A Thought on Science and Art

I often wonder why so many see the differences between art and science when there is really so much that they have in common.

An oil painter must be a chemist in order to mix paint to an accurate color and sheen. He or she must also be a physicist to understand the mathematics of perspective and the qualities of light and shadow in direction and intensity, and that's only for painting. Sculptors need to understand the architecture of objects, materials and their stress levels, spacial relationships, movement and balance technology as well as the new materials that are available and continually evolving. They work and think through a process of logic and meaning, trial and error to move their concept forward in a creative way. They seek answers to unanswered questions and attempt to change the world through their work.

In so many ways the boundaries between art and science are blurred.
Science like the Hubble telescope peers into the depth of space revealing the art within nature. Within the micro world we are contently revealing the wonders of small things that teach and entertain. The more we look at art and science the more they become one.

Below are the scientific-art photographs of ©David Scharf.

Photography of Dogs, "A Subject of Love"

Poppy at Canon Beach shows of her personality.

It all started when I was a small boy, my family had a dog that loved me. She was a mutt half collie and something else, not sure what but she was a mothering soul. To me she was a big dog but that was because I was small, I was a child and she watched over me. I love dogs. I have always had dogs in my life. They are wonderful creatures that are loyal loving partners in our lives.

Poppy was shot on location in available light.

When I think of how to capture an image of a dog, I think of my inner child and how I loved my first dog. I try to make a connection with the dog as I frame the shot in my camera. I am talking to the dog as if we were in a conversation trying to make a connection. If I calm myself, the dog senses it and calms down. This helps to bring out the personality of the dog.

Here are some of the images I shot of dogs in the past year or two. I hope you like them.

Poppy was always happy to be at the beach, so it became clear that her best portraits would be at a location where she could show how much she loved the experience.



"Doodles"

Buttons is looking at her master. Her focus is clear and loving.

Labor-doodle with indoor lighting but outdoor feel.

Suckling babies

The Doodle is a blend of Poodle with a Lab or another bread here is buttons a glamorous girl with a new litter of pups. Such a fluffy group of pups I fell in love instantly. Wouldn't you? These images were taken at Michelle's Doodles a local Washington breeder of fine loving doodles.

 This little guy is my new pet his name is Hugo although he does not know it yet. I am so excited that he will be a part of my family.

"French Bullies"

Highly individual bullies have strong wills and clear personalities.

Clearly intelligent

Focused on the camera

A sweet disposition.

Holding a toy to pose the shot.

  Bullies are independent by nature they have strong wills and want to do things their way or not at all. They are always testing to see if they can be the Alpha dog.

Sweet partings "please don't go".

It is often a good idea to have some help when photographing pets, owners can help with positioning, having a favorite toy available or treats will help to control the situation and get the pet to behave in a way that will bring out their personality. Remember you are not just trying to get a likeness but to reveal the deeper hart of the animal. Finely if all else fails take the dog for a walk, change the environment, tire them out a bit or come back at another time. I am most interested in getting the shot that the family lives with for the life of the animal. Get the shot to remember. These bullies are from Umpqua Valley Kennels in Oregon.

If you would like me to photograph your pet, send me an email to discuss fees and other details.

Seeking Exposure for your artwork.

A long time ago, my mentor told me to ignore what is going on outside of your studio. Do not become distracted from the deeper thought and commitment necessary to create at a level that can make you seriously competitive. Because if you want to be at the top of your game you must, keep focused while working and improving. He said to make your artwork deep and so good it cannot be denied. Do this and you will be found, the world will find you!

This process is true, acknowledgement belongs to the deserved ones whose work separates them from the pack of otherwise “good artists”. We are all good artists here, only a very few become great. What is it that gives your work a special hook or vision? What is your skill level? Setting ego aside, look at what you create and ask yourself if it is truly the very best, you can do. Will it separate you from the pack of other good artists?

