About:David Overfield is a contemporary artist currently based in Fairmont, West Virginia. Overfield recieved his bachelors in Fine Arts from Fairmont State and studied the figure under the acclaimed painter Lynn Boggess. Overfield specializes in figurative art and the powerful transience of life, energy, and the human form. Overfield highlights the importance of the immediacy, energy, and vitality of his pieces and works to bridge the old mythic and heroic figures with contemporary processes. Overfield uses a process of scraping away wet paint to create his lines and layering washes of paint. Overfield explores gesture and minimalism to an advanced degree to produce sophisticated, moving, and dynamic pieces. Artist Statement:I paint powerful and expressive figures that would feel at home in both the ancient and contemporary world. My style is rooted in the passions of antiquity, while being refreshing and raw in its modernity. My figures are relics from a more heroic time - fragmented and mysterious. Energy and vitality are dear to me, so I craft works of immediacy that display a balance of precise control and gestural abandon. Devoid of ornamentation, they are instead simple and spontaneous; minimal, yet compelling. My work brings with it a bold and heroic presence, a one-of-a-kind and unique experience. Similarly, I feel honored to be a part of the age old tradition of figurative art. Collectors of my work partake in that venerated tradition as well. They too celebrate the primal yet divine nature of mankind, the potent and strange force of humanity. To learn more about Overfield check out his website at: https://www.derekoverfield.com/about.html The Process:Reflection: Overfields work is absolutely extraordinary. His movements and figures are so powerful. I enjoy watching his processes and how he builds up his figure. Overfield masterfully incorporates gesture and loose yet highly realistic painting. It is interesting, Overfield does pre-plan his work, and so his "spontaneity" is carefully posed rather than actually in the moment. I love his use of layering and minimalism. I want to try incorporating his technique of scraping away paint to build line as well as use more washes to build more texture and line. I have been using washes in my work and I'd like to build up and develop more technique with the application of washes. I additionally love how for some of Overfields work he depicts only gesture which is a fascinating parallel to be drawn. I did use some gestural markings with chalk in my last piece, however, I'd like to take a bit of Overfield and pull some parts of simply gesture into my pieces. Works Cited:
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Food For Thought:This was really interesting to see which alumni and from which years attended art schools. I think ultimately lots of kids go to college for the same reason: to do something they are passionate about. Prior to this year, I honestly had no concept of what an "art school" is, and it sounds like a lot of fun, however, I have so many interests, I know it is not for me. I want to be able to bridge my artistic knowledge and creativity and carry it into my work as an urban planner, designing and redesigning urban structures to be more sustainable for the future. Bailey spoke out to me a lot in how he was interested in politics but then per chance stumbled upon architecture. I think architecture and urban planning are especially interesting fields that bridge many different disciplines. I think ultimately, in whatever career I so choose I want to be able to be passionate about it and I want to create, maybe not to the extent of the artists, but definitely I want to be able to produce, innovate, problem-solve, and create solutions. Another thing I was interested in hearing about was the different way the programs were set up. One guy thought that VCU did not challenge students enough going in, while another girl enjoyed the rigorous pace as to which she started off in drawing. Each student enjoyed different aspects of the art field. Coming out of this, after having applied to college, I'm realizing how kids that are happiest at their colleges are kids that choose to follow and learn something that they can be passionate about. Going forward on my college adventure, that's the most I could hope for.
In the meantime with my warping frame, I took a break to paint a figure. I was experimenting with the black of the foam core and layering. I really do like the final result of this piece. I finalized with some chalk and glitter. I'm thinking of cranking out a few variations of paintings in this style on actual canvas. Been working on a lot..... the big frame piece was put on pause unfortunately due to complications with the foam core and warping. In fixing the warping I ended up just saturating the back with water which seemingly did work. I've come back from the warping to add some figural gestural markings. I want to ultimately have a figure with a dress, hopefully the dress can have some 3D elements and come off the canvas. Excited to finish this piece. I also want to incorporate perhaps a glittered bodice? Not sure yet. Made a pretty big canvas. I had to cut the wood and then ended up gluing on some foam core. Following, I started painting today. I'm thinking of having a figure coming out of the colors in a way such that the background is interactive and dynamic. I'm not sure yet though. Here are the first touches though!
11/2/19 I have decided to go back and just redo my portrait. Starting, I'm choosing a picture I think that is more closely reflective of my face. I hope to still keep the gestural markings as I go. Starting out with proportions this time, I just used the projector instead of going straight in. Hopefully that'll keep my on track. 11/9/19 Okay so the lips turned out weird so I had to redo them and move them downwards. I'm not sure how to fix the teeth as they're slightly grey and slightly off? 11/13/19 Smoothed over the teeth and the nose a bit just for a slightly more refined look. Overall I think it looks sort of like me? I most definitely think it looks better in person but am not sure how I am supposed to resolve it digitally. For First Friday, we went to the ICA and it was really interesting! It was the first time I had ever actually entered the building to look at the art and I enjoyed it. The atmosphere was especially engaging and the music and the snacks were a bonus. While I enjoyed all of the music and the people it made it more difficult, personally to focus on the art and enjoy its simple presence. The upstairs exhibition was pretty cool. There was a super cool display of three weird/abstracted small mirror men. The mirrors were two way and reflective. The artist, Aria Dean is using the reflective surface, that is often used in prisons and psychology, and interrogation rooms, to comment on the history of incarceration and commodification of black bodies to be suppressed and contained. I would really like to look into her more as her content is rather interesting. I wonder how as an artist she pushes this idea of black incarceration and commodification through other pieces? I would like to go back sometime, perhaps when it is more quiet without dance music playing to further inquire and explore Deans artistry. I really liked Deans sculptural work and how she rendered her figures. I wonder if I should play more with abstraction? Something I may consider...
She's done! I attached the paper flowers to the canvas with hot glue. At certain points I also poked holes in the canvas and attached them that way. I'm rather happy with how it turned out but still al little unsure of whether or not the flowers go with the piece. I also would've liked to make the final figure pop out of the background a bit more.
Currently making large, sculptural flowers to supplement the wacky hair. It's taking quite a while as I have been paper macheing paper after paper to construct the flower. I have spent two classes just paper macheing and one actually constructing. I'd like to ideally make 3-5 flowers, but the paper macheing and construction process is rather time consuming. I like the overall look of the flowers though!
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February 2020
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