be seeing some interesting print possibilities in the near future.
I'll be posting images of all the paintings in "Fog & Other Mysteries" on the morning of the opening. Presales will be handled by Gallery 070.

Well Google My Socks Off!

Sketchbook page circa 2002

I think Google is weird. I've had total strangers say that they googled me. Just like that. "I googled you." No shame or shyness. Once, I met with a professor to inquire about the UW's MFA program. The whole time we talked I kept expecting him to want to see my portfolio. In the end I had to ask if he wanted to see it. "I googled you," he said. Sheesh. I guess it makes sense, but it still feels odd.
Anyway, I'm proud to announce that I am the top Michael McDevitt on Google. Hang on to the confetti, because I don't feel like vacuuming.
While I was googling myself (I feel dirty just saying that), I noticed that 'Just Like Any Other Morning' is exhibited on the Circo dell'Arte website. It is kind of a stark photograph, but it does not suffer from the glare problems that mar the image I posted. I'm kind of surprised that the website is still there, but I suppose these things tend to linger.
So, let's drink a cup to all the other 'Michael McDevitt's (+) (+) (+)and get back to our googling.

Grimm Spots

Recently, as you may have noticed, I've been posting odds and ends both recent and old. I'm working feverishly on my upcoming shows and thought this was a nice way to keep the content flowing.
These images are spot illustrations for 'Grimm: An Illustrated Collection,' which was (is?) to be published by the Richmond Illustrators Club. A number of illustrators collaborated to put together a handsome volume of selected Grimm tales. I did illustrations for "The Willow Wren and the Bear" as well as for the back cover. The story is silly, and you should read it.

The Gnat is the spy for the army of winged creatures.

Here, the Bear bows down before the little palace of the willow wren.
Both of these images were executed in Photoshop with a Wacom tablet (my digital weapon of choice). It's amazing what can be done with the graphics tablet. Still, I must confess that I spent great deal of time on my computer fussing unsuccessfully with the faux celtic knot-work, Eventually I threw my hands up and went to my favorite coffee shop. I sat down with a pencil and a cup of coffee and banged it out in 15 minutes. Just goes to show ya what the old #2 can do...

Fog & Other Mysteries

Fog #3
Acrylic on Canvas
10"x8"

Sold

This image will be featured on the promotional postcard for my upcoming show at Gallery 070. The reception will be on the first Friday of May (5/2) from 6-9PM.

I am also proud to announce that I will be participating in a show at the Gage Academy's Rosen Gallery. It will feature the work of the Kang-O'higgins Painting and Drawing Atelier. It also opens May 2nd 6-8:30.

I encourage all of you to attend both openings simultaneously via the 4th dimension. Just remember... even though you'll be in two places at once, drinks are cumulative. Teleport responsibly.

Music and Tomfoolery

I'm at home and under the weather, so I thought I'd post a couple of odds and ends just for fun. These images are all digital, though most are reworked from some sort of physical sketch.

This is the poster for the second Hard Candy night at the Showbox SoDo. The organizers wanted the poster to feature a naked man this time. I'd just spent weeks drawing from a plaster bust of Hermes, so I brought in the obvious choice. I based the figure on a conglomeration of two statues of Hermes, one by Praxiteles and one by Giambologna (actually Mercury). I nixed the wings, swapped the rod for a lollipop, and called it a day. Originally he was tossing candy to the crocodiles, but I liked the simplicity and ambiguity of the image without the candy.


It's at this point that I confess that I not only have an imaginary record label, but a whole gaggle of imaginary bands. It's a fun game that I play to keep myself amused and interested. This is the CD art for the debut album of Hermes, a prog rock band from the suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota. They signed to Pepperhouse last year and are touring with the Null Set, whose third album is due this summer.

I did this T-shirt design on spec for Sixer, a band that actually exists. Evidently, they are the Greatest Rock Band in the World. I used to work with Casey back in Richmond. He asked me to do an image of a guy digging the grave of Rock & Roll. Hey, sure, whatever. I don't think they ever used it, but it was fun to draw.

I sure do hate traffic. Don't you? Someday maybe I'll get shirts made from this design. There's a second image for another part of the shirt. It has a tiny, yellow chick preposterously seated on a mountain bike with a doomful Latin banner. I'd post it, but I never fully rendered it.

That's all from the land of incipient illness. I hope I didn't breathe on you while you were reading this.

...And So Forth

Death by Musette performing "Ushti, Ushti Baba" live at Frostburg's Mountain City Coffeehouse and Creamery, October 20, 2006

I am a regular reader of Christopher Reiger's blog, Hungry Hyaena. Aside from being an old and respected friend, Reiger is a voracious reader, astute art critic, and skilled writer. In a recent series of posts(+), Reiger wrote about his participation in the online, curatorial experiment "And So On..." The project asks artists to select two works by different artists who then select two works by other artists... and so on. What patterns would emerge in the organic network of aesthetic taste? I was intrigued and surfed right over to have a look.

To my surprise I discovered that the work of Michael Lease was among those selected. Lease collaborates with five other artists to create the online project, Sametime. Each night at 7:15, the artists take a photo and submit it with a caption. The result is more than a collection of beautiful photos. It is a small window into six lives-- humorous, mundane, and sometimes incredibly touching. Lease is a Richmond artist whose acquaintance I had the pleasure of making two years ago.

To my amusement, I not only knew two of the selected artists, but had actually once caused them to be in the same room. In 2006 I saw Michael Lease perform at opening of "Waiting..." as part of the duo Death By Musette. I was lucky enough to book them to play at the opening of my show "Lost In the Park." Christopher Reiger came down from New York to see the show. Thus on the night of April 7th 2006 Michael Lease played the accordion several feet away from where Christopher Reiger snapped photos and drank wine.

While it's a pretty small item on the grand list of coincidence, it still makes me smile. There's a nice bit of symmetry between "And So On..." and the informal relationship of Lease, Reiger and myself. I wonder what other relationships exist behind jpegs on the screen. I don't expect that I'll ever know, but I take comfort in knowing that the relationships exist.

Ahem...

I recently discovered that I have accidentally had the comment feature disabled on all posts published after January 2007. Ahem... sorry 'bout that. I wondered why I stopped hearing from folks. I'll be going back and manually fixing the problem post by post. I hope that you will all feel free to comment on prior posts or on posts in the future. I value your feedback and take great reassurance in knowing that you are, in fact, out there.
Thanks for stopping by, and sorry for the mistake.

Still Life with Hellmouth

Ink on paper

Available

The Hellmouth is a medieval theatrical motif that found its way into religious art. It can be found in engravings(+), illuminated manuscripts(+), Renaissance paintings, and contemporary pop culture.

For this still life I used a carved jaguar head that my brother brought back from Mexico. The figures were based on toys from Archee McPhee's, which I turned into devils. A visiting artist dubbed the whole setup 'Bosch in a Box.'

During my research for the piece, I stumbled upon one image in which the artist had rendered the flames in a manner resembling leaves. I liked the idea so much that I ran out and gathered a fistful of the freshly fallen Autumn leaves. As they dried their shapes grew more convoluted and flame-like.