tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48267871123636686012024-03-05T20:57:35.604-08:00Unchain My ArtFormerly a hi-tech engineer, now an emerging artist on the quest for my own voice. <br>People are my favorite subject matter, and I am always on the hunt with my camera, pencil or sable brush.Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-33061564455111495152009-07-17T15:23:00.000-07:002009-07-19T03:30:59.894-07:00Time Flies......when you are on a break from the blogosphere. Has it really been 6 weeks?As with art, one needs some time off from blogging in order to come back with recharged batteries. Or something.But the good news is that in fact, I've been painting - and quite a bit. A new scene from Portugal is in the making. And a portrait that made me put the Portugal scene aside for a while. And a small flower I Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-39965200880099528342009-06-10T21:20:00.000-07:002009-06-10T22:36:49.958-07:00Portugal Through My Eyes: Évora #2Y'know how I always claim that I'm gonna do a series of paintings whenever something captures me? And then I move on to the next exciting image?Well, not this time. Apparently, this image did captivate me. Not quite sure why - maybe it's the fact I loved Évora so much, maybe these two men and their curious stroll appealed to me, or maybe the fact that my second attempt at buildings since I've Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-79227844033846698112009-05-30T10:34:00.000-07:002009-07-19T19:09:55.912-07:00Portugal Through My Eyes: Évora #1I am notorious for my obsessive photo-taking while on vacation (and any other time), and loyal to my fame I took dozens of photos in Portugal. OK, more like a dozen hundred of them, and then some. And maybe a bit more.Don't give me this look! All those white washed houses, the laundry, the people sitting on benches, the tiles, the mosaic on the streets, the people, ahhhh the people! I had to Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-49147300429835707762009-05-27T17:43:00.000-07:002009-05-27T19:37:44.435-07:00Back.We're back.And I'm sick.Honestly, one virus can be walking around the aisles of san airplane, and it would befriend me. That's because I'm special. Usually a pre-flight doze of Airborne takes care of that and puts an end to the flourishing friendship, but this time I was too lazy/tired/nauseous and decided to skip it.So, while no jetlag was in stock for me, I'm imprisoned at home with a nasty Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-11613969677390259982009-05-06T01:53:00.001-07:002009-05-06T03:28:22.122-07:00Taking the Scenic RoadDo you ever feel that force majeure is getting in the way of settling on a planned route? You go on the freeway with a destination in mind, and suddenly you see an exit that calls for you, and you take it, surrendering to your gut feeling?I have quite a few paintings in my queue. I'm still working on the untitled acrylics guy; I have another version of my grandfather in mind; I really need to Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-54631475409474189292009-04-20T16:39:00.000-07:002009-04-20T16:52:47.053-07:00Acrylics Alert! - AddendumJust had to share this! After posting this painting, I went to visit some of my favorite blogs to see what's been going on there while I was out of the blogosphere.And - lo and behold, I was astonished to find the soul mate of my cheery guy, in a wonderfully powerful painting done by Bonnie Luria of the St. Croix-nicity blog. You have to see it to believe it. I am still speechless.Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-90651675159223091052009-04-19T23:25:00.000-07:002009-04-20T16:34:13.001-07:00Acrylics Alert!Haven't disappeared. Just took a break, turned 46, and - actually been painting. The kind of painting that takes forever.No, it's not the procrastinated commission (the deadline is June-ish, so of course I am doing everything I can to not do it yet...). Been working on a new painting that was marinating in my mind for a while; a new style, new medium, new support - and it's having countless Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-16888390387701662682009-03-28T02:24:00.000-07:002009-03-28T04:04:52.798-07:00Virtually AwardedIn the midst of my diligent and dedicated procrastination (see previous post), I got a comment from Rhonda Carpenter, who's blog Watercolors and Words I visit frequently. Rhonda is one of those fellow artist bloggers who, at times of my not-in-the-painting-mood, kicks my butt via email and comments till I get back into my studio. Funny, but before I