Joey Nebiker ------Blog 3 - #5 (again)

Using the same website as before to find printmaking artists, I stumbled across the work of Valori Fussell. On her website, Fussell includes an artist's statement that gave me a little insight into her world. She says "My work is described as intense and alive. I would add authentic." She goes on to discuss the fact that she is basically an anti-control freak. She loves the idea that art can just happen when you don't try too hard or force the process. This is totally a concept I can relate to when it comes to my art, because the more I try to think of an idea, the more empty my thoughts become.

When it comes to Fussell's work, I was really intrigued at first glance. Her pieces have a lot of depth and each separate work seems to have it's own personality. For example "Southern Man" (pictured on the right) was her first piece that really stood out, for me atleast.

I stared at it for a while before I realized, it kinda scared me a little bit. It has this haunting feeling to it, where you feel like this man is sitting in the shadows staring at you for some reason. You can't really see his whole face and there's not a lot of detailed work, but that's what I like most about it. The way the lines were formed to create this piece, the southern man looks as if he was composed of smoke and ash. The work really has the ability to portray a lot of feeling in such a simple way, and I really like that aspect of Fussell's pieces.

While a liked a few of her other pieces, including "southern man" ofcourse, my favorite was titled "bacon"(pictured on the left).

First I have to admit that at first glance, it looked just like Health Ledger's depiction of the joker in the newest batman movie. Of course that has nothing to do with the reasons why I like this piece, I just wanted to share that.

I think if I owned this piece I'd put it in my kitchen. Or maybe purchase it for a friend of mine who isn't the biggest fan of the carnivorous life. I'm not sure what her intentions were with the piece, but I'm not as creeped out by this as I was with "southern man". Yeah "bacon" might be a little bold and blunt, but I like that about it. My guess would be that this man holding up two halfs of a pig is a butcher, but I could be wrong. He could just be an everyday man that likes to slaughter pigs for bacon. Which if that's the case, obviously it becomes a little more creepy. However I really just find this piece to be incredibly interesting to look at. The man holding the split pig is partially concealed in darkness, but not too much where you have to strain to see him. The work gives you just enough detail where you don't walk away confused and if you knew the whole story behind it, it might become less interesting.

I guess that's the theme I found in Valori Fussell's work that drew me to her. It gives off this vibe where you have just the right amount of information, but you don't want any more than she gives you. It seems that she's chosen the right amount of darkness and the lack of color helps to affect the mood as well. Overall I think if I wasn't a poor college student and had money to throw around, I'd probably purchase one of her pieces, clearly it would be "bacon".

For more info on Valori Fussell, go to her website.