ISOM SYMBOLIC ART

Saturday, January 22, 2022

From the archives. Still life just like real life. Circa 1970.

Friday, January 21, 2022

From the Brad Wisenstein collection

Watercolor and India ink. Circa 1990

Airbrush on wood collage. Circa 1990

India ink on paper. Circa 1990

Thursday, January 20, 2022

At ubi materia, ibi Geometria.

“Where there is matter, there is geometry.” Johannes Kepler

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Acrylic marker drawings.

Acrylic markers on black canvas paper 9" X 12"

Isom symbolic Poetry

Journey

Mind is ever haunted

Time is always doubt

Purpose of my journey

Old age is now sight

Death is always near

Man in pain

Curious man and a broken watch

Time without need or relevance

Sight

Looking at stars

Eyes wide open

No rays in sight

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Recently, I have been posting about my art teaching philosophy and experience as an art educator. I am very happy that the posts have generated some interest. I have always considered myself an art educator and not an artist. Simply, I am someone who makes art. Making art is not a difficult activity and does not require special training. Art teaching is about setting a condition for art to happen. As parents we buy crayons, paints, an all sorts of craft items. Children participate in countless poster and drawing contests. This burst of art suddenly starts to subside about the sixth grade and fades away for most students. This is the point at which the art baton is handed to the art instructor. Unfortunately, there is often no art teacher to assume the art leadership role. Many parents do continue to provide a creative outlet separate and apart from the school system.

Monday, January 17, 2022

Natural world

The primary influence on my work is the natural world, from the expanse of space to the microscopic view of structures. I am not interested in reproducing what I see. Instead I am seeking a way to go beyond the world of nature and into the place between what we can see and what we cannot.

My interest, at either end of this spectrum of this reality, continues to feed my imagination.

Dans l'air fermée...and innocent parody.

Plein air painting seems to be the “ art du jour”. Plein air is a term derived from the French phrase en plein air, which literally means 'in the open air'. It's a familiar concept today, but in the late 1800s when the impressionists ventured out of their studios into nature to investigate and capture the effects of sunlight and different times of days on a subject, it was quite revolutionary. However, it is not quite so revolutionary today.

My art is called “studio art” which is art produce in a studio setting. Studio art is not revolutionary today and it is a quaint reminder of an artist in his cluttered studio, lined with plaster busts and manikin models to help him in his academic studies.

I decided to describe my work as Dans l'air fermée. Dans l'air fermée is a French expression which means "in the closed air" and it is used to describe the act of painting/ drawing indoors. which is also called La peinture avec l'esprit ("painting with the mind” or what the minds’s eye actually sees”) This type of art, generally does not require a classical studio, photographs, copy devises etc. All you need is a computer, a few sharpies and the desire to draw objects, symbols and images from the subconscious mind.

Isom Symbolic Art prints

Prints of art work posted on this blog are available for purchase. Please email if you are interested.

The prints offered for sale are printed on a HP Envy 5420 in house on 8-1/2” X 11” paper. For all practical purposes the prints are artist proof’s and printed in limited numbers. The prints are not archival prints but printed on good quality bond or photographic paper. The prints are signed/dated and make my work available to a wider audience and serve as an introduction to my work.

What is important to note is that the artist proof prints are of the same quality, type, media etc as the regular edition (unless of course the artist declares otherwise). The only difference between them is the restricted quantity of prints bearing the A/P designation. Traditionally, the artist was very involved in the printmaking process. As the first “proofs” were either pulled or printed, the artist would work out the color and quality issues as they came out of the press.

Note: Signed and numbered digital prints on archival paper are available at my gallery. They are generally printed in editions of ten.

Definition:

Modern printing methods such as laser and ink-jet printing are known as digital printing. In digital printing, an image is sent directly to the printer using digital files such as PDFs and those from graphics software such as Illustrator and InDesign. This eliminates the need for a printing plate, which is used in offset printing, which can save money and time.

Without the need to create a plate, digital printing has brought about fast turnaround times and printing on demand.

Instead of having to print large, pre-determined runs, requests can be made for as little as one print. While traditional printing techniques result in slightly better quality prints, digital methods are being worked on at a fast rate to improve quality and lower costs.

