Kickin’ it old school…as in 15th century old school…
I now have my newest series of paintings and drawings on my website. These are works that are based in the botanical illustrations of the 16th and 17th centuries, but with a sexualized twist: certainly not suitable for all viewers, the Botanicae Amatorius are both erotic and humorous (granted, I have a dark sense of humor). The final paintings are done with gouache on calfskin parchment that has been stretched onto birch board: the calfskin is an exquisite surface for gouache – similar to the vellum used in 14th and 15th century manuscript pieces. Vellum, to be technical, is the skin from a stillborn calf, and it is available - but very expensive. The calfskin is similar, with a few more flaws on the surface (which I like), still a bit pricey, but not so rare to come by and most specialty calligraphy supply outlets have it available. I always gripe about reproductions, but I scanned the images on the site directly from the paintings and they are fairly accurate as far as color. What is lost is the subtle depth of space created by the calfskin – the gouache sits on the surface and light reflects through the layers of skin making the gouache quite luminous (the pigment does not sink into the surface like it would on paper). I recommend the calfskin highly for gouache aficionados; some of the most beautiful works of art, from the Book of Kells to Albrecht Dürer’s studies were executed on vellum – not a medium to be missed (I will write more about the botanical artists at a later date – the juncture of science and art is a passion of mine).
If you are interested in seeing the new paintings and drawings, click the link below:
Quite a busy month ahead (aren’t they all):
In conjunction with the South Orange Maplewood Studio Tour, the Pierro Gallery is holding its Preview / Post View exhibit. The opening is on Thursday, May 24th from 6 – 8 PM. Speaking of gouache, in the Preview / Post View, I will be showing a painting that I rarely exhibit:
 "Umbilical (severed)" gouache and watercolor on Arches paper, 11 x 15 inches Ah yes, this one is on paper, not as luminous as the calfskin pieces, but a little jewel of a painting nonetheless.
The studio tour is on Sunday, June 3rd, from 11 AM – 5 PM; everyone is welcome to attend and this year the tour is free…not a bad deal for seeing 60+ artists in their studios.
Still Drawing…
In the studio, I have started my first of two (maybe three) sybils:
This will be a 5 x 3 foot pencil drawing, the figure is slightly smaller than life size.
Last, but not least…
The latest Strange Tale, pencil on Moleskine sketch paper, 5.5 x 7 inches (this is on a double page of a smaller Moleskine sketchbook):
The Sisters and the Serpent
As always, the jpeg reproduction is on the flickr stream as well. For the studio tour, I am finishing up 5 of these that have been patiently waiting to emerge, and I will post them as they are completed.
A new Strange Tale – pencil on Moleskine sketchbook paper, 7 x 4 inches:
Leora especially loved wandering in the field rows on Sunday mornings
The same pic, in better quality, on flickr.
The studio tour is just on the horizon…more info on that to come.
Yep…two Strange Tales today:
Strange Tale #29 (graphite, 7 x 4 inches):
Little Miss Mae liked to traipse around in her veil, but we all knew what really made her tick
Strange Tale #30 (graphite, 4.75 x 5.75 inches):
Beatrice was intrigued by the request
The reception for the exhibit Visual Voices is this Sunday from 2 – 5 PM at 1978 Arts Center in Maplewood, New Jersey – all are welcome, so please drop by. I will have one drawing on display (for a sneak peak of the artwork on display, click here).
Visual Voices is an exhibition featuring members of the Exhibitor’s Co-op:
“Exhibitors’ Co-op is a creative forum to share art ideas and techniques, critique work and to support each other’s creative expression. Over the past 20 years, it has evolved into a thriving community of talented individuals, creating with their own unique voices.”
As an artist, I find it imperative to have a supportive community of other artists with whom I can share ideas and critique work; for the past 8 years, my supportive community has been the Exhibitor’s Co-op. Under the direction of Barbara Minch and with a core group of 30 – 40 artists, the insight and camaraderie has made the difference between feeling isolated and disconnected to creating work with the knowledge that I would have a place for feedback without the disingenuousness that often plagues some critique groups.
I can’t imagine my art life without them.
Finally… a new Strange Tale! There are many more of these little Tales sketched out and started, however I have a year-long reprieve from sitting in my car for extended periods of time to wait for the kiddies to exit school (the optimum Strange Tale drawing time), so these little sketches are on the backburner. Less time in the car is more time in the studio, so I am not complaining. They’ll get done, soon enough. At any rate:
“Margaret was haunted by the final woe-laden correspondence”
The better pic is on the flickr page.
I am currently busy with a new body of work, but I am not showing these pieces (or posting them) for quite a few months; at least three need to be completed so there is context. Oh, it is too difficult to explain…pictures sometime in April or May. And perhaps some more Strange Tales before that time, too.
The large drawing is finally finished:
 Home
Graphite pencil, India ink, cross-stitched embroidery thread, glass beads, black paper, color pencil on Arches hot press watercolor paper
4 x 6 feet / 44 x 64 inches / 112 x 154 cm
Detail pictures are on my flickr photostream.
I will write a statement about this specific piece…later. I am still mulling over what I want to say.
 "And then we devoured our young" A Happy New Year to all!
