Monday, September 30, 2013

"382"











comments always welcome below 
or








Sunday, September 29, 2013

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Friday, September 27, 2013

"379"











comment section is open 
and ready for comments 
or 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

"378"











the blog comments
are working again
or








Wednesday, September 25, 2013

"377"











the comment  section below 
is working again
or








Tuesday, September 24, 2013

"376"











The comment section of this blog seems to have been fixed by the host. Thank you. 

Those of you who have tried to comment and your comments were rejected I apologize. It was not me. Please. And I say please in an almost begging manner. Try again.

And for the efforts of Ersatz Lascaux to remain current through the difficulty I say. Thank you.

To those of you who sent email to keep up. Thank you too. Your comments sent directly to ballard@ballardborich.com have been appreciated.
Stay in touch.







Monday, September 23, 2013

If You Go Down to the Woods Today 7







"375"


When you come out of the woods today
You will be coming back out alone
It was lovely to be in the woods today
Now here is your path to follow home







For a while now I have been telling you what I am up to and thinking.
Why not tell me what you are up to and thinking?
ballard@ballardborich.com










or we could ask what Ersatz Lascaux is thinking...







Sunday, September 22, 2013

If You Go Down to the Woods Today 6







"374"



When you go down to the woods today
Don't leave your camera at home
It's lovely down in the woods today
But easier to stay at home

For every camera that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the we have 
To pursue our vision










ez lx



green theater
green curtain
green action
no plot








Saturday, September 21, 2013

If You Go Down to the Woods Today 5







"373"


If you go down to the woods today
You'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today
But safer with Ballard at home












Ersatz Lascaux?
Ersatz Lascaux?




crow pecked crumbs

moss and morel
no direction
home







Friday, September 20, 2013

If You Go down to the Woods Today 4







"372"


Why would you go down to the woods today
You'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today
But safer to stay at home












ez lx
Ersatz Lascaux



moist messiah
leaves cathedral
Gaudi green







Thursday, September 19, 2013

If You Go Down to the Woods Today 3







"371"


If you go down to the woods today
You're in for a big surprise
If you go down to the woods today

You may not believe your eyes











another bit of... 
from 
ez lx
Ersatz Lascaux



tranquility picnic
a shovel and a rake
a bag of urine and a note
"we came in peace for all mankind"
left in the dust







Wednesday, September 18, 2013

If You Go Down to the Woods Today 2







"370"


If you go down to the woods today
You'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today
But safer to stay at home.











something from
Ersatz Lascaux



bears tears
to bare bones
too much
too bear
even grinning







Tuesday, September 17, 2013

If You Go Down to the Woods Today







"369"


If you go down to the woods today,
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today,
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for teddy bears;
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch us catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily gad about.
They love to play and shout,
They never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mummies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.












what song are 
you singing
da da da da 
da da da da 
da da da da 
da




outside cave view is seen as 
Another Green World by Brian Eno







Monday, September 16, 2013

368







"38 base-13"


Continuing with alternative number systems. This time I choose base-13 called tridecimal, tredecimal or triskaidecimal. Since we have 10 fingers and normally use the decimal system we are limited to 10 digits the ever famous 0 through 9. When counting in base-13 we need more digits. It is customary to add an A which equals 10 base-10 and a B which equals 11 base-10 and a C which equals 12 base-10. And it just continues to get more complicated from there.
Thirteen is a favorite number of mine so I will continue anyway.
This year 2013 would be BBB base-13. I was born in B6A base-13. I am 51 base-13 years old.
Converting 38 base-13 to the decimal system is not very difficult.
8 plus 3 times 13.
8 plus 39 equals 47 base-10.
I am still not a mathematician but that was kind of fun wasn't it?










call for
Ersatz Lascaux
call for 
Ersatz Lascaux 
at the front desk



numb...er...
you small gods you
zeros
tell me something
I don't already know







Sunday, September 15, 2013

367







"65 base-7"


As we learned quite a few posts ago. I like counting in various number systems. That is all I can do with them. Convert back and forth. I am not a good enough mathematician to work inside the alternate systems to the decimal. I never will be.
This year 2013 would be 5604 in base-7. I was born in 5451 base-7. I am 123 base-7 years old.
Converting 65 base-7 to the decimal system is not very difficult.
5 plus 6 times 7.
5 plus 42 equals 47 base-10.










