Another interior...

"The Sitting Room" - 16x16"

I completed my latest project today, "The Sitting Room", which I've been working on for the past few weeks. I abandoned my usual bright palette for much more muted tones, which seemed fitting for the cold winter's afternoon the photograph for this painting was taken on.

Interiors really appeal to me, in particular light and shadow. With this scene, I especially loved the way the light fell in the room and reflected back into the space, softly illuminating the walls and other objects. To create the illusion of space on a flat surface is an exciting challenge.

ALRI Associate Members Show

"End of Winter Sale" 2009 - 16x24"

It's showtime again. This time I entered a painting into the Art League of Rhode Island exhibit "End of Winter" at Spring Bull Gallery in Newport, which opened tonight. I named my painting "End of Winter Sale". Not very original, I know, but I was trying to be clever.

I've also just completed two other paintings for the Portsmouth Arts Guild Annual Members All-Media Exhibition which starts March 12. I went for a floral theme, inspired by some beautiful pale pink tulips I'd been given in February for my birthday. My style was much more representational with these pieces, only because I wanted to render the beauty of the flowers more accurately.

I have one more month to paint and prepare for the upcoming shows before I'm away on holiday for 3 weeks. I'm going to New Zealand in April to visit family and friends. I only get back home every 2 years or so, so I'm really looking forward to the trip, and hoping for a lot of photo ops so I can paint up a storm when I get back.

"Ballerina" and "Tulips" 2009 - 11x14"

It's nice to be recognized...

I found out today that my painting "Before the Rush", which was accepted into the Newport Art Museum 2009 Annual Juried Exhibition just over a week ago, received an Honorable Mention! I was thrilled to be accepted into the show, but to also get an award was fantastic! I'm just sad I missed out on the award ceremony.

I have to keep up the good work, though, and there are a lot of open exhibitions at this time of year. Right now I'm working on a painting for the Art League of Rhode Island show in March, then once I'm finished with that I have to start on some florals. Not only that, but I'm also renting space at the Portsmouth Arts Guild for 8 months, starting in April, so I need to get cracking on some new pieces!

The busy year ahead...

I entered my painting "Before the Rush" into the Newport Art Museum's Annual Member Show last week, and discovered today that it was accepted. I'm so pleased! There's always an amount of uncertainty and self-doubt when you enter a painting into any juried show, so when you're successful it's like a reaffirmation of your work and an indication that you're doing something right. It's a nice feeling.

I've actually got a busy exhibition calendar for the next few months. I just hope I can produce enough pieces to enter them all. It's good to keep busy and have something to aim for.

"Before the Rush", 6x12"

Fakes and Forgeries

"The Dream" (Original by Pablo Picasso), 18x24"

I finished my Picasso forgery this week. I learnt a few interesting facts about "The Dream", or "Le Reve" as it's also known, while painting it. Firstly, as I think I mentioned in a previous blog, the lady in the painting is Marie-Therese Walter, one of Picasso's lovers whom he had a child with. On researching Ms Walter, I discovered she was only 17 years old when they met, and though their relationship didn't last, Picasso supported her financially for the rest of her life.

Most curiously, I discovered that Picasso liked to include the image of a penis in some of his paintings. I didn't notice it at first, but it seems pretty obvious now. Just take a look at the top half of Ms Walter's face. Yes, there's a penis! In this case, I read that the penis represents Ms Walter's sexual dream.

I also found out that the original painting is currently owned by Steve Wynn, a wealthy art collector who was on the verge of selling "The Dream" when he accidentally damaged it. While showing it to some friends, he lost his balance and put his elbow through the canvas, tearing a small hole the size of a silver dollar. An expensive accident! He decided to keep the painting after that.

I still like this painting a lot. Despite having a penis on her head, I think Marie-Therese is beautiful in her own way. I'm putting it in the Fakes & Forgeries show at Spring Bull in February.

Painting of a different kind...

I've been very slack this week where my art is concerned. I haven't worked on my paintings at all. Pablo's "The Dream" is still awaiting final touches, and my next painting idea is on hiatus until I can I can take pictures and do some sketches. That's not to say I haven't actually "painted", but instead of sitting down at the easel I stripped out my bedroom and started cutting in on the walls.

I haven't done any home decorating for some time. There's something revitalising about changing your environment, and most definitely about improving it. I've been looking at puke green bedroom walls for so long I thought it was time to change them to something lighter and brighter. Boy, what an undertaking it was though. I'd forgotten about all the preparation involved - moving furniture, cleaning, and just the general upheaval of not having things where they're supposed to be. Then there's the disagreements, the heady paint fumes, and the tired, achy arms. A project I thought would only take a day ended up taking four, and for three nights I had to sleep on the couch. I hate a messy house.

The bonus of course is that now I have a nicely painted bedroom and I'm no longer cringing at the sight of it. Even better, I'm going to Ikea this weekend, that great Scandinavian home store, and buying new table lamps and a mirror (plus a few other odds and ends I'm not telling my husband about). That's something to look forward to.

So, although I haven't exactly been expressing my creativity this week, I've been busy. I don't think I did a bad job either. All the same, I think I'll stick to painting pictures. Next time we're hiring a professional.

Dreaming...

(left) "The Dream", 18x24" (original by Pablo Picasso)
(right) The original "The Dream" by Pablo Picasso

I've almost finished my forgery of Picasso's "The Dream". I apologise for the poor quality of the photo. I manage to paint by this light, but it doesn't photograph well.

This picture was really enjoyable to paint. I love the curves and the sumptuous colours, and although she's a little misshapen, I think the figure is quite beautiful. I read in one of my art history books that this was Maria-Therese, one of Picasso's lovers.

I'm putting my version of "The Dream" into the Fakes and Forgeries show at Spring Bull Gallery in Newport in February.