I see your/you're back

 

"IC UR BACK" Male & Female

Charcoal on recycled card board - Framed with glass 770x1070mm

I had some requests for line drawings, "more abstract" they said. So here they are: a male and female - I have to admit, I struggle with the "abstract" part of the design and sketching of such a piece. I don't know if my mind is not twisted enough or am I struggling to connect to the inner child who can draw an innocent picture? I was wondering why such a great artists as Pablo Picasso would have a model sit for him if the portrait came out so abstract and almost disfigured?  Another thought - if I draw a triangle and call it "women sitting unappropriately" will it be called modern art, abstract art or contemporary? To me it will be utter rubbish, but then again, I am not world famous!

By the way - the photo is awful - seems us artists should stick to painting and not try to take photos! But the pieces look much better in real life - so best you visit us to see them for yourself. (Wink, wink, nudge nudge)

Have a fantastic week-end!

Genesis: The beginning of a journey

Update on exhibition: Frances Lozear 3 April 2010 @ Essensual Art Gallery

Frances has created her own Blog (Yay!) and this is an extract of her post:

"... Being an artist being a bit split in two between the contemporary world that challenges people and their way of thinking to the painting of the human figure and paintings being used for Tarot, spiritual cards and lastly for book illustrations the later obviously because it sells and people and interior decorators love to hang beautiful works in their homes. Beautiful being art that is "easy on the eye" 

I try and paint works that is emotionally moving, but also just what I am experiencing at that moment. I know if it touches me " the artist" that it will connect with the viewer. 

Art has its own language even though you can't hear it the same way as music, you can see and feel its energy reaching within awakening a reaction of “I connect to this” or “I don’t like this” but it still provokes a reaction. Most artists paint to sell, others starve consumed by the emotion and art is everything because it is the only thing that makes sense and the only companion that has carried them through hardships...

I’m using the next two months to solidly focus on completing my works for my next exhibition now in April of this year. Because Clarens in its own warped way it has taught me real love and real loss."

To read more, visit her Blog: http://lozear-genesis.blogspot.com/

Charcoal Sketch: "Love is but a fleeting moment"

While working on this sketch on Sunday, uhm, yes, Valentine's day - a gentleman enquired about purchasing it. He not only purchased this one, but wanted an accompanying male to go with it. So, there you have it - this lady is sold, and she will have someone to share the wall space with her!

I would like to have your comments on this piece - what do you think is going on with her emotionally, where is she and why is she half dressed - albeit only a hat and silky soft gloves?

I obviously have my own interpratation - hence the name "Love is but a fleeting moment" - but it will be really interesting to hear yours!

The question is why?

On Saturday past, the gallery had many visitors, and I sat smack bang on the floor busy with a charcoal sketch. This attracted a few people who either made some remarks, or simply just stared. (Whether they admired the sketch and drifted off to their "happy place", or found me sitting on the floor with the sketch between my legs rather amusing, who knows?),  someone asked me why I sketch nudes? At that moment I really did'nt have an intelligent, witty answer to give him, but since then I have seriously thought about it.. so here goes:

I tried to recall the times when I painted/sketched something different, i.e. roses.  I tried the roses thing because my dear mother just loves roses - so I painted her this rose for her birhtday . She loved it of course - which I am grateful for, but the painting process itself left me empty. So I think therin lies the question to the gentleman's question - why do I like to sketch nudes?

Roses, landscapes, still life, you name them - are emotionless objects. They fill your vision for a moment, you enjoy their colour display, or smell their scent, or even touch them. But none of these objects can stir my emotions. What emotion do you see in the  picture of the rose? Not very much I suppose! The rose has no soul, does not experience any emotional turmoil, it does not know love, sadness, hate or jealousy. It does not need to wear clothes to cover itself up, to hide behind anything. The nude on the other hand, has nothing to hind behind, his or her emotions and feelings are there to see in the lines of their bodies. Sketching the nude makes me face my own emotions, and because it's an emotional experience, can become a journey of self-discovery and sometimes a healing process.

So to answer the question then: Why do I like to sketch nudes? Because it is an emotional process, not in discovering the human body (That I did in Biology class), but discovering emotions that may have been hidden, undiscovered, thrown away or purposefully tucked away in a safe place, and once the sketch is complete, that particular emotion has been rediscovered, labelled, filed and stored in the correct place!

(Oh, plus I have been a bit of a closet rebel all my life - but that is an entirely different story!)

Happy Freaking Valentine's day ;-)

Personally, I don't much fancy valentine's day - but it seems it is good for business - so therefore I won't complain too much. However, I think it's a sad state of affair for people to only want to celebrate love or express their feelings for their better half, ONCE a year. True feelings of love and devotion should be expressed every day, in the small and simple things we do for each other. Love is not found in a Hallmark card, or the cheap stuffed toy with the huge label "made in China". Love is a choice, a choice you make every morning when you wake up, a decision to be good to the one you love.

That being said, it has been a hugely succesful day for the gallery. I sold 3 paintings of Carl Verster (Carl, if you read this - you know what this means right?), one of my own, and got a commission job for a huge charcoal sketch for a couple who clearly adores each other, and can find joy in the sensual lines of the body. I salute you for looking beyong the obvious and that what society demands of you in the name of "morality".

Whatever you do on valentine's day - remember life, love and everything else is a choice - so choose to love fully, laugh like you mean it and don't take life too seriously.

Blue Lady: Sold

 

Congratulations to the Blue Lady - she has been purchased and will be hanging in Ballito!