Musings From My Perfectly Round Head

I was born on the floor of a house in Seoul, Korea by a 90lb Korean mother with only a midwife as a witness. I was 11lbs. 14oz. The world still wonders how that tiny woman ejected such a large mass of boy with no trouble at all.

The result of this physical improbability is a perfectly round head as witnessed by a convenience store clerk in Boise, Idaho. His exact words were, “Dude, your head is perfectly round.” Pause, my reply: “Uh, thank you?” One would think that in such a perfectly round dome ideas and images might be orbiting neatly, ripe for the plucking. Nothing could be further from the truth. If my head were opened it would be quite messy. A lot goes in there and if I did not release the pressure, an eye might pop out.

Though my work can be meticulous in its execution my mind scribbles, jumps, spins, and spits. There is rarely more than an itch at the beginning. Surface will speak and stuff emerges as unknown yet familiar characters, odd forms, and unbalancing juxtapositions. Some pieces divulge narratives as I paint. Some stare back and challenge. Most of my paintings are acrylic. But I draw with graphite, ink, watercolor and whatever else I can get my hands on. Working on wood, panel, copper, paper, or panel can take me in wildly different directions. Hopefully those who look at my work will be touched in that mad place that lies in the corner of all brains.

“Imagery From the Bird’s Home: The Art of Bill Carman” is currently available from Flesk Publications.

More info: billcarman.com

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Monoclular Emergencies

8x1o inches acrylic on panel. Glasses and monocles are symbols I have used since before graduate school. Everyone wants us to look at things through their lens.

Musings From My Perfectly Round Head

Monoclular Emergencies

Ms. Hatter And A Smile

Djinny Djuggling

Swiss Army Monocle

Birds Watching

Left Turn

Horned (right Panel)

Batgirl And Batsquid Ride Batpug With Batbat In The Lead

Milk Bath

Snake Eyes

Shy Alto

Spies

Down The Hole

Wind-up Banana

Losing Rings

It Won't Melt

Honey Sucking

If I Had A Choice

Horned (triptych)

Games

Bill Carman

Bill Carman