Meet Vick. He is 19 years old, US Army. Vick just accidently became my muse.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
On my easel now... Soulja Man
Warning: crappy photo. I took maybe 30 pics and this was the best I could get. Will try again when I do not hate my camera.
Monday, January 28, 2008
A little more .. from Mexico
One of Diego's murals, a couple of Frida's paintings, inspired jeans by an admirer
Diego's work
He primarily did murals of working people, which he championed. They were populists and socialist revolutionaries.
Here is a painting though.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
What I can show you...
In my earlier post I said I would have to show you what I am working toward, I can not describe it any better than I could the dream I had last night. BUT, I can tell you what my first subject of study is....
Matisse
Matisse
At first, I thought it would be Picasso that I would study in depth, but then I remembered Matisse.
After I am completely familiar with his works, then we will be returning to the ancient world. Probably Egypt or Pompeii.
It should be one very colorful adventure!
Things that speak to you.
On the Carols Picasso thread, Veritas left this comment,
Veritas said...
Christy this is terrific!I assume you know Picasso's early work...he created these exquisite copies of the grand masters and was told he was making "great art" but he wasn't satisfied...then eventually was brave enough to break out on his own."
To be honest, I am really not familiar with his early works, because I have never seen them. But...
Have you ever had a feeling someone was trying to tell you something...? I am not sure Veritas was trying to tell me something, but I have been thinking of her words ever since I read them. My mom also had a conversation with me the next day, and it really has become clear to me that I have a lot of work to do.
Everything of mine you have seen here has been practice. Practice for what? That is an interesting question. However, I think I may have an answer for it. But I can't tell you, I have to show you.
Over the next few months, I will be doing less of these practice pieces, as I focus on research. I am about to go buy some really really big freaking canvases to work out with my hands what my head can already see. Maybe it will work, maybe I will make a big mess, but either way, it should be a very educational experience.
Thank you, all of you, for getting me to think outside the box.
Veritas said...
Christy this is terrific!I assume you know Picasso's early work...he created these exquisite copies of the grand masters and was told he was making "great art" but he wasn't satisfied...then eventually was brave enough to break out on his own."
To be honest, I am really not familiar with his early works, because I have never seen them. But...
Have you ever had a feeling someone was trying to tell you something...? I am not sure Veritas was trying to tell me something, but I have been thinking of her words ever since I read them. My mom also had a conversation with me the next day, and it really has become clear to me that I have a lot of work to do.
Everything of mine you have seen here has been practice. Practice for what? That is an interesting question. However, I think I may have an answer for it. But I can't tell you, I have to show you.
Over the next few months, I will be doing less of these practice pieces, as I focus on research. I am about to go buy some really really big freaking canvases to work out with my hands what my head can already see. Maybe it will work, maybe I will make a big mess, but either way, it should be a very educational experience.
Thank you, all of you, for getting me to think outside the box.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Wow
An amazing political story has cropped up and encompassed this work. Check it out...http://harpers.org/archive/2008/01/hbc-90002237
Friday, January 25, 2008
When Death Becomes Art
Everyone knows the story of Pompeii, and has probably seen the plaster casts of the victims. It is very interesting how these casts, statues forged with human flesh, came to be.
For a very long time, the archeologists excavating Pompeii would systematically clear a horizonal grid of earth, and they kept coming across these strange voids that would collapse inward before they could be fully viewed. Finally, someone had the bright idea of digging vertically, and noticed these voids would stay stable enough to examine. Then they started poring plaster into these voids and were stunned to see they had created statues of the victims in their last agony filled moments.
In many ways, these statues are art unto themselves. They are the evidence of people who could not find help in those moments, and would have otherwise disappeared entirely, if not for these statues. No matter how ancient, their deaths are still relevant and fresh in our minds. Because they died there, they have become immortal. And art.
For a very long time, the archeologists excavating Pompeii would systematically clear a horizonal grid of earth, and they kept coming across these strange voids that would collapse inward before they could be fully viewed. Finally, someone had the bright idea of digging vertically, and noticed these voids would stay stable enough to examine. Then they started poring plaster into these voids and were stunned to see they had created statues of the victims in their last agony filled moments.
In many ways, these statues are art unto themselves. They are the evidence of people who could not find help in those moments, and would have otherwise disappeared entirely, if not for these statues. No matter how ancient, their deaths are still relevant and fresh in our minds. Because they died there, they have become immortal. And art.
Sparrow - thanks for being Christy's muse!
I understand that you had a large hand in helping Christy figure out my painting.
