Deceived Detailed Breakdown

(For the story behind the painting, see below. Thanks for visiting my blog! - JK)

My Critique on Auburn University Montgomery

Deceived, oil on canvas, approx. 24x24", NFS

In May I will be hosting my senior show at AUM showcasing my work during my undergraduate studies. As all graduating Fine Art students, I want this gallery exhibition to be poignant and to encompass the essence of my greatest lessons learned during my four years at AUM. I have therefore given it much thought.

Deceived is a visual analysis of my experience within the AUM Fine Arts Department. I was given a full tuition scholarship my freshman year which remained with me throughout my sophomore year. However, when the Dean of the Liberal Arts position changed and scholarship renewals came around, my scholarship was reduced to half tuition even though I remained one of the top art students in the department (according to professors with 20+ years of AUM tenure) and held a 3.70 GPA. Of course I was baffled and inquired of the Liberal Arts Dean as to why the suspension of half my tuition scholarship. Reluctant to give me the time of day, he said that there were more promising students.

Later, when talking with a close professor and mentor who was part of the scholarship committee that had adversely affected my award, it was revealed to me that the sculpture professor, whom I had never met, felt that I should not receive the full tuition scholarship due to foundational courses which I had not yet taken. I had never been advised to take these courses during my first two years. This sculpture professor subsequently divulged to me the following year that she thought I had arrogantly neglected basic art courses in order to take advanced painting classes and confessed to me that she had no plans on treating me fairly in her class. This latter statement proved to be harshly true.

But that's it. I appealed to deaf ears and decided that AUM had turned a cold shoulder on one of their most promising fine arts students. This painting will be front and center at my Senior Art Show! JK

Self Portrait

Untitled, graphite on black paper, 18x24" NFS

I saw an article about a young female artist who started working with graphite on dark papers especially black tones. Graphite acts inversely on black paper with the thicker layers appearing as bright highlights and the paper itself acting as the darkest hue. The neat quality to this approach is that if the lights aren't set just right it actually appears to be an empty sheet of paper. However, take a few steps in one direction and BAM - the art magically materializes! I haven't sprayed this piece with fixative yet because I am afraid of the effect it might have on the metallic highlights of the graphite. I plan on doing more drawings in this style just for fun. Tell me if you like this or not -JK

American Standards I & II

American Standards 1&2, Linocut, 6x12" ea. contact artist for price

I created this print after Simulacramorphous and they support the cultural commentary format. I have tried to illustrate two distinct faces of America. I think that everyone will find imagery in either of the prints with which they understand and embrace. I am curious to know if an individual leans toward one or the other and if it is due to the different iconography embedded within the pieces or if it is due to something more fundamental such as the composition or balance of contrasts. Each print in the edition is $100. Subscribe to my blog and get the next updates on my prints! JK