and now for a little 
Ersatz Lascaux



numb...
er... you small
gods turn...
mountains and molehills
into pi and prove why
2K







Saturday, September 14, 2013

366







"Forty-Seven"


I have always been attracted to the number seven. Lucky number seven. It was part of my upbringing and the first prize I ever won in the "pick a number between one and ten" was when I picked seven.
Putting the four before the seven was an easy next step for me.
Then years later I invented the 47th Division of Art. I was the only member. It is difficult to recruit militant pacifists. Especially militant pacifists artists.
Good for the artists.
It was to be a fun idea. And like many fun ideas it can get out of hand quickly.
When paintings become more like flags and then get nailed over the front doors of other artists while they are out. Some people take your fun idea a little too seriously. Of course there was more than art involved. There always is. The last counter attack by the 47th was another artists painting nailed to a tree in the early hours of a Sunday morning. There was no counter to that and thus the Division was disbanded.
Or was it?










can you hear me 
Major Ersatz
are you listening 
Major Lascaux



my understanding is uh...
that it's a...
book club...
YES!  a BOOK CLUB!
once a month and...
that's it...
that's all I know...







Friday, September 13, 2013

365







"Illustration 5"


Okay. Tyler I promise this is it.
I couldn't let it end on an even number. You know how I am. Sorry about that because you would rather it did end on an even number. I know how you are. Also they were getting too clean like I had lost my taste and ability for torturing art supplies. You can see I haven't.
I will tell you how that larger final project is going once it gets started.
And really I am signing off on this series now. Thanks again.










come in
Ersatz Lascaux

can you hear me
Ersatz Lascaux



1.stitch
2.sulpher
3.compression
field dress
cadavre exquis
illegible wounds







Thursday, September 12, 2013

364







"Illustration 4"


Tyler. I'm sorry I just couldn't help myself.
This one doesn't illustrate anything new. My question was about the spaces between things and if what is not immediately comfortable to the eye will be able to be improved. I still don't know. I have always been able to find answers to this sort of question before. Maybe I should just trust that I can find an answer again.
Perhaps one more and then I promise to stop. Thanks.










Ersatz Lascaux
calling
Ersatz Lascaux



this fake is a hoax
Clifford Irving
attributes this art
to Howard Hughes
not Elmyr deHory








Wednesday, September 11, 2013

363







"Illustration 3"


Tyler. This is probably as close as I will get in this exercise. 
It has some of the qualities I will be looking for in transparent acrylic paint. It is missing the edge and craft one can get with multiple layers of color. 
At least this one illustrates why I am fascinated with figures and want to use them in several different ways.
Thank you. Talk with you later.










and now for a word from
Mr. Ersatz Lascaux



sugerCoatedBITTERpill







Tuesday, September 10, 2013

362







"Illustration 2"


Tyler. This is another attempt to make my point about typical and atypical art supplies. 
The hard part to get across in this exercise is the eventual differences between supports and mediums. The final pieces will be large panels. A group of 7 about 80 inches tall by 30 inches wide each. They will be done in acrylic even though some of the early layers will be started as if I was working on paper with graphite and watercolor. I hope to use everything I know about concept and craft to make the most important works I have done to date. Nice goal don't you think?
Thanks and tomorrow I will post one more.










Ersatz Lascaux   Ersatz Lascaux   Ersatz Lascaux



man, it's all just DNA
...it always is







Monday, September 9, 2013

361







"Illustration"


Tyler. This is as good as I could do on short notice to illustrate what I was saying on the phone the other day. I will do a couple more and maybe get a little closer to showing where I want to go.
Of course you know pencils and watercolor won't effectively illustrate layers and layers of transparent paint.
Wish me luck.










only ersatz genuine
Ersatz Lascaux
need apply



blood and chalk
outline your thesis
push art from high
and pavement won't give














Sunday, September 8, 2013

360







"Got To Pick up Every Stick"

image 6" X 4"
70 lb recycled drawing paper 11" X 7"


This is as close to success as I will be getting for now. I have found most of the supplies I was looking for. I will soon have the ability to use this medium more completely and plan to do another group.
I like this one so I am not going to make fun of it. It is a little childish but that's okay.
I don't remember Rothko saying anything about this image.










