Blog Post
HIBERNATION
Nicholas Harper • February 23, 2021
Have you ever felt like you were in the doldrums, unable to find your motivation or find a reason to get moving? I have. In fact, every winter I seem to find myself needing a bit of a break from most things life, art included. It's then that I slip into what can best be described as hibernation.
At first this used to bug me as I didn't really know what was going on. All I knew was that I felt lazy and that I couldn't help but compare myself to other artists who didn't seem to be feeling this same way, or at least show it. Worse yet, I would compare myself and my situation to the "civilian" world, the world where people have 9 to 5 jobs and the like. This would lead to self doubt, not only about my art, but my role as an artist.
It took years to realize that not only was I not the only artist to have these experiences and doubts, but that hibernation and the need for a break is quite normal and honestly, quite healthy. I discuss this and more, including a sure fire way to bring yourself out of a state of self doubt in the newest episode of Art Wunderful available Monday, February 22nd. Listen HEREor wherever you listen to podcasts. Hope you enjoy and Cheers!
TRADE SECRET
This is a photos taken at an early stage of a portrait commission featuring a mother and her two daughters. As you can see, I begin a painting with a reddish tint to the panel and then draw my composition directly on top before applying the oil paint. While I usually have a fairly refined sketch to draw from, when applying that idea to the panel it often changes considerably as I bring the image to scale from the sketchbooks. Until next time, Cheers!
Hello and welcome to this first update. I have made the RBG Blog exclusive to members of the Rogue Social Club. This is where I'll be making updates, posting essays and posting new works in progress as well as works only available to Rogue Social Club Members. I'll be making at least one post per week so be sure to check back often!. I look forward to seeing you all at the first Rogue Social event, the ZOOM HOOKUP on April 4th! Until next time, Cheers!
Everybody needs a break from time to time, even from doing that which one loves to do. Certainly this was the case for me. While I have been honored to have so many people help with the gallery over the years, from interns to volunteers, family and friends, the operation of the Rogue Buddha over the past 21 years has very much been a labor of love and an all consuming vocation for me. And so when the world took a nap, I found it to be a great time to do the same, to shutter the doors and rest my weary self for a bit. But alas, all good things come to an end and break time is over. It isn't exactly true to say that I've been "resting" over the past 18 months. Actually the opposite is quite true. If anything, I've still been hard at work but with more of a focus on my own career. I was honored with a solo exhibit at Gallery 360 which saw the release of a new body of nocturnal landscapes for example. I have also been hard at work putting the finishing touches on my first full length album which will be released under the moniker of Bleak Paris in just a few short days. In addition to that I've been back and forth at the easel, working on commissions and some paintings for myself as well as building an entirely new body of work. This work is sculptural with a painting component. I refer to these works as Tabernacles and they are highly inspired by my best friend and favorite artist, Michael Thomsen. Speaking of Michael, he will be exhibiting along with me in a new exhibit which opens in tandem with a Halloween Ball on Saturday October 30th! The event is called Mysterium. Tickets are now available through this website. If Halloween is your season, and you want a super special experience, I highly encourage you to snag one of the few available VIP Experience packages that we're offering! The package includes a private tour of the exhibit, a three course meal prepared by the NE Social and an exclusive VIP Lounge on the third floor! Lastly, I've also been busy writing. Whether these writings will ever see the light of day is anyone's guess. Perhaps I'll use a nom de plume for that... ;) Speaking of writing, I have crafted a few new episodes for the Art Wunderful Podcast and am looking forward to getting back to the microphone. I'm hoping to release a short episode this coming week followed by an episode that will feature a listening party for the new album release the week after! I also have a number of great artists lined up to be interviewed including Jana Komaritsa and artist, long time friend and now gallery owner, Heidi Jeub. And so my break/un-break is officially over as we once again open the gallery to the public on Oct 30th and thereafter. There may be some changes to the gallery hours and lighter exhibition schedule for the near future as I continue to focus on my own art and music. Who knows, there may be other surprises in the works that will see the gallery taken to new and exciting heights... ;) Hope to see you all on the 30th! Much love to you all and Cheers!