Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Some new work

Both Karen and I have been very busy lately, painting and more painting.  Karen has really been doing great work; it's very exciting, not just the work but the number of good pieces she's been able to produce.  Those times of inspiration are gifts.

I've been productive too if not quite on Karen's level.  I did a different version of the park scene that I posted earlier.  A slightly different perspective, different palate, etc.  This one goes to a silent auction at a Haiti benefit this weekend.
Fall Park, acrylics on canvas, 18 x 24

The second is based on an accidentally discovered random method of inspiration.  See for example this nude.  Basically I use gesso and dribble in ink as I loosely and randomly paint the gesso onto the substrate.  Once it's dried I look for clues for an underlying inspiration.  So below I found this Prince of a man.  He was drawn with the same Sumi ink as was dribbled into the gesso.

Prince, gesso and Sumi ink on board, 18 x 13

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

On a more positive note: Google Art Project

Enough about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.  Google, with all their money, could have probably bought the museums but instead they have put together what appears to be a wonderful way to go inside 17 of the world's greatest without leaving the comfort of your home.  I'll admit that it's a little maddening learning how to move around within the museums but the Goggle Art Project has great potential.  Here's what they say on their blog:
You’ll find a selection of super high-resolution images of famous works of art as well as more than a thousand other images, by more than 400 artists—all in one place. And with Street View technology, you can take a virtual tour inside 17 of the world’s most acclaimed art museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA in New York, The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Tate Britain & The National Gallery in London, Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Have you ever wanted to get really close to a painting to see the texture or try to understand the brush strokes only to have the docent shoo you away?  Here's your chance.  A close up of Van Gogh's Starry Night at the MOMA.  Wow.



Thanks Google!