Drifter Studio

Well, Glen Echo Park has been closed for almost a week now, I’m starting to go a little crazy.  I’ve never had so much free time to do work, and no studio to go to!  At least there is the Internet to at least go look at other artist work. 

Having lived in Cleveland for 4 years and Chicago for 3…. I feel I know snow well enough.  Here in D.C…. it’s a mess.  We need a heat wave soon.

A little about “Abstract Representation” – Jan 30th and 31st at the Yellow Barn Gallery

This class has been a real treat for me to teach.  

I am now into the third season of teaching “Abstract Representation” and it truly has been an adventure each and every time I hold the class.  I remember when I first created this class; I was very hesitant to even teach abstract painting to representational artists.  Can abstraction really be taught?  I’m still not sure it can. 

 Abstraction comes from the heart and the mind.  It is a new take on a familiar subject.  It is a different point of view on reality.  Abstraction evolves.

 But I remember when I was once a representational painter.  I labored over making my paintings look as real as possible, matching each and every nuance of color to reality.  After a while I just felt like I was copying reality and I was missing a personal voice. 

 I love watching our class grow.  By now, many of the students taking the course have all given into their creative spirit.  They have developed their style, their message, their forms and their color pallet.  They are exploring the possibilities of their mediums, and trying new ones to better get their ideas across. 

 I love when new students join our class.  I love seeing their potential and their excitement when their paintings start to take a new direction. 

 I can’t say enough of how proud I am of the students presenting their work to you today.  Each and every one of them has grown in leaps and bounds.  I hope that you enjoy the talent here today and appreciate their work as much as I do.

Marco Polo describes a bridge, stone by stone.

“But which is the stone that supports the bridge?”  Kublai Khan asks.

“The bridge is not supported by one stone or another,” Marco answers, “but by the line of the arch that they form.”

Kublai Khan remains silent, reflecting.  The he adds: “Why do you speak to me of the stones?  It is only the arch that matters to me.”

Polo answers: “Without stones there is no arch”.

Exert from Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

Hey!  You can finally see the work at www.jjbruns.com!

It’s almost Halloween Time! That means Fall Frolic at Glen Echo Park on Saturday, October 31st. There are a whole slew of Halloween activities for the little ones like face painting, a costume parade and trick or treating. I will have a bunch of candy in the studio. So come and see some art and get some candy!

I’m going as an Artist this year!

Then and WOW Festival!!!

Come and see how the park was back when it was an amusement park!  Play games and see puppets, and ride the carousel one last time before it shuts down for the winter… and I can finally open my windows without hearing the carousel music. 

Oh, and I will have some new works to display so why wouldn’t you stop by?

Hey Everyone! 

It’s almost class time here at the Yellow Barn.  It’s not too late to sign up or get your friends to sign up!

Most of you may be wondering what supplies do I need for my class?  Well, our class supply lists are posted on our class pages, (click the tabs above to access your class) as well as any other notes that may pop up during our time together.  I won’t be in the studio this weekend, but I will answer any specific questions by email.

See you next week!

 Hey Everyone!   The web page is coming together nicely!  For all of you that have signed up for news about shows and classes by J. Jordan Bruns at Glen Echo Park, this is the place to go!