Hearing aid

I just got my hearing aid this morning, and I feel as though I can hear everything. Every crinkle paper bag, leaves beneath my feet, whispers between strangers across the parking lot are all crisp and clear. My own voice which is been loud for a long time is now an amplified sound in my left ear and I realize how softly I can speak and still be heard. I can adjust the microphones and the volume and mute the device completely from my phone, but I'm enjoying the sounds too much to want to do anything but listen.

Final Week

This is the final week to see my solo show, Eminence Front at Anno Domini in San Jose, CA. http://www.galleryad.com/art/archives/art/backroom/bill_koeb_eminence_front/

Monotype Exhibition

An exhibition of recent monotypes is up at Anno Domini Gallery in San Jose, CA 

http://www.galleryad.com/art/archives/art/backroom/bill_koeb_eminence_front/

Recent Drawings

Teaching

I love to teach. I love everything about it almost as much as I love to paint. Maybe more in some ways.

Working with people and passing along information and learning from them and seeing them stretch themselves to find answers and surpass challenges are only s few of the rewards in teaching. Building a rapport with a person and seeing how their life is impacted by their interaction with you and their fellow students is probably my favorite part. Whether it be an 80 year old learning to use a computer, an undergrad learning how to see better and find their voice with drawing or painting, or a 10 year old learning the basics of game design, it is the same, a rewarding experience. 

I never finished school and was a poor student at times. I learned a lot but was so anxious at times the to couldn't turn in an assignment. I was too worried about what others might think. I ran out of money and financial aid and left school early. Luckily I found work at an art supply store and later as a teacher in a college summer program and as a freelancer. Most of what I've learned about being a good teacher has come from my mistakes and there have been many mistakes.

I hope to continue to teach in the future, whether it be online or in a classroom. There is nothing I've found that is as good as connecting with interested people and helping them grow. 

To all the people I've taught and those I've yet to, thank you. You have given me far more than I could hope to give you. 

Comix

Some panels for a comic I'm working on.

Transfers

   

I've been working lately on a series of transfers. Images from magazines and newspapers painted on with either gesso or gel medium and pressed against watercolor paper via my etching press or burnished by hand.

I began the series in response to ink drawings labeled "#inktober" that artists were posting on Facebook and Instagram and though I often draw with ink I wanted to find a way to make ink drawings without drawing anything. Meaning, I wanted the pictures to be made with ink on paper but find a way to come about an image without drawing it.

In part, I was inspired by Robert Raischenberg's silkscreen images and transfers and the first one I did included a sculpture he made with chairs and steps (sculpted with found objects and not by his own hand) and his name. Both his name and the chair image were in an article in his recent show at the Nasher and the piece was sort of a love letter to his work.

In making these I have found some ways to present images that I might not ordinarily draw and it had been a learning experience in design, juxtaposition of images and what these images might mean on their own and together. 

The #inktober idea was to make one image for every day of October. Though we are in November, and I'm only up to about 12 or so, I hope to continue until I've reached 31. I hope you enjoy the results. 

Numbers

Drawings

Nude on Easel