Art by Jerry Oswalt III

My Two Favorite People*

2012-02-08T22:29:00.001-06:00

Zimmerman
2010
10" x 10"
Oil on canvas

Untitled (Self-Portrait)
2010
12.5" x 15.5"
Oil on wood

*Half-Serious

"One Drawn Out Painting and Two Pet Commissions" or "You Paint Animals?"

2012-02-06T23:41:00.000-06:00

Kaw!
2009-2012

Papoo
2012

Clancy
2012

I Know Who You Painted Last Summer

2012-02-06T21:11:00.001-06:00

Sarah
2011
30 Minutes

I was just figuring out how I like to use watercolor. Had some nice revelations in this piece. It definitely helped that I was surrounded by Mat Barber Kennedy and the Sons of Turner. I was also a model.

Mat Barber Kennedy's rendition of me

Twas a productive day before Christmas...

2011-12-24T22:34:00.000-06:00

A pup I've been painting.

2011-12-05T22:50:00.001-06:00

In progess.

Flat Iron Summer smArt Show

2010-06-10T14:28:00.001-05:00

Good friend and fellow painter Lisa Carter was generous enough to bring in a few other artists into her studio this past weekend for the smArtshow. It's a quarterly event at the Flat Iron Arts Building, which has a great location at Milwaukee/North/Damen. You've probably been right in front of the building and never realized it.
Anyways, the show was great, Lisa invited two other artists and myself to share her studio space. Ryan Shultz, a former Academy graduate, was one them. It was great to see his work in person, go check his site out. Lisa had some room to spare since all her work is in another gallery for a solo show coming up at the University Club. The opening is tonight actually, formal attire kiddos.

Here's a few pictures from the space I was in.

I put in a few pieces I haven't exhibited in awhile and they got a great response. I almost had forgotten about them, I'm glad Diana reminded me. Speaking of, go to her site and check out all the new work she's been whipping out. She's getting ready for the Humboldt Park Art Fair this weekend. I'm really proud of all the things she's been doing.

Thanks again to Lisa for having me in her space and to everyone who came out.

Sons of Turner: Savannah Trip Part I

2010-05-22T12:18:00.001-05:00

Some of you may remember my trip last year to Santa Fe, anyone? This years trip would be even more productive and fulfilling. The differences between last year and now are huge. Having just graduated before Santa Fe, I used the trip as a chance to unwind and mostly use the time to explore the place, and get a few pieces of art done. This year I was in much need of this trip, not only to be around old friends but to break away from the daily routine I've been stuck in since graduation. Savannah proved to be a more motivational and inspiring trip for everyone, even more than last year.

After driving for 16 hours straight with 3 friends, we finally arrived in Savannah. The minute we arrived you could sense the differences from Chicago. It's an amazing city and having 8 days to take it in felt like barely enough. There's so much history and beautiful architecture/monuments covering the northern half of the city, also known as the Historical District. Our group of 13 were very lucky to be able to stay in an amazing 3 story house in this fancy side of town, most of the furniture felt too nice to even sit on, but we got used the luxuries very quickly.

Above are the two pieces I've had the time to scan in since being back. I'll get the rest posted over the next few days and tell more of the tale.

The top piece is from Day 2 the morning after a night of drinking too much..chocolate milk. The left page is good friend and watercolorist, Bob Giova. And the right is a small section of a cafe called Gallery Espresso, which the Sons of Turner often stopped in to cool off and get their morning fix. Great BLTs as well! There's so many hidden gems around every corner, you just have to keep looking. Every day someone found something exciting to paint that made the rest of us try even harder. We pushed each other to get more art done and to try things we hadn't before.

The second piece I really began to figure out what I like about watercolor and how to get it do what I want it to do. I hadn't used watercolor much since last years trip. Being around MBK and the other Sons I learn alot about painting and what it takes to be an artist. Most of us are still young, but I think we get years of experience from doing these trips together.

We owe a great deal of thanks to Mat Barber Kennedy, my former instructor and a great artist, for guiding us on this journey. There's so much more to say but I will save it for the next post.

