Jason Mitcham

Head Full of doubt/road full of promise

Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise was created through a stop motion animation process of 2600 slight alterations on a single oil painting. It traces the history of an imagined 20th century American landscape, touching on notions of the "facade" and cycles of development. Like the imagery depicted, the painting in is a constant state of flux throughout its animated life, adding the sensation of time and fluidity to an otherwise static artform.

Music by the Avett Brothers.  Oil on canvas, HD digital video, 34" x 47", 2010. Collection of the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC.

“By altering his paintings mark by mark, Mitcham is able to add both a sensation of time and the fluidity of movement to an otherwise static art form. ... his paintings are in a constant state of flux throughout their animated life—a strange yet freeing sensation for both artist and viewer, as their notions of what a painting can be are ultimately challenged.” North Carolina Museum of Art (https://ncartmuseum.org/exhibitions/view/11367)

“The William Kentridge fan in me can’t look away from Jason Mitcham’s music video for the Avett Brothers “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise”. The final animation is made from 2600 paintings or a single painting, depending on how you look at things.” Michelle Higa Fox (https://motionographer.com/2012/06/13/jason-mitcham-avett-brothers-head-full-of-doubtroad-full- of-promise-2/)

“...a spare but stunning work of art (that) shows the rise, fall and inevitable decay of rampant urban development.” Robin Hilton, National Public Radio (https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2011/01/18/128511595/exclusive-premiere-new-avett- brothers-video)