Sunday, January 16, 2022

Earth poem

The Isom Asemic Code Cipher is a cryptogram code system. This form of cipher embodies geometric and organic shapes. Because it use basic shapes it is an economical and effective method of transmitting confidential information. These devices were often employed by the ancients or by the Medieval philosophers and alchemists. The mystics of the Middle Ages used a system of cryptography which concealed the secrets of the human soul. The Isom Asemic Code Cipher can only be decoded by individuals versed in the deep philosophic principles upon which many mystics based their theories of life. Much information relating to the invisible nature of man is hidden under what seems to be mere scribbles and unrecognizable organic shapes. Every student of symbolism and philosophy should be acquainted with the underlying principles of cryptography. This art furnishes a fascinating method of developing an acute mental awareness. Discrimination and observation are indispensable to the person seeking knowledge, and no study is equal to cryptography as a means of invigorating these powers

Atemporality

Today’s Hand Mind Internet Vocabulary: Atemporality

“The concept of internet-induced "atemporality" was coined by science fiction writer William Gibson, author of the cyber/adventure novel Neuromancer. Gibson reasoned that the internet made time disappear in a way, since all periods of history (or art history) are immediately available to anyone cruising the web.”

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2014/12/art_review_forever_now--contemporary_painting_in_an_atemporal_world_at_the_museum_of_modern_art.html

Doodling and sketching everyday

For most of my life I did not think of myself as creative at all. Then, many years ago, I started doodling and sketching everyday. I filled countless sketchbooks with scribbles and notes. Each day in class I worked alongside my students making art and after school I worked with students constructing sets for plays. I made art with my children and grandchildren. I made art that covered the walls in our homes. I collected junk and filled the garage and studios with art. My motivation was simply filling my life with art. I found myself in a role where I needed to be creative each day, developing new ideas for class projects and home projects. Creativity is important for many reasons. It is a path and process for not getting stuck in old habits and ineffective ways of seeing yourself and the world. Creativity can help with problem solving, with creating healthier relationships, and with having a healthier and happier life.

What I learned is that creativity isn’t something that you have or don’t have. It is something that you can nurture and develop.

Saturday, January 15, 2022

First snow at the Benedictine

Todays project

Friday, January 14, 2022

“I am drawn to powerful, mysterious places... The 'creative haunting' of these locations has been imprinted on my spirit.”

J.R Baldini

I think, to some degree, science and rational thought has robbed the arts of mystery, their most powerful asset. The arts were once avenues of truth and insight. Our modern ideas of reality have changed this goal and now relegates the arts to amusements, and meaningless aesthetic games.

Artist statement

Digital drawing. I Pad pro/Procreate

My art work is personal iconography. The imagery has been developing for over sixty years. The vocabulary of icons enables me to generate hundreds of images without conscious effort. The ideas flow on the paper much like automatic writing. I generate the images in sets of 10 to 20 and have produced several series of 100 or more. The most distinctive element of my art work and teaching has always been manipulation of materials. During my youth, at the height of the Depression, any castaway item became a toy or art material. The underlying concept of my teaching years was creative problem solving utilizing manipulation of material at hand. I seldom had to worry about budgets for materials. Whatever was available was fodder for my students imagination canned and the images are manipulated with image software. An essential aspect of my work is the connection of my work to the world. The internet has allowed me the opportunity to find very esoteric connections.

Today, I have access to many “modern” materials. The computer has become an essential part of my “post teaching” art. It is difficult to maintain my simplistic philosophy. However, the manipulation concept is still prevalent. Photographing and scanning of my original drawings, searching the web for connections and the manipulation of the images using simple editing software provides many hours of creative problem solving.

On occasion I do get nostalgic for the days when a tin can or scrap of paper was all I needed to satisfy my creative energy.

Vita brevis, ars longa

Benefits of teaching

I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for my students who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it fellow teachers, students make life a lot more fun and interesting.

One of the benefits of a long life and a teaching career is the joy of seeing students grow up and take their place in society. I was particularly fortunate to teach high school. Seeing a young naive freshman grow into a confident senior is very rewarding. If you live long enough, it does not stop with high school. I am now in my twenty-first year of retirement and have seen many students graduate from college or trade schools and begin raising a family. Many did not choose an art career and are successful in a variety of endeavors. The social website Facebook has made it possible to interact with former students and marvel at their achievements. Some will soon be of retirement age and many have grandchildren.

I am truly blessed to see not only this great drama unfold before my eyes but seeing my own family’s development is a daily reminder of the joy of living and learning.