Every Fiber of a Woman in Flight

This is my entry for Women in Flight juried art exhibit.  I hope I'm correct in reading the prospectus that I didn't have to paint airplanes :) When thinking about it, I recalled a series of 18x24 paintings I did of women jumping or being in mid-air.  My series was called "Leap of Faith" and all three pieces have sold!  One of them flew all the way to Australia!  The buyer first bought an ACEO painting which is a 2.5"x3.5" original watercolor then after receiving it, surprised me that she had taken the time to browse my art online and chose to buy one of my Leap of Faith piece!  I learned that Australia will not accept package longer than 30 inches.  My husband had to completely streamline and strengthen the packaging of the framed painting.  And the painting arrived safely!

This piece was inspired by how I feel when I envision something that I feel it in every fiber of my body.  When I want to take a leap of faith or "take flight"toward something important to me, it seems it's all I can think of.

"Fibers of her Vision of Flight" 25x30x1.5 oil on canvas

Can you see the female figures in flight?  They are jumping to their dreams; their vision. :)

Why the blue eyes?  My answer is I don't know.  I just like to paint what I feel like painting when I take a modern approach.  It's not as structured a process as when I paint traditional style.  This painting was a blind journey from the beginning.  I wasn't sure where it was going to lead and I'm really glad it proved enjoyable.  My next project is a 10 million years old portrait commission. I'm ready to execute it.

What's currently throbbing in my fibers is my future art studio!  Scott and I have decided to convert our garage to my very first honest to goodness piece of heaven ART STUDIO!!!!  I will finally be in one room with all my art supplies and painting area!  No more filling my head with memorizing what room I put what.  No more guessing what's in the packed box with the movers' label still on it!  And I can leave a still life set up for weeks if I want and not have to put it away because the set up makes the dining room or living room look like it had a stomach flu and threw up YAYZ!!!! There will also be more private art teaching and some art activities!!! Some active raising of financial resources has begun and will continue to be nurtured for this project!  Thank you for dreams fulfilled!!!! I am doing mental cartwheels and somersaults as I type!!!

The future ArtByErika Studio!

Don't forget that you can click on each image to get a bigger view and feel free to look me up on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ErikaNelsonArtist  :)
* I just remembered the eye is blue because I read somewhere that Amelia Earhart's eyes were blue :)

My art and thoughts on Norman Rockwell

 

"Why is My Husband not looking at the Norman Rockwell exhibit?" 

watercolor on paper

It's been very busy in my B'ville art life.  I'll start with most recent and catch my blog up to my farthest memory...

We are honored to have 300 plus Norman Rockwell art works visit our local museum Crystal Bridges Museum American Art.  I'm always eager to view original figurative art and that was pretty much the extent of my excitement.  However, as images were being revealed in the museum's FB page, I noticed my interest growing.  Sure enough at the members' preview, I was greeted by these gigantic original paintings!  They were in oils, not some quick paintings that were slapped together to meet a magazine cover deadline.  I know, if only I had read up.  But it was nice to be humbled and surprised with an in your face kinda boldness :)

"Triple Self-Portrait"
Cover illustration for The Saturday Evening Post, February 13, 1960. Oil on canvas. 44 1/2 x 34 3/4 in. (113 x 88.3 cm). From the permanent collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum

The painting above is one of the pieces visiting.  As I study this, I realize Rockwell pretty much worked like I do.  Like me, he surrounded himself with inspirations from other artists who have done something similar to his current project - photos, books, magazine, mirror, etc.  Brushes on the floor and lots of crumpled papers that simply fell off the pile and I ran them over while concentrating.  My brain is usually like a chipmunk getting more bloated as I acquire all it takes to attack the canvas and any kind of distraction like email, phone calls (and bills) are pushed off the peripheral. 

Anyway, I owe Mr Rockwell my heartfelt apology.  I didn't mean to disrespect my fellow artist.  I was especially saddened when I read that he always felt like many fine artists didn't see him as their equal.  The only reason why he's not my equal is because he will always be above me.  Wow what a fine fine artist he was!

