Pine Feather Period at Chicago Artist’s Coalition
November 03, 2011
I have a painting in a group show at the Chicago Artists’ Coaltion Gallery in the West Loop. The exhibition is called “Pine Feather Period” and it includes work by the sixteen artists that are participating in this years CAC gallery program. The opening is Friday November 4th, from 6 to 9 pm. The Chicago Artists’ Coalition Gallery is located at 217 N Carpenter St. Chicago, IL 60607. See you there!
For more info visit: http://chicagoartistscoalition.org
Comments (0) | Tags: art, CAC Gallery, chicago art, Chicago Artists' Coalition, exhibitions, Opening, painting, Steve Amos, West Loop | More: News
Chicago Artists’ Coalition Gallery!
October 26, 2011
I was recently accepted into the Chicago Artists’ Coalition Gallery Program for 2011-2012. Earlier today I signed the paperwork to make it official, and later this week I am dropping off work for an exhibition that opens on November 4th titled, “Pine Feather Period”. It is a group show that features work by the dozen or so artists that will be participating in the program this year.
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New Paintings at Connect
October 14, 2011
I have installed a new exhibition at Connect in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. The opening reception is from 6-10pm on Friday, October 28, 2011, and the show runs through the end of the year. The artwork on display is a selection of paintings that I’ve created over the past eighteen months.
Comments (0) | Tags: amos, chicago, chicago art, connect retail showrrom, exhibitions, francis bacon's guide to the universe, painting, simpletype, Steve Amos | More: exhibition, News
Heeding My Own Advice
October 04, 2011
Lately a number of people have asked me for advice on everything from applying to grad school to updating their website. I’ve talked to them about the importance of documenting work and keeping a current resume on file. I’ve also stressed the importance of networking and strengthening their online presence. You have to get out there and meet people, and you have to be visible for when they come looking. I’ve told people to mine the contacts that they have, and that most opportunities come from the people that you know. I’ve also advised them to maintain a personal website or blog and update it often and with current information.
So why have I slacked on heeding my own advice? Partly because it’s a lot of work, and it’s not as fun as working in the studio. It’s also because I’ve failed to make it a priority, and I’ve simply found ways to justify avoiding it. I’ve realized that I can be my biggest enemy at times, and quite often I have to remind myself to get out of my own way.
continue…
Comments (0) | Tags: advice for artists, art, artist resume, networking, portfolio, support materials | More: News, process
Eight Steps For Success in the Art World
October 03, 2011
I received these tips when I was a graduate student.
Eight Steps For Success In The Art World
1. Do good work.
2. Have a strong background- (There is competition within genres; am I timely?; who is this person?; who has written about him/her?)
3. Show signs of dedication and major commitment.
4. Hang out at key places (word of mouth business; information of the tribe passed around; critical opinion of a well respected artist; should know the names of every critic and artist; )
5. Behave professionally- (have something to say about your work; have slides and resume updated and handy.)
6. Seek help- (there are people out there willing to help you)
7. Be charming (but don’t overdo it)
8. Be realistic ( but not cynical or pessimistic)
Comments (0) | Tags: advice for artists, art, artists, eight steps for success, strategies for artists, success in the art world | More: News, process
Recent Studio Work
August 30, 2011
I’ve been a bit reclusive the past ten months. Last year was a very active year for me, and I spread myself a bit too thin. I had to take a step back to reset and focus on what really matters to me. I’ve continued to work in the studio this entire time, but I’ve also spent a fair amount of time playing music and brushing up on my computer skills. I’ve also doubled my teaching load, so there’s also a lot to be said for that.
I’ve decided to post today to prove (to those that are paying attention) that I’m not a slacker and that I have been working. I offer these snapshots as evidence, and perhaps one of these days I will get around to properly posting them on my portfolio site.
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Studio Update: September 30th, 2010
September 30, 2010
Here is a piece that I think is close to being finished. It’s a bit more parred down than my previous works. I am focusing on trying to retain the linear structure and preserve the negative space. It’s not so much a different direction, but more so an exercise in doing more with less.
Untitled, oil on linen, 45in X 60in, 2010
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Grey Sketch Revisited
September 10, 2010
This is the same grey sketch that I was working on yesterday. It’s been pushed along a bit further and I’m happy with where it stands. I’ve decided that it is more important for me to keep working through ideas rather than worrying about settling on specific direction. I’ve entered a period where I am not clamoring to meet deadlines or fulfill prior commitments. It’s time to take advantage of this freedom and create the things that I want to create.
Taken a step further...
I’ve spent the past 18 months working my ass off. I secured a grant, some commissions and a number of exhibition opportunities. These things were all positive developments and they were motivational. Working towards deadlines is important because it sort of forces you to become more disciplined and organized. The pressure of meeting a deadline can also inject some energy into a project. It’s like a pressure cooker and you’d be amazed what you can pull off when the clock is ticking. But as productive as this mode of working is, it also has it drawbacks.
When I work towards a deadline, it means that most things are figured out in advance and a lot of my energy is devoted to execution. Other directions and ideas often arise, but they’re set aside because they might not fit within the series. There’s always a point within a project where I stop thinking about what is possible and start focusing on what is probable. The work can become quite stagnant and formulaic.
