Technicolor Tranquility

David Rothermel succumbed to the Southwest’s magnetic pull in 1987 after tackling a pivotal and dramatic landscape, “Silent Crescendo.”  “With that painting,” he says, “I knew I’d arrived at my own voice, and it happened so easily, it came out like butter.”

That decisive, 7-by-5-foot oil would go on to become the poster that celebrated New Mexico’s 75th anniversary of statehood.  And for Rothermel, having tackled some major personal conflicts and thus temporarily abandoned his fine art career to paint billboards, the creative floodgates were reopened.

Today, the onetime student of minimalist Brice Marden  paints in stages, mainly in studio, with mixed media. In my feature article (October, 2010 issue of the Artist's Magazine), he demonstrates his use of fluid watermedia, textures derived from pastels, and vivid color to produce landscapes that strike a balance between the intense and serene. Magical!

TONY BENNETT: Coloring our World with Music and Art!

Recently I had the opportunity to interview Tony Bennett, the music man who has sustained a stellar recording and performing career for over 60 years. While music has always been in the forefront for this mega-star (Tony has garnered Emmys, Grammys and sold over 50 million records worldwide), a lifelong passion for art  has also been a mainstay.

As a teen growing up in Queens, NY,  Bennett studied at the School of Industrial Arts and since then,  despite the rigors of the music business and demands of being on the road, has painted or drawn every day. Says Bennett: "The World is Full of Beautiful Things," from the film Dr. Doolittle is one of my favorite songs and it is quite meaningful to me. I have seen many of those wondrous things and  joyously reproduced them on canvas."

Behind that trademark,  mega-watt smile and infectious charm, is a warm,  witty,  totally unassuming man--a generous humanitarian who is forging opportunities for budding artists through his founding and support of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in his hometown Astoria. 
For the full story, check out the September issue of  The Artist's Magazine.  Hits the newsstands mid-August. 

Velazquez at the National Gallery

Win $1,000 in the Utrecht Art Supplies Video Contest - Submit a Video creating your work!

Win $1,000 in the Utrecht Art Supplies Video Contest - Submit a Video creating and showing off, your drawing, painting, sculpture or illustration!       Posted using ShareThis

Finally... A Grant to Benefit Artists over Age 45!

Announcing the Lillian Orlowsky/William Freed Foundation Grant for American painters aged 45 or older who demonstrate financial need. Deadline: 8/16/10. http://www.paam.org/lowf_foundation_grant.html

MADE (exclusively) for MOM: A painting of "A few of her favorite things."

It all began with a commissioned painting, entitled "A Few of My Favorite Things." The name was a natural, considering that my patron and I had made the rounds of her home together gathering treasures that reflected meaningful memories for her and her family.

Back at my studio, I composed a set up of these intriguing mementos and rounding out the composition with luscious plums to compliment the purple etched glass; delicate white orchids to offset the vintage cloth, I took some photos for my patron's approval.

After completing the commission, its title got me to thinking... "Why not do a collection of 'favorite   things?'" It also struck me as a beautiful and unique commemorative gift idea for any special occasion. And so... a series was born!

Mother's Day fast approaches... If you would like to thank mom this Mother's Day with a special painting of her "favorite things," please e-mail me for specifics. Mom will receive a personalized signed gift card explaining your intention to honor her with a beautiful painting, and together we will create a memorable keepsake for her and future generations to cherish and enjoy!.

Happy Mother's Day,
LBH
e-mail: theartworks@earthlink.net

NEW WORKSHOP: Painting Moving Still Life

If you have a passion for painting still life, I welcome you to join my newest workshop, "Painting Moving Still Life" on August 7 & 8 from 10 - 4:00 PM at the Art Center of Northern New Jersey in New Milford. Have fun exploring imaginative ways to paint everyday, non-living objects, like drapery, fruit, china, metals, etc.

Focusing on new interpretations of traditional artistic principles such as composition, object interplay, lighting and form, students will have an opportunity to experiment while working from life at their own pace. (all skill levels welcome).

Beginning with an underpainting (modified Grisaille), students will learn to understand the basics of light and shadow and how a dramatic juxtaposition of the two creates atmosphere and depth.  We will move on to adding  color and work toward completion. Short demonstrations, one-on-one coaching and critiques will be offered at each student's easel. Space is limited.

For more information or to reserve, please contact: Ruth Miller @ http://artcenter-nnj.org,
or call 201/599-2992. The Art Center of Northern NJ is located at 250 Center Street, New Milford, NJ 

FEE: $390 Non members; $360 Members.

10 Tips for a Better (Painting) Life

Last year around the holidays, a good friend sent me a list entitled:  "40 tips for a Better Life," which I have since seen published with various additions and deletions as "Enjoy the Ride," "45 life lessons and 5 to grow on," "20 tips for a better New Year."
As I read over the 40 inspiring tips, I realized with a little tweaking some of the themes could easily be applied to us artists and set about drafting a version that became my 2009 New Year blog post. Heading into 2010, I took up the challenge again. Here, then, revamped are my "10 Tips for a Better (Painting) Life." 
1. Set consistent work habits and painting goals and stick to them. Start each painting session by abandoning preconceived notions and stumbling blocks.

