Cover Letter

Nicole Ponsler

October 26, 2008

Packet #3

I have been giving a great deal of thought to live painting performances this packet period. I have also been working on two new paintings as well as effigies of Bush and Cheney. I have been working with a community organizer responsible for an upcoming celebration (Nov. 1) that will incorporate both effigy burning and my first 2-3 hour live painting performance. I have set up my new studio in such a way that allows for Nate’s band to play while I do interpretive paintings. So far, I have only worked on the Bush effigy while they play, but the idea for future gatherings is for myself and others to create paintings that respond to the music. I just started reading Judith Butler’s Precarious Life as well as Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. However, my work for this packet has consisted largely of painting.

I have found the preliminary band/interpretive painting sessions to be most inspiring not only for me but for those in the band as well. My hope is that the same enthusiasm can be duplicated in a larger and more public setting. I am inspired by my paintings, although I certainly have my moments of wanting to burn them. At present, I am working on successful resolution of issues in my work, rather than abandoning them which has always been a problem in my practice.

I am feeling similarly inspired by the upcoming live painting performances. I am very anxious to experience the audience’s reaction to the process and imagery. I am looking forward especially to the second live painting installment to be held on election night. I would love to research any other artists you may know about who produce live paintings.

I would like you to address my paintings with the understanding that they are still very new. I have some particular questions regarding color in the balloon and roses and would like to hear your thoughts. Is the color too local? I am trying to pair down the intensity of my palette after reading Touched by Fire by Kay Jamison’s who suggests that people with manic disorders tend to use bright colors. I do not know what’s going on with the sky in this painting, so I would like to hear your thoughts on the background color.

Lastly, I just finished my application materials for an instructor’s position at the SRJC. Wish me luck!