We live a creative life and have done so all our life; to us this is what is important. We are painters. We are sculptors. We make images that fulfill our spirit and vision of the world. We are true artists in every sense of the word. There is no one else we need to convince of this. It is at this point in our life there is nothing to prove to anyone. Our success is not determined by external fame or fortune but by the joy, we find in living this life. Time will tell if what we have done will last.

Now with all this said there is also a need to share what we as artists make with others. We want them to see what we have been doing. We want them to see our vision. We would like to sell a piece of work occasionally so we can validate our process. Doing this is unavoidable to the artist. Without this, we are living in a vacuum.

Therefore, the dilemma arises of how to share our work. Devoting time to this process takes us away from the studio. So luckily, with the creation of the Internet, we live in a time that now circumvents many traditional time consuming approaches. Posting your work on a web page takes less time then seeking a gallery that may reject you or is less costly then hiring someone to promote you. Nevertheless, which one do you use? There are so many ways to expose your work? This magazine is a good start. However, you need more.

There is a new website now developed and going active soon it is called Artoura.com and it is being designed to promote artist, museums and galleries all over the world. It is also an educational resource that will help art enthusiasts to understand, learn and even purchase artwork, plan travel trips around art and sell museum tickets and guided tours when traveling. This site will give artists their own portfolio page and the ability to dialogue about your work and that of others. I am excited about this new web venue and hope that you will be to.The way forward in today's art world is on the web as well as in person.

Is the Medium the Message?

Living in a world of ever changing themes, the question of what to create and how to create it are relevant to the success of the artwork, its look and eventual public acceptance.

I am of the belief that it is not as much the medium as the message, who is making it and why. Picasso worked in many different mediums because each offered a unique connection to the expression of the idea and look of what he made.

Artists who settle into one medium and one style run a risk of becoming obsolete and complacent. To think you have found your way to unique expression may be true for a short time... but as the world marches on you will need to grow with it to be a part of the ever-changing expression of how society will see your work.

It is important to think about your choice of medium with forethought, integrity, skill and heart. What will best express your idea with clearly? It is the result that counts, it is the result that we invest our energy in. Over the years and in many exhibitions I have shown artwork I often been surprised by how others would interpret my work. It was often misunderstood, unclear and confusing to many. In order to find out why I needed to analyze and understand my mediums not just use what was at hand.

I painted in oils, used pencils, inks, watercolors and acrylics. I used oil pastels, chalk pastels, carved wood, marble and alabaster. I have molded paper and built 3d models, worked with clay and porcelain and all this has produced a verity of styles and expressions one no more or less valid then the other. This has led to an understanding of how to represent the overall experience, expression and meaning as an artist.

Because of the ever changing, march of technology I have embraced the digital age. I have learned Adobe Photoshop and other plug-ins in order to produce digital works of art. I have learned to master the printing process to produce fine prints. Now as a user of this new digital technology, I am current and up to date with my creativity. New doors are opening and I am seeing differently.

I am richer for this verity and more capable because of it. I hope that all artists will find the medium that frees them from fear and inhibition and allows them to see and follow their vision clearly to successful expression and understanding as an artist.

Creativity is dependent on confidence of what and how we express of ourselves, mediums we choose must build a comfortable connection between the artist and the expression of the idea. Additionally, we must realize that nothing is permanent in life all things are a passing parade of development. Artists must embrace the changes that life and time force upon us or fall stagnant in the evolution. We must remain relevant to our times and audience. In this way, we live a life that is serving a greater good and not so self-absorbed.

Life goes on as we remember those that have made a difference.

Spring is upon us and it is time to think about being outdoors, the blossoms are budding, new green is appearing on the barren branches and Spring flowers are working their way up from the ground reaching for the sunlight.

I am now back at work in the studio carving whimsical shapes into pieces of apple wood tree that got trimmed in my back yard. Judging by the rings in the wood the tree is between 100 and 150 years old. This age gives the wood a rich color and a heavier then expected weight. It is a beautiful wood to work with. As I strip away the outer bark, a necessary step while the wood is still green and not dried out, I have time to think about many things.

