Art-itude III IV

My lockdown, I prefer stay-at-home, started around the end of February beginning of March. There were not many cases as yet but Israel had started closing its gates and many citizens coming back had to go into quarantine. As days melt into days it was hard to locate the exact time frame but found this article in Wikipedia.  You don't have to read it its more for my reference.

What I did remember was that I decided well before March 11 not to attend our tri-weekly meeting of Death Cafe in Tel Aviv.  Our last workshop was on the 10th of March. From 11th of March to today the 18th of May 69 days! WOW!  I did venture out to walk the dog, sometimes more than 100M allowed. Visited my artist friend Lea, sat outside with 2 M distance.  Did go out for shopping, pharmacy protecting myself with mask and gloves even before masks were mandatory. Made some from heavy-duty paper towels and placed a pad ( allways} for an extra filter. I did try ordering online and going for a pickup but that didn't work so well.  End of April Yael visited with the boys, We all sat safe distances but I did squeeze in some hugs. May 9th we had all family to celebrate Uri's 11th birthday. We all sat the requested 2M apart... didn't hug the older grand-kids because they had already met up with their friends. It was a happy day!

Yesterday had an eye appointment so ventured to the mall where the clinic has its offices. Some stores were open but not a very happy atmosphere.  Why this megillah (long story)? Well tomorrow our workshop re-opens so this will be my first real social meeting, wonder how many will attend.  We did keep in contact with Reuven through Zoom. I did create an album of work that we did over this 2 month + period! I added most of the images so my name in on them, by clicking the image, and  (i) you will get the artist's name. We all seemed to get out of our "boxes".

WIP

19.5" x 19.5"

Acrylics and other media

240gm Cartridge Paper

WIP

19.5" x 19.5"

Acrylics and other media

240gm Cartridge Paper

Art-itude II

Heat wave

Hard to concentrate

Want to slip in cool water

When will the pool open!

Poet, I am not, an artist maybe

WIP

19.75" x 13.75"

240 gm cartridge paper

Acrylics  Oil Pastels Graphite pencils charcoal

Art-itude II Used Ozo yellow light. There is a strong presence of muted yellow, large circle shapes, and a sort of pathway on the left. Not too happy with the circle on the bottom left section, keep seeing a face and that disturbs me. I like the flower-like presence at the top left and thought to echo that over the face.

Running out of my favorite brown heavy cardboard-like paper so I bought 3 sheets of 240gm cartridge paper. Most of our papers come in huge sheets called giliyon which is about 1000cm x 700 cm. 

Cut on in quarters.. 4 pieces  50 x 35 cm and the other 2 in 50 cm squares for this project. +  8 small sheets

20 x 25 cm.. Not bad for 6 shekels... $1.70

Art-itude

What's on my desk and easel. My bedside table is one great mess. pamphlets, Lily's medications, random writing tools, toilet paper (for tissues), tablet, remotes, clock, even my pot of cold wax medium. Everything and the kitchen sink.  Took a photo but ashamed to even post it. My desk is almost the same.... small table easel, wipes, real tissues palette, stapler, pens, earphones, mouse, you get the picture. On the small easel my latest work.

Joan gave us a new set of prompts she called Art-itude.  A way of maybe expressing what we all are going through. She first told us to write down words that describe our days, which of course I didn't do.... my ongoing battle for words that don't seem to come. Then a new list of prompts. In the end, she asks us to photograph our work and try to write about our work. Another word problem! But, today I decided to sit myself down and tackle this "word thing" obstacle.

I Will Follow My Dreams

Acrylics on cartridge paper 14" x 19.5" 

Some of the words Joan wrote helped me describe my work.... connection, expansiveness, pathways, strength, and new dreams.

The main yellow figure like shape is almost in the middle, dividing the work into two main sections, one lighter and one darker. The figure has a light echo in the lighter area and seems to be coming out of a circle with many circles of bubble-like shapes. These could be thoughts and feelings. She is rising to new heights strengthened by the black and white verticals. I feel there is a sense of survival to this figure that maybe a new strength! 

The composition has two main sections, dark and light, monochromatic, and with color. In the dark section is also divided into squarish sections opposite the lighter area that has a thin vertical rectangle and a rising subtle balloon shape  The balloon may symbolize rising hope!

A Syrian artist, Khaled Hussein, uses this symbol in his wonderful work describing the horrors his homeland is suffering.