Filed under: painting | Tags: acrylic, art, artist, Canvas, charcoal, figurative, Paint, painting, portrait, visual art
For one weekend every year, my husband and I go back to where we were married…sans enfants. Thanks to the generosity of my mom who is willing to watch my son, we can have a weekend escape! I know. How lucky! We go to the place where we were married in the Berkshires. It’s SO lovely…so quiet…just the noise of the wind moving through the trees. Ahhhh. I wish that I could bottle that and bring it home. Perhaps that’s what those Bose noise cancelling headphones are like…sounds appealing.
So, I’m thinking about my next painting class coming up. My teacher suggested figurative work. I like drawing people, so perhaps I’ll like painting them too! I made an effort not to “draw” the paintings. Don’t get me wrong…I love the way that drawn lines look in a painting. I just thought that I’d try to keep my paintings truer to the medium. I basically reworked the two canvases that I had started in class. This proved to be a challenge, as both canvases were VERY textured. I mean…REALLY textured. So, it was tough to do something on top that wasn’t abstract. Here was the first one, based upon a suggestion by my teacher:
I think that you can see what I’m talking about with the “extreme” texture. Here is a close up:
Okay, it wasn’t an assemblage, but still. It was really tough to paint over that goopy surface. Anyhoo…this was kind of fun. I liked using the odd colors too. I decided to do another one:
Hmm. I layered this one a bit more, as I felt that it needed something to tie the abstract background with the portrait. Perhaps I need to be a bit more abstract with the portraits. Hmmm…
I’ve started another one, but this time…I began with a charcoal drawing on the canvas. I have also added some texture to the canvas, but it actually relates to the image, as opposed to the two paintings above. We’ll see how this one goes!
I found that the charcoal sort of smeared when I went over it with the acrylic medium, so I actually put most of the medium on the background.
I’ve also got a woodblock that I have to make some progress on. I’m not using the gourmet shina plywood, but some other plywood from Woodcraft, a store in Woburn. This is a royal pain. I’m so spoiled with the shina plywood. This other plywood splinters, is hard to cut, and is a general pain. It’s made me sort of drag my feet about carving it. I need to finish it up though! Hopefully, I’ll have some prints next week to show of it.
The opening reception for the portrait show that I have a drawing in is this Friday! So, if you are in the area…please stop by the Belmont Gallery of Art between 6-8pm on Friday. I’ll be there!
Filed under: painting | Tags: abstract, acrylics, art, artist, Paint, printmaking, Visual Arts
So, I’m happy to say that my portrait drawing was accepted in the show at the Belmont Gallery of Art. Yay! This is a show titled, “See you, See me”, and it’s only portraits. I saw some of the other works when I was dropping off my drawing. Should be interesting! (You can see what the drawing looks like in my September 8 blog post). The show opens on September 30 and runs through November 13. Please stop by!
This weekend, I went to the Hyde Park Open Studios. This was great, as my printmaking teacher, Selma Bromberg, has her studio there. Her work is really beautiful. She draws gorgeous flowers, then turns the drawings into prints. She was doing a woodblock demonstration when I arrived. I also saw Prilla Smith Brackett, whom I met at my woodblock print class. She’s primarily a painter, but is starting to work more with prints. Her work was also lovely. It was fun to see some of the completed woodblock prints that she began in class.
My painting class is still fun. My teacher did not like the big paintings that I brought in. He likened one of them to a “shower curtain”. I can tell you all of this as I’ve gone through many an architecture crit, and have heard it all. I really appreciate his honesty. I think that he’s a good teacher. Let’s see if I can learn something, though! He wants me to try figurative work, as that’s my background (as evidenced by the portrait drawing). Hmm…okay…we’ll see! I also did a few mini-paintings. These are only 6″ x 8″.