 2.  Be true to YOUR 'art and soul.' Encourage your inner vision; listen to your private voice; let your imagination soar and don't concern yourself with what others may think of your work.
3. Take short breaks, particularly when you've hit a rough spot or are experiencing a painting block. Stand back from your canvas on occasion. Quietly review your day’s work and take it all in with a fresh eye. 
4.   Take pleasure in the painting process. Continually advance your skills.  Read instructional books, attend workshops and exhibits, frequent museums, and study the masters.
 5. Be generous with your knowledge. Whenever possible, exchange ideas, tips, techniques with other artists. (Twitter, Facebook, Fine Art Views "FAV," artist's blogs, are all great places to start).  The more you share, the more you learn, and the benefits of networking are limitless. 
 6.  Be passionate about creating your art, but do make time to nurture relationships. As in all things in life, balance is key!
 7. Clear out the clutter from your studio. It will help you hone in and focus. Reassess unfinished work. Categorize as salvageable or not. Discard or sand down any canvases that don't make the grade and start anew.
 8.   Learn from the challenges that each painting offers and move on to your next masterpiece. Keep a positive mindset and resist being over critical. Give yourself the right to make mistakes, a free rein to experiment. Remember, oil paint is forgiving, can be wiped out if wet; painted over when dry.  
 9. Bring HEART to your work. Treasure wisdom and innocence wherever you may find it
 10. Work from promise not fear... the best is yet to come!  Think of that blank canvas as an opportunity to color your world!

A year in Art: 17 of my paintings

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Came across this beautiful quote by Souza. Plan to make it my mantra for the New Year.

And... if I may add one other phrase...
                                                     paint
           as though you can be seen but not heard!
A special thank you dear readers for your friendship, support and insightful comments this past year.  
Wishing you and yours all good things in 2010!
LBH

HOLIDAY TREASURES: Art for a good cause

Slice of Light. Oil on Linen 11 x 14
Just back from hanging  "Holiday Treasures: Art for a good cause" at Mane on Madison ("MOM") Salon in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Great to see the fruits of my labor displayed in such a beautiful setting all decked out for the holidays. (Showcase runs through January 3, 2010)

A stylish, inviting and lovingly restored 3-story home turned full service salon, MOM is tucked-away on a quiet side street near town center. It's an ideal venue to showcase 16 of my recent paintings, including: Slice of Light," "In Full Bloom," "Coming up Roses," to name a few.

This year's exhibition is also a fundraiser for Table to Table, the organization that collects prepared and perishable excess food and delivers it to organizations that feed the hungry in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties in New Jersey. A portion of proceeds from all paintings sold will be donated to this fine community-based food rescue program.

Should you be in the area, do stop in. Coffee is always brewing, browsing is encouraged and the staff is amazingly talented and welcoming. And in the spirit of the giving season, perhaps you could find it in your heart to make a small donation to Table to Table to help feed our area's hungry.

Artur ZMijewski Film Documents Collaboration between Artists and Steel Workers

The Museum of Modern Art presents Projects 91: Artur Zmijewski, featuring the premiere of the artist’s newest film Swiecie, 2009 (2009) shown in a continuous 24-minute loop, in the Museum’s Contemporary Galleries through February 1, 2010. 
For the film, Zmijewski (Polish, b. 1966)—whose work investigates social norms by inventing or staging unusual scenarios for his subjects and documenting their reactions—invited seven artists from different parts of Poland to collaborate with steel workers in the city of Swiecie. They created public sculptures that were installed around the city. Projects 91 is organized by Connie Butler, The Robert Lehman Foundation Chief Curator of Drawings and The MoMA.

Sargent and the Sea Exhibit

John Singer Sargent, 2. En Route pour la pêche (Setting Out to Fish), 1878, oil on canvas. Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Museum Purchase, Gallery Fund, 17.2.

The Corcoran Gallery of Art presents Sargent and the Sea through January 3, 2010. Featuring more than 80 paintings, watercolors, and drawings depicting seascapes and coastal scenes from the early career of the late 19th century American expatriate painter John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), the exhibition highlights the impact that the sea had on Sargent’s career, development of his style and artistic preferences.

The exhibit travels to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (February 14–May 23, 2010) and the Royal Academy of Arts, London (July 10–September 26, 2010).

Largest-ever retrospective of painter John William Waterhouse

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is hosting the largest-ever retrospective of the British painter John William Waterhouse (1849-1917). Thanks to loans from the Tate Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Leeds Art Gallery, the Museum will present all three versions of The Lady of Shalott, Waterhouse's most celebrated and popular piece based on Tennyson's poem, This showing will be the first time these three works have been presented together. 

 J. W. Waterhouse: Garden of Enchantment runs through February 7, 2010 and includes some eighty works, paintings and works on paper plus a book of poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson belonging to the artist. The first international exhibition of the artist's work since 1978, it is also the first to feature the entire artistic career of this modern Pre-Raphaelite, who was fascinated with  the femme fatale of literature, both as enchantress of ancient times and romantic heroine. 

A classical painter, J.W. Waterhouse borrowed generously from Naturalist and Impressionist schools and often scandalized peers and critics of his time with his modern approach and combined techniques.

Coming up Roses!!

"Coming up Roses"
Oil on Linen Panel
12 x 12

The vase in this composition was actually clear glass. However, as I was painting it a  Murano-like  effect kept coming through. Rather than paint what was actually there, I decided to experiment, go with the flow and see where artistic license took me.  Happily, following my mind's eye helped the piece as I think the hazy blue/green glaze on the vessel actually compliments the rich solid color of the roses and adds a sense of mystery.  Sometimes... everything does come up roses!

Sorry about the photo. Will attempt to take a better one and post  this week.