Finery

Finery   oil/canvas   18 x 18 x 1.5

Group gestures are among my favorite subjects to paint.  I love the multitudinous relationships and the spaces and counter spaces that provide visual rhythm and excitement!

This painting was conceived by an old family photo of 5 sisters (of 9) that was for years displayed on a shelf at the home of my husband's parents.....it had always caught my eye.

I am assuming that this particular photo was from a wedding photo and guessing that the bride was Aunt Bella, who is in the middle wearing white.  Hats were a fashion necessity.  

Destroying is part of my artistic process.  I have the feeling that, in wiping about passages, including faces, results in a bigger picture where the individual likenesses are less important than the overall feeling of the group.  I happen to love this work.  It was exciting to paint. In addition, it was worked on a square canvas, which I have always found to be difficult.

I will challenge myself to paint in a square format more often!

 

Establishing a Rhythm

Majorette   oil/canvas   24 x 8 x .5

When I was a young girl, a little girl, I was in awe of Jan, a teenage girl who lived across the street in our little neighborhood of post-war brick cape cod homes in Akron, Ohio.  Jan was a twirler, a majorette, who practiced in her yard....her baton catching the light as it spun around, sometimes high into the sky.  She caught it deftly and continued her routine.  On game days, she emerged from her home in total regalia.  My memory of her costume has faded, but those heavy white leather boots with giant tassels are embedded in my mind. 

My own experience with baton twirling was short-lived.  I guess I just didn't "have it".  It may have been limited coordination, or, perhaps, interest.

This work of a drum majorette was inspired by a vintage photo of my husband's aunt....probably taken in the late 40's. 

Figurative work is my favorite.  For me, it has evolved into a sublimation of the facial features along with the placement of several focal points, established by choice, to lead the eye around the entire figure and its posture.  The regimentation of the twirler is reflected in her posed stance.  Discipline.

And the....there are those boots.

Some time ago, another astute artist picked up on my method at a local critique.  He was quick to point out the use of the multiple focal points.  We seem to love and to need a focal area in the work....why not several?  They actually create their own rhythm.

Excess Baggage

Excess Baggage   Watercolor   25.5 x 16

is the result of our classroom challenge of "beauty in the marketplace", which is an offshoot of an earlier challenge of "beauty in the basement".  For me, design is everywhere.  Paintings do not need to be inspired by grand cathedrals or exotic foreign destinations to be interesting.  And, indeed, setting up an interesting still life incorporating design can be aggravating as well as time consuming.  Our goal here was to snap photos in any marketplace...and subsequently to  crop, eliminate, and simplify in order to create a wonderful composition.  Artists chose locations with remarkable variety....the deli counter, the produce market and, for me, the local antiques mall. 

My own work is the product of a fusion of two stacks of suitcases.  The glove was added upon the suggestion of one of the classroom artists and was painted from my very own globe. 

I enjoy painting stacks of things....perhaps an attempt to maintain an illusion of balance, as well as to implicate the precarious nature of things....of life itself. 

Most of the luggage was painted first with raw umber to indicate dark and light patterns.  Glazes of color were added later.  The use of this color, to me, not only implies leather, but also creates the feel of "all things vintage"  A license plate with my husband's initials had to be included.

And as for the title "Excess Baggage"....don't we all have some?  I am using this work to inspire me to travel more lightly, to maneuver my way with less stuff.

Enough Said.

The Crayola Girls

The Crayola Girls   oil on canvas   40 x 30 x 1.25

has been included in the second annual Akron Art Prize exhibition and competition.  I am thrilled to have my work included in this group of over 100 artists of amazing ability and variety.  The works are exhibited at several locations in Akron:

- Summit Artspace (140 E. Market Street) - this is where you will find The Crayola Girls

- Zeber Martell (43 Furnace Street)

- Akron Glass Works (106 N. Main Street)

- We Gallery (20 N. Hight Street)

There is a mixer at Summit Artspace this Friday, September 27 from 5:30-7:30 pm  where the housed exhibit can be seen.  Other galleries and exhibitions will be opening, including one at The Box featuring work by friend and colleague

 Ted Lawson.  There will be wine, light refreshments and good company.  Hope to see you there.

Of course, this is a vote-for-me kind of exhibition that seems to be today's rage.  I have a difficult time with all of this me-me-me stuff.  After all, each and every artist wishes to be the winner.  Honestly, I have the same wish.  But I am truly content to be among this very fine group.

"The Crayola Girls" was inspired by a vintage photograph of my Grandma Daisy, her mother and her sister.  The photographs at that time (early 20th century) were grim, grim, grim.  Dark clothing....no smiles...all about serious.  My goal in this work was to add a bit of impish joy to the feel...to break the surface a bit.  I am pleased with the result.