Scam Alert

I had an attempted scam sent my way this past week and want to notify you of what happened since the person has visited my sites and may get to your sites via mine. Apparently, this is am ongoing scam.

I received an email from mailto:jann.gill001@gmail.com. Note the odd english.

"Hi,
Hope this message finds you well. I saw these creatives works on your web site and i will like you to get back with more details if they are still available for purchase.
Diamond, Ringleader of the Spring Revolt and Not One Sparrow

I will appreciate an urgent reply.

Best Regards,
Janet"

Here is the lowdown from Art News Blog. You can see this email added to the list toward the bottom.

New Painting

I haven't settled on a complete title yet, but it will have the phase "seeds of doubt" located somewhere within it. Any ideas are most welcome.

Finally, my first real newsletter goes out tonight.....

Food as Art

After a rather depressing week wrestling with back issues, I did manage a few hours of painting Monday. Today I went for an eye exam and had my eyes dilated, so no painting today. I don't believe in accidents and I am considering, as I lay on an ice pack, what God is communicating to me with such an obstacle at such a busy time in my art life. This strange slowing down of everything.....Amazing how tied together body, mind and spirit are for me. If I struggle in one area, I do in all.

SO....my art today is my dinner. Marinated grilled veggies from the local farmer's market and wild caught salmon with teriyaki pan sauce. Buy local; support local farming, people.



..hope to catch up with all my art family's blogs soon....look forward to seeing what you each have been creating.

My Artomatic guest book has quickly become a prized possession. Here is a limerick from it for "Ovis Nectarus" from an anonymous observer:

"The one L lama is a priest,
the two L llama is a beast,
And I'll bet my silk pajama
You'll never see a three L lllama."

Oh and above that someone wrote:

"The butterflies are killing the llama!!!"

Artomatic Deinstallation

All went well at Artomatic last night. I probably did more than I should have, but it took less than an hour. The hardest part was removing the vinyl letters. It is good to have my "children" home and now the process of going through the guestbook begins.

Most of the comments were positive, a few beautiful poems, a criticism, which is well taken, and a few bizarre things (including the aforementioned poorly drawn male genitalia, which apparently, was inflicted upon other artists as well.) The pornographic sketch also came with this comment:

"Eliminate the infantile expressions of artistc resonance in your work!"..spelled like that, in all caps. Anyone care to translate?

OOHH! And a cool drawing:

Artomatic Closing

Tonight is deinstallation at Artomatic. I can't believe it is over! I don't know how helpful I can be to Craig who will probably have to do it all because of this neck and shoulder issue. I am going to make some calls about deep tissue massage tomorrow. At this point I am ready to try anything. Thanks to all for well wishes and great advice. Today has been challenging. I have a studio full of work calling to me. I can't even read because holding me arms in front of me aggravates, so lots of lying down staring at the ceiling........wasting time! Depending on how things are on Monday, I will be back at the easel.

Update

Today has been a bit difficult because I am still having trouble with my shoulders and neck. I am at a place now where I may need to take extended time away from painting, which I cannot afford to do.
I managed a few hours today, though, on three paintings, so, all is not lot yet.

On a humorous note, Bravo TV is having auditions for a new reality show staring "emerging and mid-carer artists" (whatever that means.) That should be a complete train wreck. This will solidify in the minds of Americans every myth and stereotype about artists that ever existed. We all know these reality shows choose personality extremes for this stuff......

Today's Painting on the easel

It has been at least nine since I have painted a self portrait. I have never done one in oil so, I must have been is a brave head space today. Really fun, really challenging. I have a lot of ideas about where to take this. I did the initial blocking in and some tightening today, but the paint needs to set a bit, so time to lay off.

On the Sidelines

Well, today I am in more discomfort than I was yesterday, SO, I have to take a few days off. Sitting here is frustrating so out to run a few errands and get a haircut today (starting to look like Billy Idol in the morning.) Even typing this my upper back is starting to burn.... Hope I will be back on board at least by Monday....

I have several paintings on the side, but they will have to wait, along with ideas in the wings......let me count...

What would your Portrait look like?

I am in one of those periods when my neck and upper back are giving me fits. It seems like I am stuck at the moment with ice and rest helping very little. Certainly painting and what I am doing at the moment are not contributing to healing. Very frustrating.

In the 2003 documentary "Living With Michael Jackson", which has been reaired lately, I recall seeing an intriguing painting. I know MJ loved and collected art, but he also had a number of portraits painted. I was unable to find the one in the film, but did find these two fascinating paintings. All I can say is what a complicated soul.

If you had endless cash, what would a your portrait look like? Who would paint it (living or dead, for fun), what style, what setting? Give me the details.

David Nordahl

Poem: "I am the thinker, the thinking, the thought, I am the seeker, the seeking, the sought, I am the dewdrop, the sunshine, the storm, I am the phenomenon, the field, the form, I am the desert, the ocean, the sky, I am the Primeval Self, in you and I."

Norman Oak, 1995

Artomatic Saturday

We finally had the opportunity to go to Artomatic as patrons on Saturday. Friends Chris and Kari Mercer, with Sophie and unnamed baby number two, joined us for lunch and a few hours to view the artwork. I think the only floor we haven't visited yet is the ninth.

A few stand outs are Joseph Hale and Michael Boone (hit the "paintings" links.) In particular Hale's artist statement resonates with me. He has only one large painting in his space that I keep returning to look at each time I am at AOM. Unfortunately, it isn't on his website.

