Hello construkt!
My name is Steven Ekeh, and I’m an artist…..in a way. Moved by the different styles through the ages, I could have been classically trained if it weren’t for the fact that I’m moved by the streets. Since there are so many ways you can categorize art I’m down for it all. I got an eclectic mix of art nouveau, baroque, stencil tagger, video game, anime & manga, underground music, furnace powering my style so theres no way it can be explained…..oh wait i just did. …..awkward!
Tag Archive for 'art'
present from marija! with james jean being one of my most inspirational artists, its no question this binding joined my favorites instantly. a collection of his process works which almosts becomes its own individual piece itself. every page takes you beyond his paintings and takes a look at his perspective in a variety of stages.
i found this book awhile back at a bargain book store and it eventually blended in with the rest of my collection. i picked it up again on the way to work the other day and realized it is probably one of my favorites. black ink by ata/toast not only showcases his prime works, but in various mediums and different stages. he goes from digital 3d designs to traditional sketches, graffiti, sculptures and graphic design pieces. the wide range of mediums with his own particular style and sticking to a black and white presentation makes this a great addition to any artists collection. although heavily influenced by graffiti, anyone can appreciate his fine attention to detail and simplistic designs, which in theory, always roots from those first few simple sketches in black and white. it really offers a chance to see a wide spectrum of things you can do from a simple idea or even from a quick doodle that one can create. the book really gives inspiration to the idea of expanding upon mediums while evolving that simplistic idea.
the forums have been launched and can be reached through two links: www.underconstrukt.com or www.ucboard.com. for those of you that have been supporting me and look out for updates; urban.construkt has come a long way from being a simple idea. thank you to all those who continue to support me and inspire me with kind words. i would really like to take some time to thank those who told me i wasn’t good enough and explained why. in a certain sense, it’s good to point out the faults of an artist with a reason to back it up.
i was always one with an idea, but too lazy to take action. one of those people who always talked shit but never acted, artistically speaking. sooner or later you realize everything is just an excuse. for me, school was my biggest excuse. i was always too tired or too busy with school to do the things i really wanted to do. to incorporate your own style at a school setting epicly fails at times.
one of my biggest issues when i look back is the fact that everyone gave me props. i am certainly not being cocky, but simply making a point. i grew up learning fine arts and creating a portfolio of pieces before i even entered design school, so it automatically gave me an upper hand. in the beginning, i had already dealt with things such as color theory, balance, and the fundamentals. fast forward three years later and i’m suddenly behind while everyone moved on ahead. it was never the fact that i was cocky, but placed in a setting where i became lazy. whatever i did the night before was good enough to get me by and i never felt the need to put in much effort. i had a strong concept, but a half assed project.
critiques were always one of the things i hated most. whether it was a piece of mine, or a fellow classmate, i always hated hearing that it was “awesome”. art can always be improved and any artist knows that one is always learning new techniques and applying new skills. half the people didn’t even have a meaningful concept behind their work, they just thought that it worked because the color were pretty! constructive criticism is important to any artist. it isn’t going to help anyone hearing that their work is perfect. it isn’t about comparing the ego or making another feel salty, but simply giving an honest opinion of how it could be better. of course, the advice doesn’t always have to be heeded. some of you may have already seen my post on the forums, but here is an example:
here’s an example of constructive criticism:
the colors are a bit dull and i don’t see any depth, i see a few tangent lines in the photo (the objects create lines and it touches the edge, same concept in math) but the models expression is great! try adjusting the levels in photoshop and it should create some nice shadows bringing the models out, and maybe crop out the edges so the focus is clear~
here is an asshole:
what the fuck is that did you wipe your ass with it? holy shit you don’t even know what the focus is supposed to be fucking lines are hectic as shit. that bitch is ugly as hell too…
i have always been pretty blunt about things, but it was always backed up with a reason of my own. somewhere along the line of my perspective, the artist is already thinking of ways their work can be better. i am honestly not good with criticism myself because i am always wondering in my head why the fuck it didn’t turn out like i thought it would, and i don’t want to hear shit i already know. i may not always follow the advice of an artist, but i will definitely listen and come up with something better the second time.
i suppose after all this writing i don’t even see myself as an artist, just a person with an idea. i’m no different from any of my friends who i have conversations with and come up with crazy ideas. i am definitely no better than my past classmates who have poured their heart and soul into every project that they’ve done. i am just looking for a place where i fit in, like everybody else (i am totally not emo).
it’s that time again to prepare for another exhibit. i have known about it for almost a year now and find myself with the same collection of pieces from the last show, which was over three years ago… i have been on a roll uploading the website and launching the blog and the forums, and i hope to approach my new pieces differently. i hope to open up my eyes and take the advice of any criticism positively. i also hope to collaborate with various people and make 2009 the foundation of u|c.
