I Blog For…Art!

I was out at my parents’ ranch yesterday without my normal painting supplies or inspiration, and found myself wanting to paint. I found a cut out from a old magazine of Penélope Cruz, and having just seen Woody Allen’s new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona and loving it, I thought it would be fun to paint Cruz’s portrait. Here’s is the result of the first sitting (taken from my cell phone):

20″x24″

Needs at least one more day’s worth of work.

I’ve made progress on the latest portrait, and have gone to some fun events surrounding the opening of the C Gallery of Contemporary Art in Los Alamos. Connie Rohde Stanchfield, (a friend and art teacher from my high school days), and her daughter Nina Rohde Brown opened the C Gallery together this summer after Connie retired from a inspiring career of teaching art and drama at Santa Ynez Union High School. It was fun to see many familiar faces and art by respected contemporary artists at the reception of the first show in August.

Here’s the latest on my painting progress:

and a bit earlier on:

And here are some photos from the opening of the C Gallery, Connie’s retirement party, and before:

These photos are from before the opening:

My sister Lily, me, Connie, and my mother Sandy.

And these are from the retirement party in May:

The front of the C Gallery.

Ariane, Arthur, and Lily in front of the C Gallery.

Lily, Mrs. Kelley, and me.

Connie and friends dance and have fun at the retirement party.

Connie’s son Jesse and daughter/collaborator Nina.

And here are some photos from the reception of the first show this August:

Lily Nathan and Karina Puente chatting in the studio space in back.

My parents Sandy and Barry came to support the new gallery and see my sister Lily’s work.

Bear playing melodies for the opening.

Three months later—I’m back, but only to do a practice painting for a commissioned portrait. I want to finally finish up the series. I got the 14th painting further along than before but have been too busy this summer to get back to it or post my progress.

Here’s the start for the commissioned portrait of a boy:

Here’s the photo:

For the actual painting I won’t use such a tight grid. I just wanted the structure it provides to get back into drawing and painting and get my hand moving without thinking too much.

By the way! I went to see the huge exhibition of Frida Kahlo’s work at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and it was incredible! Though, because of the crowding, it was far more pleasant seeing her work in the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City and in her house in Coyoacan. The SF MOMA was packed even on a Monday morning! I may have to see it again in the Fall. The show ends on September 28th.

One thing that struck me was seeing some of her paintings for the first time, I couldn’t believe how off I was on imagining the scale of her works! The most detailed paintings that I thought surely had to be over three or four feet large were barely fifteen inches. Likewise, ones that I thought were probably fairly small and personal were large. A good example is her wedding portrait. Seeing the detail and actual colors in the paintings that I have attempted or am attempting to reproduce was extremely valuable because a lot of it doesn’t come across accurately in books.

Click here to find out about the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the SF MOMA!

Two friends independently gave me art books, and right around the same time I ordered one for myself! I was inspired by all of them, but I’m in seventh heaven with the book I bought on Frida Kahlo!

In order to justify buying an eighth book on Frida Kahlo, whom I’ve long adored, I ordered the cheapest copy of Lozano’s book I could find, which I imagined would be battered up, with the pages separating from the spine. Aside from a bit of wear on the dust jacket, I ended up getting a nearly new copy of what turned out to be *THE* book to own for Frida Kahlo fans! It has huge beautiful prints of paintings by her that I’ve never even seen before! I’m so glad I got it.

Frida Kahlo by Luis-Martin Lozano

I’ve copied several of her works, for the practice and to have around my home. Here is one that hangs to the side of my desk:

After Frida Kahlo’s “Self-Portrait With Monkeys” (Oil on canvas, 24″x20″)

How I’ve digressed! Back on the Painting Challenge front, here’s my progress on the painting of Gurumayi:

Not quite finished, but close. Her face has so many subtly different shades and is so beautiful, I want to spend more time and make sure I do justice to the photograph.

UPDATED PHOTO:

Here’s after I put in a rough under-painting:

I was super worried that the precious time I had spent on the palette would be wasted after waiting a day to paint, especially with the 90° heat spell we had for a few weird days. But the plastic wrap I had covered it with along with some Turpenoid kept it moist enough to use on the painting. Phew!

Maybe some of you will appreciate a palette displayed in all its unglamorous utility! I’ve been using glass palettes since my junior year in college. I usually will get a dense scratch and shatter resistant piece of glass cut if I don’t have an extra lying around from a frame. I then tape the edges to a piece of white poster board for safety and to see the colors well.

Had I been easier on myself, I could have already accomplished a 10 or even 13 day painting challenge. But alas, I chose 20 days, and life intervened. In the interlude, I prepared for and performed in a Bo kata competition at the annual Shotokan Karate Championships in Camarillo this past Sunday. To my happy amazement, I won! I may post a video of it and my competition later, (when it’s edited together.) Rob shot photos and videos from the stands.

