How Art has Changed
Made this mixed media artwork a little while ago. Showing people how and why art has changed so much over the last 150 years or so has been a passion of mine.
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All posts for the month June, 2012
The Red Balloon – A New Beginning
When I awoke I found myself on another plateau.
Nothing in sight in all directions. But it did not matter. I was different now……somehow.
All my fears had gone. I only felt….JOY!
Why? What had happened to me?
I could not remember anything except for an overpowering thought…….
“EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS WITHIN YOU.”
This seemed to give me peace in a way I had NEVER known.
Then I asked myself …what do I need now? Answer…..I need to leave this place.
So I sat down feeling relaxed and at peace.
A little while later I heard a dull sound in the distance. It was a huge red balloon coming towards me.
And so ended my magnificent journey.
The ending of this journey was indeed……. a New Beginning……. IN EVERY WAY!
Should you wish to start the journey from the beginning please go to
Discovery – A Journey Into the Unknown – JNo1
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012- 2013 (c)
Today I felt like a new theme change. Hope you like it. It seems easier to read and navigate. Also I like my new small studio – left wing entrance shown at the top of the page. Castles are going cheap these days.
Any thoughts/comments are welcome.
Water Bullet
Art is all around us. Dodged this bullet this morning but managed to snap a photo of it. If only ALL bullets were filled with water!
The Cracked Egg
As I approached the sphere it started pulsing, increasing as I got nearer. It dazzled me with its splendor.
When I was close enough to touch it a giant crack appeared before me.
Then I realized… this was an egg not a sphere.
Soon the crack was large enough for me to enter.
It felt safe and welcoming. So I entered and as I looked around I noticed……. the entrance was quickly sealed.
The en Light en meant
Knowledge and awareness began flooding into my mind.
The first most powerful thought was….you have entered the egg to be reborn!
What?………Things come out of eggs to be born not go into them!
This thought rocked me to my soul.
Then even more amazing…..finally you have returned, now your transformation can begin!
I knew there was no escape but somehow I did not want to.
I was ready to embrace whatever was about to happen.
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013 (c)
The Big Sphere
It seemed like eternity as I fell.
My life flashed before me……. I demanded I can’t die now. I have not done what I set out to do.
Then SPLASH….I hit water. It was warm as I sank below the surface.
I opened my eyes and found I was immersed in a purple sea with suggestions of red rocks appearing far below.
Quickly running out of air I was amazed to find I could breathe. This liquid was not like anything I had ever known before.
I could turn freely, and breathe easily and still be supported. More like colored air which behaved like water.
This was something completely new.
Each step of my journey was changing my previously held beliefs…. now anything was possible!
As I tried to take all this in I was jolted by another awesome vision …..
a huge multi colored, patterned sphere appeared before me with a pulsing yellow glow from its center.
I was memorized by its beauty and slowly moved towards it.
By now fear seemed irrelevant…only wonder prevailed and I decided to embrace it all.
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013(c)
The Blue Passage
Just when it seemed I would perish in The Tomb the huge rock doors slowly began to move apart.
Obviously the parchment requirements were fulfilled by a generous blogger and I was overwhelmed with gratitude.
As I moved through the doors a long blue passage way appeared.
It was narrow but well lit and I could again see strange makings along its sides.
They did not seem to be symbols but crude attempts at painting figures or abstraction.
Puzzled I continued but could not help running my hands all over the smooth blue walls.
They felt so good.
As I neared the end of the corridor the floor fell away below me and I found myself falling,…..falling……….falling.
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013(c)
The Tomb – Click on image to enlarge
No sooner was I inside the truncated pyramid when I found myself contained in a small tomb-like room where I could hardly move.
It was just high enough to stand up and turn around with arms extended.
I managed to light a match which revealed another rock surface full of symbolism.
I was able to see what looked like a snake, a helicopter, a falling man and the initials…. j a l or j a i.
Then I looked down and discovered a piece of parchment with the following inscription ……….
…..when you find twelve objects on the wall the doors will open and you can proceed.
At that moment my match went out and I sat in the dark wondering what to do.
The hours went by….then I decided… I NEED YOUR HELP!
Can you search the surface to find the 12 objects I need.
