A PERFECT ENDING . . . A NEW BEGINNING.

packed up canvases and other materials for home "studio"

   

The New Year is just a few days away.  Lists of new year resolutions,  promises in some way to make a change, throw out the old and let in the new,  just what I am about to do, what I have been waiting for.

Approximately 2 months ago, checking in on the artist blogs that I follow,  I discovered that one of these blog artists, a professor of art and abstract artist, was offering a program of mentoring on line, ie., a series of 4 private sessions which would be a guide and a source of inspiration to me as an artist. Just what I  have been wanting for the longest time. Someone with whom I could exchange ideas, who would give me and my work a critical eye, something that doesn’t exist normally.  Now-a-days artists keep pretty much to themselves. There is no real exchange of ideas nor discussion.

 I confess that I was a little frightened by the thought of this contact, (a 45 minute conversation via Skype).  What would we talk about, what would I have to say?...etc.etc. Our first trial run was  a complete disaster.  My computer was too slow to maintain contact with the Skype call. My mentor could hear me but I couldn’t hear but a split second of her voice.  We could see each other but only with text messages were we able to communicate.

Our second try was much better, a limpid image and clear sound so we had our first contact where the minutes flew and we established a strong contact.

But now I have homework to do for our next session, . . . next month, . . . next year. And, since it is holiday season, I won’t have the possibility to go to my studio in the city.  I packed up materials and canvases and have set up my “studio” at home in a covered terrace - a little cold but flooded with light.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!!!

http://janicemasonsteevesartwork.blogspot.it            /http://janicemasonsteevesartwork.blogspot.it/

ON CHRISTMAS DAY. . .

  A MORNING OF TIMID SIGNS . . . a possible sunny day. . . then  high winds steadily swept in thick grey clouds. . .  but no rain . . . that was our Christmas day here in Florence. There was a highlight for me though. . .

The Certosa Monastery

..  the setting of the Christmas Mass. . . which every year is held in  the museum of the monastery of "The Certosa of Galuzzo", constructed in 1342. This  monastery  sits high on a hill at the south of the city of Florence and is where the famous painter, Pontormo, (1494 - 1557), lived and worked for a brief period.

The museum where Pontormo's work is shown and where Mass is held

It's always difficult for me to concentrate on the religious rituals when I am here.  I can't take my eyes away from the frescos.  They were realized in the period of 1523- 1525 and originally placed in the large Cloister of the monastery. Ruined by time and inclement conditions, the pigments are faded in part, but the  strength and innovation of Pontormo's work is notable. He was a pupil in the school of Andrea del Sarto  together with another famous painter of the Renaissance and Mannerism, il Rosso Fiorentino.

The frescos found in this room are part of the series of the Passion of Christ.

"The Deposition of Christ"

"The Resurection"

"The Oration in the Garden"

Can you wonder that I am distracted?  Every visit is a new emotion!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontormo . . "
In 1522,when the plague broke out in Florence, Pontormo left for the Certosa di Galluzzo, a cloistered Carthusian monastery where the monks followed vows of silence. He painted a series of frescoes, now quite damaged, on the passion and resurrection of Christ."

http://www.frammentiarte.it/dal%20Gotico/Pontormo%20opere/12%20storie%20della%20passione.htm

Wishes for a very happy Christmas!

Sorry if I've been absent of late. But I have been working and I wanted to send my wishes to all for a very happy Christmas with this card.  I finished printing just last week after putting the finishing touches on the etching. You may remember this from a previous post (The First Print - 8/8/12) but I took it a few steps forward by reinforcing the darks and bringing out the lights.  Much more contrast now.

STEPS IN PRINTING:

1.wetting the paper

2. removing excess water

3. preparing the ink

4. cleaning the plate before inking

5.registering the plate on a dummy

These are the fundamental steps neccessary before a print is pulled.
 The final print is then dried flat between absorbant cardboard and protected with a small piece of tissue paper so that the wet ink doesn't smudge.

Andy Warhol Show

I tried really hard to post news about my trip to Pisa with Nora, my friend, but it was absolutely against my computer's will. Pictures were not allowed inside the show so I tried to download some from various sources. Posts are more interesting if a picture accompanies the text but there was no way.  What seemed to go through disappeared at the time of publishing.  It could be the copyrites that cover these images. But, too bad.
I learned a little more about this painter.  He was never a great favorite of mine but after this show and seeing some of his  less famous works I found him very inventive, taking every image to its extreme.

 Let me just try to upload one of my favorites. A black and white, I found them the most interesting. This of Jackie is so simple but so strong. Let's see if my computer agrees.......