Contemplating the shapes my new sculpture may take and the two canvases partially begun with under-painting drying and waiting for the next coat of paint in the upstairs painting studio. I am still unsure of the direction they will take. Thoughts of the new gallery I am signed with and how I can help them become successful in this soft market. It is a warm spring day filled with soft billowing clouds and blue sky a good day to be sitting out doing this chore in the sun-breaks that warm the air.

Now my mind turns to my old friend and teacher and I am thankful for all that he taught me. In my last few blogs I wrote about him, and this month Visual Language Magazine published the 13 pages of his work. This morning I got an email from Northwest Watercolor Society Magazine and they will publish a short article I wrote in the May-June issue of their magazine. It made me feel good to know that he will be remembered by more then a few close friends and family. His life impacted so many people in so many ways. Here is the short article...

Ed Reep the later years -2013

My article has just been published in Visual Language Magazine. Follow the link then turn to page 70 to begin.

 http://issuu.com/visuallanguage/docs/visuallanguage2_5

Remebering a World War II veteran and artist

Remebering a World War II veteran and artist
To all of you who call yourself artists. Ed was my example of how to be an artist in the world. He was a great man

My dear friend is gone.

It is with profound sadness that I just got word that my teacher, mentor and good friend Ed Reep passed away yesterday. He was 94 and lived a long and productive life as an artist and teacher.
We are all here for such a short time, it doesn't seem fair. We spend our youth wanting to be older and when we age we wonder where our youth went. So much time is wasted trying to figure out who we wre and what we should be doing with our selves. Ed was one of those guys that knew he was an artist at a young age. All things fell in place. He married Pat, his first love and stayed married and in deep love to her his whole life. He was my teacher at East Carolina University and then my friend and mentor for all the remaining years of his life.
Ed Reep taught me how to paint in oils but even more then that he taught me how to be an artist of integrity and to live a creative life. He is the most responsible for my artistic success and it is a debt I can not repay.  I will miss him deeply. Ed, thank you for all that you have taught me over the many years of our friendship, I would not be the artist I am today without your guidance and love. Rest in Peace.

Artistic Discipline

Discipline to me means that you hold intention. I studied with a great artist and teacher...Edward Reep was a famous WWII artist and Guggenheim winner and he told me that "the artist is found in his/her studio". I took this to mean that you are not out in the world being something other then an artist, that you have committed yourself to the creative process and that you are spending a majority of your time in a studio environment working. Of course I took this to also mean that wherever you are, you are in a creative frame of mind, contemplating content and process.

I have often approached the studio door with some apprehension when my process is being difficult, I am feeling lazy or I am doing work I don't feel is going in the right direction. I hesitate as I reach for the door handle. I try to think of ways that I can do something else or have some other pressing issue I should be addressing. Didn't I have an appointment to go to?

It is not easy to confront your creative self everyday, you look in the mirror and there you are! You can't hide from yourself. Will power is needed and there are days that we do walk away. Artist's are not perfect, we have our flaws. So the battle for me is to get through the door turn on the lights and get to work, make the first mark of the day and see where it takes me. It is for me more about the process not the product. I do not make art just to have something to sell. It is up to me to hold the standard of my work to be more then what is trending in the marketplace.  I make my art because I must to feel alive.

Can anyone make "Great Art"?

 It is a common discussion amongst artists... What are the properties and attributes that an artist must have in order to make "Great Art". However you feel about the necessities of being creative there are forces at work that are not definable and are spiritual in nature.

I am of the belief that the qualities that make an artist are not limited to the  standard set of rules of discipline, skill, inspiration, experience and so on. I believe great art makes itself that because the artist is immersed in a creative life and is always on had in the process every day making what they think is their best work, but every once in a rare while something amazing happens... that we as artists loose our self and become observers in the making of something that goes beyond our own expectation. It's as if we are witness not participant... out of body! The brush moves as if by another hand, the colors flow from a palette of mystical bliss and harmony to form images beyond conscious thought.

