Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Frida Kahlo

I have always admired and been intrigued by the art and life of Frida Kahlo and loved teaching my students about her.  Unfortunately, all some people remember about her is the uni-brow or the fact that she was the wife of Diego Rivera. 
I admire Frida for her stamina and courage to pursue her passion.  She endured much pain and sadness, which would have been overwhelming for most, in her life.  She was studying at the National Preparatory in Mexico City when that horrific streetcar accident occurred, but she always said that was not the worst accident in her life....Diego Rivera was much worse. 
Painting was Frida's salvation and a visual diary of her life.  We, the viewer, can see and feel her pain, caused by everything from childhood polio to the streetcar accident to a problematic marriage to the inability to have a child and to finally, the consent to have her leg amputated.  Gradually, it just wore her down.
The fairly recent interest in Kahlo has been the impetus for large exhibits of her work, including one in Philadelphia that I had the privilege to attend. 
For these reasons, I chose to copy one of Frida's portraits for our "Fabulous Forgeries" Exhibit at The Artists Gallery.  The one I recreated is entitled "Self -Portrait with Thorny Necklace and Dead Hummingbird", painted by Frida in 1940 after her marriage to Diego had ended.  Life without Diego is expressed in her downtrodden expression....heavy eyelids, the hostile cat and the monkey that tugs at her thorny necklace.  The dead hummingbird is a symbol of woe and echoes the arc of her eyebrows and her exaggerated mustache. 
For further information, there are many books about the life of Frida Kahlo.  I recommend the book, Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver which has a great deal of information about Frida and Diego's life in Mexico. 

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Great Escape

This past weekend was the Artful Women's Second Annual "Great Escape" Retreat at Sandbridge in Virginia.  Nine very creative women spending a couple of days at the beach for relaxation and renewal. 
We had a beautiful initiation to our creative spirits, lead by Donna Iona Drozda, a fun evening with "round-robin" ATCs, and a day of jewelry making with Allie-Blue Everett. 




We each brought a special token piece for an altar and my addition was an ink drawing that at one time belonged to my grandmother.  It is entitled "Winter Sunset in West Virginia Mountain" and dated 12/18/43. 



 I remember as a child admiring this drawing and thinking about who might have lived by the stream in this neat house with the logs stacked in front, ready for the warmth of an evening fire.  I was born in West Virginia and now that the drawing is mine, it reminds me of my childhood days in the mountains and of my grandmother.  She is really the reason that I am an artist.  Her encouragement and praise gave me the courage and inspiration I needed to pursue my passion.  She was a short lady, not much over five feet, rather round with large breasts and snow white hair.  She was a great cook and proficient semstress.  When you say the word "grandmother", she is the picture that comes to mind.  I didn't live with her, but I spent many wonderful hours at her house. 
So, it was a wonderful weekend to remember, reflect and rejuvenate.   



Friday, January 6, 2012

A New Year

It's a new year and a time to again resolve to be more diligent about writing my blog.
I have spent some time re-reading my notes on blogging and pondering just what my blog is about.  I chose the title for my blog "In the Moment" to write about not just my painting, but about what I am doing, thinking, making, and discovering at any given moment.  I have spent most of my life planning the next day, the next week, the next month, but as I get older, I want more and more to just be in the moment.....to appreciate the here and now. 
Mostly my blog will be about painting, my passion.  But, I also love to knit, crochet, bake, work in collage and mixed media, and try lots of new things.  I have a new grandson who is occupying a large portion of my heart right now......so my blog can be about all of those things.
My newest project which turned out a little funky is felted flowers that you see pictured in the post.  I love the colors and curly petals, but they didn't turn out exactly as I had expected.  The movement of the petals is simillar to the movement that I capture in my paintings, so I think they relate.  I am going to work on them a little more and make pins for my artsy friends.  I hope they like them.  Check out the patttern for Lion Brand Wool