What we humans call... Love?

How can two people with two totally different life plans become so intertwined with each other. So in love with one another that they would do anything for, yet can't seem to match lifestyles. How can they be so in love that while one sleeps the other is most awake, and while the other is making compensations the the other seems to striving for what they've always wanted? How can they be as perfect as they believe when they argue anytime one does something the other disagrees with. Should one of these people forfeit their desires and dreams to see the happiness of the other? If their love is as strong as they feel would this be a reasonable and logical thing for one of them to do? When you fall in love and decide to become one with another do you eternally deprive yourself of what you feel you'd be most internally satisfied with? Or do you combine your dreams with your lover and make sacrifices while they do the same? Obviously there isn't a manual on life or love, but if there was would the answers to these questions be in it?

Warhol... A Savior

            I must say that being an artist in San Antonio, visiting art shows and local bars with “art” strewn across the walls I have grown this dis-respect of pop art. Countless times where I expected to see actual artwork I would see a monotone panel with a stencil of a celebrity on it. I would shake my head in disrespect because I didn’t understand why an “artists” would consider it a fine enough piece of work to hand out in public. It literally took to me to the point of not even respecting Andy Warhol as an artist. Until this week when I visited the McNay Art Museum and viewed the Andy Warhol exhibit.

            I have found a new great respect for Andy Warhol as an artist and I became enlightened to what pop art really is, what it meant then, as well as what it means now.  Andy Warhol was a smart man, somewhat of a genius in the art world and a savior to the underclass or underestimated artist. With artists before him like Jackson Pollock or Willem De Kooning making art fort the elite art Andy Warhol made recognizable images for the average person, which in turn brought more people of the era into the art world. Pollock and De Kooning made paintings and drawings for the intellectual, very humanistic qualities in their work, yet very expressionistic. Warhol turned the art world upside down, making very humanistic work with sublet notes for the more intellectual art viewer. He managed to take this images that the public can see and recognize and relate with and put feelings into the work for the more intuitive viewer. The one I saw that I enjoyed the most would be the work Warhol did of Mao Zedong, taking a Chinese communist leader and colorfully making him playful, even making a whimsical wallpaper of Mao’s face. Warhol’s touch changed this image of a powerful Chinese leader to a softer friendlier figure.

            I learned this week that pop art is artistic expression for the general public with notes for the intellectual. I see now that Andy Warhol did society a favor, showing the public and the art world that art work doesn’t have to be so expressionistic that the imagery is almost gone. Warhol showed the world art work that would appeal to more than just the elite. I’m still struggling to say I enjoy the pop art that local “artist’s” display around town, but I can say that I respect it… I think.

"This isn't Pop Music" 6'x6' Acrylic and House Paint on Canvas

Thank you for watching. As always the art work is available for sale, or for a spot in a gallery. Please fell free to contact me if you'd like to see the piece in person.

-C. Pressley

First OverHead event!

Today is the first event at Alamo Drafthouse! It'll be a fun time with Hot Rods, the Psychomantics, and watching the movie Cry Baby! Come dressed to to watch the Johnny Depp classic. Two showings (4:30 & 7:30) with the band playing at 7. See you at Drafthouse Park North today!

Musical Talent...

As some of my closer friends may know i've always been certain that my career in life would be around music. Although I've never gotten into an instrument enough to actually be pursue it, I was certain that was my path until I got into visual arts. Not knowing how to play any instruments, and my inability to rap, lead me to the fact that I do posses a great ear for good music. Countless times I've been able to hear a band, rapper, or group and just known that the music they make, will make the charts. Hence the whole reason for starting this blog in the first place. I had the idea I would write about musical groups or acts in the San Antonio area but quickly learned I was interested in a lot more forms of art than just music. So now I write about all the arts I come across, or that comes across me. Today however, I'm sticking to the roots. Today, it's about the music. Specifically about a local band called Heather Go Psycho. Recently they released their new music video for the song "Favorite Record". It's an awesomely shot video for an awesome song. definitely a band you would want to see live they always have shows around San Antonio and they are always packed so arrive early. Plus if you go you might see me there, so you could buy me a beer. Here's a link to the new video, watch closely, you just might know somebody in there.






After you check out that local talent I suggest you take a listen to Childish Gambino, his new album "Camp" is worth the purchase, but (unless you just trust me) fell free to take a listen on Spotify or a preview on iTunes before you fork over the cash at HogWild's. Once you do I'm sure you'll be running to the record shop on Main street. I heard him a few weeks ago on Letterman and immediately knew his record would gain popularity. He has a unique sound and it captivates a wide audience. Here's the video of where I first saw him and his group.



Thanks for keeping up with the blog, I know it's been a while since I've posted but with the holidays, working, getting new job, painting, and living life I've been somewhat neglectful of my OverHeard supporters. I'll try to get better and more frequent with my posting. Thanks for the support.

Happy holidays!

OverHeard would like to wish you and your family a merry Christmas and very happy New Year.

Daily Dose of Dopamine

Every artist out there knows how much they need that creative time alone to just let go. Doing commissioned work can be fun, especially when its well paid for. But anybody who is really creating art probably has stacks upon stacks of paper, canvas, or whatever, that may never see the lights of a studio. Work that was created purely out of a whim. With no real message to convey, no guidelines to stick to for an assignment or a job, and no competition rules to abide by, one can really just pour their self into whatever picture plane they choose. Late at night is when I often find the time to do this. The family is asleep the day is over and there's nearly nothing to worry about. It's almost a meditative process that then takes place. I grab whatever medium I have at hand and begin to get my daily dose of dopamine. When I'm creating this work I'm not thinking about what a client would want, or what the masses might find appealing once hung in a gallery. I'm simply letting the ink flow however I feel. Their are some design elements that naturally come into play, but for the most part it's all just feelings on paper. I do have much more work that will probably never be seen by the public, but these two that are pictured, I created the other night and decided to share. I really like the way they came out so I'll probably get them framed. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.
(top left:18"x24" charcoal and pastel on paper; bottom right:18"x24" charcoal and pastel on paper)

Thanks for reading

-CalvinPressley
calvinjpressley@gmail.com
overheardtv.blogspot.com