Waiting for the event to get started

Sitting waiting to be called, next to one of my formidable competitors.

It was quite exciting and nerve-racking! I had to look away, because I was certain the very sharp white belt above was going to cream me, a veteran brown belt. He was amazing. But at the end of his kata he stumbled with the Bo very briefly and was docked severely.

I went after two color belts and did quite well. A huge turn around from last year. First off, I got there on time, which for me, being time-management challenged, was a great feat. Second I was able to channel my nervousness into a very powerful aid. I imagined truly fighting off an attacker with a bow, going through the strikes I would use from the kata. This makes it much more real and focused, and timing and position become a lot easier. It also puts your adrenalin into the context of a fight, when you would naturally feel it. I also used my breath to settle my energy. This is very important—otherwise your energy and concentration scatter and can ruin your chance at a good performance, which is what happened to me the year before.  Sending out a quick prayer for help never hurt either. Whether you believe God, gods, or your own hairy subconscious mind is hearing and responding, there’s something to be said for the effects of prayer.

I could hardly believe the rush of energy I had by the time I was in front of the judges! The closest thing I can think of is the feeling you get when you all-out sprint for a given distance after jogging and getting warmed up. That can be quite a high, but this was exalting! My body seemed to perform the kata on its own, and with more force than when I consciously practiced it. I can certainly continue to make improvements, and that within itself is exciting!

I also have been preparing for my first public ballet performance this Friday night at 8 pm at the Santa Barbara City College. That should be interesting! My Arabic language final is also coming up, and early for me, because I want to see my sister’s graduation in Santa Fe. I won’t bore you with my work schedule, but suffice it to say I’m happy to have been able to sleep and get loads done these past few days. I have been sad not to have finished a painting, but will continue again as soon as I can.

Here’s the drawing I did for a painting of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, a wonderful spiritual teacher:

I spent quite a bit of time on the palette and have started the painting. Let the challenge continue!

They have nothing to do with one another, by the way! Hahaha…

Seriously, it’s been another late night. I went with friends to a lecture by Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu at UCSB’s Campbell Hall at 8 pm. The first time I discovered Mutu’s work was in a magazine on the way to Japan in the summer of 2006. I then completely randomly stumbled upon a group show with her work in it at the end of my trip there at the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. I was fascinated.

I have to say, I was a bit repulsed by many of the photos in the slide show she presented as she talked about her influences and process of making art. Fortunately, I’m more tolerant than some with being in a state of repulsion, because I think of it as an opportunity to explore just what makes me feel that way and what that state has to teach me about my surroundings and self.

It seems that in order to accept the privilege of having enough to eat and feeling safe and secure, Mutu delves into the most difficult conditions and events suffered by humans, and explores them in her work. She also deconstructs in depth the historically strange and distorted projections of the Western eye on Africans, (and particularly on women), and how this formed a dialectic with African performers throughout the last half century.

I thoroughly appreciated the lecture and was surprised the placed wasn’t packed. Here’s a photo of Wangechi Mutu:

Afterward, I painted an agave. I had taken a picture of a green agave plant from my parent’s backyard, and that’s what I worked from.

Here it is, (click to enlarge):

And here it is halfway through:

With the Pennsylvania vote coming out tomorrow, I thought I’d send out a bit of positive energy for the Obama campaign in the form of a portrait of Obama! I’m pleased with today’s work, even if I had wanted to finish it on Earth Day, (yesterday.)

Here’s the final painting, (Click to enlarge photo):

Portrait of Barack Obama

Here the painting in progress

I’ve deliberated on which photo I’d like to use, and even though originally I wanted to use one that was obscure, I ended up with the Time Magazine cover below:

Obama is a man of great character. He’s unspoiled politically, honest, and has integrity and a conscience. He may be one of the first true humanitarian presidents we’ve had in a while.  I’m very excited about the possibility of him becoming president.

Here’s the drawing:

(It’s going to look a lot better with shading, but that will have to wait until tomorrow, as today I juggled about 8 activities and need sleep to do this great man justice! Bon nuit!)

This took longer than I thought it would! I thought, ah, a bit of white, red, blue, and black, how hard can it be? Many hours later, I have a different opinion!

Here’s the final:

Here’s a surprised shot of me:

The drawing and progress shots are on the previous post as I started this yesterday in addition to finishing yesterday’s painting!

This time Korea and Pan Africa. The girl who modeled for Korea has such a quiet elegance, and the Pan-African model has a gorgeous smile! Can’t wait to finish up. I’m also excited to be working on TWO paintings and managing this somehow on a Thursday, one of my busiest days! Awesome!

I’m not sure we got the Pan-African Flag quite right… Oh well. We tried!

Here’s the second one I worked on today:

Here are the photos by Ernst Mutchnik that I worked from

(If you haven’t been following, I painted these gals’ faces about three years ago and decided to do again, except this time on paper.)