Uncategorized – Page 94 – Almostfinnish’s Blog

Nude figure drawings on display.

photo by almostfinnish

It was a busy week. I have been working on my website.

My website has become more than just a place to show my art work but hopefully more of a place where people and galleries and potential customers can stop in see my work and visit the studio while here. I am adding a lot of new images, pages and trying to organize it so it makes more sense it has been constantly evolving and changing through trial and error.

Framing my art work has been the undeterred thought this week. Frames are something that I already have but wanted to alter and enhance so I can present my work in a more finished format. My thought earlier in a blog was a stainless steel looking frame I love that look. So I picked up three different color versions and tried them all out on samples of wood. After deciding on one I went ahead and painted a frame. You know it just did not have that pizazz that I was hoping for so I tried the frame out on an earlier series that I did and it seemed to work out better. I only wish I had thought of this during that show. Live and learn. So I went ahead and painted all these frames silver and will take plan a photo shot soon and will add to my site. Getting back to my series at hand although silver came in second gold won over all. So I went and painted all the frames gold like I had originally started and I’ll tell you it did make a big difference and a better picture over all check it out for yourself and tell me what you think at my website. http//www.cedarlodgeportraitstudio.com.

I was determined this week to sign and take photographs of all my old figure drawings that I have hanging up around the studio or just stored in the basement. I have such a problem with signing my work if I died tomorrow I would leave no painting legacy. Just sign the damn things and be done with it. Signing them means that there finished, complete or at least resolved. Some of the drawings are deteriorating but there still very nice. I have great respect whenever I see homes that have figure drawings on display somewhere within the rooms.

My goal is to get my art work out of my studio and on display in galleries, coffee shops, martini bars, libraries and more avenues on the internet. There are a lot of spaces available and that are free. I regret that a lot of places take advantage of artists and charge them for displaying their work but that’s a blog for another day.

I was painting my Scruples?

I framed this piece today I’m trying to decide if the gold goes with this odd color combination…or not?

After a time of taking a lot of photographs for my series ‘Behind the Curtain’ and other photo’s of interest that went into a different direction. I began to paint some small acrylic paintings using some of the photo’s as a reference and inspiration. This is one. This was my cat named Scruples who was my faithful companion for over ten years. She was named after the book by Judith Krantz. She was a one person cat but when my daughter was born her maternal instincts kicked in too so she was always there and very concerned until she started crawling of course. So it is nice to have these photos and paintings although she is gone now cat heaven we say.

I keep leaning toward the abstraction. I want it complicated enough and simple enough so it catches the curiosity and brings the viewer closer. Abstraction is harder than I ever thought it to be. So I do a combination of both abstraction as we see things and how we might think we see things. Art and the creative process what’s your process?

I am a big fan of Malcolm T. Liepke.

I am working on getting some good camera shots of my art work. I try and try but a photograph never captures everything that’s in a painting. So I’m trying to think outside the box by doing combination shots of my art work, art in public spaces and reflective color to enhance the colors that be. My goal only to portray my art work in its truest form. Not watered down or over exposed but just as it is seen under the most complimenting light ever. You know how when were out and about and there is this ambient light giving everyone a youthful glow that’s the light. Ambient light can be found in the mid morning and late afternoon a notable fact that was brought to my attention and works out wonderful when taking photos outdoors.

So while I’m doing this I am also thinking about framing. In the past I have been encouraged to go wider in my frames a minimum of at least 2.5”. I am also interested in spray painting my frames either gold and or a stainless steel look which is very much the trend. I love stainless steel I’d do my whole kitchen like that if I could well not my kitchen because I don’t cook but I hang out and try to pay attention and open the wine if the meal calls for it.

I am a big fan of Malcolm T. Liepke and I came across an artist of interest on twitter which brought me to facebook where I also found Malcolm and some of his art works ‘framed art works a must see.’ I added the link but I think you have to be a friend to see. http://www.facebook.com/#!/Arcadiagallery

Seeing his work is a pleasure but seeing them framed as such was even more inspiring. This is exactly what I’ve been trying to do for some time now. Usually no matter how much I prepare for a show framing is like the last thought and something I do the night before the show. So I’m trying not to repeat history.

Next stop the windy city.

Almostfinnish now has a painting on display at the Last Drop of Coffee. A nice spacious high ceiling on the corner coffee spot in the most perfect part of town. Parking available bring laptop. So I have art work in two establishments now and I am eyeing a third but today is Monday and nothing is open around here on Mondays it’s a weird concept I just go along with it.

I was looking into Chicago galleries and found one that was looking for artists. I thought I’d start there before making a lot of phone calls. I have been interested in showing in Chicago for some time. The windy city is not too far from here and I’ve been there several times on the train and was designated driver twice so I kind of know my way around in case I get lost like they say what the difference between being lost and exploring.

I learned that from my sister Julie together we have been lost more times than not, had car problems in the middle of nowhere, keys locked in the car at least twice not to mention running out of gas and leaving the lights on returning to a dead battery. I always thought I was being tested for something but what? One time we spontaneous took a trip to Minneapolis to see our new niece and a storm hit Wisconsin on the way up and even though there were semi trucks in the ditch she got us there in one piece. I always wished I was more like her you know carefree until I was sitting shot gun.

Tomorrow I Paint.

I penciled myself in for the morning.

Well it was Monday when I started this blog. Spring is in the air and the snow and ice is dripping off roofs. We don’t have as much snow as they do out east but we have our share and proud of it but cabin fever is kicking in and so is spring cleaning.