I haven't posted in a while because of so many ups and downs in my life.  I get very affected by stress.  When I have less than all of me to devote because other things needed my attention, it's very hard to go about the routine I like to keep.  I'll always choose family first over my art.  But the clouds somewhat let up and first thing I had to do was get busy producing close to 20 new pieces for a new gallery that started carrying my work back in October.  That's the Norberta Philbrook Gallery.  I produced 17 smallish -6x6, 8x8, 6x12 13 oils and 4 watercolors because I am artist of the month. The reception was well attended and I have sold pieces.  But I feel most victorious that I didn't succumb to the bad flu going around until after I delivered the paitings!!!!  I had every intention to paint MORE but my body had other plans.  After all, my husband has been sick up and down from the bug since October and I was able to avoid it and meet my obligations!  As I type I'm coughing still so let me finish by sharing some photos from the reception.  As always, clicking on each image will give you a bigger view.  I tend to update my Artist page on Facebook so if you're really curious, you can always find me there :)click here ->https://www.facebook.com/ErikaNelsonArtist

"Pensive Vigil" 6x6 oil on canvas

"They're Home!" 6x6 oil on canvas

"Nude Study 1" 8x8 w/c Photo by Norberta Philbrook Gallery

My 2013 wish for you and me

"Sweet Peas and Golden Hominy" 8x10 canvas

Something I wanted to get out of my system is my first painting for 2013.  A bit rough, a lot unlike how I usually like to paint but my wish is sincere and it comes from deep within me :) I wish us all Peace and Harmony in 2013 and beyond!

Recently, my husband was installed as head of his Masonic lodge and to my surprise he gave a speech that included these two cans.  All my life I've always said I wish for peace and harmony.  So I just had to commemorate this acknowledgement from the powers that be by painting this :)  It's pretty exciting to me as you might guess so I'm happy to share it with you!

Gift for Gene Hackman My only New Year's Resolution for 2013

"The Talented Mr Gene Hackman" charcoal on toned paper

My only 2013 resolution is to ask every new person I meet if they know how I can make 100% sure the original matted and framed montage charcoal portrait I made of Gene Hackman will reach him as my gift in my humble but sincere acknowledgement of his outstanding talent that I've enjoyed for years before he retired from acting. I've tried SAG and contacted the office of his agent but they said they can't guarantee. That's just not good enough for me. All I want is to let him know I really appreciate his work. His acting is seamless and excellent in delivery. I know he is currently a fine artist in New Mexico.

Happy 2013 to you all!

An artistic discovery!

Mom the artiste!

I tend to leave my Mom back in California while I explore life in other states. She happily lives with my wonderful stepfather in SoCal but they have visited me in New Mexico, Arizona and Arkansas.  Mom visits us in Arkansas twice or three times a year.  

Last month (August), was the first time I was able to introduce Mom to a farmer's market that takes place at the Bentonville Square every Saturday since we moved to our new neighborhood last fall.  We bought organic vegetables and some colorful zinnias that I was simply dying to get home and paint!

Our house is undergoing a lot of small to medium construction right now so I was distracted and short on energy.  I began to set up a colorful approach to painting the zinnias with acrylics on Yupo because I couldn't find my watercolor palette.

Sadly and almost immediately, I lost my interest after I painted a couple flowers.  When I was a kid I've had opportunities to watch a couple artists paint on their canvas (my brother in law and my cousin's boyfriend who she married), they seemed to really enjoy it!  I enjoyed watching them when there were opportunities and I used to imagine them inviting me to participate and hand me the brush.  So with that thought, I turned to Mom who happened to be watching me paint and I nonchalantly handed her my brush and suggested she finished the painting for me. My instruction: "Just paint what you see, however you want to paint and don't worry about ruining it, just enjoy!  Call me if you need my help.  Keep your palette moist and your brush wet."  She was a good sport and grabbed a stool and sat down and painted!

Occasionally I'd look over when she needed encouragement.  I'd remind her to pay attention to the different shades of the same color.  Pay attention specifically to the lightest and darkest. PAINT WHAT YOU SEE!

Zinnias on yupo taped on board

Above image is her first painting!  I painted the 2 bottom left ones, she painted the rest!  She totally painted the purple flower from her imagination!

One of the construction people was admiring my art on the wall and spotted Mom's painting on the couch.  He came up to me and asked me how much I'd charge him for a painting of those happy flowers!  After a few questions back and forth I realized he really wanted a painting like MOM's!!!  He wanted it for his wife "Sunflowers!" he requested.  So I/we accepted the commission and I had Mom paint him a happy sunflower painting :) acrylics on canvas.

Painting background

Drawing with brush!

Finally painting!

Acrylics are forgiving which enabled Mom to concentrate on each stage.  She painted the background first using one color with white so she can touch it up easily if she needed to do so later.  Then I outlined the sunflower discs on the canvas for placement and she outlined the petals.  I hope she retains the confidence in painting with brush vs relying on pencils first because I think her strength is her confidence and drawing in pencils first might hamper that.  As she painted, I pointed out that she needed to choose one flower as the "star flower"!  It will be the brightest and sharpest.

Mom stayed up until MIDNIGHT painting!  This was a woman who always gave me hell for staying up late painting!!!!