When it is all over we fall back to earth staring into the result in disbelief and awe. Then the process starts all over again, working and waiting for the moment when we will transcend our ego. We search for a moment that may never come again! Now weather it does or not we can not stop. We are lost. We have tasted the fruit of the creative tree and we are hooked we must follow the muse and we know no other life, this is who we are and what we do. I don't even think it's about "Great Art' because only time and society determines what will remain as great art. I believe it is more about living a creative life and you know... we all can do that no mater the medium.

Living in changing times means evolution of Self, Style and Medium.

As an artist living in a world of ever changing themes. The question of what to create and how to create it are relevant to the success of the work, it's look and eventual public acceptance. 

I am of the belief that it is not as much the medium as the message and who is making it and why. I believe Picasso worked in all mediums because each offered a unique connection to the idea and look at what he created. It is only when we settle into one medium and one style that we become complacent and think we have found our way, our unique expression. Clearly, in the moment this may be true, but only for a short time... as the world marches on we must march with it and be a part of the ever changing evolution of the society in which we live.

I do not worry about which medium to use but whichever one I choose I do so with forethought, integrity, skill and heart that will best express the idea. After all it is the result that counts. It is the result that I am truly invested in. Over my past 50 years of being an artist I have made many errors of judgment in perception of how, what and why I created was viewed. Much was misinterpreted unclear and confusing to my audience. In order to find my way I needed to analyze and understand my mediums. I painted in oils, used pencils, inks, watercolors and acrylics, used oil pastels, chalk pastels, carved wood, marble and alabaster. I have molded paper and built 3d models, working with clay and porcelain and all this has produced a verity of styles and expressions one no more valid then the other, but all part of my overall experience, expression and skill as an artist. 
More recently in my artistic career I have embraced the digital camera. I have learned Adobe Photoshop and other plug-ins to produce digital works of art. I learned to master the printing process to produce fine prints.  In this way I am a part of the new expressions going on in many creative fields, I am current and up to date.

I am richer for this verity and more capable as a result of experiencing so much. I hope that all artists will find the medium that frees them from their fear and inhibition, That allows them to see their vision clearly and to follow it to successful expression and understanding as an artist. 

Creativity is dependent on confidence of what and how we express of ourselves, mediums we choose must build a comfortable connection between the artist and the expression of the idea. Additionally, we must realize that nothing is permanent in life all things are a passing stage of development. Artists must embrace the changes that life and time force upon us or fall stagnant in the evolution passing us by. We must remain relevant to our times and audience. In this way we live a life that is serving a greater good and not so self absorbed.

Sculpture on exhibit

Just wanted to give a heads up to my blog folks that I am now showing sculpture in a new gallery in Bellevue. This is a really cool space and the gallery is easy to get to. So if you find yourself in Bellevue and are looking for something to do before going to dinner check out the Ryan James Gallery in the Elements Building just off 10th street.
Update: This gallery is no longer in Bellevue due loss of lease. but you can still see all my work at www.barrywscharf.squarespace.com

New Gallery New begining

Last night was a wonderful evening. For the first time in years I had my sculpture in a new retail gallery in Bellevue Washington. Ryan James Gallery had it's grand opening and it was spectacular. There were so many people there it felt like a big New York opening. So many people enjoying the art, the space and the company of each other. I was very happy to be a part of the evening with many of my sculptures representing my work and being appreciated by so many people. Thank you to Ryan and his staff for so much work to make the evening a success. If you did not get down to the gallery last night make sure you plan a trip soon there is a lot of work on display and it is good stuff. In this economy a new gallery opening is an optimistic sign that things are turning around and if attendance is a sign of good things to come then The Ryan James Gallery is already a success.  I am sure there will be images posted soon on Facebook. Thanks Ryan