It was fun to work on these tiny canvases…
I may have to revisit all of these…we’ll see…
On another note…I’m horribly disappointed that the portrait class that I’m signed up for will likely be cancelled. It’s called “The Expressive Portrait”, and it’s at the Arlington Center for the Arts. We need THREE more people in order to have the class. I’m so sad, as it’s highly unlikely what we’ll get them in the time left. Having a class cancelled on you is so frustrating. I’ve had this happen several times. I’m always dumbfounded when it does happen. You mean…not EVERYONE wants to take this class??? WHY NOT???? I’ve tried to send out emails, etc. to other people who might be interested in signing up. No luck so far. If you’re interested…PLEASE sign up! Seriously. Do it now. No joke.
I wish that there wasn’t a minimum number for a class. I mean…don’t I count at all? Doesn’t my enthusiasm make up for the low enrollment???? I guess not…*DRAMATIC SIGH*
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: absract, art, artist, Paint, painting, printmaking, visual art
So, today was my last open print studio at Cambridge Adult Ed. It was great to spend time with Paula and Cindy (hello, if you’re reading this!!!). They are both accomplished artists, so I look to them for advice and suggestions. Today, Paula suggested that I try to incorporate my drawing skills (limited), with the abstract work that I am so interested in. As I struggled to think of something to “draw” today, I just looked around the studio for inspiration. We share the printmaking studio with clay, jewelry, and…woodworking! So, my subject today turned to the drill press. Yes…inspiration can truly be found anywhere. Here was my first print:
That’s slightly wonky, right? Anyway, when I did it in studio…I was not impressed. But now that I look at it again, it’s kind of interesting. Cindy remarked how one’s frame of mind really affects how we view our artwork. Old watercolor paintings that she had previously set aside were better than she remembered when looked at anew. Distance makes the heart grow fonder? Maybe. The second one:
I can’t really make a series about drill presses…as those are the only two that they have! Maybe a power tools series in general would be interesting…not sure what that’s all about.
I also worked on some VERY messy paintings. These were very fun…albeit a big mess. Here is the first one:
I know. Garish colors. I kind of like garish colors, though. I feel like that person on the current season of Project Runway who feels compelled to “BEDAZZLE” everything. If only I’d had some glitter… a detail:
Messy fun! Then, I did ANOTHER messy one. Seriously. You’ll see…blobs of paint everywhere…
I know…right? Another “hot mess”. Another Project Runway reference…I need to get a life. Detail:
Then I decided that less is definitely not more, so I did ANOTHER super chaotic one:
I know that if I was at school, a teacher would have taken away my paints by now. Boo!
Detail:
Doesn’t it look like the melted ice cream in the bottom of your bowl when you have slathered on a grotesque quantity of colored sprinkles? By the way…what ARE sprinkles anyway? Have you ever eaten them straight? They’re disgusting. Like little wax chips…and the chocolate ones are no better.
Okay…so tell me the truth about the messy “paintings”. (notice that “paintings” is in quotes). What do you think? Keep the messy stuff for when I’m eating ice cream only? Should I put away my paints permanently? Should I have my artistic license revoked? Hmpfh.
Wish me luck on that portrait show. I’ll break the good/bad news to you when I find out myself!
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: abstract, acrylic, art, artist, monotype, painting, printmaking
So, I started a new class. It’s called “Supercharged Painting”. VERY fun so far. Lots of messy, gloppy stuff. This week, we were playing around with acrylic mediums to create texture in our work. So, I have two canvases that I started…but there is no color yet. I kind of like them plain…but they won’t stay that way! First one:
It’s hard to see in a photo, but these blobs are different textures…some gritty…some smooth…
In Christian Siriano’s words…it does look like a “hot mess”. That’s okay. It will get worse…trust me… :p
The other canvas:
I think that I upped the contrast on this image too much, but you get the idea. Big blobs! What fun!
Most of the other students in the class are “regulars”. There are only a few of us that are new. The “regulars” all know what they’re doing…and it was sooo great! It’s so amazing to be surrounded by so many talented artists! I loved watching them work. When I find out their names (beyond their first name), I can put some links in my posts so that you can see what they are doing.
