An Artist I Love

I saw a painting in a gallery recently  that reminded how much I enjoy the art of Lyonel Feininger   1871 - 1956.
He was born and raised in New York but moved to Germany at the age of 16 to study art and became one of the leading practitioners of German Expressionism. Forced to leave Germany in the wake of the Nazi  campaign against modern art he returned to the United States. He was somewhat of a renaissance man - photographer, carver of miniature wooden figures and buildings, painter and cartoonist for the Chicago Sun comic strips. He also has been at times, a pianist and composer.

His early works have a lively art nouveau look.

Village Near Paris 1909

This is a cover story about one of his comic strips in the Chicago Tribune

Later his style shifts to a more muted impersonal style. Angular planes of light intersect and overlap, almost like gauze panels in a stage setting. The colours are subdued and the forms somewhat architectural. There is a sense of alienation in some of the later paintings. This is contrasted with the many freeing images of sailboats

Bird Cloud

Church of the Minorites

Sailboats 1929

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Picking on Picasso

I just finished preparing a presentation on "Art Appreciation" for the Aphasia Institute. I am a volunteer there as a conversation facilitator and this is one of my favorite  activities each week. Part of the presentation involves a few paintings of Picasso. 

 There are many portraits of the photographer Dora Maar, none of them very flattering as you can see.

 

The really interesting discovery for me, however, was the actual photograph that Dora took of herself. See below the Dora Maar self- portrait.

What a guy!!!

I`m sorry - it`s time for a Picasso joke:

Artist Pablo Picasso surprised a burglar at work in his new chateau. The intruder got away, but Picasso told the police he could do a rough sketch of what he looked like. On the basis of his drawing, the police arrested a mother superior, the minister of finance, a washing machine, and the Eiffel tower

 The Aphasia Institute has a fundraiser coming up called  ``Walk Talk and Roll``. For more information, to learn about aphasia  or to donate for very worthwhile programming for those affected by aphasia and their families, please go to http://www.aphasia.ca

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An Exciting Art Event

You are warmly invited to visit the studios and homes of 18 North Toronto artists to view their latest work on display. The North Toronto Group of Artists represents local artists in various forms of visual fine arts, and reside in the North Toronto area from Wilson to Eglinton and from Avenue Rd to Mount Pleasant.

Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5

11am - 5pm

I am located at 109 Old Orchard Grove and it would be great to see you. Check for the sign and the green balloons 416 480 2248 

For more information and a map which can be printed, open the brochure by clicking "save" on the above attachment and then "open" on the choices at the bottom of your screen.

http://www.anneneidhartart.com/

http://timeforart-anne.blogspot.com/

http://www.ntga.ca/

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Exhibition at Studio 51

Another successful show called "Group of Seven Per Artist" is ongoing at the gallery in Studio 51. in Toronto and will continue till Sunday April 20. (details in last post

Here are some photographs of the event, including some of my latest paintings.

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Welcome to an Art Show

Save this date! 

 art exhibition of paintings by 14 artists on:

Friday April 12     Opening reception   5 - 10pm

Saturday April 13                                  2 - 5pmSunday 

April 14     Tea Party                2 - 5pm

At: Studio 51  

51 Laird Dr South of Eglington on the East Side, North of Millwood

Exhibition continues through Sunday April 21 at 5pm

 Some views of last years' exhibition:

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Red White and Blue

I am currently struggling with a couple of watercolours - another "old man" and another "young people in love". To have a break, I looked over my many photographs on the computer. I was attracted to these three because of the fresh red, white and blue colouring. They remind me of how I enjoy colour in paintings and to emphasize that in my next two efforts.
Are photographs art, or just a technical exercise? I have seen some wonderful photographs in galleries recently. This is an ongoing debate in many circles. Share your thoughts.

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Are You Working Hard enough?

All serious artists suggest that in order to be a painter of any consequence, you have to paint every day, barring hurricanes or the flu. This is why we have groups that are committed to "A Painting a Day". They don't fool around by just laying down the first wash, or they certainly don't put their painting on the mantel for a week's assessment. It is common knowledge, however, that the more you paint the better your chance for success. As Aristotle said:  “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is

not an act, but a habit.” 

