Living cloistered here in the barn, I actually don’t get much exposure to anything hip, trendy or happenin’ in the outside world that doesn’t come through the mail in the form of the New Yorker or the Restoration Hardware catalog. And though I would like to be one of those people who finds time to read all my subscriptions and learn about the latest goings on in SoHo or wherever things are happening on the art scene these days (ahem, is it even New York??) I am not. I can barely find time to cut my fingernails (mental note: cut fingernails). Luckily, a trendy hipster has married into the family, and gives me good reads and cool art books at Christmas. But beyond that, he is a bona fide artiste himself. King works out of Brooklyn but is currently on sabbatical in Amsterdam (not bad, that). He started out doing photography, and I have been the happy recipient of a number of his street photos – I love how he manages to capture what seem like very personal moments while walking us right through the middle of the picture. He makes me feel like I’m looking at everything out of the corners of my eyes, trying to be inconspicuous-like.
King has since changed his focus to painting – super large scale canvases and structures that are just impossible to capture online. But here are a few of them anyway:
He has recently been interviewed for an arts blog. Monsieur Clark writes about it all more intelligently than I could, so please check it out. And, if you have a chance, have a look at the process images of King’s latest work in Amsterdam on his website. Very cool stuff, especially if you like getting messy with motor oil/not giving a crap when it snows on your masterpiece.
At any rate, I am totally envious of King because he is one of those artists who just must do art all the time. I’m kind of a fair-weather-artist, really, and I always need to have some sort of project in order to get myself going (thus, books by subscription). The blank canvas is really one of the most intimidating things I know (scary floating clowns aside).
Though I love seeing the babies, this post was enjoyable as well.
Such large pieces! His process reminds me of a story on Julian Schnabel (some years ago) about canvases that he laid on the ground and drove his jeep over, the finished piece having tire treads across it. I find King’s work (and his process) much more interesting. Thanks for sharing. ;-)
Oh, and the besting of the clown was awesome! Such warrior courage is a rare thing.
Thank you, Clare. It means a lot coming from a fellow artist. I will be sure to pass the compliment on to King (fie, Julian Schnabel!).
Also, the clown battle is one of my favorite barnstorming episodes. When I am feeling down, I look at that picture of it floating right out of the frame and laugh.