New media...

"Media" here is being used as the plural of "medium", and the media aren't new and technical and exciting that way as much as they are new to me, new to Rupert Piston.

I've long wanted to get moving in the direction of canvas and using more traditional materials, but haven't yet taken the time or the risk to do so. A few recent conversations, readings, and events have turned me more in the direction of paint and have me making plans to set and accomplish goals for pieces on canvas rather than digital media.

For starters, I've managed to get myself a booth at the San Francisco Rod, Custom, and Motorcycle show at the Cow Palace, February 20-22. While I hope to spend some time out on the show floor drawing cars and bikes, I've decided that would be a great place to start practicing with acrylics on canvas.

Last weekend the owner of Sue's Coffee in Gilroy sat down with me to discuss the possibility of putting some of my work on the walls. The space she is thinking of is high on the wall, necessitating large, probably colorful artwork. Sue had seen my work before as she searched for information on the Burrito Run, at which I draw each year on New Year's Day outside her store.

While I'm sure I could find a way to get some of my digital work on larger prints, there is a risk of decreasing the quality. The cost of such a print would be more than the value of the work in that medium. However, the value of a canvas is much greater, as are prints from canvas. It occurred to me that I'm probably ready for canvas and just need the time to start actually doing the work.

Finally, I was re-reading Eric Hermann's book How to Paint & Draw Motorcycles (Wolfgang Publications, 2004) and came across something I should have remembered before printing a bunch of shirts I didn't sell last summer--that there are some issues with trying to make money by pitching art on t-shirts alone.

Having seen Hermann's work and a number of other fine artists, I've long thought that I should be putting somethign better than cartoons on canvas. However, I wouldn't be the first cartoonist to put 'toons on canvas, and I can grow in the direction of finer work as I go. The appeal of my work could grow when put on large format canvas thoughtfully, as my composition and use of line and color are just fun to look at.

Now the test--to actually do the work. Look for more in the months to come.