ORIENTAL PAINTING

Lately I am pulled toward Oriental-looking subjects.

While walking through our local Joann’s fabric store, I saw some material that made me think about Nick Simmons, since the material contained geisha faces and some oriental symbols. That got me to thinking about creating a painting utilizing the faces from the fabric and incorporating some of Nick’s trademark techniques.

This seemed a simple enough undertaking, so I began a plan for a ½ sheet painting, nothing elaborate.

But, as soon as I got home and began looking at the geisha faces, ideas began pouring into my brain. As I began incorporating more information into the painting, I realized this could actually turn into a cool painting, but would definitely need to be larger - so after I had incorporated all of my ideas (or so I thought!) I took it to Staples and had it enlarged to fit a full sheet of w/c paper. Then I lived with the ideas for a few days but came up with more ideas, which necessitated several changes to the drawing. Again, I lived with it a few days.

Finally, I traced the drawing again onto some Cheap Joe’s tracing paper, had another copy made and then, finally, I began painting with fluid acrylics.

I’ll go through all of the process in the next several posts.

The idea taken from the fabric faces led to an online search for kanji symbols which led to an online search for geisha makeup and Japanese kimonos and fans. The fabric patterns in the kimonos were derived from silk fabric which I already had. The background design is from a book of oriental designs which I have had for a long time. The idea for the border came from a Judy Morris painting I saw last year in the traveling AWS show.

AMERICAN WATERCOLOR SOCIETY SHOW AT MIDDLETOWN ARTS CENTER

Last Thursday was an absolutely sweltering hot day – how better to spend it than viewing art, eating lunch and laughing with friends!
Some of you have probably already read Rhonda’s blog post about our trip to Middletown Arts Center to view the American Watercolor Society show. We are so fortunate to have the MAC close by – it’s a little over an hour drive for me, but well worth it. It’s always so wonderful to see the paintings you have seen in magazines in a little bitty 2x4 format in front of you – in person, full size and in living color!
The following are my comments about the paintings (if I was able to locate a website I attached the link) and some photos. (The photos are not great – got lots of reflections no matter how I stood and pointed the camera – but I’m OK with that. You will be able to see the painting I’m taking about, and I’m not overly concerned with any copyright issues, since I can’t believe anyone would try to pull these off my blog and copy them! If you want to see these works in a “better light” – go to either the organization’s or the artist’s website).

We decided there were still quite a lot of “gray” paintings. While I love John Salminen’s work, his signature style is shades of gray with some small “pops” of color. Although, in looking at his painting which won the top TWSA award – it looks like that one is showing some change of style (it made me think of Jean Grastorf). It has much more sparkle and lightness to it. I guess we all tend to change our styles somewhat over time.
Anyway – there were still lots of “gray” paintings. I guess I’m just more into color because, while some of those were lovely – especially Dean Mitchell’s (he is an amazing painter, telling a story with a simple composition and limited palette) – it’s the vibrantly colored paintings that pull me in.

So here we go with my critique!
First is the John Salminen “gray” painting! It does have sparks of light with the lanterns and definitely gives the feel of “Morning Fog”.

This one is by George Harkin who I am not familiar with. It looks like the Nick Simmons “cell” paintings and is unbelievably involved – how I wish I could do that!

This is the one that Rhonda had mentioned in her blog. It is done by Susan Montague, who won the bronze award here and who also won an award at TWSA with another figure painting. Her style looks like it is definitely influenced by Ted Nuttall. The painting is created from dots and swirls and blobs of color – and comes together as a portrait!

This is Mark Mehaffey’s entry. He is creating these abstractions as well as figurative work in watercolor and is also painting in acrylics. He’s certainly a versatile painter and some of my friends who have taken his workshop speak very highly of him.

Jean Grastorf’s entry. I took a workshop from Jean a long time ago and she has developed her unique pouring style into a true art form! This is amazing up close, the way the colors blend into each other and the incredible light pouring onto the figure.

This is by Preecha Promprabtuk (sorry, am not familiar with his work until now – but I’ll be watching for more!)
This was hung at the back of the exhibition hall and was the first thing you saw as you walked in – how could you not see it – the colors are soooooo vibrant. It’s a circuit board and most of those little bitty images at the top have little tiny numbers and letters on them – some had been miskited (maybe he uses a toothpick like I do???) This was my second favorite!

This is by Steve Rogers – who still has his sparkly white technique. I always enjoy his paintings – they look “dotty” up close but come together at a distance – I think that’s called “optical or visual blending” (correct me if I’m wrong!). His wife, Janet Rogers (same link as above), also had a painting in the show – a figure, her specialty. I have also taken a workshop from Janet, and she is a lovely woman, both inside and out! (But I still can’t paint people!!!)

And last but not least, here’s my favorite by Judy Morris. It’s done in shades of red. It has a border with words. Then there are patterns inside that on the curtains. Then her standard salt technique – which, with her, never appears “technique – y”! I love that the center of interest is – in the center! - the person in the blue shirt. You get such an impression of warmth and sunlight and glow through the curtains – especially due to that RED SKY – who would ever think to do that! The intricacy of the patterns – my kinda painting – double WOW!

If this show comes anywhere close to you, go see it (that’s an order!) Otherwise, go to the website and take a look at the paintings in a much better light! The website will have a list of the rest of the places to which the show will travel, so check that out, too.

Anyway - following the viewing, we had lunch at Olive Garden and then home – where I actually had time to paint a little that evening!

All in all, a pretty nice day!