Last week, I had a so-so time in the print studio. A motley array of prints:
Hmmmm… Next one:
Hmmm…
I liked some of the color combinations in that one…
Here are others more on the theme of what I did last week:
And the other:
Those prints get a sustained, “hmmm”, from me. Comments? Thoughts? This week’s class will probably be my last one for the year. Let’s see what happens!
I had coffee with a local artist, Regina Valluzzi. Please check out her work. She is really having some great success, and was so kind in making suggestions for me. We weren’t discussing our artwork, specifically, but were just talking about the local art scene. She’ll be at the Arlington Open Studios (as will I) in October. Please stop by and see her work firsthand! She currently has a show at the Blue Glass Gallery in the lobby of the Hancock tower in Boston. Go see it!
I’m excited to be meeting with two friends this morning. Both are artists. One is a very successful, established artist. The other is someone who is also talented and accomplished. I met them both in my art classes. We’re meeting this morning to discuss what we’re working on. I’m so excited to see what they are doing, and to get some thoughts and feedback on what I’ve been up to.
This week, I was experimenting with lots of different things, as per usual. I made this sketch, which I had intended to be the start of something, but ended up feeling complete as is:
How minimal, right? I like the look and feel of the marks, though. In complete contrast, I was also playing with acrylic paints this week. I did a small mixed media painting:
Could these two images be any different? I really enjoyed doing both of them. So, which do I prefer? The first one (a little) or the second one (a lot)? I don’t know. I have to keep pondering this more.
As you may be aware, MOMA in NY is having a de Kooning retrospective, opening in September. I’d love to go. I love his work. I generally like his genre of abstract expressionism. I prefer his work and that of Franz Kline and Robert Motherwell over Jackson Pollock. I like to see the brushstrokes, and Pollock (as we all know) didn’t use brushstrokes.
I also really love Cy Twombly. I guess he’s not considered to be “abstract expressionist”, but someone who reacted to that kind of art. I love that his paintings are a mix of painting and drawing. I also love that you can see his gestures so clearly in his work. I know that lots of people don’t like this kind of art. I understand that. Twombly’s work will just be scribbles to some people. I LIKE scribbles, though. This is a quote from Kirk Varnedoe (art historian) about Twombly:
One could say that any child could make a drawing like Twombly only in the sense that any fool with a hammer could fragment sculptures as Rodin did, or any house painter could spatter paint as well as Pollock. In none of these cases would it be true. In each case the art lies not so much in the finesse of the individual mark, but in the orchestration of a previously “uncodified” set of personal rules about where to act and where not, how far to go and when to stop, in such a way as the cumulative courtship of seeming chaos defines and original, hybrid kind of order, which in turn illuminates a complex sense of human experience not voiced or left marginal in previous art.
Why do I bring this all up? I guess that it takes strength to step away from what lots of people like (paintings that look like something), and do move in a direction that is harder to grasp. As I keep working, I’m trying to figure this out for myself. I know that most people would say, “paint what you love”! It takes a certain amount of gumption to do that when people see your work and say, “what’s THAT?” Not that there is anything wrong or lesser about a painting of a vase of flowers, etc. It’s just that representation art like that is more accessible. It’s easier to judge on a very basic criterion: “does it look real?”. If yes, then it’s good art. If not, then the artist is unskilled.
