A Dip Into Diptychs and More

I am continuing my exploration of  non-objective  paintings.  Below is my first diptych. One advantage of this approach is that it allows for greater ease of handling a larger painting because it is in two sections. This painting is composed of two size  24 x 24" canvases. Another advantage is that hopefully the two paintings can be separated and can stand alone if that is the preference.
The challenge is to maintain continuity and harmony between the two sections of the painting and yet have section work as a separate composition.

Sea

Older diptychs were often of a religious nature and were attached together by a hinge. Modern diptychs may not be hinged and simply intended to be hung together. A famous modern painting of Marilyn Monroe in this format was by Andy Warwhol.

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It Really is "Time for Art"

A Gala Evening of Art

This is your personal invitation to attend the North Toronto Group of Artists' Opening Gala:
Friday evening, November 8, 2013, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Blessed Sacrament Church,(basement)
24 Cheritan Avenue - Yonge Street just south of Lawrence

Please email me to register (free). We require registration due to liquor laws.
Wine and light refreshments will be served and jazz music will be part of the atmosphere.
22 local artists will be showing their work - all media including oil, acrylic, watercolour,  photography, digital.

  If you are unable to attend on  Friday night:

The event is open to the public on Saturday, November 9, 2013 from 10:00am to 3:30 pm.

 Go to My WebSite    or    to  North Toronto Group of Artists

Exciting Fall Art Event

NORTH YORK VISUAL ARTISTS ANNOUNCES 2013 FALL ART TOUR and SALE

AT TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN (by Edwards Gardens) and HOME STUDIOS
The North York Visual Artists Studio Tour has a rich history among NYVA artists and the community. This year the tour will be again at the Toronto Botanical Gardens. It is hoped that this year's combination of group venue and home studios will continue to increase attendance and preserve the historical roots of the NYVA studio tour.

Date of Tour: Saturday, Sept. 28 & Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013
Time of Tour: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

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Digging Drawing

How often are we told as artists, that drawing is the foundation of all painting whether realist or abstract styles? I actually endorse that point of view, but that is sometimes difficult to tell from my efforts. In order to improve my drawing skills, being basically a self-taught artist, I have turned to a variety of resources - too many to count and all very boring, not to mention intimidating.

Recently, however, I have discovered  a very helpful book titled -"You Can Draw in 30 Days - The Fun, Easy Way to Learn to Draw in One Month or less". I think you can see the appeal! If only I kept up the schedule. It is very helpful and in a fun and relaxing way moves from simple circles and shading and ends with the "hand" which as we know is a challenge. For your amusement and encouragement, behold two samples from my sketchbook of my recent struggles with basic lessons:

More to learn and also an opportunity to try out two well-recommended websites below  to help develop and improve drawing skills:

www.sketchup.google.com/
www.drawspace.com/

I have looked into both, and after my "30 days" may move on to the net. Happy drawing!

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Art is Power!

Art has the power to illicit emotions, to shed a clearer light on human nature and on the natural world and to raise awareness about injustice, repression and personal responsibility.
No contemporary artist speaks louder on those themes than the Chinese dissident/artist, Ai Wei Wei. Although he is currently on house arrest in his studio in Bejing, an exhibition of his work Ai Wei Wei: According to What? is on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario. This is the only showing of his work in Canada and includes not only video, photographs and large-scale installations, but a strong sense of his philosophy and position on life and human rights.

There are structures which reflect his veneration for Chinese tradition as he utilizes wood from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) from destroyed hutongs and temples.

Map of China 2008

The height of the piece illustrates the long history of the Chinese nation and the top represents a map of the very culturally diverse China. (56 ethnic groups I believe)


Ai Wei Wei also uses traditional wood working techniques in creating some of his installations -in which no nails are used. 

Untitled 2006

Three thousand porcelain crabs were created and painted as a protest piece displayed on the floor. It represents the restriction of free speech in Chinese society. As the government was about to demolish his newly constructed studio in Shanghai, Ai invited guests to a feast of 10,000 river crabs in protest. He, however had been placed under house arrest and couldn't be there.

He Xie 2010

Ai Wei Wei was very affected by the earthquake in Sichuan province  in 2008. For me, the most memorable and significant work was related to that disaster. Wenchauan Steel Rebar  uses metal rebars, recovered from the rubble of schoolhouses which he straightened and placed in a formation, which indicates society's ability to start fresh, but is also reminiscent of the undulations of the earth during the quake. It is place in front of a printed list of over 5000 of the lost children's names.

The exhibition as a whole is very moving.

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Limited Palette Part One

I have wanted to experience the oft-touted joys of a limited palette. What an interesting exercise!  I used the same acrylic colours in a group of six paintings. The first three are here for comments.  I used quinacridone burnt orange, anthraquinone blue, white, and a mere suggestion of  cadmium yellow medium.  I used a  light glaze of burnt sienna in some areas to create more warmth.

Papamoa Evening

Charlevoix

On the Beach

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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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