While my primary goal this month is to barracade myself in the studio so I can finish the current drawing, I do have to venture out…I am starting the new year off with quite a few exhibitions up and down the East Coast; two in New Jersey, two in Alexandria, Virginia, and one in Jacksonville Florida. Please drop by if you are near any of the shows:
Fears and Phobias Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, Virginia
January 12 – February 19
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 12th 6 – 8 PM
“A timely exhibit that explores the theme of fears and phobias. Some of the work is introspective and personal, while others express these issues in a larger social context. ” (Artwork by fellow South Orange artist Jennifer Takahashi is also featured in this exhibit).
 Fourteen (mixing memory and desire)
From What I Remember, From What I Forget
Principle Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia
Opening Reception: Friday, January 20th 6:30 – 9 PM
Curated by the Broadstreet Studio artists, this will be a beautiful show in a beautiful space!
Art Connections 8
The George Segal Gallery, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey
January 17 – February 18, 2012
Opening Reception: Sunday, January 22nd 2 – 5 PM
Alice: Into the Looking Glass
Noyes Museum of Art, Oceanville, New Jersey
February 3 – May 20, 2012
Mad Hatter Party & Opening Reception: Friday, February 3rd 5 – 8 PM
“A diverse selection of works range from illustrations based closely on Carroll’s text,
to works which allude more subtly to the original story, offering new and sometimes challenging
interpretations. Imagery relates to the multitude of themes found in Carroll’s stories.”
And, last but not least…(what is it with me and Alice?)
Drawing Muchness
University of North Florida Gallery of Art, Jacksonville, Florida
February 3 – March 2
Closing Reception: March 1, 2012
“The Dormouse had closed its eyes by this time, and was going off into a doze; but, on being pinched by the Hatter, it woke up again with a little shriek, and went on: `–that begins with an M, such as mouse-traps, and the moon, and memory, and muchness– you know you say things are “much of a muchness”–did you ever see such a thing as a drawing of a muchness?’”
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.
The artsy show with the bawdy name is back!
Saturday & Sundays, December 3rd & 4th and 10th & 11th
11 AM – 5 PM each day.
This year there are over 45 artists, hundreds of works of art – small and affordably priced for holiday giving.
Or, even better, you can be just like Herb and Dorothy and start or embellish your own collection with artwork from local and regional artists.  Little Acts of Courage I have a few Strange Tales and encaustics on display, as well as prints of the large scale drawings.
Some of my favorite pieces from local artists this year include Maya Bloom’s lovely jewelry made of seeds and pods, as well as her Beads of Peace necklaces:
Jo Bradney has prints and notecards of the pink donuts painting, Sugar Spiral (the original of which is also on display, and a painting that I adore and want, but I am just not sure about living with a work of art that makes me want to lick icing…)
Suzanne Henning has a great selection of embellished prints:
And, there is the local treasure, ceramicist/painter Phyllis Carlin…I have my eye on Stravinsky Immersed In The Creation of Spring:
Drop by, say hello, enjoy the hot mulled cider, and, better yet, avoid the mall and support local artists and 1978!
*Bawdy? absolutely…and, just because someone complained several years ago and insisted on changing the name, I now refuse to – so BANG it is!
I found a rather timely little message in my fortune cookie this week:
Perhaps I find it so timely because I am not letting a little matter such as a size limitation get in my way: the current drawing in progress needed to be big, so it is big. I will deal with the problem of framing a 4 x 6 foot drawing later…
Plus there is my upcoming project, the beginning of which is simultaneously in progress with the big drawing (well past the planning and sketching into the gathering and preparing materials stage). This new project revolves around creating artwork with subject matter illicit enough that it gave me a momentary pause over whether or not I could post the completed artworks on my website (I will – with a little disclaimer, of course).
I have had this new project on the backburner for nearly four years and then along came an exhibition opportunity that gloriously lifted my own self-imposed limitations, leaving me to wonder why I had set the idea aside in the first place. Perhaps it is one of those curious things having to do with timing and waiting for the perfect moment for all of the separate parts to fall into place; regardless I could not be more energized about the new endeavor. I know that I am being cryptic, but this little embryo of inspiration has moved out of the freezer and matured into the toddler stage, and yet it is still too delicate to discuss outside the studio.
And, speaking of limitations – in this case the limitations of media – I am still beading paper. This paper is black Stonehenge – a gorgeous printmaking paper which has a surface that is ideal for pastel and colored pencil (for this drawing I have used graphite and silver colored pencil). I reinforced the back of the paper with archival black linen tape (usually sold with the bookbinding materials) so the paper is tear-proof (hopefully) and I am currently beading away….here are some close up shots:
  
Yep, still drawing….
 The entire background is now pencilled...still more collaging, stitching and beading to go. Actually, this photo was taken a month ago - the background is now covered in pencil. I am currently beading/stitching the collage elements.
To keep this 4 x 6 foot drawing from being too overwhelming, I did a couple of little pieces over the past week to appease the Pre-Raphaelite, fairie, Arthur Rackham-loving side of my personality. Frankly, I needed a break from the big one; I have found that too much time on one piece can make it hard to make objective decisions. I started the drawings for these little ones a couple of months ago (mentally started them much earlier, as I spent most of the summer with one eye to the ground, gathering four-leaf clovers).
The first is The Luckiest Girl – encaustic, drawing, four-leaf clover on board:
 and here is a detail:
 and the second is as of yet untitled -encaustic, drawing, butterfly wings, pressed columbine:
 and here is a detail:
 detail of drawings, butterfly wings, columbine Now…back to beading, stitching, beading…
|
|