On a light note, here is one artist's display with a spin on China's terra-cotta warriors:

Andrew Wyeth and Michael Jackson

I have read the biography "Andrew Wyeth, a Secret Life" (Richard Meryman) three times and have revisited passages since his death at 91 this past January. While keeping an eye on CNN and Fox coverage of Michael Jackson yesterday afternoon, I remembered that the two had met in 1985 and that Meryman recounts the story in his book.

Jackson sent word to Wyeth that he wanted to have his portrait painted. When Wyeth's entourage of dealers and agents heard of the possible portrait, they were thrilled at the idea of the millions that would be made from the painting and subsequent reproductions. Andrew refers to them "like mafia" who used him for money and didn't care about him at all. And, of course, they all wanted to be photographed with Jackson who apparently had an entourage of his own.

The two artists met at the Brandywine River Museum where they looked at Andrews paintings and talked.
Andy states," I found him a very sweet, sensitive person, very nice, very intelligent."
At some point a man from Jackson's entourage marched in the stated that Michael had ten more minutes and then they were leaving.
Andy goes on to say, "We had a real thing going between us and then these shits got into it. The poor guy was owned by these people. I felt sorry for him. God help any artist that gets caught up in that."
Though he felt a real connection to Michael, Andrew bowed out of the project saying, "Imagine me painting with those guards standing there."

So, we have no amazing portrait of Michael Jackson by Andrew Wyeth, two great artists who sadly now are both gone.

Today's Paintng: From a Dream

Back to the painting from a dream I had. I have had this one on the shelf for weeks. This is what painting and creativity are about as far as I am concerned. No set up, not photos...just wide open. There are an infinite number of little details I can add. Today, it was little veins in the nose/blowhole, a sort of plant tendrill/nerve from the eye.....

I Have Been Brashed

A veteran Artomatic artist asked me a few weeks ago if I had been "brashed" yet. I hadn't heard of this and knew nothing about what it might be. She explained to me that there is a poet who writes poems for the artists participating in Artomatic. It is a great honor to be Brashed. There is a fair amount of mystery surrounding her (or him?) and everyone is content to let it be so. When I went for my shift Saturday, there was my Brash poem. What an honor, indeed.

Today's Painting

oil on masonite, 5 x 7

I neglected to mark the back of the photo and therefore have no idea what manner of bird of prey this is.....any thoughts anybody? Hard to tell not being about to see the entire body. Resembles a Tawny hawk, but I am not convinced.

Have a great weekend, all. Thank to everyone for all your comments and encouragements this week. Saturday morning, I am off for my second volunteer shift at Artomatic.

Artist Theo Jansen

I am quite fascinated by dutch artist Theo Jansen. He builds kinetic sculptures that are not only the work of a keen engineer, but also an artist with extraordinary sensitivity to the beauty of form. Be sure to go to the "film" section to see the animals walk.
Here is a TED talk he did explaining his work.

Tammy Vitale Blog Interview

Fellow Artomatic artist Tammy Vitale is interviewing select artist from this year's show. You can read my interview here. It will be a quick read since I am, indeed, a woman of few words.

Tammy, who is a sculptress, has teamed up with Heather Bartlett to create "Body Politics", a collaborative work that addresses concepts of body image and thus opens a great dialogue about the issues surrounding how we see our physical selves.

Sculptor suicide

Sculptor Peter Farrow committed suicide yesterday in his gallery. I don't know much about the situation, but he was an accomplished artist living and working in Vermont. My elation about the days sale is quite tempered by this tragedy of yet another extinguished talent.

Delivery of "Pen"

This morning I delivered "Pen" to a collector. These wonderful people love art and are so excited about my work, I always end up visiting for awhile. They want to know every detail and take such a an interest in what I do. I feel so very grateful for people that feel so strongly about the work, like all my blog family, and the ones that can and must have a piece. Anni received her painting , "Guilty" this week as well and sent such a lovely and overwhelming response.

Over the last few years I have wondered about all the paintings I have created, and what their purpose is in the world. At times, as they piled up on walls, in closets and under beds, it seemed like they had no purpose at all. Once the work began to go more and more out into the world, I realized how important it is to my life for the paintings to "connect" with another person and what an opportunity I have to bless others in a such beautiful way.

"Pen's New Day Rising"

"Guilty"

Monday Push and Pull

Monday. I feel sort of a slowing down, a pacing, coming on as we have worked hard to prepare for Artomatic and now move into the third week of the show. There has been so much energy expended between AOM, thinking about and painting for upcoming fall shows, naturally I am in a funky mood today. I don't want to paint. Today. I feel a need to take a few steps back. And I don't normally paint everyday, but am ALWAYS thinking about it in many facets, and often have trouble "turning off" from mulling over my painting.
Realizing that I have seriously neglected my home, I was glad to get into that the cleaning/organizing nut head space this weekend (which even that I do in a creative way...there is no escape!)
After a last minute coffee with a struggling friend, I ran off to the thrift store (Monday is 30% off day!)
I guess I should go paint, huh?...Maybe I need to organize my drawers......paint drawers. Does that count?

He Bears Repeating....

I have posted about the brilliant Richard J. Bailey before and I am going to do it again. He illustrated and wrote a book called "The Needful Head" that has actually been made into a short film. Be amazed at this amazingness....(that is now a word!) We have become fast friends and saw him again last night at Meet the Artist Night at Artomatic where he showed me his sketchbook and a few pieces he is working on. OK, what is another word for "amazing?"...They are so creative and beautiful...I just don't have words. I do believe he has signed copes available if you are so inclined.