Emotion: Rembrandt and Schiele

A recent trip home to visit family, friends and my adorable Godchildren left little time for my usual checklist of galleries, exhibitions and historical buildings. I had to narrow down the list considerably. I visited The National Gallery at Trafalgar Square where the big show of the season, Rembrandt: The Late Works, was held. I confess I know little about Rembrandt and would not have put him on my list of favorite artists. However, I am now a convert. The depth, light, expression, variety of techniques - including very impressionistic strokes - and above all, emotion, were overwhelmingly powerful. I am not an art critic with the gift of words so I will just say that I was very moved and inspired as an eager artist!

Moving on to The Courtauld Gallery where a bold display entitled, Egon Schiele: The Radical Nude, awaited me. Schiele has been on my list of favorite artists for quite a few years now. I love his use of line and shape, exaggeration, brashness and slightly macabre expression. A spirited discussion with a dear friend after I had seen both shows reminded me that what I react to when I look at a painting that excites me, from any era, is emotion. It just makes you feel, so that you can't take your eyes away and keep coming back for more. You might not be able to explain how something makes you feel but you are moved. Deeply. Schiele and Rembrandt maybe worlds apart in centuries and style but they were both masters of expression and emotion.

Rembrandt, Self Portrait with Two Circles 1665-1669 (photo Rijksmuseum)

Egon Schiele (photo The Courtauld Gallery)

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Maquettes

I work with watercolor and black lead pencil to create a small sketch, or maquette, as a starting point for a large painting. I rather like these maquettes as they capture the energy of the gesture and carefreeness of the initial idea.

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The Salon NY

Another weekend, another trot to another show at the Park Avenue Armory! I enjoy going to shows in the Fall. This one, called The Salon Art + Design, hosts a number of galleries from around the world showcasing mostly paintings, sculpture and furniture. Here are a few of my picks starting with the highlights for me, a painting and a drawing, both by Egon Schiele.

Egon Schiele at Richard Nagy Ltd

Egon Schiele at Richard Nagy

Vanessa Bell at Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts

Jean-Pierre Pincemin at Galerie Jean-Jacques Dutko

Joseph Walsh dining table (detail) at Todd Merrill Studio Contemporary

Joseph Walsh dining table (detail) at Todd Merrill Studio Contemporary

Agostino Bonalumi at Mazzoleni

Cy Twombly at Mazzoleni

Willi Baumeister at Galerie Beres

Paul Jenkins at Galerie Diane de Polignac

Paul Jenkins at Galerie Diane de Polignac

Wei Ligang at Michael Goedhuis

Alberto Burri at Robilant + Voena

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Unlimited

The painting below is one of a series of four. Please visit my website to see more or contact me for information.

Transition #4, 2014, Oil on Canvas, 60 x 40in, 152.4 x 101.6cm

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IFPDA Print Fair

The International Fine Print Dealers Association yet again held it's print fair at the Park Avenue Aromory. I enjoy going to this show at this venue. It's a fair size show but feels cosy and intimate. You never quite know what you are going to find from a Goya to a Damien Hurst. Three hours later I emerged inspired and ready to create!

Edvard Munch

Elaine de Kooning

Kara Walker at Arion Press

Mary Cassatt at Keith Sheridan

Emil Nolde at Simon Theobald

Alison Lambert at Pratt Contemporary

David Hockney

Freya Payne at Flowers Gallery

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The Oculus

I heard about the opening of the Fulton Center transit hub in downtown Manhattan and just happened to be passing this evening. I couldn't resist taking some pictures of the oculus even though I was in a hurry. More pics on my Facebook page.

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Toulouse-Lautrec and Matisse at MoMA

My main mission on a recent visit to the Museum of Modern Art here in NYC was to see Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs, the show of the season. It's a terrific exhibition including 100 cut-outs, drawings, prints, stained glass, textiles and illustrated books. I was inspired by the bold colors and giant, simple, abstract figurative works.

I have always had a soft spot for the work of Toulouse-Lautrec, his use of line and shape and the way I am transported back in time and can almost see, hear and smell, the Parisian cafes, brothels, cabarets and other theatrical productions and events he attended. Here are a few pieces in the exhibition I had not seen before.