I am desperate to continue my journey.
Without your help will this become …..my tomb?
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them to
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013(c)
The Black Forest and the Truncated Pyramid
Refreshed from a good nights sleep I set out the next day with much greater optimism.
After all I had overcome the most difficult tasks I had ever encounted.
So with a merry but cautious step and whistling my favorite tune …. “always look on the bright side of life”, I knew this day would be good.
After about an hour…or maybe two I entered a place I could only describe as The Black Forest but rather than feeling threatening it felt calm and peaceful.
I could see off in the distance a looming object but it was obscured by the trees until I got closer.
It was a giant pyramid rising up before me…..except it was different. It was truncated!
Who or what could have built such a structure and why?
The sides were different too. They glowed and seemed to be alive and moving. It was like looking down on the earth from high above. No pyramid was ever like this one.
As I moved close to the surface it became still and solid. Suddenly a doorway appeared and I knew I had to enter it.
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013 (c)
The Journey – A New Day
This new painting was inspired by my work on The Journey series which is unfolding on my blog site here. It is very different to most of my previous works.
Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) All rights reserved.
The Plateau of Doubt and Disbelief
Finally surviving my previous encounter with the walls of the Cathedral Cave I came to a new, more sinister point on my journey.
Now I had to pass over The Plateau of Doubt and Disbelief.
This territory presented many dangers but as someone had told me in the past…. look for opportunities!
So carefully I moved forward aware of the dangers but looking for the opportunities. Soon I found some.
They were weird marks all over the surface which reminded me of images found in ancient caves sometimes referred to as wall paintings or rock art.
Then to my amazement I thought I saw the letters cy twombly etched into the surface but I may have been mistaken.
What would that mean?
The Plateau – found image
I continued on finding images everywhere.
Was I going crazy or were these symbols from ancient or future civilizations? They all must have some meaning….doesn’t everything?
If only I could carbon date them. Then the truth would be known.
But what if they were from the future? My mind started racing again.
Struggling to live in the present I dismissed any further suppositions or conjecture, centered myself and continued on my way.
Then the realization. How fortunate am I to be seeing such things.
The Plateau – another found image
As a kind of darkness began to descend I was exhausted and moved to the safest area I could find to take refuge for the night.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013 (c)
The Cathedral Cave
After much searching I found there was no way into the Wall of Light
So I began to explore other tunnels until I came across the magnificent Cathedral Cave.
There were many objects just floating and dancing in the bright light streaming down from above.
Being completely lost I decided to climb the huge walls of the Cathedral as it seemed to be the only way out.
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 (c)
The Cave – Wall of Light
As I moved slowly forward I came across a cave.
The light quickly extinguished and I soon found myself in complete darkness. The air was cool and musty.
I stumbled around for what seemed like eternity finally discovering an eerie sound coming from a tunnel which I moved along falling several times.
Then the light appeared once more from a bend in the distance. Quickly I ran towards it. The tunnel was expanding with every step.
As I turned the corner a massive jewel-like wall of light confronted me.
I could not think or feel anything. I was frozen with awe.
Every part of me tingled with excitement.
I fell to the ground shaking my head with disbelief.
What had I discovered here?
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you are enjoying them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013 (c)
A New Vista
The Journey……Day 3 A New Vista lay before me.
As I traversed the fantasy of my previous day I was stunned when I reached a new summit.
Here the most amazing panorama unfolded before me.
I gulped in excitement. Never had I seen such beauty. It was breathtaking.
I longed to capture this image and share it with others but no camera or painting could ever do this justice.
So I savored the moment…… for hours, then moved ahead wondering if any view might ever surpass this one.
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you enjoy them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 (c)
The Journey – Wetlands
As I pass through undiscovered lands and across terrain I have never seen before I wonder…………
Should I go forward? Where is this leading to? Should I return to the familiar? The safe? The known? Is this a waste of time?
Doubts, fears, images flood my mind to the point where I am exhausted.
I must rest. Lie down and sleep.
So I do.
The Journey – Another Place
Suddenly I awake to a new vista. This place is beautiful.
Then I remember ….
YES! I am an artist, a creator and I can place myself wherever I want to be.