The Chicago Art Open - April 24th

2010-04-29T22:23:00.005-05:00

The Chicago Art Open reception was a big hit and a fun time. I saw a lot of great art and met some new friends and caught up with some old ones. I was happy to see that quite a few pieces were selling. Even while times are rough, people are still collecting great art. It was also a pleasure to show alongside former classmates Anthony Adcock and Amy Zager, as well as Anna Browning who I had shown with back in March at the Flat Iron Building. Here's a few photos I got at the event before my camera died...

Old pal Anthony Adock next to his piece "Page from Sketchbook 3"

Yours truly next to "Innocent Victim #1"

A view of one of three galleries filled with art. If you squint really hard you can spot my piece in the distance.

In hindsight I had a great time and made a few new contacts, saw some old friends, and got very inspired to keep painting and pushing my work. Hopefully keep this streak going and fill 2010 with more shows and more sales. My newest work "Tender" has sold and I'm thrilled at how big of a reception it got. Let's me know I'm doing something right.

"Tender"

2010-04-02T15:57:00.002-05:00

22" x 28"

Oil on canvas

"There he goes..."

2010-03-15T16:56:00.005-05:00

A little section of a big painting I'm working on.

First show of 2010

2010-02-26T00:46:00.003-06:00

I'll be exhibiting 3 new pieces and a few older works next Friday (the 5th) at the 2010 Spring smART show, put together by the Flat Iron Artist Association. This is more of a weekend long event. Several businesses and galleries in the Milwaukee/North/Damen area are participating, it should be a great experience.

Friday, Building-wide opening reception: 6-10pm
Saturday: Noon-10pm
Sunday: Noon-6pm

"There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door. Everyone is welcome regardless of his or her ability or desire to contribute."

More information here: http://smartshow.org

See you there!

A few drawings featuring facial hair

2010-02-12T17:51:00.003-06:00

Robert Zimmerman

2010-02-04T16:05:00.002-06:00

10" x 10"

Oil on canvas

Early 2009 paintings.

2010-02-02T02:21:00.004-06:00

"A Man is Only as Big as The Things That Make Him Angry"

22" x 28"

Oil on canvas

"Di in Bed"

40" x 30"

Oil on canvas

Ink drawings

2010-01-23T01:24:00.007-06:00

Ink on Paper. 14" x 17"

(Click for larger view)

In progress...

2009-12-10T02:11:00.003-06:00

After one sitting. Really pushing myself to work faster.

New Work

2009-12-07T15:47:00.009-06:00

15.5" x 12"

From my book of sketches.

2009-11-21T18:34:00.006-06:00

Click for larger view

"Summer in northwest Indiana has been known to produce wistful longings for hell"

2009-11-13T22:43:00.004-06:00

20 x 20"
Oil on Canvas

Innocent Victim #2

2009-08-07T21:40:00.005-05:00

12" x 24"
Oil on Wood Panel

Innocent Victim #3

2009-07-14T20:32:00.002-05:00

18" x 24"
Oil on canvas

Hey There Little Red Riding Hood, You Sure Are Looking Good

2009-07-03T22:12:00.004-05:00

24"x36"
Oil on canvas

Self Portrait

2009-06-18T22:53:00.003-05:00

My first (serious) attempt at using Adobe Illustrator. About 15 hours of work. Thanks to Diana for being my real CGF teacher.

My first watercolor in over a year

2009-05-18T22:32:00.004-05:00

The entrance to my house, on the property called "Suitable Digs". (Click for larger view)

Santa Fe

2009-05-18T21:37:00.013-05:00

This is the best of the artwork I did while I was in Santa Fe for a week. I was with 9 other artists and we all made a wide variety of paintings and drawings while we were there. I had a great time, I suggest everyone go on a painting trip at least once.

Monument in the center of the Santa Fe plaza

One of many "Double-izers", which I "am the master of."

Santa Fe Museum of Modern Art

Old beat up Ford by the side of the road

My view from the plane on the way home

Looking down the plane

ART!