Mom's Happy Sunflowers

The painting was ready to hang when the client picked it up and he was quite pleased!  That evening his wife was working late so he planned to cook dinner and present her the painting to hang in her office :)

Mom outline painting #3

Certainly a moment I wanted to remember always!  She was on the last week of her visit and seeing how creating art was holding her interest, I needed to make some definite imprints and nurture this as effectively as I could with little time left. 

We had daily lessons of lectures and exercises.  We talked about the color wheel and primary/secondary/tertiary/complementary colors.  She painted them in her sketchbook.  We lightly touched on perspective.  I wanted to emphasize a limited palette and showed her how she can paint most colors she'd ever need with primary color tubes + white.  Took it a step further and showed her the difference between hot and cool limited palettes.  All this while she tackled her last painting with my supervision. I made her stay close to me as we made her composition materialize.  Applying her lessons on limited palette, I only gave her 3 colors to start plus white.  She mainly needed help in being able to see twists and turns and helping shapes show volume.  I think these three paintings showed big steps in progress which tells me Mom is an artist! :D

Mom used the fee she got from "her client" and bought art supplies that were delivered to her in California and some she bought from Practical Magic Art Supplies which is a new art store in our neighborhood!
 

Alice's Sunflowers

Mom's set up in California

Photo vs Life

"Maggie" 5x7 oil on clayboard

This month I've had the opportunity to paint from a photo that a dear friend had posted on his Facebook and I also was invited to a friend's home to paint from their property. Remember, by clicking on the image you will see a bigger version.

It was another hot day.  It seems we've been in 100-degree days for 3 weeks, maybe 4.  My friend Linda was house sitting her sister so I guess the opportunity inspired her to have a painting session with me.  I saw the figure in the garden and chose her for a model (they call her "Maggie").  Linda repositioned some potted plants around her.

 

Recently I've changed the way I start painting because I haven't liked the way I was drawing things. I was starting out too detailed and tight so my subjects end up being too solid for my preference.  Without thinking too hard about it I began painting in silhouettes to place my subjects.  Then...if I may be bold to claim, I try to connect with with the soul of the subject (there I said it yikes!).  I don't know, for some reason this puts me in a good place.  This stage is the left one above. 

We hoped we'd be shaded for the session but we got started a bit late so by noon, we were in full sun.  I got as far as the image on the right and we hurriedly packed our gear. When I got home, I decided I really should try and refine her immediately while the necessary information was still with me.  The result is the first image at the very top.  I didn't want to give it a super finished look, I wanted to preserve the plein air feel.

"Treat Lily" 12x12 oil on cradled panel

Most of my paintings are from photos because the scenes I would be wanting to paint tend to not be accessible to wheelchairs.  And when I paint portraits... well it just always seem more convenient to paint from photographs so I can pursue it on my own time - anytime.  I do prefer taking my own photos in both cases when situations allow.

Next set was a gift to our dear friend John who was ordained into priesthood.  I chose to paint from the picture of a lily that he took and posted on his Facebook.  I figured, he was drawn to the flower that's why he took the picture.  Facebook resizes photgraphs which lowers resolution but I proceeded with a prayer! :)

    
I was at the stage of the 2nd image when I remembered my double vision condition makes it a big challenge to paint flower petals or anything that's repetitive with similar shapes and in varied positions.  And on top of that, my memory bank is convinced that white flowers are hard to paint.  It was my will to be able to gift this piece to a very dear friend that allowed me to finish it and for that, I'm very thankful.  My husband Scott and I were so honored to have witnessed a special ceremony.

Well Oiled Wheels are Life Supporters

First of all I'd like to say THANK YOU and express my apologies for not responding to the kind people who emailed me and posted on my previous blog post.  Sometimes it takes all my focus and energy to get back on track so I end up not having enough left to do extra things.  But please believe me when I say your kind interests and love and effort you took to spare me the time was gratefully relished and helped me in my weak times. :)  Reminding you that you can click on each image to see bigger version.

My basic training, as far as how to manage my art career, is to tap on opportunities.  I have found that even though the tapping didn't seem to yield anything, the benefits tend to confirm on a later date and usually at a very needed moment that I made a difference.  Perhaps this was the result of the lovely article above, written and photographed by Cassi Lapp of the Weekly Vista, a local paper.  I must say it is one of few very ACCURATE writing I've ever been a subject of!  When I get requests for an interview, I go through a roller-coaster ride of emotions.  Happy, Excited, Honored, Thrilled upon being recognized to a Cringe, Hold my Breath and Brace for the misconstrued, and condescending, cornball or absolutely doesn't makes sense construction of a newspaper article.  I once was interviewed and the article sadly made me sound like I was criticizing the gallery and gallery director that was hosting a show for me - OH MY GOD!  It was one of those "Big California Earthquake please swallow me up right now" moment!  Not so in this case and I am now more seasoned in anticipating how a reporter would write so I had no worries about Cassi's article.  I was excited about what she might highlight.  As it turns out, Cassi highlighted ME :)  Thank you thank you Cassi Lapp!

