Monday, December 22, 2008
After years of absence, I designed a Christmas Card - or more accurately, a Season's Greeting Card for both Patricia and I to send to our friends. Once I got into it, it was fun to do. It looks like this, so to everybody:
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! !!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
I dropped in at Dirty Frank's last evening to see what they'd chosen for their art exhibition of works for sale at less than $100. I didn't find it exciting, but it certainly wasn't bad, either. Mostly digitally modified photographs, with copies of the works available for sale. I don't have an argument with modified photography, but it certainly isn't my Thing and I can't help feeling that it lacks the same degree of artistic engagement as painting - or sculpture or ceramics or .....
Oh well.
At any rate, I have really enjoyed my study of portraiture this semester, under Ted Xaras at the Phila Academy of Fine Arts. The results are coming with greater assurance, and I learn more with every project. Starting in January I'm going to take three courses: Methods of the Masters (again with Ted Xaras), Life Painting and Drawing with Doug Martenson (He was my first instructor, and he is great) will both be at PAFA. Then, I'm going to be taking a figure painting course from Givani Casadei at Fleisher Memorial. By then it will be summer and I think I will be more than ready to change subject matter to landscapes - or just about anything except portraits.
The portrait that excites me most is still in progress, so I can't post that one yet. It is 30" by 40", which is pretty scary. I'd never done anything larger than 11" x 14" before Xaras' course, but the basic size in his class has been 20" x 24" so that feels about right by now. The three portraits below are at that size. Maybe I can find an exhibition where I could show them.
Oh well.
At any rate, I have really enjoyed my study of portraiture this semester, under Ted Xaras at the Phila Academy of Fine Arts. The results are coming with greater assurance, and I learn more with every project. Starting in January I'm going to take three courses: Methods of the Masters (again with Ted Xaras), Life Painting and Drawing with Doug Martenson (He was my first instructor, and he is great) will both be at PAFA. Then, I'm going to be taking a figure painting course from Givani Casadei at Fleisher Memorial. By then it will be summer and I think I will be more than ready to change subject matter to landscapes - or just about anything except portraits.The portrait that excites me most is still in progress, so I can't post that one yet. It is 30" by 40", which is pretty scary. I'd never done anything larger than 11" x 14" before Xaras' course, but the basic size in his class has been 20" x 24" so that feels about right by now. The three portraits below are at that size. Maybe I can find an exhibition where I could show them.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Maybe Dirty Frank's jurors didn't like my artistry, but I do have some consolation, now. Patricia and I were at Andrea Clearfield's Music Salon last night. AC has these fantastic informal music programs in her home/studio every month. It is always an eclectic program, everything from jazz to opera to experimental stuff. During the program I did a sketch of Aleandra Day while she sang and played the piano. Later traded the sketch to her for her CD "No Castles No Moats." It's good, I've been enjoying it.
So, TAKE THAT Dirty Frank!
