Hindsight and Daydreaming

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

For the last several New Year's Eve postings, I thought I would have a little fun and share something with you in the spirit of the culture of Pompeii (pre-volcanic explosion!):  Namely, some naughty art.  Pompei, Italia (as it is spelled in Italian), is rather famouse for its art.  The entryways of many homes and public spaces sported mosaics and fresco of, for example, a man with a giant phallus.  American tastes often dictate [ahem...] that this is simply... er, too much.

However, people who live closer to the Earth tend to openly celebrate human (and even animal) sexuality and see it as a natural part of living, as they saw spirituality.  So, to be greeted by an exaggerated male member was actually a wish or even a prayer, if you like, for fertile growth and prosperity in all areas of life, even economics. 

In this "down week" between Christmas and New Years' I have tried to remain at home alone (unsuccessfully, I must admit), working on my art and reflecting on all of the things that I might have done differently in 2013.  I wish sometimes that I did not ALWAYS put people ahead of my art.  Or rather, I need a balance, but more importantly, I need to learn how to avoid getting caught up in other people's drama.  And learn how to extricate myself from it sooner than later, once I recognize a negative situation.  [I did send a message to my former landladies wishing them happy holidays in an effort to let them know that I blame them less for my losing my home this spring and was happy to receive a lovely response.]

So, this year, I want to share with you two charcoal drawings that I created from live models.  "Hindsight" and "Daydreaming."  Both activities are worth doing (in moderation) and today, I celebrate them.  So, in 2014, it is my wish that we all keep reflecting, dreaming, and learning how to love and how to live closer to our Earth.  Happy 2014!


P.S.  I have recently updated my Web site and have added a page specifically for "Naughty Art."  That way, if it is just not your thing, you may choose to avoid clicking on those words.

Hindsight and Daydreaming

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

For the last several New Year’s Eve postings, I thought I would have a little fun and share something with you in the spirit of the culture of Pompeii (pre-volcanic explosion!):  Namely, some naughty art.  Pompei, Italia, (as it is spelled in Italian) is rather famous for its art.  The entryways of many homes and public spaces sported mosaics and fresco of, for example, a man with a giant phallus.  American tastes often dictate [ahem…] that this is simply… er, too much.

 
However, people who live closer to the Earth tend to openly celebrate human (and even animal) sexuality and see it as a natural part of living, as they saw spirituality.  So, to be greeted by an exaggerated male member was actually a wish or even a prayer, if you like, for fertile growth and prosperity in all areas of life, even economics.


In this “down week” between Christmas and New Years’ I have tried to remain at home alone (unsuccessfully, I must admit), working on my art and reflecting on all of the things that I might have done differently in 2013.  I wish sometimes that I did not ALWAYS put people ahead of my art.  Or rather, I need a balance; but more importantly, I need to learn how to avoid getting caught up in other people’s drama.  And learn how to extricate myself from it sooner than later, once I recognize a negative situation.

So, this year, I want to share with you two charcoal drawings that I created from live models.  “Hindsight” and “Daydreaming.”  Both activities are worth doing (in moderation) and today, I celebrate them.  So, in 2014, it is my wish that we all keep reflecting, dreaming, and learning how to love and how to live closer to our Earth.  Happy 2014! 


http://www.borsheimarts.com/charcoal-drawing/2009/hindsight.htm

http://www.borsheimarts.com/charcoal-drawing/2009/daydreaming.htm

P.S.  I have recently updated my Web site and have added a page specifically for “Naughty Art.”  That way, if it is just not your thing, do not click on those words. 

Sammezzano Castle in Tuscany Italy

Dear Art Lover,

365 rooms in the Castello di Sammezzano in Leccio, Italy, but you may never see them unless you are lucky enough to happen upon news of a special tour.  My last post went IMMEDIATELY into my two Facebook pages, so perhaps the subscription works too now... in any event, I want to share with you some more of the images of this amazing place.  Buy it if you can!  [Then invite me over]

For more information on the castle, visit:
http://www.sammezzano.org/galleria.html

Happy, happy winter solstice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sammezzano Castle in Leccio Tuscany Italy

Dear Art Lover,

Back in October I saw a posting about a castle in southern Tuscany that is never open, but for a rare day, one could make reservations to get a guided tour of this amazing space with 365 rooms.  I told a friend and we spoke to another friend who has a car.  Then I made the reservation. 

