“This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender.” Pete Seeger, written on the drum head of his banjo Our spirits felt wretched from a weekend that saw American violence and the sour rhetoric that sometimes feels to be our new national pastime. We were in search of […]
Dance to Dance: Finding Art to Mend the Wounds Read More »
“Yet within our reach is joy.” Fra Angelico Encountering an angel in the museum was the last thing I expected to happen that Friday night. Earlier in the evening, my drawing classes had met for a docent-led tour but now it had ended and the students had dispersed. Before heading home myself I wanted to take advantage of the museum’s extended evening hours for a little research
“I don’t need time, I need a deadline.” Duke Ellington You know how it is. Every time you begin a new piece of art work, especially if you are working towards the goal of an exhibition or a commission, you are going to get right on it and get ‘er done. At least that’s how I think.
Operation: DEADLINE! Read More »
“Needless to say, urgings by ravens are ignored at one’s peril.” James D. Doss In Part One and Part Two of Building a Painting, I explained how the wooden surface was prepared and why using an imprimatura to begin the painting on a color ground is a good idea. Then I shared how my version of the Nordic forest
Building a Painting, Part 3: The Ravens Have Landed! Read More »
Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons. Al Hirschfeld I’m about to admit to a not-so-secret secret, a guilty pleasure I feel no guilt about, and just the thing that takes the sting out of summer slipping away, making the shortening autumn days more bearable. My secret? I have my very own Time
The calling of the humanities is to make us truly human in the best sense of the word. J. Irwin Miller Greetings! It was several months ago when we first met, me presenting the whys and hows of our pledged encounter, you unsure and doubting of your decision. I could sense that you wondered if this was the
A Letter to a Student of the Humanities Read More »
Benny Andrews said: ”I take a lot of vacations. Little ones, a couple of days. It’s like coming up for air, when I’m preoccupied with my work.” The Studio Journal is on a short summer hiatus and will be returning soon. In the meantime, I am working diligently in the studio and classroom, painting, teaching, creating and enjoying,
When making a painting, only one thing counts: what you do next. Walter Darby Bannard In Part One on how to “Build a Painting”, I began where most building projects begin, at the ground level. I described my intention and motivation to complete a painting based on Odin’s Ravens, exploring notions of memory, thought and desire. Then I shared the techniques
Build a Painting, Part Two: All Hail the Imprimatura! Read More »
Well begun is half done. Aristotle I’ve heard you out there in WWW-land asking, “Hey, Martine, what does it really take to build a painting?” I’m glad you asked! I want to invite you to see my process, start to finish, mistakes and all. I’ll explain my intention for the work as well as technical aspects, as I
Build a Painting, Part 1: “Ground Level” Read More »
Calligraphy is a kind of music not for the ears, but for the eyes. V. Lazursky Once upon a time, most of my artistic output was as a calligrapher, using the medium to create both fine art and in practical applications. Now, once upon a year, I return to the Land of Calligraphy, on the Isle of Italic, surrounded by the
Write On! Life Lessons at the Tip of a Pen Read More »
