Not By Words

03 Saturday May 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

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MOMA, Not By Words, Rauschenberg, rebus, The Museum of Modern Art

You may (or may not) have noticed I have not been posting to this blog site as frequently in the past several months as I have in the past. That’s because my painting studio has held me a delighted prisoner. I have been immersed in my “Cities” series of paintings, and in particular I have been working from wonderful reference I gained this past snowy winter to NYC.

One of my favorite museums is MOMA, The Museum of Modern Art, in New York. I find constant inspiration there from the art, but also, now that I have come to work on this gallery series of museum scenes, I can spend hours watching the art lovers move through the space and react to the art.

I go back to the galleries again and again during a single visit, waiting for the right configuration of characters, with interesting poses creating interesting shapes. This woman in front of Robert Rauschenberg’s “Rebus” was fascinating to me, especially with the long black bench in the foreground catching the reflection of light and colors from the painting, as well as her shadow.

For this particular piece I wanted a lot of contrast so that the figures would appear like chess pieces moving in the space. In my black & white check for tone, I can see these figures’ relationships even more clearly.

The title of Rauschenberg’s art “Rebus” is where I got my title for this painting “Not By Words”. A rebus is a picture puzzle, where the names of pictured objects have a literal meaning in a sentence…like “(Picture of an eye) I (picture of a heart) love NY”.

Rauschenberg wanted his collage to be a true picture of the reality of his immediate environment. And isn’t that what many artists want to accomplish, including me? By anchoring the main figure in front of the painting, and having the three other gallery visitors move around her, it focuses even more on her intense contemplation of the painting in the moment.

When I look for these scenarios in art museums, I often wonder what the security guards posted in the galleries think. I come back again and again to the same spot and wait until the other visitors create a scene that attracts my interest. If I don’t find it at that moment, I’ll move to another gallery and come back later. It is not until I get my digital camera back to the studio that I truly know if I have gotten it or not. The variety of possibilities is endless.

Cows in the moonlight

04 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by pat in Travel, Uncategorized

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Cotswolds, cows, Hare & Hounds

As we relaxed in our room at the Hare & Hounds (see last week’s post for all the details on this spectacular British country inn) in the Cotswolds last summer it was wonderful to watch the scene change through our window. We looked out of the front of hotel over a small field where cows moved back and forth. As the day disappeared, the moon came up, and it finally got dark as the cows disappeared…and a lone owl could be heard in the night.

Hare and Hounds

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in England, Travel, Uncategorized

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Cotswolds, Hare & Hounds, Tetbury

When we come to the Cotswolds, we often stay in Broadway at The Broadway Hotel. This past year we stayed near Tetbury, and found a sister hotel of The Broadway — The Hare and Hounds. We’ve always been pleased with this small chain, and the H&H didn’t disappoint.

It’s quite large, and has an adjoining wing that housed our room, and the Jack Hare pub.

These Cotswold properties have a reputation for taking classic historic properties with character and doing the interiors with a contemporary flair based on a local theme…

…here, obviously, hares and hounds.

The pub and bar and the more formal dining room were delightfully filled with the creatures. Plus we had one of the best breakfasts of the trip for me…salmon and scrambled eggs, lots of tea, toast and fruit)

One of my favorite things about these inns is the display of original art and prints throughout the hotel…from the restaurants to the hallways to the rooms and baths.

Even the older prints look modern in this setting.

A few of my absolute favorites in this inn were in our room…

The hares on the walls were wonderful and full of character.

Even in the bathroom there was a fanciful piece of art…

You have to love a place that loves art and color so much.

The perfect place to stay before our garden tour of Highgrove.

Tetbury, The Cotswolds

22 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in Shopping, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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Cotswolds, Tetbury

Last summer we decided to try a new area in the Cotswolds, and because we were gong to visit Highgrove Gardens, Prince Charles’ home, we decided to stay near Tetbury. It did not disappoint.

It was not quite as quaint and perfect as the village of Broadway, where we usually stay in the Cotswolds. But it had a real charm all its own.

The main streets were filled with all sorts of shops, and it is known for its antiques.

It was interesting. Very classic in style, and obviously an upscale market. The shops were varied and seemed to cater to a country set.

There were also flowers everywhere…

…for sale or just to make you feel good.

A beautiful town with lots of character and…

…full of surprises. I could walk from window to window and be impressed with the varied displays.

