I think things are changing…

DALLAS, 2008  -Mark Scantling

Because I have a Jekyll and Hyde thing going on between my paintings and photography, I have decided to let 50 MILES TO COFFEE become a photo blog. I think the primary focus will be on pictures I take (or have taken) in and around Fort Worth, Texas. Staying true to my nature I will always deviate mildly, or wildly from any path I begin, and photos not related to my geographic surroundings will pop in from time to time – as will other things, thoughts, or ideas. With that said, let us begin.

Today’s photograph is titled, “Dallas” – which is NOT in Fort Worth, but is near enough to be considered  in my “geographic surroundings”. I like to poke around the Fair Park and Deep Ellum areas when I venture to our large neighbor to the east. On one such trip, I stopped to explore this abandoned grain elevator near Fair Park. I am drawn to textures, and it particular, architectural textures. The concrete elevators, with their curving silos and the light and shadows provided me with fun and interesting shapes, and colors.

When, back at home, I uploaded the photographs from the day’s shooting, I found myself coming back to this image. I finaly realized the similarity of this picture and the Anasazi cliff dwellings in the Four Corners area of the Southwestern U.S.

-Mark

Photo Friday

NOVEMBER LIGHT, 2004 -Mark Scantling

This picture was taken on my last visit to San Francisco in November, ’04. The weather had been beautiful the previous two days. Wednesday started out the same, but clouds began forming by the time I’d had my breakfast at Max’s and taken the long bus ride across town to the Legion of Honor Museum. I spent an hour viewing the exhibits – the Rodin sculptures were very enjoyable, and had lunch at the museum’s patio. Leaving, I took a moment to enjoy the view of the pacific, then I headed on foot, north, to find  beach access.

Ever the tourist – I toted my Nikon 35mm, Mamiya C-3 medium format camera, film, gear, etc. in my bag (about 20 lbs.). Ironically, this photo (my favorite from that day’s shooting) was made with my 3mp Nikon Coolpix I carried in my pocket. It turned out to be the workhorse from that trip.

As I entered the beach access the Golden Gate Bridge came into view. The mid-afternoon angle of the sun, and the clouds allowed the colors to pop. I grabbed this shot, then spent the next hour-and-a-half strolling along the shore shooting Baker Beach – awed by the views of the ocean, the beach, the bridge.  There was also a naked beach guy.

-Mark

Barbara Crane, Photographer

If you don’t know Barbara Crane – and you love photography – check her out! Her work, her language is pure “photography as art”. I have to confess, I was not familiar with Ms Crane or her work before I saw this retrospective. I was blown away by this body of work. Her use of repetitive imagery is amazing, and in my mind puts her squarely shoulder to shoulder with Pop Artists, Warhol and Rauschenberg.

It’s worth your time – see it!

-Mark

Unfinished business (or, The 7% Problem)

THREE HATS, 2009, acrylic on panel, 30X30 -Mark Scantling

This one of paintings – you know, troublesome. It shouldn’t be hard. The subject and composition are simple – no problem there. It’s that “color thing”.

It’s that 7% thing.

In the U.S., 7% of males are color blind. I am one of those 7%. Yeah, that makes me a color blind artist. I don’t know the percentage of artists that are color blind, but I know of at least one other who is. He is also, by the way, a Pop artist working in a different medium.

At age 21 I was convinced that I could not be a painter. I put down my brushes, and picked up an assortment of cameras and black & white films for the next 25 years. At age 46 I was convinced I COULD be a painter – with limitations. Pop art allows me to use bold, bright colors – with only as much or little color mixing as I care to do. My wife, or CCO (Chief Color Officer) has always been nearby and willing to share her color sense – though I sometimes reserve the right to forgo her opinion and go with my own unique color sense. And as it turns out, people seem to like bold, bright colors, especially during rough economic times.

For this painting – “3 Hats”, I have stepped away from my silk screens, and have picked up a panel and I am painting at the easel. And this is where I begin wrestling with my “7% Problem”. Painting at the easel is very open to exploration – or “what ifs”. Get the painting going, then step back and look. Add this, subtract that, bake at 350 until done – allow to cool then serve. Being color blind, it, for me  is the subtle colors that I never get to add to “the recipe”. But that is ok – because I AM painting.

For “3 Hats”, I took one of my cowboy hats, made a few quick sketches, found my composition with the rectangles – all SOP. Then – I had to paint. Now – each color has 6 to 10 layers of previous colors underneath. First, second, and third attempts at random color relationships, and I am only now getting to the point where I am satisfied with the color harmony (such that it is – or, isn’t). Tomorrow I will make one more change, tighten up the lines, redo my edges with black gesso, and sign it. It is time to be finished. I have new works to begin, and new opportunities to deal with my 7% problem.

-Mark