started blogging, I've never met anyone named Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-57265597162147129262009-03-19T17:41:00.000-07:002009-03-19T19:58:19.844-07:00Procrastinate NOW!That is my all times favorite quote of Ellen DeGeneres: "Procrastinate now, don't put it off". And I always follow this advice, diligently. As - well, Ellen's gotta be right.Several months ago, I created this collage that was exhibited in a show at a big-shot hi-tech company. I made it especially for that show, and it ended up with a red label of "Sold". Almost none of my artist friends got to Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-54021081105450310102009-03-13T17:22:00.000-07:002009-03-14T03:21:29.915-07:00Of Values and Emotional ValueI know I've made this statement about quite a few paintings, and then got distracted by another image that excited me. But here I go again: this may be the beginning of a new series.My sister has been going though our parents apartment, and sent me batches of scanned family photos that awash me with waves of nostalgia. One photo in particular had a special compelling effect on me. A photo of my Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-15245844259505847152009-03-05T16:19:00.000-08:002009-03-05T18:48:27.156-08:00Attitude Named WendaThere are days when you have zero motivation to go to class. The weather's gray, you are late and in a rush, morning started bad, as you went to your critique group meeting after weeks of missing it, but since you've arrived last, by the time it was your turn it was also time for the parking police to come after the money of those who did arrive in time, plus you have to rush to class. So you Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-57746301692379330842009-02-12T18:18:00.000-08:002009-02-12T22:16:17.620-08:00Need a Hand?We had the figure drawing class today. Yes, the one with the talkative teacher, who's driving me nuts with his endless talking and taletelling, mostly since what he says doesn't always have much to do with art. There are artists who manage to block everything out when they draw or paint. Not me, alas. I'm more the kind who needs the whole world to come to a halt in order to concentrate. And so, Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-33831111296969837722009-02-08T23:06:00.000-08:002009-02-08T23:49:57.231-08:00Through the FireOK, OK, so I've been absent from the blogosphere for a while. A couple of weeks, perhpas; no - actually a whole month! Whoa - has it really been that long? To those of you who wonder (to the extent of emailing me or leaving concerned comments, pondering whether I have escaped to Aruba or broke my painting arm): No Caribbean escape for me, nor a broken arm. Just been going through some down time, Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-26432849371145369722009-01-08T18:56:00.000-08:002009-01-09T01:32:59.788-08:00Nationally ExposedThe Palette Magazine is my favorite art magazine. Written by two wonderful artists, Skip Lawrence and Christopher Schink, it is aimed at helping fellow artists push the envelope . As opposed to many art magazines out there, reading it does not entail getting attacked by countless renewal leaflets, and it has zero ads. (Yup. Zero). Each issue is dedicated to a different subject, written in a fun Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-15420124025690574462008-12-28T21:30:00.000-08:002008-12-28T23:23:31.553-08:00Jet Blue ArtSo, after the initial delay of our flight, came Tuesday night, and we are on a plane to the East Coast.A red eye flight. The plane is overheated. Way overheated. Like, way Way WAAAAAAAAY overheated. And because we were transferred from a flight that got cancelled 2 days before, I find myself stuck in the middle of the 3-seat row, between two strangers. (The JohnnyB is stuck in the row in front ofNavahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-22868040690383850722008-12-21T16:47:00.000-08:002008-12-21T16:48:48.429-08:00'Tis the Season #3The East Coast is snowed in. Luckily, Jet Blue is not letting its passengers go through the packing frenzy and drive to the airport just to discover that fact. They sent this email 7.5 hours before the flight, which gave plenty of time to rebook.And so, no snow for us yet - we're still here, waiting for the snow to ease up a bit. Sitting in the rain. In the cold. Uphill. Both ways. In the Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-30356258017437713242008-12-12T18:01:00.000-08:002008-12-12T18:06:02.016-08:00'Tis the Season #2Sent by Myrna (thank you!!!) and had to be shared with the world. So - what are you getting for the holidays? Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-50107170126052678612008-12-08T14:04:00.000-08:002008-12-12T18:03:36.264-08:00'Tis the Season #1It seems that everyone is running around in frenzy these days. The parking lots are full of killer drivers, stores are packed people on gift quests, family visits are in the horizon - and there's an edginess in the air, a higher susception to cranky sprees, and - needless to say - this cheery spirit is getting to us all.So, I figured that as a service to the public, I'd remind y'all (and us'all) Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-62695224252576940812008-12-04T21:52:00.000-08:002008-12-05T00:50:26.212-08:00There's a Fine Line between Critique and Criticism......and today it was crossed.Today was the last session of our figure class.No models, no drawing, no mess - it was critique time! Now, I've been through a lot of critique sessions since I dipped my little cotton socks (yeah, that's for you, Val!) in the deep water of art. Most classes and workshops involve critique, and I am very used to having my work reviewed by a critique group for the past 3 Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-56737946723349863412008-12-02T21:47:00.000-08:002008-12-03T02:15:32.620-08:00Sentence of the YearThe JohnnyB and I were having one of those conversations this evening, and it became quite profound and deep, dare I say on the verge of philosophical. Bear in mind that when you have a true Minnesotan for a spouse, this kind of dialogue happens once in a blue moon. (And not just any blue, mind you; Manganese Blue!). And due to that rarity, I was trying to get the most out of it.At some point, INavahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-86365784598189352472008-11-25T13:45:00.000-08:002008-11-25T22:17:22.336-08:00A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman?These days, my sister is going through our parents apartment in Jerusalem. (No, not New Jerusalem, OH... the original Jerusalem. Like, the real one). A long process of sorting through everything, keeping what needs to be cherished and saying goodbye to the rest. It's highly emotional, and a big part of letting go. Being here, I only participate over the phone and emails.She tells me of things sheNavahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-72259342242715667852008-11-20T20:43:00.000-08:002008-11-21T02:37:51.743-08:00If You Can't Win Them - Draw Their LimbsBill of the OnPainting blog has left a comment on my previous post, implying that I am yet to learn how to do some real whining. That still hurts. Badly. And yet, always open to constructive criticism, I took it to my attention, and so today in class I decided to change my tactics.Today was the last class with a model in the fall series. Our model introduced herself to us as Jan, said she was a Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-33835281071540192352008-11-17T00:02:00.000-08:002008-11-17T00:05:03.309-08:00More GazingThis is becoming frightfully repetitive, those models who pierce the classroom space with their bored eyes. I am not complaining. Not really. Not sure what I'd do if I had to sit in the same pose for 3 hours, but for us class takers it kills inspiration, again and again.Or does it? Last week, at figure class, it was portrait time again. This time we had Paul, a guy with quite an ordinary face andNavahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-55394456596529631262008-11-12T21:14:00.000-08:002008-11-13T00:14:02.679-08:00Beyond Sad WomenMembieK recently mentioned to me, yet again, how she and I seem to be specializing in painting sad women. Somehow, somewhy, we do that. When you step into an exhibit that has our work, it's very easy to find our paintings in it. Just look for paintings of gloomy eyed females and - bingo! You can't go wrong.So, I have decided to go beyond that. No more sad women. Many people don't like to look at Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4826787112363668601.post-2014742289480423402008-11-08T00:26:00.000-08:002008-11-08T00:50:38.265-08:00Another GazeFigure class again.One endless pose, yet again, like last week.This time, the teacher wanted us to go for the portrait rather than the whole figure. Yes, I know what y'all are thinking. Indeed, I've been doing mostly portraits the whole time, but that was just me and a couple of others in class. Needless to say, because he told us to do a portrait, MembieM (who always, ALWAYS does stunning Navahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03594536242955214557noreply@blogger.com6