Countdown to FCCA and NVFAA

I am just beginning to feel the pressure of not painting for the last three weeks. There is an out of sorts feeling that also can be attributed to traveling, I suppose. It almost feels like I am neglecting myself in some way by not painting.

Going over the paintings for the two upcoming shows has been a little painful. I guess as we progress as artists, though a painting may be quite strong, we still see room for improvement, and a desire to go further along in our craft. I am all for a "natural" way of painting, i.e. going with natural bent in style and method, but sometimes there are weaknesses that need tweaking. I think these are helped along by observing other works, like in my case, a trip to the
High Museum while in Atlanta. We are helped to see different approaches to our medium, new ways of proposing our ideas when we "fill the well" with the work of other artists and, if you are so blessed, to receive the feedback of fellow artists.

So, the framing is done for FCCA. The easel is calling, but I still have a few ends to tie up for the show which we hang on Sunday and then it is on to framing and varnishing for NVFAA which will be hung on November 17th (more about that later)......then comes the Caton Merchant Gallery in February!

I will leave you with one of the paintings I always make a point to see at the High.


Joseph DeCamp
"The Blue Mandarin Coat"
oil on canvas, 1922

Michael Sowa

A few weeks ago I was visiting family in Norfolk and while at a party at my Uncle and Aunt's home, my sister pointed out a unique print on the foyer wall. It was this fantastic Michael Sowa print called "Kohler's Pig."



My Uncle went on to tell me how connected he felt to the painting and even showed me a photographic print of a landscape he bought because in his words "it made me want to go be there." It was nice to here one of my relatives speak of connecting to artwork and not merely buying pieces that match the couch.

I did some research on Sowa when I returned home and really fell in love with his work.

Atlanta

While we were in Atlanta last week, we went to see the Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius exhibit at the High Museum. The exhibit focuses on the artist as student, sculptor and mentor. Most of the pieces are sketches and studies, most of which I have seen in books. I was really struck by the delicate nature of Leonardo's marks. These are among the most beautiful sketches I have ever seen.
In the High courtyard is a re-creation of the 26 foot high Sforza horse made from sketches for the statue honoring the Duke of Milan. Though he worked on sketches and plans for over 17 years, the statue was never realized in Leonardo's day beyond a 26 foot clay model. The model was destroyed by french soldiers who used it for target practice.






I moved to Altanta in 1987 to go to the Atlanta College of Art, which is now part of Savannah College of Art and Design. I am amazed at how much that area between 15th and 17th on Peachtree has changed. Where the ACA dorm was, there is now a parking garage and another wing of the High. So, it is a bittersweet to walk around that block. The High is a division of the Woodruff Arts Center along with the Alliance Theater and the ASO which all reside on the same block.




The building at One Atlantic Center was just being completed when I moved to Atlanta in 1987. A reproduction on Rodin's "The Shade" is in the foreground and was inside the Woodruff Arts Center (which is housed ACA) back when I attended.



Shot of the city from the walkway between two wings of the High.

Update

We are off to Atlanta this week. Since we returned from Virginia Beach, all my time has been spent assessing paintings, and getting all the promo created and printed. I also have a new laptop to set up and switch files over, so there hasn't been any painting going on of late. It makes me feel a bit out of sorts........

I will leave you with a cool story about a previously anonymous drawing now confirmed as a da Vinci. Great for us, fantastic for the current owner.

Countdown to opening day.

I am always amazed when a painting moves so quickly along, without a hitch. It does not happen often for me, so I am basking in the wonder that is the "Shepherdess." She seemed to come along like magic. Meant to be.

Craig and I went to visit family over the long weekend and by Sunday, I was beginning to mull over the FCCA and NVFAA shows which both open in a few weeks. I have hardware to hunt down, varnishing to do, more promotion as well as working on the reception food and drinks. Some of the paintings are so new that they will get no more than a coat of retouching varnish.
So, all that to say I am pretty much wrapped up with painting and won't be back at it in a focused manner for awhile.


On a very cool note, the Van Gogh museum is displaying Vincent's letters alongside paintings he is speaking about in those letters.

Today's Painting

"Shepherdess of the Open Sea, Source of all Fish Life"
36" x 24", oil on canvas

Flash, Shepherdess of the Sea

The body is essentially complete. I will continue to build up the fish roe and lay in the ocean over the rest of this week, and barring any problems, she will be who she is by Friday.
I am pleasantly surprised at how freaked out people are over this painting.

The fawn in the reference photo I am using was taken by friend, Marilyn Kisser. She takes extraordinary photographs of the animals that come into her yard and has been so gracious with her images. I could not have created this painting without that photograph. This fawn she named "Flash" and she IS the Shepherdess of the Sea. No other animal can fill the role.

Marilyn sent me recent photos of Flash, who has grown up. I have them on my easel.