A perfect morning in town strolling and window shopping before retiring to our Country Inn.

Floating

13 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

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art studio, cut outs, Henri Matisse, oil painting, Paris, Polynesia, The Centre Pompidou

And finally, Floating. I have always loved Henry Matisse’s cut outs that the artist did in the last years of his life. When I saw these two Polynesia works at The Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the three figures sitting in front of them literally being drawn into the floating images…I was there.

Sometimes one the most difficult parts of a painting is deciding what to paint.

I often take many, many photographs and tape them to my studio wall, hoping that something will jump out at me.

This is after hours of playing with the images. Re-cropping. Adding or subtracting and re-adding figures. Deciding which color palette fits the mood of the scene. Shadows. Light and dark.

Then, finally, once it is sketched on the canvas, deciding on the ground color that will set the tone for future layers of paint.

And it is always at this middle stage of the painting that I wonder if it was really the right decision.

I recently was reading an art tutorial blog and the artist mentioned this middle period of horror when you think all the hours you have put in are for naught! I thought it was just me that had to force myself to work through this phase. Obviously it is a common issue.

But finally I come out on the other side, and I am happy. It’s when I breathe that final light into the canvas that the image lets itself be born.

I don’t stop working on a painting as readily as I once used to. If I come back the next morning and some area just doesn’t seem quite right, I work with it. And sometimes it might get worse before it gets better. It takes immense concentration, patience (not my strongest virtue) and focus.

But experience has taught me it is worth the frustration. Finally, one morning, I come back in to the studio and just breathe a deep sigh of satisfaction and relief. The painting is finally alive. And finished.

All photos and images by me.

Spring Morning: The Met

08 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, paintings, sketching, Uncategorized

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Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, oil painting

The second in a series of gallery paintings I worked on this winter is a 30 x 24″ oil called Spring Morning. In many ways it was the most complicated of the three. Dealing with architectural elements is always a challenge for me, and this scene was no exception. But the lobby of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is magnificent, and worth the effort.

I try to work out problem areas early, before I put paint to canvas. Sometimes the drawing is one of the most difficult phases, especially in these with multiple perspectives and an overhead viewpoint.

Notice in the upper left hand corner where I realized in time that my floor tiles were out of line.

I didn’t notice an issue with the center podium under the flowers until later in the process.

The proportion and scale were slightly off. Still easily fixable at this point. One of the hardest lessons to learn is to look carefully, then look again. A lot of time I find a tea break and coming back with a fresh eye helps to see issues.

Often I photograph the work in progress (therefore all these lovely progression photos). When I put the image up on my computer screen I often spot something that I might not notice staring constantly at the actual canvas. Rather like a fresh pair of eyes on a new point of view.

Sometimes I look at a black & white version of it on the computer to check my contrast and shadows. It all helps.

And finally comes my favorite part…adding detail and breathing life in to the work. I work on mood and shadows, depth and atmosphere. On this piece I actually ran a glaze with a golden hue over the canvas to soften and unite the many parts near the final phase. Each day it progressed in the rich layers of transparent color and small detailed highlights.

Until, as in this case, the soft light streaming through the doors adds a glow to the entire scene.

All photos and images by me.

Walmer Castle, Deal

21 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by pat in England, Gardens, History, Travel, Uncategorized

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Walmer Castle

While the boys in Ramsgate were out to sea racing their hearts out this past summer, a friend and I drove down the coast just south of Deal in Kent. I thought it was the perfect place to recall on these last days of winter.

Dramatic skies, but perfect touring weather. Photo by me.

It was a short drive from Ramsgate, and after a short stroll on the pebble beach…

The beach across the road from Walmer Castle. Photo by me.

… we found the castle. It was a bit of a strange tour.

The actual castle was built during the reign of Henry the VIII. But the interiors had all been renovated to suit a more modern Duke of Wellington who entertained Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother when he held the post of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports for 23 years.

The centuries old castle. Photo by me.

We found it rather dark and gloomy and quickly retreated to the more inviting gardens.

Walmer Gardens. Photo by me.

The artichokes attracted a constant flotilla of bees. Photo by me.

The kitchen garden as we see it now, dates back to 1725, although it is likely that fruit and vegetables have been grown there for at least three hundred years when it was a garrison.

The kitchen garden was a favorite. Photo by me

Onions all lined up in a row. Photo by me.