I LOVE it and I just want to thank you so much for your part of it.
Huge thanks to both of you - I can't wait to see it in person!
Thoughts that bother me...
Yall know I am struggling to photograph my own work, and lately it has been nagging at me. All these great Masterpieces we have seen, some for all our lives, how much of them does not get translated into a slightly off photo?
And, to the new people from my area that will be here for the first time, welcome to our blog. For the best examples of my work, scroll all the way down and click 'older posts'.
I am setting up a gallery site for just my work, but my hard drive crashed before I could upload the pics. I will have it done and will link up here by tommorrow morning and you will be able to see all my works together.
Other than that... Party On !
OH WAIT!
I found the best link to share! They not only have a mind boggling archive, but a lot of their views of Masterpieces were actually SCANNED. Life sized scans!
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/
Show us your favorites. Or your least favorites.
And, to the new people from my area that will be here for the first time, welcome to our blog. For the best examples of my work, scroll all the way down and click 'older posts'.
I am setting up a gallery site for just my work, but my hard drive crashed before I could upload the pics. I will have it done and will link up here by tommorrow morning and you will be able to see all my works together.
Other than that... Party On !
OH WAIT!
I found the best link to share! They not only have a mind boggling archive, but a lot of their views of Masterpieces were actually SCANNED. Life sized scans!
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/
Show us your favorites. Or your least favorites.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Totally Creepy
Sean Lennon in Soho with unidentified woman on left. And John Lennon and Yoko Ono on the right.
Is that not totally freaking cool or what?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Carol...
If you are just joining us, please scroll down to the post Carols' Picasso.
And let me know if you like it.
If not, I will paint another. Satisfaction guaranteed. Eventually.
And let me know if you like it.
If not, I will paint another. Satisfaction guaranteed. Eventually.
Carols' Picasso
I have to say Carol, your choices sent me in a loop, for sure.
Me and this little birdie we both know, were getting frustrated trying to figure out how to put it all together. Dark and light sage green, browns, reds, oranges, musical... and abstract. It is like a bad riddle.
So I was sitting there one night trying to figure out how on earth I had gotten myself into this, and I thought to myself, 'I would sure love to hand her a Picasso.'
And then I thought, 'Wow.. what an interesting and great idea.' And the little birdie approved and off I flew.
And, after I conquered the heavens I returned, with a custom colored Picasso, just for you.
This is from a Picasso, named Woman with a Chelo. But, unlike the original, I used your colors to customize it to you. There are slight differences in the overall lines between mine and the original, but not many. The name of this one is 'Tribute to Picasso'.
Anyways, I really hope you like it. It was a very complicated piece to do, but it was a great way to get my kids focused on abstracts.
As usual, the pic does not do the actual canvas any justice, because it is absolutely beautiful to the naked eye. Just holding it in my hands is a thrill. He was a great artist.
Me and this little birdie we both know, were getting frustrated trying to figure out how to put it all together. Dark and light sage green, browns, reds, oranges, musical... and abstract. It is like a bad riddle.
So I was sitting there one night trying to figure out how on earth I had gotten myself into this, and I thought to myself, 'I would sure love to hand her a Picasso.'
And then I thought, 'Wow.. what an interesting and great idea.' And the little birdie approved and off I flew.
And, after I conquered the heavens I returned, with a custom colored Picasso, just for you.
This is from a Picasso, named Woman with a Chelo. But, unlike the original, I used your colors to customize it to you. There are slight differences in the overall lines between mine and the original, but not many. The name of this one is 'Tribute to Picasso'.
Anyways, I really hope you like it. It was a very complicated piece to do, but it was a great way to get my kids focused on abstracts.
As usual, the pic does not do the actual canvas any justice, because it is absolutely beautiful to the naked eye. Just holding it in my hands is a thrill. He was a great artist.
Sedona, AZ
I'm always on the lookout for good art...especially from 
the Southwest. Someday I'll live out there and be a whitewater guide!
the Southwest. Someday I'll live out there and be a whitewater guide!These paintings, "Saguaro Sunshine" and "Cathedral Morning", are by Cody DeLong. If I can figure out how to hang them without tearing holes in my wall, they'll be up in my house soon.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
More Asian Art For Christy (and Turtle)
Christy, first the bad news: you wanted terra cotta warriors, and I couldn't get them, because I have yet to go to Xi'an.
The worse news: While I've been to Beijing, I heard that Beijing's museums are empty, because the Nationalists took most of China's treasures to Taipei. And I haven't been to Taipei either.
