Rachel García Shank and Her Cave of Wonders

"This is Where We Dwell" Oil on Canvas 18" x 32"

Rachel Garcìa Shank is an up and coming artist residing in Covington, Louisiana. She graduated from LSU with an art degree in 2011. For the most part, her body of work focuses on nature. 

In this particular piece entitled, "This is Where we All Dwell" a certain depthness seems to radiate not only within itself, but also within its name. It is easy to imagine those words being whispered throughout the canvas, and suddenly turning into this loud echo as the viewer finally understands its intrinsic purpose. It is simultaneously a referent and a sepulcher. It is life and death. It is a cyclical entity of colors with it's reds, although not as predominately placed by the surrounding cooler blues and blacks, embodies this idea of identity. It's like blood, in that it is completely and genetically unique to this world. This piece truly is a geological treasure, hidden in the rough of a thousand other striving artists. 

It is evident that Rachel Garcìa Shank, although still at the early stages of her artistic career has potential for greatness. To see more of her collection, follow her on facebook: R.G. Shank

Jamie Baldridge: Not Just Another Run of the Mill Photographer

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to model for Jamie Baldridge, a photographer well known for his surrealistic style. In transforming me from my former college student self to a masochistic, opera singer to finally, a baguette bashing, anger-crazed woman, Baldridge transported me to his morbidly, whimsical pseudo-reality. And I must confess, it was exhilarating to be a part of his creative process. This is because he is an artist of whom I deeply respect and admire.

Baldridge was born in 1975 and was raised in the deep South. Eventually, he attended college at Louisiana State University focusing his studies on theology and creative writing. However, neither field stimulated him the way the arts did. When he was on the verge of graduating he switched majors and began his venture into the artistic realm.

Today, his works can be found in a plethora of places such as: Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Rare Books collections of the Library of Congress, Cornell University, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The University of Colorado at Boulder, the Rhode Island Institute of Technology, McNeese University's Abercrombie Collection, as well as a variety of private collection. He is also the author of The Everywhere Chronicles, which has been released by 21st Editions.

Needless to say, Jamie Baldridge is a master at his craft. And despite being among many pioneers in this digital age, he shines out against the several crossing this treacherous, cyber-based frontier. He is a maven and his work has a type of ferocious eloquence that is truly breath taking. I can't help but be in awe by all that he has accomplished. It's quite evident that Baldridge has really made a name for himself within the artistic community and deserves nothing but the highest praise. 

Check out Baldridge's works, just click here.

Why do I paint?

Art is the best way I can get my thoughts and ideas across. Yet, believe it or not, I've tried to fight against my own nature.

It's funny really. I used to play it off that art was merely a hobby; something completely impractical and ridiculous to pursue. Yet, the more I tried to resist, the stronger the urge became, until eventually I caved in and spent countless hours at the easel. So where does that leave me?

Well, I certainly could not deny who I was becoming any longer. My incapacity to ignore the incessant beckoning of the brushes, taught me one crucial thing: In creating, I have never felt more alive, and the beauty of that simple truth is that my existential quest has taken me closer to my goal of self-understanding. I am an artist, trying to leave a mark on this canvas of a world.

The Simulacra of Life

Acrylic, Wax and Text on Canvas

Lately, I have been inspired by conceptual art and its relationship with tautology. Joseph Kosuth, Jacques Derrida and Don DeLillo have really played a role in the development of my works. Kosuth is a conceptual artist who creates instillations dealing with communication. Jacques Derrida and Don DeLillo are communication theorists. Each have really made head way in the way meaning and words are viewed.

Find out more about Kosuth, Derrida, and DeLillo here:

http://www.skny.com/artists/joseph-kosuth/

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/derrida/

http://perival.com/delillo/delillo.html

Business Time

Acrylic and News Paper on Canvas

Duck

Acrylic on Canvas

The Red Forest

Acrylic and Wax on Canvas.

I created this piece in response to the television series Game of Thrones. For those unfamiliar with the series, Game of Thrones is classified as a dark fantasy, which depicts seven kingdoms who have been on the brink of war and/or are warring and/or have warred throughout the centuries. Within these high tensioned nations, sex and knowledge have great influence over the political prowess.

So, what does this have to do with a red forest?

The idea of sex and war can be seen as trying to find oneself through a forest. There are certain risks and dangers involved and the idea of the color red emphasizes this point.