News

I am in the process of putting together a more legitimate website. I hope to launch no later than January 31st, 2010. Thanks to any who view this, and I will be sure the fill you in on any other major updates.

Update: Work from Fall '09

This is an etching completed this Fall. I revisited a plate from last semester, and removed some and added to it. This is the result.



"Altered Beasts"
Etching
22x15
2009

The Endangered Species Print Project

I came across this neat concept by Jenny Kendler which involved creating editions of prints of critically endangered species in the world based on how many of them there are physically. From what I understand, the proceeds will be donated to help ensure their conservation.

Here is a work done in honor of the Panamanian Golden Frog.



Their blog is here.

Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock
"Lavender Mist: Number 1, 1950"
1950, Oil, enamel, and aluminum on canvas;
221 x 300 cm (7 ft 3 in x 9 ft 10 in);
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.


I don't know why, but prior to this past week. I hated Jackson Pollock's work. I know, I know- how in the hell could one say such a thing? But note, I said "prior to". I have a new-found appreciation for him and his work.

It wasn't (entirely) about the composition, or the linework, or how thick or thin the paint was; he did it until it FELT done. The creation was an experience- painting just an end result. Judging from this train of thought, creation for him was a very violent and indefinite thing.

Herein comes my new appreciation. Who's to say a piece of art is bullshit because it's non-representational, or simply not your taste? The man may not have been an "artiste'", but he was certainly a creator- a leveler, a "bulldozer". Granted, he's simply slinging paint on the canvas, but the fact he did just that and yet, still makes us feel something is truly remarkable. His works go beyond drips of paint, and became a visual record of the raw unfocused emotion that he had.

Video Post

I thought this new advertisement for Rhapsody featuring Jay-Z was suave and fluid. It (pretty) seamlessly chronicals his album covers/popular photos of him over the course of his career, in about a minute.

Update 9/22/09

School has started. My first critiques of the year are Wednesday and Thursday. I will post more photos of what I've done more frequently from here on out (I promise). Let's kick things off with a photo I took for a 4 color separation (CMYK) project in serigraphy.



The prints themselves turned out fairly decent. I will update with the final results, as well as color tests.

Update

Currently, I am working on campus at Temple in addition to, taking a psychology class, and monitoring the printmaking studio one day a week. With that being said, it has been difficult to find time to make a legitimate website of my artwork, but it is still in the back of my head. I hope to have this accomplished no later than 2010. I have been reading a few books dealing with the themes that I want portrayed in my future artwork, as well as some simply for leisure.
The concept that people are inevitability linked to animals in one form or another is very common in folklore, movies, and books- as I have mentioned. I do not intend to reinvent the wheel, but I am actively researching methods in which I can utilize this device in an original way to convey my own understanding of this phenomena and create.

Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show!

A fellow Tyler student, Will Haughery, and I, Scott Holford, will be at the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show, on June 5th,6th,and 7th. Friday and Saturday hours are from 11am-7pm, and Sunday hours are 11am-5pm. I will have work on display from this past semester, as well as others. Both of us are printmakers so there will be a variety of etchings, screenprints, lithographs, and possible woodcuts. I don't know of our exact location yet, but I was told students spots are reserved in the center of the park.

There will be a ton of other artists there, especially from Tyler- including: Ashley Ivonne Limes, Kylie Adams, and Sarah Kodish-Eskind!
Come support us!

Thanks!

Update: Nate Sprenkle will also be joining us!

1st Post, Welcome

Welcome to my artist blog. My name is Scott Holford. I am a junior at Tyler School of Art, of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
Here's a brief history on me:

I have recently switched majors from Graphic Design to Printmaking. Though the two subjects are very different, my approaches to the subjects have been very similar.

Though I have much respect for graphic design, I felt the need to find my own sense of self. I pondered the possibility of doing so in a profession in which you are constantly required to produce work for others, and just didn't see how it was possible. After much thought, I decided it would be best switch to a major that would allow me the freedom to discover what makes me who I am, and the ability to experiment more loosely.

Tyler offers classes on serigraphy, lithography, etching, and relief techniques, but I tend to enjoy serigraphy and etching most. Printmaking is very adamant about process, and of the skills learned and taught- I am most comfortable with those two.

In regards to my printmaking works, it is often clean cut and has a serious tone, or the complete opposite and meant to be humorous (albeit, dark humor). I like to deal with symbolism, popular culture and iconography. My work ranges from the very precise and detailed, to the more loose and gestural.

In recent weeks, I have been dealing with the idea of human and animal relations. More specifically, similarities between the people I know, and North American animals. I have begun the process of selecting "ani-morphic" representations of these people, and intend on creating works in which they will depict stories of events that have happened in my life, or scenes relevant to my experiences with the alternate animal-selves I have chosen.

On this blog, I will post links to and pictures of my artwork, as well as events I may be in or other local events I plan to attend or partake in.

I am in the process of having my work re-shot and compiling a portfolio, so excuse me if the images you view for the time being are below average quality. I will beginning uploading those of better quality to my flickr account in the near future.

You can also friend me on facebook, or myspace.

Look for more updates soon!