One a day (or two)

As an exercise to push myself to expand my process and to create a narrative for my work without using figuration or text, lately I've been creating abstract pieces where I aim to follow a momentum and try to finish a painting a day. Through this less inhibited process where I cut down on the self-editing, I try to "design" less and get back to "painting".

I have cheated a bit, and have worked on some pieces on its second day... hope that won't detract from the purpose of the exercise or the process. The following are some paintings from this series.

Studio Photos

The following are photos of my painting studio located in MICA's Studio Center:

A Good Quality Canvas is a Stretch

It's been roughly 15 years since I last stretched my own canvas... But being on a tight budget these days and knowing that I'll need numerous blank canvases to work on, it was time to revisit a skill I was never really good at.

With the help of my wife (And she was a great help - she's probably a bit stronger than me), we teamed up to pull that canvas as tightly as possible and stapled those edges as our hands grew tired with blisters. After what seemed like an eternity, and I'm glad I didn't keep track of the time or I would be embarrassed right now, the new canvas was complete and not half bad either. One down, several more to go... Thanks Jen!

Ushering in the New Year

MICA (left) - "Still-life with Gouache" by Adriana, 5th Gr.(center) - "Self-Portrait" by Datwuan, 7th Gr.(right)

As I look back and review this past year, 2009 was a time of change. In the summer, I left New York - the only place I've ever lived in - and moved to Baltimore with my wife Jen. Left behind was my Queens apartment, subway commuting, and the music and art school I taught at for 3 years.

What lay ahead was wide open opportunity, a small quirky city to explore, and a handful of "Hons" thrown my way. I was given the opportunity to be a Teaching Artist with Creative Alliance and Young Audiences, where I taught 5th-7th graders for a semester, and really enjoyed my time and experience in the classroom. However, with some nudging support from Jen, I decided to follow my dreams and finally head back to art school after an 11 year hiatus.

In January, I'll begin a Post-Bac Program at Maryland Institute College of Art... a first step towards getting to where I want to be. So as 2009 comes to an end, I say a fond farewell to New York and to teaching in the classroom (For now), and I welcome with open arms, 2010 - A Year of ART, Debt, and unlimited possibilities.

Happy New Year!

Season for Wishful Thinking and Giving Thanks

In this holiday season, I am making wishes and giving thanks...

As I - not so patiently - wait for notification to see if I get accepted into MICA's (Maryland Institute College of Art) graduate program, I am combining all my wishes for one positive acceptance letter.

On the other less-selfish end, I am very THANKFUL for quite a few artists, who have inspired me on many different levels. In no particular order, I am giving thanks and showing appreciation to the following artists and their work:

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cy Twombly, Joan Mitchell, Mark Rothko, Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Francesco Clemente, Christopher Yee, Mark Bradford, David Kramer, Jessica Kreutter, Marcel Dzama, and countless others.

Inaugural Painting Exhibition at The Evergreen; NOV 7 - DEC 5, 2009

The Evergreen
501 Cold Spring Ln, Baltimore
Kenneth Yee
"Help is on the way"
November 7 - December 5, 2009

“In Washington, the first thing people tell you is what their job is. In Los Angeles you learn their star sign. In Houston you’re told how rich they are. And in New York they tell you what their rent is.” (Simon Hoggart)

As an artist who is new to Baltimore, Kenneth Yee is unsure what the city’s natives tell people. A transplant from Queens, New York, the painter/teaching artist is proud to display his inaugural exhibition of paintings in Baltimore at The Evergreen Café.

Yee presents, "Help is on the way", a new collection of paintings on view from November 7 through December 5, 2009. Loose lines and brush strokes are a result of his time spent teaching toddler-age art classes, while newer images of random objects and modes of transportation are inspired by the artist’s new surroundings. Use of words and partial phrases make their way into paintings influenced from the artist’s days in advertising and graphic design.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in 1998, Yee has held various solo exhibitions around New York and has been included in shows at the Open Culture Gallery in Chelsea and participated in the Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour. A number of paintings can be found in a variety of private collections in cities such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New Jersey, Baltimore and Berlin. Kenneth was interviewed on NBC's The Today Show for volunteer work as a Teaching Artist with Art for Progress and has participated in the Artists Talk series at the Asian American Art Centre in New York City.

Car problems lead to inspiration

While I have no right to complain about a car that was handed over to my wife and I, a classic '96 Skylark, to say we've experienced a few breakdowns would be a slight under-statement. With the continued support of our Uncle Lenny, and the bailout-pick-ups by Jen's parents, we've managed to keep the Skylark in the family and running - at least for the moment and not so quietly either.

Through these hardships came inspiration. With time to think while stranded and waiting to be picked up, whether it's on the New Jersey Turnpike or in Patterson Park, Baltimore, I've decided to incorporate our beloved Skylark in my newest painting titled, "Help is on the way".