I entered that contest called 3rd Ward submitted three images and artist statement. Looking at the previous artists and works NY is not looking for Midwest art so I’m thinking that my work is off the wall enough for one to consider. Saving my conservative pieces for around here.

I found another coffee shop looking for an artist and works and has a wall space open with my name on it. I need to get there sometime before 10:00 or after 3:00 and it sounded like a simple task at first. I am planning to go tomorrow Thursday between preschool and afternoon conferences. There’s no storybook theatre scheduled and my husband doesn’t have an appointment until later so I penciled myself in for the morning. And this pretty much is how my story goes.

I’ve been working on finishing some of my still life’s. The picture I intentionally distorted for fun while photographing is 28″ x 38″ oil painting. I like incorporating wine bottles in my still life’s a cliche yeah but it never bores me to see. Although the still life is long gone now I am trying to finish it from a photograph. I think Cezanne when I look at it because he was always a favorite of mine. I am enjoying the monumental size and color combination I chose. When I finish I may have a chance to show it at a local winery here called Wine Cellars. I am always looking to see where my next painting can go and my studio is no longer a choice.

At the last minute here I entered in The artist’s Magazine there 27Th annual art competition. I had this one in the back of my mind and just came across it by luck. I don’t normally do these competition but I thought I would try some out this year and just see what happens. I have a really good feeling. Wish me luck!

I love the smell of turpentine as it lingers in my studio.

I rummaged through some old paintings today. I get inspiration when I see these works how there so fresh, new, and spontaneous. I see the freedom that came with painting what ever was presented right there in front of us. We did the best that we could or knew at the time. The art instructor would walk around looking like Wyatt Earp helping us to paint, to see and understand when areas were working or not. The thick smell of turpentine and oil paint saturated the room instilling a memory forever.

Great expectations

I painted this week and the time was not short and succinct like usual but long and enjoyed checking the clock only in amazement that the alarm was still set. The creative process always surprises me.

I dropped off some paintings at a local coffee shop Tuesday they had room for two pieces for 2-3 months and will call me to rotate the work unless they sell first. It was one of those spontaneous decisions to go there where I had not showered and was wearing a pair of ripped jeans. I have been told that’s the way I’m suppose to look you’re an artist. As artists do we sometimes live by different rules?

I love this line ‘What could it mean that picture of the world. But when it’s true, we recognize it in ourselves, in others. We recognize it, like love, completely undeserved. ‘From the movie: Great Expectations. He’s in New York and the curator tells him to paint something or go back home.

This is going to be a significant year for me.

I have this artistic and personal freedom.

My goal is and always was to have a paragraph written about me in the art history books.

I have a plan and through this blog it will unveil step by step the life of one artist.

What the modernists rejected can we get back?

I’m blogging because of a comment I got lately from a realistic artist about Jackson Pollack and his drip paintings. I am an artist well trained and I am fairly knowledgeable with art history or at least interested enough to check out my facts and read into it some more. I felt the need to write more than just a reply about the discipline and undisciplined of individual artists.

My concern is not what the Modern artists did like Pollock or Picasso but my issue is with what the MODERNISTS did? And who were they? The fact of the matter is you don’t become aware of things until they relate to you once you start having kids you start thinking more about the family unit, traditions, and of course religion.

In retrospect it was during the 20Th century that they believed if it was not modern it will be rejected. So what did they do? They rejected traditional forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, and social organization ( like the family).

I have issues with some of the above.

I understand that art is a reflection of our society and our life. and that art, science, and history have this universal connection. It couldn’t be more true today than ever.

So my question is what do we do as 21TH century artists to turn it around and bring back what the modernists took away (or rejected). Are we past the point of no return as a society and is the theory that we are not evolving but degenerating coming true.

Brice Marden respectfully copied.

Brice Marden the artist did a pose like this for an ART news magazine. Having great respect for him I tried to reposed this picture using myself as the artist. This is a tribute to him and all that he did to the art world and to artists that followed.”Working on these paintings, there’s always an idea which is an ideal. It’s always impossible… But I think every time, maybe, I just get closer to some impossible thing… ” Brice Marden

Brice Marden was a Minimalist painter. He worked with these amazing color combinations. The first series that caught my attention was the “Annunciation” series in 1978. Five paintings where the artist tried to interpret the various stages of the virgin Mary response to the archangel Gabriel. Then there were the paintings that followed using the tau cross as a motif that emphasized the suffering, agony and death of Christ. The paintings were done with a mixture of beeswax and oil. He worked with two three and then four single color panels joined vertically or horizontally together and he would create these subtle color combinations using greens, blues, reds,and blacks. I was lucky to see him talk at The Milwaukee Art Museum during the late 90’s while I was attending school.

Picasso sucks!

I laugh every time as I remember that line from the Jackson POLLOCK movie “Picasso sucks!” I was so surprised that someone would have the audacity to say that about Picasso.

Pollock overturned tables of tradition and old ideas with his drip paintings and he opened the possibility of freshness.

It’s noteworthy that one of Pollock paintings No. 5, 1948 was auctioned off at record sales of 140m more than any Picasso or Van Gogh.

http://www.karemar.com/blog/top-ten-10-most-expensive-paintings-all-time-w-pics

” The strangeness will wear off and I think we will discover the deeper meanings in modern art. “Jackson Pollock

My question is: Was his self destructive nature necessary? Did it add to the creative process and validity of his art work????

“In the world of modern art is sadness a given.”