God

F or my next drawing project, the assignment is God. In keeping with my focus on costumes, masks and festivals, I will be taking inspiration from various african costumes, from Nigeria and Calabar South such as these:

You can see the rest of them are at the Life Magazine website... I can't find the link at the moment.
They are also similar to the "soundsuits" that artist Nick Cave creates:

Dancing Skeleton Update

30x40 oil on canvas

W hile working on my most recent painting, I was referred to another painter of skeletons from the late nineteenth century, James Ensor. Ensor (April 13, 1860 – November 19, 1949) was a Flemish-Belgian painter and printmaker, and produced a wide array of fantastic, funny and rather strange paintings throughout his lifetime. I was instantly inspired by his paintings, and can particularly relate to his bizarre sense of humour and punchy use of colour. Here are a few examples of his work:

The last painting I have included, above, is the the immense "The Entry of Christ into Brussels", probably Ensor's most famous work. In this composition, which elaborates a theme treated by Ensor in his drawing "Les Aureoles du Christ" of 1885, a vast carnival mob in grotesque masks advances toward the viewer. Identifiable within the crowd are Belgian politicians, historical figures, and members of Ensor's family. Nearly lost amid the teeming throng is Christ on his donkey; although Ensor was an atheist, he identified with Christ as a victim of mockery. The piece, which measures 99½ by 169½ inches, was rejected by Les XX and was not publicly displayed until 1929.After its controversial export in the 1960s, the painting is now at the J. Paul Getty Museum and is on display at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California. Also known as Christ's Entry into Brussels in 1889, it is considered "a forerunner of twentieth-century Expressionism."

Hmm... skeletons.

Calacas

diptych of death and judgement

N ewest collages. Began the first painting today!

Jammin'

M y game show drawing series is complete!

The complete series



Brett Somers post-party




David Susskind, ever the salesman



Johnny Carson, having a pigeon debate



Tom Snyder, Charles Nelson Reilly, staying fresh



Merv Griffin, Jeopardizing his solitude

Pigeon pals



Johnny Carson



Jar update

M ore to come!

(Before and after inking)

Mad Men

W ent to a Mad Men party this weekend (60's), and obviously went all the way with the costumes.
We credit Alysia Perez-Hall for the hair-do's.

Austere couple

Joney

Sal's wife

The first lady?

Group shot... (my lens is smudged)

Beach Party (update)

I 've put a few more hours into this one, so here's it's current state. (You will notice Ms. Robinson has gained about 40 pounds).

Your jar agape, your mouth a jar.

D eath is the theme of our next drawing project this term. I have decided to continue with subject matter that I touched on last year, jarring and pickling, for my next series.
The one in particular, featuring Charles Nelson Reilly, was my starting point (and will probly be included in the series).
For the drawings, which you can see I have begun (below), I've been collecting a bunch of images from old talk and game shows that are no longer on the air, and collecting famous deceased T.V. personalities, such as:

David Susskind

Brett Somers

Charles Nelson Reilly

Merv Griffin

Tom Snyder

I've been watching a bunch of samples from these 70-80's prime-time shows.... and I must say, think Match Game is my fav. Why not through 'em in a brine and keep it for all of time?

Let's get this show on the road

I will be pickling a few friends from the past...

..more to come

Starting the Beach Party

30x40" oil and charcoal

Brainstorm

M ore collages! For paintings.

Beach Party

Family Portrait

Dinner and a Show

handmade gear

H appy New Year!
Even though it's...like.. the 11th of January.
Well, I'm back to work now, and will have actual artwork posted soon, but for now, in light of the New Year's dress I made (below), here a few few other things I've sewn recently, and neglected to post.

(My presentation here is a little lacking... sorrow)

New Year's Dress! Cotton and Sheer, shiny lace that doesn't photograph well..

Romper! Made of super-comfy sweatshirt fabric.

Summer Strapless Dress, various cottons. It's nicer than it appears here on my dirty carpet.

Christmas Crafts

W oolen headbands made of old sweaters were a few of my gifts this christmas! Cute, inexpensive and easy!

Luuurve box lit up

zoetrope

 S o there's the final zeotrope design. I have two different versions, and tried making them both today... they ended up a little more like a sad 12 year old's craft hour than I'd hoped.