Two views of the same piece. This is probably my favorite from this last Semester, because it combines my desire to work figuratively, in a two and three dimensional way at the same time. I hope to make some more along these lines in my class this summer. I read about an artist that makes really big pieces by covering the leading edge with saran wrap and then adding more the next day...so the uncovered part dries enough to support more weight without sagging. Oh how I love clay! If you have the urge, please try it....I don't think any other medium is as satisfying and dare I say..grounding to work with.:)
It was a very rainy day. My street was unpassable with a regular car...but still people came! And so I had a nice turnout for my reception. Thanks to all who swam out, and don't worry if you didn't make it, my Capstone show in November is where I'll be needing you. This picture was taken at the end of the reception by photographer, Mr. Robert. My dear husband and child were troopers and stayed the whole time, which was a really long time, because I had the time wrong, and so we were an hour early, and stayed an hour longer- thanks wacky Mom! All in all a very pleasant experience.
I hope you had a great weekend!
Back to painting!
Lydia
I feel funny writing on this blog...it's been so long. I have been busy finishing up my classes this semester, which really took a lot focus and energy for me this time. I wanted to share this piece with you. I had to give a presentation in my Art history class that related to one of the artists that we have studied, as well as to our individual studies and careers. The artists that we have been learning about are Feminine artists who make art that challenges the patriarchal society that we live in, and is sometimes, well most times, not 'pretty'! I really responded to many of these artists, such as Marina Abromovitz, Ann Hamilton, Cindy Shermam,but style wise I felt that Kiki Smith could really work for me, so I chose her. So I stewed over how I would interpret her. In my ceramics class we were assigned the task of interpreting a 'famous' 2D work in clay. Well I think I overheard someone planning to do the 'Birth of Venus' , because I am not sure how I came up with it and another girl in ceramics made a shell that was inspired from same. I didn't go back and look at the painting.....its so famous, surely I know what it looks like in my mind..I just started making Venus and her shell...and .....what else? Well I thought she probably had admirers so as I was making one...her head just wouldn't work...and it became a fish head...SO Kiki Smith...ah Ha! My Venus was just refusing to be young and pretty, which worked to my advantage after all, because this is 'the Winter of Venus'....not so young and pretty anymore, and doesn't really care! her admirer that is part fish also has a fishy tail. Venus was plucked from the sea in Botticelli's painting by Zephyr and some other goddess, in my version...maybe they are going back. It definitely has something to do with beauty and aging...of that I am pretty sure.
Wow...Long post!
Thank you for sticking it out.
Lydia
I had time to paint two on Monday, this one was lots looser than the first...for me this is bordering on abstract. (smile).
Joan and I met at the Battleship marsh today instead of her studio, for a bit of Plein Air painting. I had never been to this pavilion, and it was so nice, sort of back and hidden in the trees, it has two stories with cool spiral staircases, and there are birds flitting and singing all around. Our friend Laura Worsham who is a wonderful photographer, stopped by to scope it out for future excursions. All around an entirely pleasant experience.
I taught painting classes last night and this morning and really had such a great time in both. Its funny how putting actions into words and then words into action is such a hit or miss process. It seems that we only hear things when we are ready to hear them, when it makes sense internally. I really get a lot of gratification from teaching, which both surprises and delights me. Helping students problem solve, and witnessing their 'ah ha' moments, and seeing the progress....its awesome! Really. And then this afternoon I had a nap from Finn and a choice: clean house/ exercise/ paint, I painted and listened to good music = nice day.
Doesn't good music just improve any activity?
Lydia
I like the way this one came out sort of looking like a painting that I imagine seeing in my parents kitchen ....in the 60's. My brother-in- law is a masterful wood worker, and he gave us this rough hewn wooden oblong bowl several years ago. I have been wanting to paint it, and these pears just seemed to pile up so fabulously in it that I could resist no longer! I hope the sun is shining where ever you are right now...it feels so good.
best to you.
Lydia
Joan E. Whitespunner- Dixon's tulips above...aren't they as fabulous as I promised? We are thinking about having a show together sometime soon. I love her work, and her.
These girls were so fun to paint, I loved this family's energy, and I smiled the whole way through. Many times I feel like I struggle to keep a looseness when painting a large painting with multiple people, from a photograph. I question whether or not I even want to paint portraits by commission sometimes, because most importantly I want to paint good paintings, and often with portraits that falls by the wayside, or at least my style does. With this one, I really had a vision of where I was going, and I pretty much got there, I stayed true to myself. I feel like it is a painting that happens to be a portrait as well, and that makes me happy. 
I used a picture of a friends daugther for my inspiration...I just thought it was such a 'girl with a pearl earring' pose! I just had to paint it...it doesn't look like her, but thats okay. I think that before you marry someone you should draw a picture of them...it forces you to slow down and really see people...and almost everyone on close inspection is quite beautiful. Details that distingquish one human from another, are really not that great, but its those tiny details that we fall in love with in each other (well aside from the internal which is what we really fall in love with).
lydia
Joan and I painted this still life last week. She discovered that the symbols on the pot mean 'Double Luck' what could be better? Well, I guess triple luck, but anyway we had a geat time painting, and I will show you a picture of her painting as well, because it is beautiful! I love seeing the different results that each person's perspective brings to things. It is part of what makes figure drawing group so much fun, seeing all the various response to the same scene.
I have these sunflowers on my counter from a class the other night...its sunny today...I had to paint them! Hope you have some sunshine where ever you are today.
Lydia
I'm always trying to get roses right...and for me this is my closest attempt. They are one of those flowers that seem like they'd be so easy to capture, and yet elude me time after time. I think what I really want to capture when I paint roses, is how they make me feel...because they do have a romantic beauty that makes the them sort of special to receive...like if someone gives you roses...they love you, period. Kind of a giddy ideal that when pinned down, becomes not so interesting/painted loosely they can keep what they lose with a lot of detail.
Happy St. Patrick's day to you!
Lydia
Painting a day has taken a hit...But I will be back in action soon.