2009-05-17T20:38:00.008-05:00

RumHaven

24" x 36"

(Click for larger view)

I had a very helpful sculpture class while I attended the Academy. Being a painter, confined to a flat surface (or practically flat), it was great to create something three-dimensional.

I recently returned from a painting trip to Santa Fe, NM. It was an amazing experience. Being there, in such a new environment, seeing only desert and mountains on all sides, really puts some things in perspective. Having that landscape to see out the car window for a week was really breathtaking. Their art stores have giant snakes in them, by the way. But by the end of the trip, it's great to come home to Chicago and have a new appreciation for the many things we take for granted here.

Anways, I did some painting and drawing while I was there and will be posting it very soon.

Mini paintings

2009-04-07T23:32:00.011-05:00

Here's two paintings done last fall for school. I was more focused on the surroundings than the soldiers themselves. I created some extreme texture in the 2nd panel using an underlying medium, had a really great effect.

These are close to life size, slightly smaller. I was trying to see how my style would look small.

"Soldiers #1"

"Soldiers #2"

And this last piece is one of a few paintings I've been doing on cardboard in my spare time. Took around 5-10 minutes. Just to experiment with acrylic and see what happens. I just noticed all three of these have to do with guns, not intentional, I swear.

All paintings are for sale. Contact me for more info. jerrythethird@gmail.com

'An Eye Can Threaten like a Loaded and Levelled Gun'

2009-03-11T23:18:00.004-05:00

30"x40"

Biggest painting to date. I started to get some recognition thanks to this piece and it's the starting point of everything I'm working on now. There are quite a few pieces in progress, so hopefully I get them done before my show at the Merchandise Mart, April 10th. Get full details here .

If you're in Chicago definately come by, it's one night only.

I promised didn't I?

2009-02-11T15:59:00.014-06:00

Enough of the mumbo jumbo apologies. Art is what belongs here. Ill keep up with this more now because I'm wrapping up my 4 years at the American Academy of Art. I've made some great paintings lately and feel I've what figured out what I've been trying to do for so long. I'll be posting these new works little by little in the weeks to come.

I'll post two from where I left off, last spring/summer. The 2nd painting is when it 'clicked' for me. Palette, way of laying down the paint, it was what I saw for so long but couldn't quite produce yet. Now I'm there, and already looking for ways to evolve it.

Butt Painting. Square Foot. Fun, made with a palette knife.

Innocent Victim #1. Oil on Canvas. 11"x14"

There's much more to come!

Uh-oh.

2008-06-09T02:43:00.008-05:00

Yeah I didn't mean to neglect, I actually just remember I had this. My bad.

So I think it's time to get this thing rolling again. Maybe not weekly but better than the start I have so far. I've finally begun to realize, among many things, that if I dont start doing all the things I say I'm gonna do, they'll never get done. This is my life.

So that's a square foot piece from last fall done for school. And then a 12" x 24" piece done in Figure Painting this spring.

So here's to many more updates...

Yet another thing I must worry about.

2007-11-01T15:58:00.000-05:00

Nah, actually I think a blog is probably whats best for me. Not just to show my art (because Deviant-art is feeling amateur-ish) but to show other people's pieces or talk about other things that inspire my art. I hope to update this weekly or maybe several times a week.

That piece above is by Jenny Saville and I find her work to be fucking spectacular. The way she lays down paint is similar to how I can see my own work looking.

I've been forced to think alot more about my art lately. Not just what picture I'm about to make, but what I plan on doing with it, for instance, is it going to be in a gallery? How much is it worth? Is it even good enough to sell? Can I let a piece go into someone else's possession?

I feel like I've learned and grown so much over the last 4 months. I try not make things so precious, especially my art. Art's supposed to be an expression, how well thought out are expressions most of the time? I'm letting things be more spontaneous and it feels good to let go and just stop thinking sometimes.

This was so fun, and such a struggle to paint. This was my first painting of the school year and I am very surprised by it.

I'd like to ask other people to leave comments or suggestions letting me know what you think about pretty much anything. Is it confusing if I put someone else's art and my own in the same post? Let me know...