The Dada Collective

Bamboo Grove - Organic v. Mechanical

This piece is a contrast in organic versus mechanical aesthetics; it was carved on a table saw first, then painted with watercolors and then finally acrylics.

John did the table saw carving at work, creating the shape and movement of the piece, as well as dimension and depth.

Oil pastels provided the stippled background and gradients to the mountain scene.

I looked at this and was reminded of the bamboo grove in WangJiangLou park in Chengdu. When the light in the afternoon is right, the dappled effect through the bamboo leaves is truly magical.

The vertical lines of the bamboo reminded me of the lazy way they sway in a summer afternoon. The colors of the palette are evocative of late afternoon sun in the early autumn.

Custom teak frame by John Rouse.

Thank you to Jason Welch at Jason Welch photography for capturing the light in this piece.

Bamboo Grove is for sale. Contact us for more details at Dada.Collective.Gallery@gmail.com

PORTFOLIO EDITION: Stained Glass

I remember watching John paint this one evening in the summer. He'd created the spray paint design earlier at the industrial design furniture shop where he works, and had brought it home excited about what to do with it.

The underlying design is made with craft glue before tempera was dripped into the spaces in between the lines and spread to fill them. Also present are watercolors and acrylic inks.

Horses on the Steppe in Mongolia, or, outside summertime art

I have always loved Chinese painting. I love the brushstrokes and minimalism, the way that a simple black line can evoke energy and movement... It's a very powerful and dynamic way of painting, requiring a restrained and deliberate approach.

When I lived in Chengdu, there was an art store on my way home from work, and I'd stop in frequently to see what was new. I remember this piece (or one very like it) sticking out profoundly to me, because of the energy and movement.

The power of the horses, their movement, and the wild joy they feel made this my favorite piece to see every day on my way home.

I wanted to try to create that feeling. To get that motion and that passion. I used traditional Chinese calligraphy ink, Chinese horsehair and bamboo brushes, and nailed my canvas to the side of the house because there was no where big enough to do it inside. This is a BIG piece, four feet by six feet.

In Oklahoma in the summer, we have a warm bright morning, a sweltering afternoon, and a sultry evening surrounded with the sounds of cicada.

I remember one day I painted this. All day.

I started with my morning coffee, painted through iced tea and on into evening wine using a floodlight.

I think I came close. I used the neon to show the movement and power. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to be a wild Mongolian horse running across the plains.

F.A.Q.

You can sign up to our mailing list to be notified of gallery shows or events by emailing us at:

Dada.collective.gallery@gmail.com

To purchase a piece, or inquire about purchasing a piece, please email us and let us know. We will discuss your framing preferences, and quote a price after factoring the shipping and crating costs.

Many of our pieces can be custom framed to your specification. We are happy to work with you if you'd like to choose how we frame your piece to compliment the artwork.

About our Studio

We are located in Oklahoma City, and work out of our home. We employ many different media and methods in our work, firmly believing that frequency and experimentation will never cease to spark creativity.

Science and experimentation play a large part in our art, as well as mixing industrial media with classical forms, and contrasting created and natural effects within a piece. We are always learning and discovering new methods and new techniques, and thus, our art is in a constant state of evolution. Some things work, some things don't, and some are just interesting.

The idea of exploring art as an interactive text has always appealed to me; when creating art, the idea of articulating a complex textual message feeds the artistic process.

I hope that you feel some of this as you read through this blog. I hope you enjoy it.