"Full!" was the response.  However, I was later informed that due to a high response, volunteers would be extending the tours to two days.  So, I made reserved a space for the five of us that fit into the car.

The Castello di Sammezzano lies very close to Leccio, Toscana, Italy.  I understand that is it for sale.  It definitely needs renovation, but it is truly one-of-a-kind (in a good way) with a large amount of wooded real estate surrounding the castle.

I keep trying things to fix/understand why Blogger or Feedburner has stopped sending my blog posts to the list of you who have subscribed.  For that reason, I am including ONLY one or two images in this post.  The rest will follow in another post.  Perhaps you will receive one ... or both, as you requested.

For more information on the castle, visit:
http://www.sammezzano.org/galleria.html

Happy, happy winter solstice!

Blog Test Google Drop

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Hello again, I hope that this blog reaches you after a bit of struggle for me to learn why my blog posts stopped being sent out to subscribers since October after Google dropped my site for some reason.  

I wish you a holiday season filled with warmth, love, and friendship.

Cheers,

Kelly Borsheim, artist

PS  My book, “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” with over 350 images is on sale at Amazon.com and in Amazons around the world.  See some of the pages inside online at:

"My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1463774702/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1463774702&linkCode=as2&tag=borsartsstud-20

 

Introducing New Art: Passages - Morocco

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I feel grateful for a great many things, but mostly my ability, through you, to live my life and explore the world and our humanity through artistic eyes. In 2012, I traveled to Morocco. Alone.

In truth, most of my experiences in Morocco just made me feel isolated and lonesome. It was difficult to have a real conversation with anyone (it seemed only men who wanted to interact; women just smiled shyly or spoke as little as possible to me). Most interactions I had ended with a request for money or sex.

Many of these exchanges were mild and it was easy to disentangle myself. The one on the bus from Essaouira was the worst I experienced there. I was unaware at the time, but I had started to come down with the fever and chills that one can catch from eating or drinking something not particularly healthy. I simply thought that I was tired and had fallen into a deep sleep on the bus, leaning against the window. I awoke about an hour later because . . .

If you would like to hear more about this dubious adventure, as well as see my new body of artwork in pastel and charcoal, please visit the online version of my latest art newsletter here: 

http://www.borsheimarts.com/news/2013_11-PassagesMoroccoArt.htm

Portrait Oil Painting Vanessa

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I recently got the opportunity to try my hand at portrait painting again.  I hired Vanessa, the sister of the gal who modeled for my “Tuscan Mural” last year, Anna Rosa.   This time I tried to do my version of Sight-Size (which means more drawing and less leaning) and with natural light.  The window in my studio which has the north light is at my back.  I was sharing the model with my studio-mate Roberto Castellini.  He painted with his canvas on the other side of the model.  I was on her right.

I got a bad start, as you can see on this first image (left side).  I was not too fussed, really.  I know that I tend to draw short fat faces, like my own.  We all tend to draw ourselves or our families’ forms since those are what we have seen the most and maybe there is a deeper connection as well.  I was also trying to emulate my favorite painter, Eugene Carriere.    So, I was constantly using a fan brush to keep everything soft and ghosty looking. 

Once I got something on the canvas, I then started to refine the shapes.  Note that I was painting monochromatically.  I wanted to get my shapes closer to good before attempting some subtle colors.  But halfway Day 2, I started adding some skin tones, still leaning towards monochromatic vs. very colorful designs.

I struggled with the glare from this northern light onto the oil.  The photography task was not much easier than seeing my painting as I worked.

I missed plenty of model time since my lavatrice (washing machine) broke and thus, I had several meetings with the landlords as they came to check it out and then meet the technician for the installation the next week.  However, Roberto decided Thursday evening that he wanted to start the next morning on a drawing, putting his painted portrait aside.  Since I was not enjoying the glare situation, I suggested that we move the position of the model on her stand to a diagonal place that he and I had discussed before.  That meant, however, that the model’s face would be more in shadow.  Still, I would rather change partway through than continue painting in a reflective situation.

You may notice in the fourth image that I have a tendency to try to fatten the face despite my earlier corrections!  Sometimes one must fight one’s natural tendencies.

I had one more 3-hour session with the model Vanessa after this last image was taken.  I tried to refine the lips and also work in the shadows a bit more.  I was hoping to be satisfied with my efforts.  While they were not bad, this work is no masterpiece.  And thus, I should keep at it…