Judges

I regularly enter my work in competition with other local artists -- mostly in the Art League of Bonita Springs. Many of the shows have a theme. For example the latest, September "16 was Geometric and Organic. Just up my street I hear you say. So I entered my large Owl and Daydreamer, both of which are drawn Geometrically but with an Organic subject. Result -- no prize of any kind, total failure.
Oh well.
Previous shows this year have recognised my geometric works but they didn't have eyes. Eyes are just my latest thing. They give my geometric abstracts some life and a little humor. But the judges either don't like them or don't understand what I am trying to say. I have often noticed that art judges
like last year's work and can't deal with today's. If I enter Indians for next year's shows I might win but by then I will be drawing something else.
All the artists I admire change their work every few years, producing better work. But when the new work appears their critics don't like the new stuff having only just got used to the previous stuff!
Examples; David Hockney, Damian Hearst and even Pablo Picasso, all suffered from this problem.
Not that I compare myself to these greats, but I work with my latest ideas whether appreciated or not.
So there!

Three of my latest to prove the point. Chief, My Magic Shield and Swirl. My current drawings show a tendency to be without eyes so who knows what my critics will make of that.

Indians & Owls

I can't believe it is 12 months since my last blog. Shame on me.
I just won 3rd prize in the latest Bonita Springs Art League show called "Surf & Turf"
with my "Jelly Bean Blast"

It is 30"x30", ink and color pencil and full of movement.
I have just finished my first "Indian" commission. A family of four wanted a "portrait" of themselves in my style and here is the result. They loved it.

I have drawn a few owls recently ans decided to do a really big one, 30"x30".
The result is quite startling.

I haven't named it yet. Two possibles -- "SuperOwl" or "Whooo -Me?"
Please let me know which is best, email me, sargent365@msn.com.

The Beautiful Shangri-La

My current show is in the unique Bonita Springs location, Shangri-La. This historic building and with it's stunning grounds has 17 of my drawings on display for 2 months until the end of May.

I am so thrilled to be shown here and my drawings look so much at home in this setting.
 

Gaea, Greek God of the Earth

This is my latest drawing, 30"x 30" ink on card with lots of detail and "earth" colors.
This one doesn't attempt to make you dizzy!

More Indians!

I am a little obsessed with my indians at the moment and here is the latest -- a family of them!
This is a 30"x20" ink drawing and probably my most complex yet.

Members Show

Bonita Art League Members Show is this time every year and we all want to win it. I have featured in previous years but never got Best in Show.
Well, I didn't this year either. But I did get a Merit Award for my Indian.

But what pleased me most was that Sharon also got a Merit Award -- her first ever for this colorful acrylic Mexican Wedding.

I am a little obsessed by my Indians at the moment. These are really geometric abstracts of course. I have done three to date and am just working on the next -- a family of Indians.
I am still teaching graphite pencil drawing at the Art League and my classes are growing. I had 6 students then 7, then 15 and next weeks looks to be 12. They must like it. It's hard work with more than 10 at a time but very satisfying.
I was planning to tech a mini-course on OpArt Fun this week but it had to be cancelled as only one person signed up for it!

Two November Shows

Two Shows in one month!

The top photo was taken at the reception for my Graphite Show as Visiting Artist in Harbour View Gallery in Cape Coral. I've been lucky enough to be Visiting Artist twice before - once for my wood sculptures and then for my Spatial drawings. It's a beautiful gallery and they found room for 22 drawings including portraits, wildlife and buildings. This show can be seen until the end of November.

The second photo shows part of the West Elm contemporary furniture and accessories store in Coconut Point Mall. West Elm like to feature local artists and they selected 20 of my Spatials and Dizzies to show for a long weekend, 6th to 11th November. I was so impressed by the way my drawings blended in so easily into their displays!