accepting only genuine
Ersatz Lascaux
here



ersatz is never genuine
... but nothing is







Saturday, September 7, 2013

359







"Study"

image 6" X 4"
70 lb recycled drawing paper 11" X 7"


Study is exactly what I did not do. That's rather obvious. 
I have friends who talk about doing studies for composition and value and color. I should have listened to them. I could have avoided thinking I was doing one thing while actually doing another.
If I told you this turned out to be what I was thinking I would be lying. Of course during cutting and printing time I found more art materials. That was the reason for this exercise. And if I can refrain from repeating my mistakes along the way then this will have been worth it to me.
Rothko called this one an explosion. Which is really good because usually he doesn't even bother to look at my work.






post only
Ersatz Lascaux
in this space


CAUTION!!!
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE EXPLOSIVE
DEVICE WILL DETONATE OPENING
THIS CLAMSHELL PACKAGE AFTER
THREE (3) FAILED ATTEMPTS PLEASE
KEEP FINGERS CLEAR!!!









Friday, September 6, 2013

358







"Accidental Six"

image 6" X 4"
70 lb recycled drawing paper 11" X 7"

I feel like I went back to kindergarten this week. I have been looking for my linoleum and printing supplies. I haven't seen most of them since I moved. I am sure I have some good linoleum and good inks. I have good cutters. I even have good brayers and barens. 
While looking for these supplies I started using whatever I found. Old gray linoleum with ragged edges. A plastic handled cutter with just one already well used blade. Some old squashed tube inks. They were so old that the tubes were metal and all stuck together.
The accidental six came from cutting without much of a plan. After all three colors were printed my son Rothko said "I see a six."










and then my favorite caveman 
(from Ersatz Lascaux)
said


it's a snare
it always is







Thursday, September 5, 2013

357







"Up"

11.75" X 8.5"
graphite and pastel
on 140 lb w/c paper
mounted to linen canvas

This drawing on watercolor paper is part of a group show going on right now. As you can see from the announcement below there are a lot of excellent artists and therefore plenty of fine artwork to be seen. I suggest you go right out to the show and buy my piece. It is only $350.00. The professional mounting of paper to linen canvas is worth that much. 
Better yet call them up and say you will buy it because you saw the reproduction here. Either way just go get it before some one else does. Location and phone number and other information below.












another cave to hear from
Ersatz Lascaux


art is not a spectator sport
participate now
operators are standing by...







Wednesday, September 4, 2013

356







"Here"


This image is one that seems to fit all of my desires for a photograph of a flower. It is simple. It has a pleasing composition. It appears to be trying to say more than is contained within the rectangle.
I took a lot of photos of this one bloom trying different exposures from every possible angle. I knew what I wanted was there. I did not stop until I got this photo.












says



...then it performed
a perfect jack-knife
into the void...







Tuesday, September 3, 2013

355







"Edge"


A simple image. That is both beautiful and provocative. In some way maybe evocative. It is obscure. It asks a question. Perhaps it has no answer. It is what I like. It is what I do.










That
and listen to
Ersatz Lascaux


last exit eden
where maple meets vine
at the big indian sign
and cars like eggs
are cheaper
in the country














Monday, September 2, 2013

354







"Eight"


It is almost embarrassing to admit I took and like this photo.
I think it has character and presence but it is a little light and airy for my ouerve. It is kind of beautiful without being provocative. There doesn't appear to be any unanswered question. Usually my works are darker in feeling and value as well as more obfuscated. It is what I am drawn to. It is what I do.
I do like this image. I do enjoy its lightness and airiness. I am drawn to its unobscured truth.










Ersatz Lascuax anyone?


skull white
beauty defused







Sunday, September 1, 2013

353







"Sunday Morning"


This photograph is from a couple of weeks ago. It is the photo that started me on my way to the photos that I have been and will be posting for a few more days.
I took some photos on the way to the bus and thought this one was very nice. When I looked at it later I found that there was something on the cameras sensor. All of the photos had a big spot in the middle of them.
I contacted my friend Mark Mussio to see if this one could be saved and he did save it for me. Thank you Mark.
Then I got out my sensor swabs and Giottos rocket-air and did my best to correct the situation. Using anything you can find or make to attach to a digital camera must require much more care than I am used to with a film camera.
Lesson learned hopefully.










anything from
Ersatz Lascaux
goes here


perspective taking this
moist memory bit and 
digital empathy to
remove sensor spot