Not working towards deadlines means that I’m free to make whatever the hell it that I want to make. It means that I can explore multiple directions without being concerned about the end product. This freedom can translate into a significant amount of growth and exploration.
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Another Sketch: 09/09/10
September 09, 2010
Design Matrix Idea
This sketch came from experimenting with the drawing tablet. I wanted to open up the process and do a bit more painting with the computer. I’ve always relied upon the computer to manipulate existing images or as a tool to generate crisp technical styled drawings. It was nice to focus upon the gesture and re-introduce evidence of the artist’s hand to the process. This drawing will likely evolve into a painting.
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Sketch 09/09/2010
I continued sketching today. I wanted to pay more attention to my surroundings and explore a direction that reflects more of the moment. The goal is to try and generate or rather amplify something positive. Looking at the world, it’s hard not to develop a harsh glare. It’s easy to wrap yourself in negativity and cynicism. Remembering the past, and haunted by the future. My previous work has been about my desire to come to terms with ignorance and fear. I’m searching with the work.
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Sketch 09/08/2010
September 08, 2010
Here’s a design that I was toying with in Photoshop. I’m keying in on my surroundings and seeing where that leads.
'I've got a bike and you can ride it if you like...'
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Renegade Opening: Article from Cincinnati Enquirer
September 01, 2010
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Article From Cincinnati Enquirer
A couple weeks ago, I found out that the gallery I was showing with was suddenly tossed out on the street. From what I can tell, there was no legitimate explanation for this eviction. Perhaps this sort of thing just happens when your business partner winds up being a bigoted, gun-toting, jesus-freak, but that’s just my opinion.
Pardon me if I do come across a tad bitter, but you would be too if you discovered that eight of your paintings were carelessly placed outside in the blistering heat. However, my friends Chris and Jonathan were determined to make the best of the situation. Unwilling to take any guff from the swine, they organized and staged a ‘Renegade’ opening in a pair of U-haul trucks parked in front of the gallery.
The event caught the attention of the local media, and this article was ran as a result. I had initially driven down to Cincinnati in order to recover my work, and I was in attendance when the reporter arrived. It is always good to receive press, especially after something as frustrating as this.
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Upcoming Exhibition at Northside House in Cincinatti!
July 03, 2010
For more information visit The Northside House.
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Work-In-Progress: Diptychs
May 14, 2010
Here are some snapshots of new works. I mentioned in a previous post that I am experimenting with diptychs, so today I am presenting you with three more. These paintings will be included in my upcoming exhibition at Red Spider Studio.
Forty Virgins
Forty Virgins, Acrylic and Ink on Canvas, 40″ X 60″, 2010
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New American Landscape
May 10, 2010
New American Landscape Invite
On Friday, I attended an opening for New American Landscapes at Las Manos Gallery in Chicago. This group exhibition showcases the work of twenty-seven artists featured in the upcoming book New American Landscapes, which will be published this May by Sprocketbox entertainment.
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The New Bogeyman.
May 06, 2010
My current work focuses on the manipulation of fears and desires by mass media and popular culture. The work is part autobiographical and part social commentary. Through the process of drawing and painting, I am able to look back at various points of my life and re-examine what my basic fears and desires were, and how those emotions were fed by the media sources I consumed.
Terror Matrix A
Comments (0) | Tags: concepts, desire, drawing, fear, painting, sketches, Steve Amos, Studio, work in progress | More: News
Work-in-Progress: Parting of the Sensory
May 04, 2010
I figure that the only way to follow a studio tour is to present a snapshot of new work. I’ve spent the past three months toiling away on a new body of work for my upcoming solo exhibition at Red Spider Studio. This exhibition is titled, Evolution of Fear, and it opens on May 22nd, 2010. I thought it would be fun to preview a selection of those works, and then discuss some of the concepts and ideas behind them. I intend to do this in a series of installments over the next two weeks leading up to the exhibition.
Parting of the Sensory
The first piece that we’ll explore is titled, Parting of the Sensory. This painting is a diptych done in acrylic and ink on two 30” X 40” canvases, (40″ X 60″ overall). I am experimenting with the diptych format because it permits me to work larger, and it makes the work easier to transport.
continue…
Comments (2) | Tags: desire, drawing, exhibitions, fear, new work, painting, Steve Amos, Studio, Studio Practice, work in progress | More: News, Uncategorized
A Tour of My Studio
May 01, 2010
My goal for this site is to record various art related activities. Since most of my time is committed to studio practice, it makes sense to begin there with a brief studio tour.
Studio Entrance and Storage Alcove
My studio space is located on Lake Street in the West Loop, and it is a convenient walk from the Ashland ‘L’ stop. The building is called the Butchershop, and back in its heyday, during the mid 90′s to early 2000′s, they used to throw all sorts of art events and shows. However, at one point they gained too much exposure and the City forced them to tone it down. The Butchershop was showcased in the exhibition Artists Run Chicago at Hyde Park Art Center. I moved into this space in July 2008, well after it was subdivided into its current configuration of workspaces.