None of this is meant as a kind of judgmental criticism of the general populace. I think that it’s generally a human need to feel that one’s work is appreciated. It’s hard to venture down a path where you may receive nothing but disdain…
Also, with practice…one can become more facile at representation. If I practiced more, I know that my recent portrait of my son could get much better. But becoming more facile at abstraction is harder, in some ways. There is a world of difference between my little painting above and the work of de Kooning. I know that. But how does one traverse that distance? THAT is the question…
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: Acrylic paint, art, artist, gelatin printing, gouache, Ink, Paint, painting, portrait, print, printmaking
I spent the morning doing some gelatin printing. I’m not sure that I’m a huge fan of this type of printing. I was also testing out different inks and paints to see which worked best. I think that the Akua inks worked well, as they don’t dry until they are on paper. The acrylic paint and the speedball ink were both just so-so. The only problem with the Akua ink is that it does take an eternity to dry. I’ll probably still be wiping blue off of my hands every time I pick up one of these prints. Here’s one of the first ones:
Eh…feh…blech…some interesting aspects to it. I like how the silver ink turned out in the lower left corner. Next:
Also kind of interesting. These are printed on some very thin mystery Asian paper that I have. The art store in Cambridge had rolls of random paper for sale…10 sheets for $5. What a bargain! So, this is why I don’t know what the paper is. Next:
I experimented with a stencil a little. That’s where the leaf shape comes from. Next:
I liked the random stamped lines in the lower left area. Next:
I like the greenish yellowish color with the greenish blue color. Any comments? Does anyone out there also do gelatin printing? What inks do you like to use? Do you have any pointers for me?
Last night, I kept myself up doing a gouache painting. Okay…It was VERY frustrating. I have seriously debated showing this at all, as it looks bizarre…but here it goes:
See how small I made the picture? Maybe it’s still too big. Anyway, I know that this looks really weird. He looks like he has a skin condition. DRAMATIC SIGH. I painted this based on a photo. Hmm…while I like the challenge of painting or drawing people…it also is rather daunting. I’m going to need A LOT more practice before I start doing this on the streets of New York…
I am the monitor for the print studio in Cambridge on Friday. As a result, I’ve needed to come up with what I’m going to do during that time. So, I have tried a little experiment. I painted gouache onto two 8″ x 10″ sheets of plexi. I’m going to see if they print onto damp paper. Here’s the first plate:
Kind of fun. The bubblegum pink is a bit much, but I’ll see how it prints. Here is the other one:
These are really an experiment. I hope that they print. If they don’t, I’m going to be disappointed.
So, where am I going with all of this? Who knows. I’m going in every direction at the same time. Let’s hope that some of this eventually leads somewhere!
Filed under: painting, Sewing | Tags: abstract, acrylic, art, artist, curtains, figurative, painting, sewing
Yes. I can’t believe it either. After a year from the date that we first pulled the building permit, we finally got it signed off today. The basement is DONE! I am so excited to move ALL of my art-stuff down there. FINALLY!!!!! No more stacking tupperware containers of inks, papers, tools, etc. in the dining room!!! Ahhh…I won’t know what to do with all of that space! I have a sinking feeling, though, that I will quickly fill it up. Hmm. But why dwell on that now? I may have to have a celebratory iced latte today.
I also FINALLY finished a house project that I have been planning on doing for practically a year as well. I finally made a little curtain for our front door. Yes, I know…not a big deal. What is a curtain, anyway? Just a rectangle of fabric, right? Well, yes it is…and I finally did it. Here it is:
I think that it looks great. I love this fabric. It’s kind of pricey…well, not Marimekko pricey, but a little expensive. It’s actually from Japan. I have some other fabric from this line as armrest covers on our hideous couches. Nice!
Not much going on art-wise. I took a stab at acrylic painting. Not so good. Luckily, I am taking a painting class this fall…so I should get some pointers! I know. Why have I spent the past year developing my printmaking knowledge, only to switch gears and start painting? Because it’s ALL so fun! So, I’m back to square one…learning how to paint. I did take painting in high school…and I have had a watercolor class and an oil painting class since then. Needless to say, I am at the bottom of the learning curve. I hope that there is no where to go other than up. Here they are on the wall:
I know. Stop laughing. Overall, they make me cringe…but there are ASPECTS of them that I like. Here is a part that I like of the first one:
That’s kind of appealing. I know…nothing earth-shattering. Hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Here is a closeup of the other one:
I’m happy with how the guy turned out. The woman bothers me and has some issues. This painting is based on an old photograph, so I can’t take any credit for the overall look to it…only the crude execution. So, I am facing this challenge head on…I hope that by the end of the year, my acrylic painting skills will have developed. If not…well…I don’t know what, if not. Drown my sorrows in lattes…
[I may have to work on that woman some more…she’s really bothering me…]
Filed under: painting, printmaking | Tags: abstract, art, artist, Center for Contemporary Printmaking, nature, painting, printmaking, watercolor
So, I finally visited the “8th Biennial International Minature Print Exhibition” at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, CT. Why did I go? BECAUSE…I actually have a print there! Yes! My first juried exhibition…so I had to go and see it. I do not plan on doing that drive regularly, as it was around 3 hours each way. ANYWAY, here is what my print looked like on the wall:
Not bad, right? Notice the little red dot? THAT MEANS THAT SOMEONE BOUGHT ONE! I’m not kidding. My first sale! I’m very excited. Here is my print on the wall with other prints:
I think that mine is the 10th one from the left. Prints that were not “wall worthy” went in these binders in the foreground. So, there were so many amazing prints to look at! Here is another view of one of the rooms of the show:
Not bad, right? I have not entered another competition…so perhaps I should get on that and see what’s available.
