JEFF STAPLETON
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A Doodler's Brain (My prefrontal cortex matters)

11/30/2020

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I doodle a lot. I mean a-lot. I have books full of them. I doodled in meetings and while it may have seemed I wasn't paying attention, it was in fact, helping me focus more. In these cases, it's more of a thinking process than a drawing process. Often these scribbles mean nothing to someone else, but it seems like a code to me. Sometimes it can inspire me to come up with a solution, whether it be for a design project or a piece of fine art. Thinking is. hard, thinking of ideas can be harder, but if your brain is engaged, it can free up ideas that may be something you think should be pursued to a point of execution.
Making a mark with a pen on paper is the beginning of that idea, that thought and transferring it into a real, physical shape is the beginning. An artist has to be vulnerable in order to create something that connects visually, emotionally and physically. Dealing with things you might feel afraid of sharing are sometimes an inspirational start. Afterall, when you create a piece of art, you are revealing something of yourself. There is something in the experience of creating this art that you are sharing in a very public way. You can not always avoid the things you fear or feel insecure about. I have become more secure in taking risks, attempting to create something that I find interesting, something fresh and visually stimulating. Even if the eventual reaction to that art is one of dislike. I want a reaction, good or bad because the worst reaction for a creative person is one of indifference. I want you to love it, to think it is great or you hate it and want to destroy it. These are the emotional connections we look for as an artist.
So, where do ideas come from? They come from inside us. They come from our experiences and how we feel about them. We are inspired by other creative people and the creative risks they have taken. This is where I landed on the mosaic idea. I have always drawn and painted, since I was eight years old. This new style or technique is something I came up with that challenged my mentally, graphically and creatively. I had no idea if this was really art or if it was going to be accepted on the same plane as I had visualized it. What I like about this technique is the opportunity to say something in a multitude of layers. Abstract thoughts and vivid colors interacting with images and misaligned squares. The application of paint and glue that appears to have just happened are really thought out and somehow planned strokes and globs.
So, keep doodling. 
 
 
 
 
 
  
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Creating Art for Famlies

11/18/2020

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Deciding to take on a commission piece for a family requires a different approach from what  I might usually take. First, most all of the images will need to come from the family or I may gather them from social media sights. The main hurdle will be to determine an image that will serve as the primary image that overlays all of the smaller images. One that will be striking and will serve to allow the smaller images to come through and not distort or hide the many important images that encapsulates their life. Sometimes, depending on the large image, I may insert some "filler" images or textures in dark areas and not waste the images that will hold meaning to the family. The above are recent examples done this year. One for a couple with their young children, a newlywed couple and a friend riding his prized Ducati motorcycle and celebrated a milestone birthday. Working on these projects also allows me to view private moments into their lives, some  photos that are usually just shared within the family or close friends. I try to honor them by creating a meaningful piece of art that the can proudly displayed and hopefully, cherished over time. It is a privlige that they are sharing these images and moments and also trusting me to present them in a way that can bring joy to them. I truly enjoy the working process with these people and it is exciting to see them turn out and enjoyed.
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Art Design Consultants-Art Comes Alive Show

11/12/2020

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This year I was fortunate enough to have two pieces of art accepted in the ADC Art Comes Alive show in Cincinnati and in their new ADC West gallery located at 1013 York Street. Sandy Eichert was kind enough to give me a quick tour during the construction and prep stages of getting this beautiful old space ready for the December show. The above two pieces are the ones that were chosen and I hope to have a good response as I have been in a quiet period (as all of us have been) this year. Regardless, I have always enjoyed seeing new things come from Litsa Spano's team at ADC and now with two new galleries, I hope to see even more things in the coming year. I have a marketing background and I certainly understand the effort and constant push a gallery must have to keep their clients and their artists engaged in promoting great fine art. Often, artists will feel they are doing the gallery a favor and they are doing the real work by creating wonderful art, but the reality (and I know this from owning a design firm for many years) it is equally or perhaps more important to have a conduit to art collectors/buyers who may be looking for or discovering your unique art. While I need to do more of this myself, developing those important relationships with galleries or shops that will hang local artwork and connecting with other artists who can share experiences and connections is a never ending process of engagement. While I do not rush into this part of fine art, I do like to be selective as to who I would like to share my art experiences with and how I might learn more about this process for improving my fine art efforts.

For more information about ART COMES ALIVE!
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    Jeffrey A. Stapleton

    Nothing fancy here, just some thoughts and pictures to help understand my state of mind, maybe.

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For more information please call
Jeff Stapleton at:
​937-581-1910 or email me at:
jeffastapleton@gmail.com
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