post show.

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

Last Class. Lydia Host daily painting.

Today was the last class for my beginning Oil painting class, and we met at the Battleship Pavillion, so that they could have a little Plein Aire' experience...it was great! (extremely windy...but great). Above are some shots of this great group, with their first ever lanscape from life! Joan E. Whitespunner-Dixon also joined us, which was inspiring and fun for everyone. I have had such a wonderful time teaching this class, and it is totally because of the fabulous people that I have gotten to know. It is good to paint with a group, it gives some perspective on your own work, and when it's a good mix of people, as this group is, everyone sort of bounces off of each other in the best of ways. Thanks 301 !

Lydia

Lou Blue. Lydia Host daily painting

Yesterday I painted a flower in a jar and had to wipe it down and start over three times. I painted this one on a skinny board that has the hanger already embedded in the back, I really like the skinny format for the flower in a jar paintings, maybe because it forces me to fill up the space. I wrote a big paper last week on Camille Claudel, who was a female sculptor that worked with Rodin, and was quite fantastic. She was a pioneer for women in the arts just by pursuing her craft at a time when women were not even allowed to attend art school. I read one of her biographies titled ' A Life' by Odile Ayral-Clause, it is a very moving story and an interesting read, if you are looking for some summer reading! Google her name under images and check out her beautiful work. Lydia

show

Here is an edited version of the Mission statement of the Church where my art is displayed this month; The Artists Space at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer serves as an arts ministry to the congregation and to the community. The arts for both Artist and viewer are connected with spirituality and the religious in three ways. First their power in connecting and creating meaning takes people out of the ordinary into a sacred time and space where they can experience the world and themselves differently. Next, the power and beauty of art can open doors to the joys and wonders created by God. Thirdly, creating and viewing art induces the same brain wave patterns as prayer, and thus can be a seen as a wordless form of prayer. Our intent is to provide works of a pleasing aesthetic and beauty where the congregation gathers, in an effort to reach out to the community.

Isn't that a nice way to look at art? The title of this post is a link to their website, where you can find directions and other details about this church. It is located on the corner of Cody and Hitt roads....turn on Cody off of Airport and go about a mile..on right is Hitt road. 2-4pm Sunday.

Thanks.

Lydia

Portrait com.

I am not finished with this little guy yet...but I really like him so far! Can I maintain the looseness and yet still refine? Tomorrow will tell. There is a local Episcopal Church that has an art gallery; they enjoy having local artists display work and I was asked last minute for May, and because I like their philosophy, and I have enough work, I said yes. They are throwing a little reception for me this coming Sunday (16th) with wine and cheese, from 2-4pm. I hope if you live near by you will come! More details to come this week. Lydia

whew!

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

Battleship Marsh 2. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

I had time to paint two on Monday, this one was lots looser than the first...for me this is bordering on abstract. (smile).

Battleship Marsh. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6xx6

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.

Lydia

Purple Iris. Lydia Host daily painting a day 4x12

Well I am on a flowers in jars jag again...its really such a fun subject that I find new and exciting each time. Hope you have a great weekend. Best. Lydia

Yellow Iris. Lydia Host daily painting a day 4x12

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

60's style pears. Lydia Host daily painting a day 11x14

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

two minute gesture in oil. Lydia Host daily

Today I took one of my two minute gesture drawings and decided to paint it in oil. I am not sure how happy I am with it, but it was a fun excercise! Man, it is so beautiful in my city this week, everything is blooming and bright springy green, I really want to get out and paint, although some of it is almost too pretty if that makes sense...like how a vibrant orange sunset is soul stirring, but a tacky painting! Best, Lydia

After Homer. Lydia Host daily 8x10

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.

Today I painted a 'copy' of Winslow Homers Girl with elephant 1877. I changed the color of the dress and a few other things, Homer's masterful work is in watercolor and this is oil paint, I just love his work and it was really fun and a learning experience for me to bounce off of this piece.

Spring has sprung...and isn't it grand?

best,

Lydia

Good girlie Karma. Lydia Host painting

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.

