The art of creating, as told by the artists who create

By Talia

The artwork displayed throughout the gallery space at Groundwork for the show titled, “This I Love” is an eclectic variety of pieces by artists that curator Mark Gleicher chose simply because he loves them. And truly, isn’t that the best way to choose art; by picking the pieces you love?

I had the chance to speak to some of the artists whose art is featured in the show, about their artwork and creative process. The conversations I had and the answers I received from the artists were sometimes surprising and always interesting.

Describe your piece and your process of making it.

This painting was made using various layers of collage, paint and colored inks. I tend to work in layers. I use up to seven separate layers to create different sorts of effects on canvas. I also employ the use of the surrealist technique called psychic automatism. It means to work in an involuntary way, without any sort of conscious choice, but I did have a specific subject matter in mind. So my use of psychic automatism mainly emphasized the physical aspects or creation of my work. I often allow different types of accidents to happen on canvas, or things that were not intended to occur. Most of what happens is by default or by chance.
Vic Jones

This piece was my first real venture into painting as a medium, and larger scale than usual. My usual style is small-scale pen and ink. All my stuff is abstract, robotic, organic stuff… I start out with a shape and make more shapes from there, until it looks like what you’re looking at…
Jason Greenspan

The title of the painting is Coal Pocket Pier, which is an actual place down on the New Bedford docks. The boat in the foreground was unusual. Along with the equipment that you don’t often see in that location. Some pictures were taken of the scene because it was too dark to draw, and then a series of drawings in my notebook, over and over again; then smaller studies in oil to test the waters, then more and more drawings until finally I can’t take it anymore and I must do the finished work and it must be satisfactory.
Milton Brightman

I used to breed love birds and I collected their feathers when they shed, which is what I used for this piece… also, mesh material and a homemade wreath, using twigs and twine.
Jason Pain

What inspired you to create this piece?

My mother is an artist, so she always has lots of art supplies around… I saw this canvas (at her house) and I was intimidated and scared, so I just took a shot trying to somehow adapt my small and precise black and white stuff into a large, bold and colorful piece. I wanted to prove to myself I could do it.
Jason Greenspan

I just get an idea sometimes and I need to see it through… I collect random found stuff, like the twigs and feathers for this piece, and use it later for my art.
Jason Pain

The reason for the painting is simple: once the idea becomes planted in my brain, I remain obsessed until the final result is achieved.
Milton Brightman

My piece was inspired by the Aztec earth goddess Coatlicue. The piece was inspired in part by a coworker of mine who I worked with for about 3 years. My coworker would discuss Mexican culture. I in turn would discuss Portuguese culture. He told me quite a bit about Coatlicue and how the goddess applied to every aspect of ancient Aztec culture. I felt inspired by his enthusiasm for the goddess.
Vic Jones

What is something you love about this piece or the process of creating it?

I love making different kinds of art and I’m pretty random sometimes… I like doing lost/found art… I always gather stuff and end up using them later in my art… abstract, painting, photos, little bit of everything.
Jason Pain

As I paint my pictures I like to move around in subject matter, sometimes the forest where I spent much of my career in DCR is what I wish to paint, sometimes the beach, sometimes our majestic churches with their incredible architecture, and at other times, the docks, where a phenomenal amount of work in this city takes place. I like the night and the fog for effects because it lends to the mystery of the scene.
Milton Brightman

I very rarely have a subject matter, but in the case of Coatlicue I was very specific due to the arresting nature of the image, and the story behind it. I have also made three different pieces about this specific subject matter.
Vic Jones

The process of making art is therapeutic for me… It’s a way to express all that pent up energy; into art. Whenever I create art, I usually have some turmoil going on inside… creating art is what I do to mute all that outside stuff.
Jason Greenspan

This I Love opening reception will take place on Friday, July 15th from 5-7pm and the art will be on display in the Groundwork gallery for the remainder of the summer.

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Talia

Talia grew up on Martha's Vineyard and spent most of her life there, before moving to New Bedford to expand her community. Before Talia came to Groundwork, she had a career in Early Childhood as a preschool teacher, and in the service industry. Talia loves the ocean, reading, meeting new people, and spending time with her dog, Tobi!