Concealed & Exposed

CJB Digital Art Collage

Concealed & Exposed

For those who have followed me for a while, you know I have a quirky sense of humor. I mean well, but it often pops up to disrupt a moment of serious emotion. I’ve come to terms with it; it’s simply who I am. Thankfully, I'm aware of it and know when to rein it in, apologize, or just stay silent.

This, however, is one of those times when seriousness must be maintained.

Because at my very core, I am an artist.

I have always wanted to be an artist of some sort. I get a genuine buzz from experiencing an art gallery, and if I had to choose one dream to achieve above all others—even writing a number-one chart song—it would be to have my artworks and installations showcased in a major gallery like the Tate Modern in London.

I have been creating digital art for as long as I’ve had a computer. But like for most of us, life swallowed up my time. I couldn't find the space to create the art that was building up within me.

I still don't have the time! Life doesn't simply hand it to you. But with age, I am making time, carving out moments between looking after my dad and just trying to survive to produce something worthy of exhibition.

I still suffer from the biggest issue artists face: feeling my work is total crap. I feel people don’t understand the genuine pain it takes to create. And with AI, it has become so easy for anyone to look at a piece of digital art and think it was easy to do.

Well, I say, FUCK THAT!

Yes, I swore. Not in anger, but passion. I just love that sudden, explosive power the word generates. So, FUCK THAT!

I now live through my soul—and FUCK what that means to those who don’t understand its real-life, non-preachy vibe. Living this way has been a genuine wake-up call. It is today or never!

And I want to be an artist. All art is subjective. Many will find the works of Picasso just a bunch of abstract shapes from a man who couldn't paint like a Pre-Raphaelite. Art is subjective.

The most important part of my art is that I love everything about the act of creating. It just feels so damn right.

And so, at the top of this post, I present to you my latest diptych artwork: CONCEALED & EXPOSED.

Diptych: This is a very specific term for two artworks that are intended to be presented together. Historically, they were two hinged panels that could be closed like a book (often used for religious altarpieces). In modern art, it refers to any two related artworks displayed side-by-side. Think of Andy Warhol's famous "Marilyn Diptych."

In theory, these paintings could be separated, but together they enforce the theme of their titles.

What is the meaning? The key is a subtle difference, an intended subtlety. For the Concealed digital painting, the foreground figure's back is hidden from view. And as you may have guessed, the Exposed digital painting reveals his emaciated back.

The difference is subtle, but it's intended to take the mind from the concealed view—which was already invoking high emotion of inner pain and turmoil—and upon seeing the exposed back, it should heighten that emotion.

In a world of moving media, I wanted to get this subtle but powerful movement to work. When I have visited art galleries, I often sat, looked, and pondered a painting, and that is what is intended here. I want people to explore their own inner workings. To ask themselves: why should seeing the back exposed be more emotional? Perhaps it isn't? What does this subtle change in image positions mean to them?

My medium for this digital work is collage. I openly admit that I use AI to generate the foundational images. And I know that will divide many into haters, lovers, and on-the-fencers.

But as I said earlier, FUCK THAT!

I can only present what I feel, what my soul guides me to do. It either makes the viewer feel something or it does not.

And all I can do is invite you to look. The rest of the journey is yours to take.

But there is more context behind the images you see. I use many layers, layers you may never notice because they are so subtle. One of my key goals is to make the final look and feel of this—in part, AI art—100% mine. CJB. Today!

Both Concealed and Exposed hide two dominant background images: To the left, a man in pain and angst. And above him, a woman kissing. The implication is that this painting is representing and drawing from the pain caused in relationships. It is implying that where there is love, there can also be deep yearning and heartache.

It does hold some hidden meaning for me, but that is exactly not what these two artworks are about. This is for you to pull your own thoughts. What does seeing these images do to you?

Thank you for giving this your time. As always, I appreciate you helping this grow on social media by clicking the buttons below and sharing it with your network.

Lots of love,
CJB

🌱 GROW ON 🌱 GROW ON