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In The Zone

Every now and again I need to get the glue out and start collaging. I enjoyed geography in school and my fascination with layers of rock, natural color and texture seems to find it's way into my art. Acrylic collage on 12.5 x 9in Arches paper.

Subduction #1, 2014

Subduction #2, 2014

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Under the Influence

I recently visited Phillips auction house on Park Avenue to see an exhibition of contemporary art called Under the Influence. Here are a few pieces I liked.

Jose Parla, Pioneer Street, 2012, oil on canvas

Enoc Perez, The Seagram Building, 2006, ink, watercolor on paper

Jacob Kassay, Untitled, 2008, acrylic, silver deposit on canvas

Emil Alzamora, Hector's Return, 2014, bronz

Ingrid Calame, Stooo-Peep, 1998, enamel on aluminum

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Oil on Paper

A small work on Arches oil paper. I so love capturing the gesture of the human form without overloading on detail. It's liberating! Visit my Facebook page to see some more.

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Inspired by Rodin

I so enjoyed doing these quick poses of the model (who is a fabulous dancer here in NYC) at Spring Studio last week. Remembering a wonderful exhibition of watercolors, drawings and paper cut outs I saw at the Musee Rodin in 2012, I was inspired to digitally 'cut out' the sketches and add some solid color. I really like the result and can't wait to do more!

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Construction in NYC

Once again the cranes are reaching for the skies here in NYC. I stopped in my tracks when I saw this view in East Midtown. Unfortunately I didn't have my Canon camera with me so I had to settle for an iPhone photo. However, I love those abstract shapes and was glad I was able to capture them.

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Art and Architecture in Boston

A recent trip to Boston inspired me to take some photographs of art and architecture in that amazing city. A sculpture by Henry Moore caught my eye on the campus at MIT. I love the large abstract forms suggesting the figure but leaving space for the imagination. See more on my Facebook page.

Three-Piece Reclining Figure, Draped 1976. Bronze sculpture by Henry Moore.

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Small Works on Paper

My passions in art mainly lean towards abstract and figurative work. It makes sense then that I find myself feeling the need to blend the two. Not an easy task! I am starting with small works on paper as I experiment with texture and technique. The plan is to eventually work up to large oil or acrylic paintings that are filled with movement and energy. I believe that my fascination with texture and color from the urban environment in which I live as well as the influence of nature, which I am always aware of, find a way into my expressive work.

This piece called Turning Point is currently on view at the Citigroup Building in Long Island City, NY. Acrylic on paper, 8 x 6 inches, 20.3 x 15.2cm. To see more visit my website or Facebook page.

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Armory Show 2014 Picks

During Armory Arts Week this year I ran from open studios to opening receptions to the Armory Show and the Volta show, hopping on and off those those fabulous Citibikes on a freezing cold day! My brain was overwhelmed by the end of the day but as usual with these kind of events, I was left in awe, inspired, encouraged and fired up! I found the Armory Show to be a little less edgy this year with not so many attention grabbing pieces - for attention grabbing sake - and a little more art that I could relate to. So here are a few pieces that I picked out for one reason or another. Composition, expression, movement, emotion or maybe technical skill are factors that draw me to certain pieces. Some I could imagine in my apartment!

Shinichi Maruyama at Bruce Silverstein

Scoli Acosta at Galerie Laurent Godin

Cecily Brown at Two Palms (detail)

 Georg Baselitz at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

Geog Baselitz (detail) at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

Robert Heinecken at Edwynn Houk Gallery

Horasan at Pi Artworks

Man Ray at Edwynn Houk Gallery

Ian McKeever at Hackelbury Fine Art

Ian McKeever at Hackelbury Fine Art

Henri Matisse

 Valdes Manolo at Marlborough

Michael Goldberg at VVFA Modern

Conrad Marca-Relli

Grace Hartigan at Armand Bartos Fine Art

Alyssa Monks at David Klein Gallery

David Reed at Peter Blum Gallery

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