It was the perfect day to explore a garden.

Runner beans in the garden. Photo by me.

Winter Scenes

11 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by pat in Art, paintings, sketching, Travel, Uncategorized

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Central Park, MOMA, New York City, Snow

I am back from New York City, and busy in the studio trying to complete three canvases I have been working on since before Christmas. Tonight there is a possibility of freezing rain. Winter.

I am never happier than in my studio when the work is going well, no matter what the weather outside.

But as content as I am, I miss the snow and museums of last week’s visit to New York.

Even as I work at my easel, my thoughts continually return to those amazing winter scenes of Central Park. Perhaps because I grew up in New York, no matter how cold or uninviting it may seem to most tourists, I still gain new energy from it whatever the weather.

The last Friday of my visit I got up and out early so I could get to the Museum of Modern Art right as it opened. Usually that is not the smartest strategy, but I figured with the frigid temps (high of 22 degrees that day), the usual opening line would be diminished.

I was right. I walked right up to the ticket desk and passed information to check my coat. There was an amazing multi-screen installation in the upper lobby which I went in and out of all day.

I was ready for MOMA.

Always one of my favorite museums, I have read recently that MOMA is getting ready to do a major renovation. I’m not sure how I feel about that. So much of the museum seems still familiar to me from my youth, even though I know they have changed things before now.

Still, walking through the galleries, I feel like I have come home.

I’ll never tire of the museum, no matter what they do to expand or rearrange it.

And even though some of the more contemporary exhibitions can be daunting, I still find favorites mixed in.

I am not as much into experimental or performance art. I still prefer paint on canvas or paper, or sculpture that seems to recall rather than confound.

But the whole package is sublime, and the images kept me warm all day whether inside…

…or back out into the winter fantasy of Central Park.

Sometimes a winter day is the perfect day to be in the city.

All photos by me of Central Park and MOMA.

Winter Escape

06 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, Travel, Uncategorized

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Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

I have been putting a lot of hours in at the studio over the past several months and loving every minute of it. What better way to spend this long, cold winter.

Fifth Avenue, next to Central Park, in New York City.

But at times the artist needs to go out in to the real world to find new inspiration and increase their artistic vocabulary. A good friend of mine, and wonderful painter, was having a show in New York City this week, and I decided it was the push I needed to go up north and revisit the area that had inspired me so much in the past. And a little snow never hurt anyone.

Entering Central Park early in the morning.

After one plane delay, and many icy encounters, I reached New York City. And it was magical in the snow. I started my visit by entering Central Park’s south edge early the next morning…

Entering the Mall area.

The avenue of old elms was closed to pedestrian traffic for fear of falling ice and branches.

Benches are waiting for spring.

And ended at the Metropolitan Museum of Art….

The lobby of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

which was bursting with forsythia. Spring must not be too far off.

I spent hours wandering through the maze of galleries…

visiting old favorites,

Degas and Ballet…classic beauty

and discovering new surprises.

In the Asia wing, these classic statues...

In the Asia wing, these imposing statues…

face off with this contemporary brushwork.

It was as wonderful as I remembered.

A group of artists spend their morning sketching.

I only gave up when my legs couldn’t walk one more step, and stopped at the American Wing Cafe to take a break.

I think I’ll dream about forsythia tonight.

And remember enough images for a seasons worth of inspiration.

Studio Snow Day

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

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It is very rare we get even a single white flake falling in this part of the southern coastal countryside, but today was the exception to the rule.

The path from my house to my studio covered in icy pellets.

Still, I made it across the garden and up the snow-covered steps to my studio to work. Even the birds and squirrels who normally chatted with me as I made the trek, cup in hand, had deserted the bushes and trees. Everything was heavy with ice and solemnly quiet.

From the studio porch. Not a bird in sight.

But, as usual, when I entered the studio to work it was grand.

I am working on three new canvases now, each related to art museums I have visited. It has been months of steady work, and now I am in the final phase of all three…my favorite part after struggling through the difficult middle stage.

My studio in winter.

There is nothing like a warm cozy studio with work going well on that rare wintry day with snow. Life is good.

accentBritain

~ a romance with art and all things British

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Not By Words

Cows in the moonlight

Hare and Hounds

Tetbury, The Cotswolds

Floating

Spring Morning: The Met

Walmer Castle, Deal

Winter Scenes

Winter Escape

Studio Snow Day