Open House Time

Recently I met with a woman who is a life coach.  She asked me what I wanted to see happen with my art by the end of this year.

One of my answers was to get my work out to the public.  I think that's a pretty common wish for artists.  I can't imagine wanting your creativity to stay inside - either yourself and/or your home or studio.

She just happened to be having a holiday Open House at her home and it's this coming Sat., 12/1.
I will be using her home as my gallery.  What a lovely offer and I am looking forward to not only having a good time but to hopefully selling my work.

Getting ready for any event where your work is to be shown is a lot more involved than many people might think (or maybe they do think and I'm just amazed).  I've been there before, but this time I need to add a few more things to the mix.

stickers from Moo-love these!

New note cards-6 of them.

stand alone mini canvi

bookmarks

paint and new artist pens - sometimes it's better to have everything out where I can see it

Prints ready for cutting and more on the way

Between taking photos of my paintings, ordering prints and folders to hold them, stickers, painting, making order forms and purchasing a thingamajig to take credit cards that I attach to my iPhone-I should be ready - oh, and I'm supposed to take that favorite holiday dish I always make (but there isn't one-what to do?!-)!

"AL DENTI'S DEN OF LINGUINI"

This is a series of three paintings about two 1920's flappers out on the town for an evening of pasta and drinks.  Each painting depicts a portion of their unfortunate relationship with this establishment.   From their arrival to their plight in the kitchen,  these swanky sisters (friends) find many things are "off" at "Al Denti's Den of Linguini".   Each story is written using slang from the 1920's.  

This is the first painting, "Oh, What a Joint".   Things seem a bit odd at "Al Denti's".

'OH, WHAT A JOINT!"

"Al Denti's Den of Linguini" is the best "juice joint".  All the "swanks" hangout here.  We're up for some Italian food and "skee".  Don't we look the "cat's whiskers"?  Our "fellas", Bill and Tab are on their way.  Lookin' around, some things don't look so good.  A frog on the ceiling, chairs with no legs, linguini everywhere"? What kind of a "dump" is this anyway?

1920's Slang

"juice joint" -a speakeasy

"swanks" - elegant people

"skee" - Scotch whisky

"cat's whiskers" - great

"fellas" - guys

"dump" - roadhouse"

  

(Words and phrases are gleaned from "Jazz Age Slang").

Information re: painting 

Painting is soon to be on my website.  Original and prints will be available for sale.

It may also be available as a blank note card with the story printed on the back.

Acrylic and artist pens on gallery wrapped canvas

(black sides)

24"h x 12w" 

STAY TUNED FOR #2 of "Al Denti's Den of Linguini".

"Lady Caroline"

Here is the sketch of Lady "C" as I call her.  She's another painting inspired by Louise Brooks.  Doing a face in 3/4 is difficult - there is a lot of erasing in this sketch.

I've always liked the headband and flowers or feathers sticking up from the back (not sure how that feels on your head though).  The flowers filled in around her along with the vase in the background.  But here's the rest of the story....

We were going to Vermont that summer - summer of 2011 - so I took her with me.  We stayed at a beautiful home - "WindyWoods" - built before Abraham Lincoln died and settled in the middle of an apple orchard.

Here is the view from our kitchen out to the back.  The structure reminds of a children's playhouse - it actually stores many books and a chair for reading.  The garden is to the left.  I would sit on the back porch of the main house and paint "Lady C".  It was hot and the paint became sticky..so did I.  I did paint the headband BUT it just didn't look right and, as with all my paintings, I was guided to a different place.

A painter's paradise

"Lady C" on canvas

Well, she sure changed from the sketch to the canvas.  Of course, her face changed!  I tried the headband but it just didn't fit.  Big bangs and more hair and a very large purple/black velvet looking coat collar and red coat were worked and re-worked.  From there, the flowers came and multiplied.  The vase filled out and before I knew it there were leaves.

She actually is one of my favorites (shhh don't tell the other ladies!)

Lady C on her Note Card

To read her story (written on the back of her blank note card),  please go to my website and click on "Portfolios" "note cards".

http://artistfascia.com

"Let It Rip!" Artist's Quote

The 1920's and 30's.  What is it about that time that fascinates me? You know, some say that we have lived in another time period?  I don't know if I share that opinion but I do know that I am drawn to that era.  As an artist, my "Ladies of a Certain Era" contain a few of these.

One of my favorite sayings is "Let it Rip".  Do you find yourself saying the same thing in certain situations...like... "Go for it"?  Something along those lines.

