Technical Drawings - A Series

Blueprint Figure - gouache on paper - 50x70cm

 
Here the lines and measurements of the technical drawing are clearly visible but I have broken away from my "family" supply of drawings and have made photocopies on paper that have been used as collage on the  canvas. This is the beginning of a series of work on paper with collage.

Using a Street Map

Figures in Space  - gouache on paper - 50x70cm

This photo (taken a "few" years ago during a show) shows two paintings using the  street map of the city of Kyoto as background, and, again, this was an exam of my son's. Unfortunately I don't have a more detailed photo where the lines can be clearly seen, however, it is the movement that each  background drawing proposes, whether it be a street map or the plan for a building, that dictates the position that my figure will take. They are one.

Measuring Space - title photo

Measuring Space  oil on canvas, 90x100cm

When I changed the layout for my home page, the image of the painting  that inspired my title disappeared.(above)

This work represents the major theme present in my work over the past several years.  This theme began by chance  years ago as I created a gift for my son for his graduation from engineering school. I decided to use a copy of a technical drawing he had done for an exam and at the same time incorporate the human figure in linear proportions and measurements.

Since then, I've continued to explore the possibilities of superimposing the human figure onto architectural drawings. I consider the human body a perfect structure, with proportions, measurements and weights, similar to any architectural structure. I wanted to confront the construction of the human body with that of a civic building . . .muscle and bone, tissue and lymph vs. cement and steel, plaster and glue . . . sinuous line vs. straight line.

 In a kind of symbiosis, the human body dwells the architectural space, gives it breath and vitality.  The tracing of a gesture measures the space.  By measuring it, space is built. And finally, it underlines the energy emitted by each individual figure.

New Year - New work

New work done in the past months to prepare for a show here in Florence entitled "Mescolanze - un gioco" (Mixtures - a game") which closed just two weeks ago.

Figures in Space - mixed media on paper - 38x28cm

Figures in Space - mixed media on paper - 38x28cm

L'Annuncio (The Annunciation)- mixed media on paper - 56x76cm

Figure in Space -  mixed media on paper - 56x76cm

 The next three pieces are watercolors.  Using pages from the album of technical drawings done my  husband when he was a student, I superimposed  figures and highlights using watercolor. . . I am primarily interested in the human body . . .its forms. . .its substance. . .its meaning, both literally and symbolically. . .by a true anatomical vision to a decisive abstraction.

watercolor -34x50cm

Caught in a Whirlpool

Two works in a show entitled "Black and White" held Dicember 1-19-2012

"Spazi" - "Spaces" carborundum print

"A Secret Garden Under the Sea"  -  Lithograph

I've just escaped from weeks of hectic confusion . . . caught up in the center of a whirlwind. 

Two shows at the same time and the work that continues in my house. 

From Past to Present

Museo Machiavelli S.Casciano V.P.

 From that very first show ever (explained in the preceding post) up to the last and most recent one, time has passed with art classes and contacts with artist friends and teachers who have been my precious guides.  Changes have come about in my painting. Wouldn't the contrary be strange.    A process of maturation is inevitable: self criticism, a visual awareness of other artists' work,  experimentation,  learning by trial and error and just  plain   painting.

Last June I participated in  a show located in the villa  once residence of Niccolò Machiavelli, Italian  historian, writer,  politician and philosopher. The villa  is now a museum that bears his name. The exposition was articulated throughout the entire villa and I chose the wine cellar because of its suggestive atmosphere.

Note the stone and brick walls and, in the background,the original wooden kegs which stored  wine  made from grapes harvested in that area. The odor of wine, even though the kegs are empty, was inebriating!!!

Below are other works from the show.

These last two pieces are old wooden "doors" that sealed the huge kegs where wine was aged. I refinished them using  wax, polished them and applied small paintings depicting Bacco, God of wine and harvest, along with other figures in a dream world  of pleasure. It was fun doing these especially for the occasion.

Down Memory Lane

 Working with watercolor during  these past few weeks has brought memories of my very first "real" show years ago (1991). I say "real" because it wasn't the usual end-of-year show for family and friends that normally closes an academic year. It was a show for the public and in a public place.

I was a student at "Art è", another private art school here in Florence, when our teacher proposed this show on behalf of a good friend, owner of a nursery that specialized in raising geraniums. 

She wanted to combine her show of plants with a show of paintings depicting geraniums and the show was to be held at the Botanical Institute of the University of Pavia in northern Italy.      To say the least we were all  eager to participate.
 
This was a beginning for me.  I had never measured my work in front of complete strangers before and was amazed at the reception  my work was given.

Here are examples of some of the paintings. Unfortunately the pictures are not all satisfactory but you get an idea of what I was doing at the time.