Nimra and Close

There are times where I see another's artwork and just break down. Sometimes it's tears, sometimes it's anger. Chuck CLose is one of those artists. Not everything he does appeals to me, but his work is where I want to be. Another is closer to home (literally) and that's Armin Mersmann. I have worked with him at the Midland Center for the Arts for a couple years now. His insane attention to detail is where I want to be. It pushes me to focus and zoom in on the detail, as does Close's work. You can see Chuck Close's work here and Armin's work here
Then again, I see emotion in others' work whose paintings are looser and more impressionistic as opposed to the photo realism/photo rendering I've practiced half my life. My brush strokes are looser than my pencil lines, allowing a softer feel, but not always intentionally. When I was graduating from college with my BFA, my instructors said flat out that my black and white work has more power than my color work. One of them, after my "BFA exhibit final critique", walked up to me with his hands in his pockets and shaking his head.
"So you're not that good with color" he told me in his Bostonian drawl, "Ya just gotta work more at it, but your drawings and printmaking are very strong. You're good in black and white, but need work in color". Very good to hear the last week of my 4 year stint in the institution giving me my degree in Drawing and PAINTING!!

My wild college days

Photo by Christina Dillbeck

I was perusing the super information internet highway (i.e. typed my name into the search engine), and I found an article written about me whilst I was still attending Saginaw Valley State University. Here is a link. And here is the picture if you likes me looks but not readin' 'bout me.

Hi Amy!!!!

How are things with you, Amy? I see you are my only friend....

Oh, wondering about this picture, you say?

I never told you that my wife, Melissa and I met the fantastic ALAN RUCK last year at the Motor City Comic Con!!!! He was a very kind and generous person. We spoke for about 10 minutes (I caught him after he got back from the bathroom, so there was no line for the first time that day!). I interviewed him for the SVSU paper, but they didn't print what I wrote.

We were delighted to see him on our favorite show, "Psych" tonight on USA! I thought he was great, but I've always been a fan, especially when he was on "Spin City". All his guest spots are great, and, of course, there's Ferris Bueller...

At the beginning of this season, Sean on "Psych" made many references to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" in the episode "Murder...Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?", and Alan Ruck is well known for his role in that movie.

Heh. Cool. Who saw the pineapple?

So, Amy, thank you for coming forth as, apparently, my ONLY reader. I appreciate you.