"Let it Rip" for me means breaking loose, free, defying convention, wild abandon, tell it like it is, bust a move. (There are some quotes in there for sure).

Flappers "Let it Rip"!  They painted their faces, chopped, shingled and waved their hair, cut off their skirts to show a rather long view of their legs, hung out, drank, smoked and danced and danced.  Now, I'm not saying I'm up for all of that being a non-smoker and non-drinker (well, maybe a glass of wine).  But I have cut my hair in the Bob, I have shown my legs (while performing on stage) and being a former dancer.....welllll.

It's the concept of geity and individualization that I like and the sleekness and sophisication.  How wonderful to be able to express all of these attributes.

Louise Brooks

"Da Da Da Da"

  "Louise Brooks" starred in the silent film, "Pandora's Box".  I think that we women are certainly Pandora's containing many faces, many styles and many emotions...certainly geity and a sense of playfulness resides within all of us.

Soooooooooooo,"Let It Rip"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And, hint, hint, soon to be available and pretty campy are three new canvases created in this spirit!


PS.....................

Oh, I forgot... I WAS Sadie the HatCheck Girl at the Art Deco Ball in the 1980's!-OH MY!

Charmaine-What's Your Story?

"Charmaine"

"Charmaine"- Tell us your story

1920's Girls at the Beach

She began from the picture above.  Looking for African American women of the 1920's, I found this photo.  The girl in the middle struck me as just the right "Lady" for my FIRST woman of color.

Paper Sketch - I planned on adding the umbrella with flowers on it

Here is the first rendering on canvas.  As with all my women, I begin with the face.  See how her features changed from the paper sketch? Also, the umbrella didn't work for me. Many layers of different shades of brown were laid down until they gelled into the appropriate color.  Her hair grew into a more contemporary style.

Once her face was pretty well established, I worked on the hair adding fly away pieces and light colors to achieve contrast.   The next challenge was what to put behind her.  Two arcs surrounded her head and flowers and large leaves were added. The light part of the big leaves is a green metallic.  You can see the beginning of one on the top right.  I also added a mustard background.

More flowers and vines, details to her coat and hat (some of which I copied from the photo), makeup, and more metallic to the mustard background plus veins of green.

She will soon be debuting on my website along with her very own note card.  I'll keep you posted and thanks for allowing me to introduce you to "Charmaine"! 

Daisy, How Did You Grow?

"Daisy"

"Daisy",  tell us your beginnings...

THE SKETCH-notice, "Daisy out and about"  Even in the beginning she was exploring.

Louise Brooks

Several of my "Ladies" are infuenced by the adorable Louise Brooks, pictured above.  She was a 1920's dancer and silent film star.  Read more about her at  http://pandorasbox.com/

I love British mystery books.  "Daisy" was influenced by the character Daisy from the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries written by Carola Dunn.http://caroladunn.weebly.com/daisy-dalrymple-mysteries.html.  The character has a friend named Sakira who gives her a scarf as a present.  Hence, my "Daisy" gets one to wrap up in.

It can be quite a jump from the sketch to the canvas.  "Daisy" took a good long jump from commanding the paper in the sketch to shrinking (poor girl) when she landed onto the canvas.  So, what would be around her?

Rolling hills, sky and clouds, farmhouse, road, and trees.   The flowers were the last to be painted.  I needed new colors at the bottom and ones that would POP!  I don't always know what colors will work, but thankfully with acrylic paint (which dries quickly), I can always make a correction.  I am happy with the selection and they fill in quite nicely giving more depth to the painting.

Here is the finished "Daisy" 

As I am sure you would like to know the story behind the woman,  please amble on over to my website.  Click on "Portfolios" "Note Cards" and you will find "Daisy" and her prose. http://artistfascia.com.  Her blank note card is lovely to send to a friend-know anyone who "Daisy" reminds you of? She's also available on the original canvas and in print (plug, plug).

Beginnings of "Miriam"

"Miriam"

Regal "Miriam" was created in the Fall of 2011.  She was my second in the series, "Ladies of a Certain Era".   Miriam is on a large canvas, 24" x 30" painted again in acrylics with definition given by artist pens.  As she is early in the collection, artist pens were used sparingly (I had not yet developed the outlining).

Here she is as the finished woman.