The day of the interview, Cassi kindly helped me deliver my new paintings to the gallery which is officially called MaJesty Republic run by Terry C Semler.  And since the interview took place in mid-May, I have since left the other two galleries mentioned.  Part of my recovery to feeling better was to simplify my days.  I'm so glad the other galleries were supportive and understanding.

Now that I seem to be feeling better these days, I have been catching up on some painting and having some successful days and some not - but each attempt is never a waste as they are all learning moments!  As side note, the mold that was lurking in our master bathroom might have been contributing to me being sick because now that my hero husband has eliminated the mold, the air seems so much cleaner and my eyes are not constantly burning *big smile*.

A couple days ago I had my dear artist friend Linda over because she expressed to me that she wanted to paint the lean-to structure in our property.  I had recently painted it en plein air in oils on this 5x7 panel.  It was another 100° day we've been having.  But I had recently gathered most of my oil supplies together so I wanted to just paint!  So glad it was a successful session :)

Anyway, I think the day Linda came over went up below 90°.  Our property still has too much construction clutter and so I wasn't crazy about painting any of them or the lean-to again.  So I focused on Linda :)  She is so paintable and a wonderful model.  I've painted her before and I'm sure I will paint her again and again. I am always in awe of artists like Winslow Homer who painted figures in full action so this was a good chance for similar. Here are pictures of my session.  She didn't know I was painting her until it was done.  I'm so glad I was far enough from her to get away with it.  Then,after I painted, I was surprised I was able to paint her because she was kinda far away hahaha  She loved her painting :)

 

I started out blocking her in, in case I changed my mind what I wanted to paint.  Well by the time I put her silhouette on there, I knew I would go ahead and stick with the composition.

"Linda Plein-airing" oil on 5"x5" wood panel

Happy Friday the 13th until next time! :)

Momentum to start and finish

"Red, Red Wine" 16x20 acrylics on canvas

I have been sickly this year.  It seems when I suddenly got sick last December, I haven't really fully recovered.  Most days I've woken up feeling as weak and in pain.  But some days I wake up as if I never felt sick at all.  Those are the days I make sure I painted even though my stamina seem to only support just a few hours of energy.

It takes too much time to get my momentum going sometimes it's so frustrating!!!  So when I saw Heather Sim's photo of the wine she and her husband had been bottling lately, I too wanted to bottle up my urge to paint it!  Fortunately for me she agreed!!!  She's a wonderful artist so I wouldn't be surprised if she too wanted to paint it.  But she was generous as always.  My painting above was possible because of her photograph :) Please visit her website http://www.heathersims.com

This is how I began to draw her photo.  But it went flat quickly for me and I wasn't able to go back to my easel for a while because I didn't feel well and I knew this was not how I wanted to paint the photo.  Lines were too clean. 

I have very few regrets in my life, very few.  I can count them in one hand I think.  This is because I do pretty much go for what I really want to do when I have the opportunity.  One was I missed the Supermoon this month :(  We live among trees and I simply couldn't spot it.  The other thing is I haven't played my guitar all day long like I used to.  I have different priorities?  I guess college days my priorities were simpler: go to class and meet deadlines.  Mom cooked and did laundry etc.  So I was afforded extra hours of doing whatever else I wanted to do.  And this is how the next painting was born.  Above image was how I attacked the canvas.  As you can see I couldn't decide how the heck I should position the made up figure.  My friend Linda happened by and I made her sit on the floor so I can see if I had the figure impossibly twisted.  Apparently I was ok hahahaha  I pretty much make people do something for me when they visit :)  I don't have a decent photo of the painting yet, too big to scan for me.

© Cassi Lapp/ Weekly Vista

I was recently interviewed by our local paper.  It worked out so it was the day I delivered my new paintings to Gallery Square.  The reporter, Cassi Lapp was kind enough to transport the paintings for me so I was able to wheel over to the gallery to meet them.  Above is gallery director Terry Crowe Semler.  Thankful for the art community in my new town Bentonville, Arkansas and always thankful for loved ones, good friends, good people :)

A day with Oprah LifeClass Tour!