My classes are over, so I have no more access to a press for printing. This was one of my last prints:
Hmmm. What do you think???? I was sort of blaise about it…but my printmaking teacher seemed to really like it. Comments?
I’ve also done some random watercolors (actually gouache)…but I think that it just isn’t my thing:
and:
Hmm. Just hmm.
I’m trying to decide on classes for the fall. This is always tough, as everything sounds great…but there is only so much time and money. BTW…I ALMOST have a workspace. The basement renovation is nearing completion! I can’t wait…
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., painting, printmaking | Tags: art, Chihuly, gouache, painting, print, printmaking, still life, woodblock printing
Before I start rambling on about woodblock printing…I bought my son some big containers of tempera paint, and a long roll of paper this past week. This is one of those purchases that is mostly for my son, but partly for me too. I love the idea of splotching big blobs of paint on a huge paper. Here is part of our creation:
I think that he had a good time with it. He seems to like to just mix colors together to make “outer space”. He’s not so concerned about making marks. He also found large stones and a brick, which he brought over to paint. So, even when you think you can imagine how a play activity is going to go…kids always surprise you. It just might be that my son is not as into making art as I am. Or maybe he is…but in less obvious ways. Either way, it was messy and fun.
So, last night I had my last woodblock printing class! It was such a fun class. I love the bold, graphic quality of woodblocks. Yes, some people can do subtle things with woodblock…but not me! Here is my last block in process:
I realized, while carving this block, that I’m not such a fan of carving. My teacher mentioned that she often listens to books on tape while she carves. Good idea!!! That might help. Also, I think that the pressure of having to design and carve a block on a schedule makes it a little stressful and less fun for me. I mean, I like to have a new block for each class. But if I wasn’t constrained by my weekly class, perhaps carving would be more meditative, and less like a chore. I’m wondering if I’m not destined to be a relief printer, because I don’t LOVE to carve. Hmmm. BUT…I do like how woodblock prints turn out…so this is a bit of a conundrum for me.
Here are the prints from yesterday:
I was somewhat happy with this print. It may need something dark in it. I’m not sure. Once again, I decided to just leave it and think about it more before doing anything else. Here is a detail:
I love those colors together, and I’m happy with my new block. The new block is the red part of the image. Here is the second print:
A bit simple, but nice. The orange looks more yellowish in reality. Detail:
It’s always an exercise in restraint for me to not add MORE. Here is just a print of the block that I made last week:
This took A LOT of restraint for me not to add more “stuff”. Sorry about the odd lighting in the photos. It’s the morning, and I don’t have great light to take pictures with. Here is the detail:
Brace yourself…there’s more!
