Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Bumper Sticker Update #6

Here are my six most recent limited edition wordless bumper stickers, #33 to #38. As I might have mentioned in previous posts, my vision is that they act as seeds to open minds. To further that goal, I am committed to giving away one bumper sticker to every US resident that promises to put it on their vehicle. Likewise, to make it a self-sustaining project, I charge $10 for all other stickers. If you would like one, check my Facebook fan page or Instagram account @robhitzig to see the most recent edition and email or message me an address to send it to.
072516
limited edition of ten
3" x 10"
091516
limited edition of ten
3" x 10"
042217
limited edition of eleven
3" x 10"
050817
limited edition of eleven
3" x 10"
 070917
limited edition of eleven
3" x 10"
 072717
limited edition of eleven
3" x 10"

Onion River Campground Bathhouse

I recently completed painting the bathhouse at Onion River Campground in Marshfield, Vermont. It was a fun project, not least of all because the owners allowed me to do whatever I wanted, no pre-approval of concept or design. I found the project a useful reminder of just how much can be expressed with just simple colored stripes. I was going for something that would be both fun and challenging, balancing a fine line between welcoming and "out-of-place-ness." 
Onion River Campground Bathhouse
exterior latex paint on plywood
14' x 16' x 24' (approximate)
2017
I would be remiss if I did not also mention that I developed a relationship with the owners through their other venture, Nutty Steph's, my source for the best granola in the world (note: this is an objective, unbiased, easily verifiable statement devoid of hyperbole). 
Onion River Campground Bathhouse (women's side)
Onion River Campground Bathhouse (men's side)
Onion River Campground Bathhouse (front view)
Onion River Campground Bathhouse (back view)
Onion River Campground Bathhouse (before)

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

New Group of Canoe Strip Canvas Pieces

I had my second group of "canoe strip canvas" pieces photographed by RL Photo Studio in Burlington, Vermont a couple of months ago. With this group I experimented with painting the entire surface, taking wood grain out of the work. Because the pictures are, for the most part, taken straight on center, the best indication of the shape is found in the drop shadow. 

This first piece was painted while doing a residency at Vermont Studio Center. The free-form style was a big change and challenge for me, but was completely the result of being in that intensive environment and being pushed to try new things.
Timeless
acrylic, milk paint, and shellac on wood
32" x 41.5" x 7"
2017
I have a small garden plot in front of my house where I grow thing deer won't eat, like kale and mesclun mix. I love grabbing hand fulls of greens whenever I walk by and eating them immediately.
Garden Snack
acrylic, gouache, milk paint, and shellac on wood
32" x 43.5" x 7"
2017
I love my truck, a 2003 Toyota Tacoma with >200,000 miles. If you saw it you would think, "I bet that's Rob's truck."
Truck Love
mixed media on wood
32" x 43.5" x 10"
2017
Twilight
acrylic, milk paint, and shellac on wood
32" x 35.5" x 6.5"
2017
Below are two new pieces in my "ART?" series. I love that it is a completely ambiguous question, allowing many interpretations and many times more answers, so I feel it is a question worth repeating and recreating in different forms. Ideally, the ambiguity spurs discussion and thought, which I believe is more important than any specific interpretations people identify. Personally, though, I'm kind of stuck on the interpretation of what art can do in this increasingly divisive and scary political environment the US is experiencing; as in, "What good is art?" or "How can art be used to bring people together?" However, I love hearing what other people think when they see it.
ART? (4)
acrylic, graphite, milk paint, and shellac on wood
32" x 36" x 5.5"
2017
To construct ART?(5) I used the actual forms from my 16 foot canoe. 
ART? (5)
acrylic, gouache, milk paint, and shellac on wood
32" x 35.5" x 13"
2017
Because the piece is so deep, I thought it was necessary to take images from each side as well.
ART (5) 
second view
ART (5) 
third view
I have a couple of show scheduled for 2018 where I hope to display these and my earlier ones. Stay tuned for more info.