The Shady Sketchbook

The target. These are excerpts taken directly from...

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:18:02 -0700

The target. These are excerpts taken directly from Monsanto’s website. I hope they can be unmasked before the country is entirely covered with their filth.

A prototype kinetic sculpture I made this semester. It’s...

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:14:17 -0700

A prototype kinetic sculpture I made this semester. It’s definitely far from being finished, but it’s a start. This machine launches paint balls using a pinball style launcher mounted on a turret. The goal is to have it fire automatically on its own using a fan motor. Its target is the main point. Green paint balls, deceptively filled with neon orange paint splatter against a map of America with excerpts taken from Monsanto’s webpage. Soon the slime that they create over our world will be too much to be hidden by their sophistry.

And the second was my brother’s, in Park City. For wedding...

Wed, 08 May 2013 23:08:03 -0700

And the second was my brother’s, in Park City. For wedding gifts they had us all paint ceramics for their kitchen set. My dad and I split the platter, painting my brother and his wife about to slaughter their first turkey dinner!

Two weddings this month. The first was in Albuquerque, for my...

Wed, 08 May 2013 23:05:00 -0700

Two weddings this month. The first was in Albuquerque, for my sister in law’s sister, whom i went to high school with. That one in the horse head is me

I'll be showing

Wed, 08 May 2013 22:30:01 -0700

at least two paintings at Ephemeral Studios Gallery in Jerome Arizona from June 1-15. If any of you are fellow Arizonians come check it out! Not sure of the exact date, but I’ll be at the opening party!

And this one is still underway! Building it up quite a bit,...

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:51:22 -0700

And this one is still underway! Building it up quite a bit, also. There is a quote from Monet that really struck me: “I am more than ever disgusted at things that come easily, at first attempt.” I can’t get that out of my mind; it resonates with me so deeply. And Rouault, he is one worth reflecting on, as well. Keep ya posted on my progress!

A work in progress, possibly part of a triptych. Once finals are...

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:46:35 -0700

A work in progress, possibly part of a triptych. Once finals are over (wednesday) I’ll be back on track as far as painting goes. As far as reading books and watching movies and spending time outside goes, as well! I’m going to build this one up like I did with the previous self portrait. My work might be in a show up in Jerome, Arizona this coming month. Keep an ear out! A lot of my recent oil painting should be on display and for sale

Done and done. It is different from before! Self Portrait, oil...

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:36:18 -0700

Done and done. It is different from before! Self Portrait, oil on canvas, Hank Mattson, 2013. I see progress in the lines that I paint.

My installation project for the Adel Mathematics building at...

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:14:10 -0700

My installation project for the Adel Mathematics building at NAU. I made these three board games from scratch. The games are tic tac toe, 3D connect four, and mastermind. I didn’t invent the games, but I did design and engineer this particular presentation of them. I incorporated the colors of the building and floor patterns. By these games I hoped to encourage a more strategic way of problem solving as opposed to the formulaic process used in most math courses at the general level. They are made entirely from wood, with the exception of a few steel pencil rods as support, and are painted with acrylics. Although I definitely ran into a few difficulties with these, and am more than glad for the project to be done forever, the piece was successful, and I beat everyone in the math building that I had the opportunity to play.

Another drawing from the last figure drawing session. I forgot...

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:59:15 -0700

Another drawing from the last figure drawing session. I forgot about this one, but I did it in my sketchbook after having ran out of canvas paper. In Conte pencil

It has been

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:32:44 -0700

among the most stressful months of my life. But thursday has come, and my installation was successful. There was a crash with a blind man navigating the halls directly into my sculpture, and a misunderstanding with the building manager about the location of the installation, but I got to sit and play the games, and watch them work for themselves finally. Now off to Albuquerque for a wedding! I’ll update when I’m home on monday. Buon fine settimana tutti!

Welp, here it is. Although, I don’t know if this one is...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:00:33 -0700

Welp, here it is. Although, I don’t know if this one is quite finished either. I’m thinking of adding some sap green glazes around the ear, and maybe some more yellows and reds. Self portrait, oil on canvas. Hank Mattson, 2013.

Self portrait in watercolor. I’m not quite happy with this...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:00:42 -0700

Self portrait in watercolor. I’m not quite happy with this one. The right side of the face seems off and it’s a little too boring. I might go over it with oils lightly or crop it more interestingly. Vediamo. What do you think?

Here is one last one from this figure drawing session. Oil on...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:32:40 -0700

Here is one last one from this figure drawing session. Oil on canvas paper

This one I really want to work on some more. I got this sketch...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:21:49 -0700

This one I really want to work on some more. I got this sketch laid down onto a colored ground, and now I want to build up the background. I feel like I could make this very Pierre Bonnard-esque. I’ll keep the progress posted. Oil on canvas

Here’s another pose, lying down. Oil paint on canvas paper

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:15:33 -0700

Here’s another pose, lying down. Oil paint on canvas paper

Some figure sketches in oil paint.

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:51:46 -0700

Some figure sketches in oil paint.

Out of nowhere

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:06:08 -0700

I have to replace the starter in my car, on top of all other things. But I came to peace with a mental schedule that will accomplish everything for the semester. Let’s hope it pans out. Last three weeks of school and then all of this stress is left to painting and driving the summer away!

A sneak peek at another painting in progress :)

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:52:20 -0700

A sneak peek at another painting in progress :)

Painting in progress, another self portrait. Hank Mattson, 2013.

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:50:53 -0700

Painting in progress, another self portrait. Hank Mattson, 2013.