Figures Paper Abstracts

Don't know if I stated this before but this season I will be working on a project or series for the first few months. I have chosen to continue my work with the figure, nude and clothed with backgrounds which may be in some cases be abstract or plain blocks of color. I really enjoyed the two courses that were given by Artist Pauline Agnew; Feeling the pose and From the Heart and feel I need more practice with the figures and want to make a body of work in this direction. So the figure will be my main focus.

Most of the poses that I use come from the Croquis Cafe site.

Passing the Time of Day

Oils on heavy gessoed paper

13.5 x 19.5 "

Charcoal Sketch

Ingres A Mash-Up

Our first class project! Aesthetics and beauty, on the border of kitsch.  To help us out Reuven gave us an article written by Kant on the subject. I brought two entries, first one of my figure painting done in the e-course Feel the Pose see post, and a mash-up of Ingre's Reclining Venus. This is the second mash-up that I have done and really enjoyed the process.

The critique on my painting was favorable but my mash-up did not "do it" in Reuven's words. Needed a twist. Put on my "thinking hat" sometimes referred to as my Dotty hat.

Today I brought in the result and this time hit the bull's eye!  The only suggestion was to push the golden bed back so the figure gets the attention! I used several techniques in the process. Manipulation in the style of D'Vinci of the figure and black background transfer, transfer of view of the room behind which didn't turn out so well so I painted over in metallic paint, plus collage pieces crayons, acrylic, metallic paints, in short, all but the kitchen sink.

Further inquiry about the painting I found that it is a copy of the same nude by Titian for the sculptor
Lorenzo Bartolini 

But what is the real story behind the scenes? Who is the woman in the background, and why is the child seemingly crying. The woman, perhaps a handmaid, seems to be consoling the child! The naked woman, although called Venus, is perhaps awaiting her first client?

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Reclining Venus

Mash-Up # 1

Mash-Up # 2

Mash-Up # 3

My first mash-up was done for an online course from Cousera in Art History from 

• California Institute of the Arts, 

  A History of Art for Artists, Animators, and Gamers

• 
  

The best course so far that I have taken. The assignment was to do a mash-up of the famous painting by Valazquez. Las Meninas! I just looked at my folder for the course and YAY I have ALL the videos. I can now retake the course.

Mash-Up Assignment

Photo Montage

Valezquez

Las Meninas

After much thought, I felt that Las Meninas reminded me of the pageants for young girls that exploit

their femininity and sexuality. At my weekly workshop I noticed two Barbie dolls that my friend

Riva was working on and photographed them to use on my assignment. It is a riff on some of the

themes, exploitation, reflections, looking in and being seen and in this case the "photographers"

process

More Transfer Experiments

I seem to be wandering all about. Did experiments in Gelli Plate transfers that didn't finish. Workshop figure studies to post and continue. This morning couldn' sleep so did some experiments in mono-printing on my Gelli plate. Hey there Carol, FOCUS!

OK, photographed the transfers so I can post. Seems every time I look and photograph there is something to tweak. Have to stop somewhere, they are really just experiments. Really was feeling the technique and if something worked it was just luck!

You can find the WIP here

Windows to my Soul

8 x 10 "

Heavy Textured Paper

Acrylics Collage Watercolor Neocolor I crayons 

Gel transfers references should be high contrasted. The first step with dark colors and second with lighter. These are fun to do, can be addictive. Lots of trial and error. I worked on the print with my wax crayons and decided to make use of the map as a frame.

"London isn't waiting for me

There too I'll be alone"

Chava Alberstein

9.5  x  13 "

Gelli print on a map of London

Crayons

Print off press

Magazine page with added crayons

Magazine page after placing on the plate