The good part: I went to Seoul in late '05 for business (you really wanted to join me there, you told me on the chat back then). I went to the National Museum of Korea for the following pictures. It was a new building (barely a month old) built on what used to be a huge US Army base - the land suddenly became available because W decided to send all Americans there to other bases (over the objections of South Korean conservatives and Christians who wanted continued American presence). Don't you just love W - screwing over his most loyal puppets in the world?
A fresco typical of Goguryeo kingdom, which occupied modern-day North Korea and Manchuria for the first few centuries AD. Even in South Korea, these frescoes are rare; indeed you must travel to North Korea to see most examples.
A typical tower from a Buddhist temple, probably built 10th-14th century.
This book explains a new phonetic script for the Korean language, which was announced by the king on October 9, 1446. To this day, Korean is the only language in the world written with an artificial script. Previously, Chinese characters (which are iconographs) were used, and they simply were incompatible with the Korean phonetics.
This one is for Turtle.
An ancient tombstone, set on top of a turtle.
How to do mother-of-pearl decorations. The Japanese have similar art.
Stylistic comparison of East Asian bells. From left to right: Chinese, Korean, Japanese.
Of course, nobody leaves Korea without seeing these mysterious blue celadons. This one was unusual, at least compared to the jars and vases that tend to make up the Korean collections of most art museums worldwide.
The worse news: While I've been to Beijing, I heard that Beijing's museums are empty, because the Nationalists took most of China's treasures to Taipei. And I haven't been to Taipei either.
The good part: I went to Seoul in late '05 for business (you really wanted to join me there, you told me on the chat back then). I went to the National Museum of Korea for the following pictures. It was a new building (barely a month old) built on what used to be a huge US Army base - the land suddenly became available because W decided to send all Americans there to other bases (over the objections of South Korean conservatives and Christians who wanted continued American presence). Don't you just love W - screwing over his most loyal puppets in the world?
A fresco typical of Goguryeo kingdom, which occupied modern-day North Korea and Manchuria for the first few centuries AD. Even in South Korea, these frescoes are rare; indeed you must travel to North Korea to see most examples.
A typical tower from a Buddhist temple, probably built 10th-14th century.
This book explains a new phonetic script for the Korean language, which was announced by the king on October 9, 1446. To this day, Korean is the only language in the world written with an artificial script. Previously, Chinese characters (which are iconographs) were used, and they simply were incompatible with the Korean phonetics.
This one is for Turtle.An ancient tombstone, set on top of a turtle.
How to do mother-of-pearl decorations. The Japanese have similar art.
Stylistic comparison of East Asian bells. From left to right: Chinese, Korean, Japanese.
Of course, nobody leaves Korea without seeing these mysterious blue celadons. This one was unusual, at least compared to the jars and vases that tend to make up the Korean collections of most art museums worldwide.
Veritas,
I am going to hold off sending Beethoven for one more day, because I have just completed your other canvas and it needs to cure for 24 hours then I will send them together. I will post pics here tommorrow morning as soon as I can get fresh batteries for my cam.
There was a slight problem and I could not add all the details I wanted too, so I scrapped them and focused on the portrait itself. The problem is that I can paint or draw any natural shape, faces, trees, cloth draping, however, manmade shapes, houses, walls...ships... throw me off and wind up looking cartoonish for me.
So, basically what I am saying is you got a straight portrait. And there is nothing more pirate-ee than this subject.
Two hints until tommorrow... It'a a he. And....
'Savy?'
HAHAHA!
BTW, my kids saw what I was doing and swarmed my easel constantly. It is unanimous, children LOVE this portrait.
There was a slight problem and I could not add all the details I wanted too, so I scrapped them and focused on the portrait itself. The problem is that I can paint or draw any natural shape, faces, trees, cloth draping, however, manmade shapes, houses, walls...ships... throw me off and wind up looking cartoonish for me.
So, basically what I am saying is you got a straight portrait. And there is nothing more pirate-ee than this subject.
Two hints until tommorrow... It'a a he. And....
'Savy?'
HAHAHA!
BTW, my kids saw what I was doing and swarmed my easel constantly. It is unanimous, children LOVE this portrait.
Funny
I told you the story of my moms bible and how it got me hooked on art, and I will be damned if I did not come and coincidently pulled up an image from that bible. I thought it was so beautiful as a child, and now I remember why. This is the first time I have seen it since I was 7.
Joash Shooting the arrow of Deliverance 1844 by William Dyce
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)