…………and the journey continues.
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you enjoy them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 (c)
Painting No 1
Painting No 2
I just received these 2 images from my student Jon. He wants to submit one of these for an art competition. Which one do you like…. No1 or No2?
Discovery – A Journey Into the Unknown
Just looking through my artworks for 2011 and made this “discovery.” It reminds me of Jules Verne’s classic novel A Journey to the Center of the Earth. Now it might be Journey to the Center of the Universe and Beyond. I love the idea of going where nobody has gone before. Not so much physically although that would be exciting. More mentally and spiritually with your imagination. Here untold discoveries can be made. Maybe this painting might help you to explore the “unknown” for yourself. Too deep maybe? …….then just enjoy it!
About The Journey…… this is an actual journey I am experiencing right now. It began with a painting and I have no idea where it might be leading. The discoveries I am making are REAL but they are coming from my artworks. These are all new artworks and they are REALLY amazing me …. I hope you enjoy them too.
All rights reserved. Copyright Burgess 2012 – 2013 (c)
THIS POST was originally published on: Jun 14, 2012 and is now reposted on January 10th 2013.
3 Portrait Studies by a student
Here are 3 Portrait studies by one of my students. Each is 16 inches x 20 inches in size and acrylic on board. His work is making great improvements all the time.
Can you suggest a title or story?
Sometimes I ask my students to suggest a title or story to a work of art. They love it and often suggest some amazing things. Here’s one you can have a go at. There is NO right answer so let your imagination go crazy.
One thing I have noticed too. The human imagination never stops amazing people who USE IT. Because it is not obvious and hidden deep inside us we take it for granted. Only when we put it to use do we see its awesome power. So exercise it now and see what happens. You will amaze yourself and everyone else. Have fun!
Four new charcoal drawings
New drawings
???????
Can you name this painting?
In the past I have been reluctant to show my works of art like this one. Passionate Man is a wild, raw, exciting, crazy work and as you can see an outburst of pure EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION. With my teaching experiences etc. over the past few years and encouraging others to express their emotions and find their truth …….. I must show you mine.
I am a regular guy with a PASSION for art. And if you go to my Drawings page you can see I can draw and somewhat like a Master when I choose. I learnt to draw in the classical way as did Picasso and others. However Picasso said that it took him 10 years to learn to draw/paint and the rest of his life to unlearn it.
So as you can see ……. I am now… a Passionate Man
Please Note : All content and artworks are Burgess Originals and Copyright Burgess 2012 (c) No reproduction without the artist’s permission.
View from Bleecker Street NYC
Prior to moving to Long Island City I lived in the heart of Greenwich Village (West Village) on Manhattan Island NY for many years. Many great writers, artists, musicians, poets, etc. have lived here. This was the view downtown from my small but magnificent 10th story loft on Bleecker Street.
It was a great time to be there. In the heat of summer people would sleep, party, make movies etc. on the rooftops directly below as the old song “Up On the Roof” says. At 3am the streets below were full of activity. People filled the restaurants, bars, nightclubs, etc. Often they were making major movies in the area and one night Whoopi Goldberg was filming right outside our main entrance. It was always a buzz with activity. Soho was only one block south.
And every day off in the distance those two magnificent towers stood majestically above their surroundings as symbols of hope for all people to rise above their circumstances and make their mark in this world. Things change and neither myself or World Trade Center are in NY now. Fortunately I still still have my life although it could have been different as I was about to go up the Towers on the fateful day of 9/11. Now that is another story.
View of Manhattan from 48th Ave Long Island City New York
As I begin this blog I am reminded of the time when I was living in a 48th Ave loft on Long Island City in New York. Just across the East River and the UN near the 59th Street Bridge. Great place with fabulous view of Manhattan and so convenient to it all. At this time I discovered the internet and was so excited because I could sense the possibilities of this new method of communicating and sharing with others and built my first website. My aim then was to post my new artworks each day and I remember a phrase I used. “Paintings so fresh you can almost smell the paint.” I maintained the site for sometime but never received one response. Gradually my enthusiasm waned and I just got on with my art. The internet has come so far since then. Let’s see what develops here.
BURGESSART 
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