Here is an example of an artist that definitely works hard enough:

 Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer, 1969-2012

"Known colloquially as "the Rock," Michael Heizer's latest project wooed Southern California residents on its 105-mile journey from the Riverside rock quarry to LACMA. The closely-documented tow lasted almost two weeks, because it's top transport speed was recorded at five miles per hour. Despite its tedious haul, Heizer's boulder attracted followers, reception crowds at pit stops, and full newspaper spreads over the course of the installation. Its notoriety in recent news is only a testament to the social and art historical parallels that are exposed, as Angelenos now gather around a massive rock akin to an ancient megalithic monument."

This is one of the 50 artworks you can view on the website below. It is an interesting site for art and design news.

http://www.complex.com/art-design/2013/01/the-50-most-iconic-artworks-of-the-past-five-years/

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My Blue Period

Having just finished talking about how I "love the brilliant yellow which brightens up whatever room it is in" in my last blog I have turned to the dark side in my latest painting. I do, however, must admit that I also love this dark inky indigo blue.

                                                           

Speaking of "Blue Period" reminds me of Picasso, and that reminds me of a really bad joke:

After his wife divorced him, Joe asked his best friend, Bill, to fix him up with a blind date. Bill obliged. The next day Joe called up Bill and shouted at him angrily: "Bill, what kind of a guy do you think I am. That girl you fixed me up with was cross-eyed; she was almost bald; her nose was long, thin and crooked; she had hair growing on her face; she was flat chested; and her ankles were as thick as her thighs".

Bill answered: "Either you like Picasso, or you don't like Picasso."

(Don't blame me -  blame Picasso.)

I just learned that anyone viewing my blog, can go to the left sidebar, click on the "sidebar" heading and select other ways to view the blog eg. magazine, or mosaic etc. Give it a try.

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Resolutions Revisited for 2013

I really hate New Year`s Resolutions  but as I get older I realize that there is only so much time for me to turn into the smartest, best looking, rich and famous person that I hoped to be. So I will settle for working at being the best painter I can possibly be.
Here is my brave resolution for 2012:
 `I will paint more watercolour on Yupo paper, continue exploring abstract painting, particularly abstract landscapes, investigate the creative possibilities that collage offers, continue my series of "old men", try new acrylic techniques and look into all the options for watercolours without glass and frames.
PS. Visit more art galleries.`

I did manage to one more "old man" to the series and intend to get back to more, as these seem to have an emotional resonance for me. I did paint about four new paintings on Yupo, so enough for awhile. I continue to be excited by abstract painting and one of my most favorite this year was an abstract.(more later) I would like to do more in abstractions of landscapes, but I think this will be a learning curve. I have not done collage, and don't feel a pressing need to try it until a subject speaks "collage". I am still not sold on watercolour without glass and frame, but I think it may have to do with my choice of subject and so this is an ongoing goal.
This has been a busy year, with group exhibitions, including the Toronto Watercolour Society's juried exhibition. " Tea Buds" has also provided the opportunity for a one-man show. The Yonge -Lawrence Art Walk is always a success. In the new year, the first challenge is to prepare again for my own Studio Tour in May.

Somewhere on the Web, I came across someone showing their most favorite painting of the year, for whatever reason - not necessarily because it was the best. In that spirit I am including my favorite.

Why did I choose this? It is called "Reed Flute Cave #1" and reminds me of a recent and fascinating trip to China. It is a very abstracted  view of these fabulous caves near Guilin. I also love the brilliant yellow which brightens up whatever room it is in. It actually is one of three done one after the other and with increasing divergence from the cave concept:

Happy New Year to my blog pals!

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Photo Exhibition

I visited the opening exhibition of the exciting  new Ryerson Image Centre in downtown Toronto, a renovated and remodelled former warehouse building at Gould and Bond Streets. The space is shared with the School of Image Arts.
 .  The centre combines:

• three public gallery spaces
• New Media Colonnade at the entrance
• a fully staffed professional research centre with museum-quality environmental controls
• a climate controlled vault built to contain a million photographic images, including The Black Star Collection
• Ryerson University Fine Art Photography Collection
• Great Hall reception, conference and screening area

It was  created in part to display some of the 292,000 photos which it had received as an anonymous bequest from Black Star , a photographic agency.  The current exhibition features students and alumni of the school. Future exhibits begin after the holiday season.

If you get tired of viewing photographic art , you can skate on the very attractive small rink just at the side of the building.

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