Miriam began as the sketch below.  Her face was sketched from a photo of Louise Brooks, a 1920's silent film star and dancer.  I designed her with vines and leaves because they are what I frequently draw if I doodle.  They also give her an Art Deco feeling.  I like to mix different time periods in order to achieve a desired look.  The use of nature was prevelant then.  I wanted to make the painting vibrant in color and somewhat subdued.  Although she is surrounded by movement in color and lines, she is introspective and quiet.

Notice the difference between the sketch and the final portrait.  The sketch has her eyes looking down and to the right while the canvas has them looking straight down.  What else do you see that's different?  There are no eyebrows on canvas Miriam.  Sketches are a springboard for the final painting.  They are a rehearsal.  Sometimes the rehearsal goes better than the performace and then there is the reverse.

In this instance, I am happy with both.  They have two distinctive looks and feelings, but faces never stay the same (haha).  

I'll be back with another portrait - the next chapter.  To read about Miriam as portrayed on the back of her note card, please visit http://www.artistfascia.com

Portrait Painting Beginnings and Polly

I hope you'll enjoy my new series about creating the women in my portfolio-their inspiration and birthing.  The ideas come from English mystery novels, nature, the Art Deco period, the 1920's and 30's, flappers, models, fashion, color and texture and, of course, my mind.  

Each of my "Ladies" becomes very personal to me.  After all, you can't spend hours and hours with someone and not get to know them.  The funny thing is that they tend to change (just like a woman, eh?).  

From the sketch to the canvas can be a tricky business.   I cannot re-create a face and you will see this when you compare the pencil drawing to the painted lady.  It amazes me how much one tiny line of the nostril, the eyes and the mouth can change the whole feeling.  I feel like a cross between a plastic surgeon and a makeup artist.  

The "Prose" written on the back of the blank note cards are usually written after a painting is created.  Some of them were written months afterwards and some developed as I was painting.  As unbelievable as it sounds, the women seem to talk to me.  This happens when their face is completed-and often, as said before, their demeanor and words may change.

"Polly"

Polly is the smallest "Lady" I have done.  She is 8" x 10"on gallery wrapped canvas.  Unlike most of the other paintings,  the design is continued on the sides.  It just felt right.  She is done in acrylic, as usual, with a bit more use of artist pens.  Artist pens are markers-fine point pens, most of them by Faber -Castell.  I wanted her to be very Art Deco and stylized with not too much detail so there is very little shading-especially on the hat and blue sphere.

Below is how Polly began.  I found a profile of a girl in a hat in a magazine.  I sketched her, cut her out
and traced her onto the canvas.  I substituted a vine and flowers for the pearls in the sketch.   I have a thing for tendrils and vines..I like the flow, density and delicacy.

I had a picture of a bird and thought he/she would be a good addition.   (As mentioned above, her nose changes from sketch to canvas).  Notice the sharper nose and a more horizontal nostril in the sketch.  She's not quite as upper crust as in the sketch.  The blue sphere is seen in many Art Deco drawings.  As in several of my paintings, she is not in an actual landscape.  She is very stylized as the period dictates.  

I can't remember why I gave her that name.  I usually get names from novels I read, but I'm not sure that's true in her case.   I do think it suits her, though.  No, not from "Polly wants a cracker."

Her "Prose" is on the back of her matching note card.  I have to admit, I love the last line.  

To view the last line and more, please go to "Portfolios", "notecards" on my website 
           http://artistfascia.com         

Please click to "follow" me to learn about the creation of my other portraits.

Olivia at the Lighthouse

Somehow the image of a lighthouse came to my mind.  Aha, another painting!  I looked on the computer for images and I came up with one that spoke to me.  I needed something old with written history.  Here is a photo:

The Old Lighthouse at Selkirk near Pulaski, NY.

This did the trick.  I love the ivy on the house, the boats - the whole scene.

Here's a picture from a wider angle.

The third photo I found was that of an old postcard.  Unfortunately, it has a "do not copy" on it, so I'll just have to tell you.  The photo is taken from the left side of the house.  There's a big sailboat with people on it.  Here's the part I like the best, it's from a woman named Olive written Tuesday A.M. to a friend named Verna asking her and Sarah to come down for a day.  She said, "Now do come down at once. "  Oh my, there is my story for the new painting!  I don't know the date of the card, but the writing is very old style as is the photo.

I have changed the name of my "Lady" to "Olivia."  I am using the photos above and a bit of my own inventions, adding the "Lady".  She is not finished yet, but she's on her way.

I have since worked with the sky, water,  hat, added more yellow to the greenery and worked on the beach.  We are going to Vermont for a week, so she will have to mind the house until we get back.