Morandi Exhibition at NY Metro 9/12-12/14

We are planning a 10-day trip to NY in late October through early November. We want to book a pair of free tickets on Continental flight early to avoid possible change of policy. Also, by booking early, we may get on the direct flight to Newark. Anyway, after booking the flight I checked what may be on special exhibit at Metro. Surprisingly, I found they are staging a show for one of my favorite artists, Giorgio Morandi, the 20th century Italian artist . He painted mostly jars, bottles and blocks in his studio. With these familiar characters, he was able to come up with "infinite" number of beautiful composition. His "chalky" colors further enhance the meditative feeling when you look at his pictures. He is cited by critics as the painter of painters. I had only seen two of his originals, one at MOMA and the other at Yale University. The reproductions in the art book I bought don't even come close. In the above picture you can see that even the shadow and the little negative space between the bottles are key elements of his rigorous composition. Feel lucky that we will have an opportunity to see more than 100 of his work in early November.

A Freudian (Lucian) Pose

Continue going to these 3-hour studio sessions trying to get back on track in my painting activities. I decided to draw this time. Using charcoal, I can get a little bit more detail in within the short time given. Just happened that this model poses in a frontal position. It is not as "in-your-face" kind of confronting pose as in some of Lucian Freud's pictures. But it definitely will be banned from the wall of Mercer Island Community Center here in Seattle area!! There was this young lady setting up her easel next to me drawing life size on a 5 ft tall paper. She is a very good artist. It is interesting that her drawing is an assertive and strong old man, and mine is this questioning and somewhat resigned senior citizen. I thought I drew what I saw. I suppose that different people do see the same subject differently.

A $34Million Lucian Freud Painting

This painting by British artist Lucian Freud (grandson of Sigmund) just fetched $34 million at a Christie's auction in mid-May. I appreciate most of Lucian Freud paintings. But, I am lost on this one. I understand that artists want to challenge the established artistic taste and to establish a new direction in aesthetics. Is there something like "emperor's clothes" here? Perhaps, I am getting too old? But, he is 85, you know.

Improvements?

I tried to work a little bit at home to see whether I can improve the picture without losing the feel of immediacy. I strengthened the body and the arm. The main improvement is the negative space I added to the left corner of the picture under the elbow, echoing the inclined shoulder line of the model. That also supports the triangle formed by the arm and the head. I think this little space strengthens the entire composition. At least I feel I learned something from this little exercise.

Short Studio Painting

Haven't done any studio drawing/painting for quite some time. Feeling a painting slump recently. Trying to get out of the slump by loosening up in these quick 3-hour sessions at Gage (Seattle). I use acrylic because of easier clean up and of fast drying for instant layering of colors. The down side is, of course, the difficulty in blending. But it forces me to work fast, adding the spontaneity to the picture, good for loosening up.