Happy Easter to you! Lydia

Girl with the golden hoop. Lydia Host daily 8x10

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

Fringee. Lydia Host daily painting 10x10

Tulips. What a lovely subject to paint. I noticed someone in my neighborhood has put some tulips in a big pot, and they sort of elegantly drape to either side....looking all languid and haughty. Tulips.

Double Luck. Lydia Host daily painting 12x24

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 am SO hoping you get some double luck!

Lydia

sunshiney. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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

loosey goosey. Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

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

Bowl of lemons. daily painting

I finished a large painting today and so as a reward, I painted this delightful bowl of lemons. I just painted, and listened to great music = pure pleasure! Happy weekend to you. Lydia

Figure drawing saves the day.

Painting a day has taken a hit...But I will be back in action soon.

The above tiles are what I was working on in figure drawing this week, I am working in low relief, on terracotta. I am still determining the finishing process, to glaze or not to glaze?

If you have never tried working with clay... try it! It is the most fun you may ever have.

Best,

Lydia

simple rituals . Lydia Host daily painting a day 6x6

This morning in class, I was telling my students that a painting of three pears just can't be bad....silver bullet of subjects!

Of course there are some caveats, like they have to fill the space, touching three sides, etc. It started me thinking about the subjects that have a high success/satisfaction rate, here is my list; pears, cups, glass with single flower, figures....pretty short list!

Its a work in progress.

These subjects are grounding in the sense that they provide interesting shadows and negative space automatically, leaving the artist to play with color and value.

Two cents.

Lydia

study. Lydia Host daily painting

I painted the lovely 'Louis' with some other Artists this morning. It was fun to arrange her and create the scenario. I painted like mad to get something, and then had to partially wipe down, because of silly mistakes. I think I will slow down a bit next time and see if that helps. I can't wait to do it again. I have had some trouble lately keeping my daily paintings going, I am painting every day, its just that I have been trying to finish a couple of big paintings, and my school schedule is pretty demanding, time, time, time is fleeting. I am reading 'The Agony and the Ecstasy' by Irving Stone, about Michelangelo, and it has made me realise that to be creative, a person has to have lots of time to practice their craft. Michelangelo worked sixteen hours a day for four years on the Sistine chapel ceiling. Best,

heads up. lydia host daily

At a party this weekend, someone asked me if I were working in clay again....which I am, sort of. Well anyway her point was that she wanted one of these heads for her sisters birthday. So I asked if she wanted male or female...female, so they came out male for some contrary reason. I will try again tomorrow! I used to make these and sell them with a group of women clay/potters called "The Dirty Girls". It was a fun group spearheaded by Vikki Finch and Bertice Mcpherson. Vikki is currently using her super powers to inspire lucky students at a local private school. Bertice is also teaching at a local university and from her studio, and also making her art, click on her name and check out her site, she is amazing, and a great person to boot. About ten years ago the three of us went to Mississippi for a pyro-mania festival, and they had exhibits were we got to make glass beads, and a molded smelted metal piece, I remember being so totally impressed with what both of these gals came up with on the fly artistically speaking. True artist'e.

Courage. lydia host daily painting a day

Sometimes I have to indulge myself and paint a face that appeals to me. This is Cynthia again, the cool River guide. It photographed weird, but still looks kind of interesting so I'm leaving it for now. Yesterday I had a 'theme day', this happens occasionally and I love it when I actually notice. Last week I went to a gallery opening at Springhill College for Clayton Colvin, who is a really interesting and good artist (show is still there-worth a trip), in his talk he mentioned that sometimes he feels as though a painting really gets resolved when he is able to paint out something that though he likes, doesn't really enhance the piece. I was relating this idea to my painting class yesterday, and my friend and currently my student, Laura said; " oh, that happens in writing too, its called 'killing your darling", like when you love a sentence, but it does nothing for the story!" "Killing your darling". This idea came up again later in my ceramics class that I am taking... in clay you really have to be able to kill your darlings, because many times they kill themselves by blowing up in the kiln or glaze mishaps. I am sure that this idea is universally applicable, if you can think of any examples, let me know...just curious....really curious. Happy weekend to you. Lydia