I felt it. So many of the people who know me were so hoping (praying) that my first chance encounter with Oprah Winfrey would be something like the image I Photoshopped above hahaha!   This is the reason why I kept quiet about my trip with hubby to St. Louis, Missouri for the taping of Oprah's 2nd season/3rd episode of LifeClass Tour.

Honestly deep inside I was wishing same.  Because I had never won anything like this.  I received an email from OWN saying they were raffling tickets to LifeClass taping in St. Louis and all I had to do was respond to the email.  Lo and behold, email arrived the next day and tickets were being held for me!  I was wishing deep inside that maybe, hopefully it was a set up?

The timing was good.  My husband Scott and I were celebrating our 12th year anniversary.  And that same week Gallery Square sold my biggest painting I've ever painted so this took care of the financial crunch to afford the trip since it was unexpected!  May I take a moment to just say WOOHOO YAY for those two big celebrations? WOOHOO YAY!!! :D

After traveling for over 5 hours we stopped at the venue, the Peabody Opera House (St. Louis, MO), I was instructed to pick up the tickets day before the taping.  It had to be done in person with ID.  As I was getting out of the van, Oprah also stepped out to go to the building and was mulled by fans and cameras.  I missed her :(  We checked in our hotel.  I wanted a place closest to the opera house so as to avoid as much issues the next day.

Scott's best friend he hadn't seen for 20 yrs happened to be in the area with his parents!!!  They met us at our hotel.  We had such a grand time time.  It's always a pleasure and so easy to have quality time with good people!  I really enjoyed meeting them and it was fun watching two grown up men turn back into grade school kids right before my eyes :D

 We showed up at the Peabody 1.5 hours earlier than I was instructed.  A few things must have changed between their email and actual taping.  So it was good we showed up early.  We were ushered to the wheelchair section, not bad seats in the ninth row.  After the other chairs came in, I realized immediately how boxed in we were.  I knew I wouldn't get a chance to get refreshments in the lobby or use the restroom until the taping was over.  The theater didn't fill up until 20 minutes before taping.  Scott and I kept ourselves amused by taking pictures of each other and the stage.

 When Oprah finally walked on the stage this is what I saw.  This is what I usually see whenever something important is happening.  I bet if Oprah were aware of this she too would be disappointed.  I think Ellen puts the people in wheelchair in the front row and she even dances with them.

 I think the pic was when a celebrity walked in.  

Here's my sweet husband who was such a good sport about taking me to see Oprah.  This whole thing was short notice.  He had to do a lot of work in order to take Monday off from work and other commitments.  Then he had to show up for work Tuesday morning.  Too bad we didn't get to meet Oprah or even dialogue with her from the audience.  The people in front and center had more access to her.  I would so have loved to at least make eye contact with someone who had positively pierced my thoughts so much through the years but I only saw her on TV.

When I was picking up my tickets, I asked one of the theater people if I'd get a chance to meet her the next day.  He responded, "I don't think so.  Just because she's on stage it doesn't mean she will have time.  Everybody wants a piece of her when they see her you know," he says with a smile.  *On a side note, I have a new favorite phrase - Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!  A piece of her?

Here we are about an hour sitting while we waited for the taping to begin.

The class guest was Bishop TD Jakes. I think I would have had a more profound learning opportunity if the segment had mainly focused on his teaching rather than accommodating too many elements like the skypers and the lady from audience Keesha.  The subject was a purposeful life.


Jimmy Graham of New Orleans Saints was there.  His story was amazing.  It would seem to me that at a young age he sat in his destiny's driver seat.  

We arrived at the venue a little over 11AM.  Unlike California, the meters were not free for people with disabled license plates.  The meter would only take 2hrs max.  We knew we were taking our chance.  I took this photo at 4:21PM.  Those lined up at folks arriving for the live taping being shown that evening March 26.  By the way, thankfully, we didn't get a parking ticket!!!!

We had a nice late lunch at a Nadoz deli across the university before we headed back to Arkansas. 

It was something different we did - to be in the taping.  To see how Oprah's show is filmed.  In the future Scott and I will look back and confirm we had fun.  No doubt I am disappointed I didn't get to meet her.  Nobody told me I was going to however.  I think I would have been more disappointed if we hadn't taken advantage of the sudden opportunity.  It's never convenient to do something different when you're always busy.  Oprah's network is struggling I wish her well.

When taping ended and cameras were off, Oprah came back out and expressed her gratitude for our attendance.  She said, "I know you came from many far places and you were excited about coming to a taping and put on your bright clothes and got your hair done..  But I also know you came in my honor and to support me, and for that I am very grateful, thank you..." (not verbatim).

The taping will air April 9 on OWN
Oprah's LifeClass Tour, St. Louis, Missouri