I couldn’t leave that one alone, obviously…
I like this next one a lot:
It’s hard to tell, but the dark ink is a sort of plum color. Very cool. Detail:
The last one:
detail:
What do you think? I’m happy with how this latest block came out. It seems that no matter how many blocks one has…you need more! That puts me back in the condundrum of carving…
So, I had a free hour yesterday, so I did a little gouache still life. Now, bear with me…I don’t paint often. BUT, I really enjoyed it. So here is my bigger dilemma: I love the way woodblock prints look…but I am not keen on carving. I am not fond of my painting (see below)…but I enjoyed doing it! So odd. I’m not sure what to make of that. I think that typially, people like to do what they are good at. But in this case, I enjoyed doing what I wasn’t good at. Very strange. Here is the still life:
Yes, I know. It needs help. I am happy with how the silver rattle turned out…the other parts are so-so. I think that if I had a nicer brush (one that didn’t have a fat, multipointed/ragged end), then I might have been able to do a bit more. I know…excuses, excuses!
Woodblock printing = process:not fun / product:interesting
Gouache painting = process:fun / product:not interesting
What a dilemma! Does anyone out there have thoughts on this???
I’ve been reminded by a friend that I never followed up with comments on the Chihuly show at the MFA. WELL…his work is pretty over the top and remarkable. He’s definitely not of the “less is more” school of thought. The pieces were really stunning. I didn’t really like when they are all put together in a big, jumbled mass…like in his piece, Mille fiori. It gets too chaotic for me, and the beauty in each piece gets lost to me. It’s like a symphony where every musician is playing a difference piece. Cacophony. The individual pieces, however, are stunning. The chandeliers that everyone knows well are really stunning. He tends to use a single color for these, so while they are a bit chaotic looking, they have a unity that does not turn into cacophony, in my opinion. My favorite part of the exhibit was the room with beautiful woven baskets, bright handmade blankets, and an enormous slab of wood. The pieces in this room were subtle, delicate, and amazing. I preferred these pieces over all of the others. He had large, hollow glass blobs, almost like bubbles bursting, on that huge slab of wood. They looked gorgeous. So, I did like the Chihuly exhibit, and I think that his work is extraordinary. I do feel that it can be a chaotic mess at times, and I prefer when it’s more subtle or unified in presentation. Has anyone else seen it? Thoughts?
Filed under: Collage, Drawing, painting | Tags: art, Collage, El Anatsui, Mixed media, Printmakers, printmaking, visual art
Today, I went to the Davis Museum to see the exhibit of El Anatsui. He’s an artist born in Ghana, who makes these amazing metal tapestries from discarded liquor bottle tops. Totally crazy. They’re a multicolored chainmail of trash…and they’re stunning. He also does ridiculously amazing sculpture and painting. Go see it now. Seriously. Why are you still reading this?
I keep thinking about this portfolio review. It’s really made me stop and ponder…I’m not sure that I’ve come to any brilliant conclusions. I just keep mulling it all over in my head again and again. Tumultuous.
As a result, everything that I’ve been doing is tumultuous. I started by just making marks in a “zen” sort of way…ended up with this weird garden:
Hmmm…a physical manifestation of the chaos of thoughts that I’m having…
I also made material for my collage class. Here is what the pile looked like earlier:
It’s a mix of relief prints…gelatin prints…and other randomness. I don’t think that I’m a big fan of gelatin printing. I like the immediacy of it, but I am never in awe of what is produced. I’m sure that I need to work on it some more…
I decided that I should attempt a couple of collages with this new material. I threw caution to the wind, and came up with these two:
and:
I liked using these materials for collage. I almost felt that I didn’t have to do too much to them, as they had so much character of their own. Naturally…I did too much to them anyway. Perhaps I’ve given up on restraint. Restraint can be so boring. Yes? No? Any comments? I don’t even drink anything with caffeine, so you can’t suggest that I cut back a little.
One of the challenges that I’m having in general, is that I like to do so many different things. I like printmaking…painting…drawing, etc. I think that I should try to focus on one, but each time that I do…I wonder if I’m narrowing down unnecessarily. I know that Picasso could make art with a potato and a dry stick, but the REST of us might do well with a bit of focus. True?
So, the theme for today is: wishing for focus, whilst seriously out of focus.
Is it any coincidence that I’m going to the eyedoctor tomorrow? I hope that those eye charts don’t start looking like my collages…
slightly wonky 