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