Carnevale Sunrise

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I love costumes! Like art, costumes allow us to express our personalities in usual ways. The mysteries of a mask, the fantastically bright colors that one might not otherwise want to wear, and the shapes, oh, the shapes: how marvelous is life!

But although I adore people in costume, I do not always love being surrounded by hoards of people. So, some years ago when I went to Venice, Italy, for the famous Carnevale festival, I took a train from Florence at 1 am and arrived in Venice before the sun came up. [Anyone who knows me can understand what an effort for me this was!]

It was worth the effort. The city was vacant and silent. Walking along alleyways while following the many canals in such silence was almost spiritual. Signs of life began to emerge as the dark night slowly turned into a dark blue. Local merchants began moving in fresh fish and other goods with small dollies. No one greeted me or even looked my way – locals are used to tourists and no doubt relish these quiet moments to themselves.

The morning was cold as I stopped somewhere to slip my costume over my clothes. I found an old mirror or maybe it was only a reflective window somewhere near the fish market, and checked the fringe on my mask. Then I made my way down to the famous Piazza San Marco.

The sun was rising. That is something I rarely get to see, so I made my way over to the water’s edge. What a glorious sight! The skies. The sleeping gondolas. The waters of Venice. And the costumes were out. The figures moved in the most theatrical of ways. Such drama in the quiet morning!

So, I introduce to you my newest pastel painting, “Carnevale Sunrise” Enjoy free shipping when you add this one to your collection. I hope you love her as much as I enjoyed creating her. You may see more detailed images on my site at: www.borsheimarts.com/pastels/2010/carnival.htm


"Carnevale Sunrise"
Pastel 16 x 24 inches
copyright 2010
by Kelly Borsheim
www.BorsheimArts.com

And a little reminder about my workshop “Pastel in Paradise” that will occur on the Big Island of Hawai’i in September 2010. Mark your calendar for this exciting (and relaxing) event!

For more about Carnevale (‘Carnival’ in English), visit Wikipedia’s page. Buona Festa! (And Happy Chinese New Year, too!)

Memories of Venice Original Art

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

One of the things I came to Italy to improve is my ability to add an environment to a figure in art. When I began drawing this lovely standing pose with my friend and model Valentina, I had no idea of where I was going. I mean, as far as what other shapes would surround her.

I know that people often call the style of art that I create “photo realism” but that is not the mentality I have when I approach my work. And thus, while I was designing the shape of the shadow the model cast on the floor, I created a wave.

This water theme stuck with me throughout the 5-week pose and what was in reality a slanted easel supporting the model’s hand became a famous and distinctive Venetian canal pole. And because one element does not a story make, I began to try other symbols of Venice to create a pleasing composition that did not take away from the figure.


Determining the composition has been a slow process for me. I drew the model in the late spring of 2008. I am not a faster producer, but also I tried many things that just did not work for me. Everything I arranged seemed like “too much information.” I played around with various shapes and sizes, until things felt comfortably pleasing to my eye.

There is an obvious diagonal going across the image plane, but I wanted something more to slow down the gaze. I wanted to move the viewer’s eye from the gondolas up through the cathedral to the model’s right hand and then face before traveling back down the left arm and then to the hand. For me, this was another nautilus shell composition. Apparently, I feel pretty at peace with shapes from the sea.

“Memories of Venice” will be part of my 3-week solo exhibit here in Florence, Italy, starting on 16 April. However, I have no problems exhibiting a sold piece, so if you know someone who would love to own this original drawing, please give him or her my contact information!

“Memories of Venice” is an original drawing in various materials (mostly charcoal) on Umbria brand paper. She measures 69 x 49 cm (27" x 19.5").

Painting of Venice Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

In the constant tug-of-war between land and sea, Venice, Italy, can be glorious. I have only been there twice, but each time was a different experience. The watery city is full of wonky mathematics that I find abundantly charming. Nothing seems quite right, the city itself is in motion.

The persistent struggle with the sea is opposite of the seemingly carefree life that most visitors see. I watched the gondoliers steer their gondole among canals that twist and turn and connect most everything. The gentile curves of these Italian boats remind me of the many bridges, turned upside down.

I created this painting “Shadows of Venice” to share with you the yin-yang of the Venetian play of light. In addition, the line following the curve of the gondola silhouette and moving into the curve of the bridge in front of it reminds me of a sine wave.

I hope you like the slightly loose brush strokes in the art, the drama of the shadows against a bright sunny day, and the tranquillity of this scene. Imagine yourself coasting along in the gondola and feel relaxed.

This original oil painting of Venice, Italy, is painted on primed wood and measures 18 x 24 cm (approximately 9.5 x 7 inches). Her price is $250 with free shipping from Florence, Italy, to you wherever you are. Payment plans and checks are also accepted if you prefer those to using the PayPal clickable button here.

I also wanted to thank those who wrote to me about the loss of my bicycle seat (which Doria told me is called a sella (‘saddle’ as if a bike were a horse) and then Luca corrected to sellino, which means ‘little saddle.’). I returned to Dario who runs the bicycle shop at Via Dei Macci, 63r. He set me up quite rapidly, changed out the lever mechanism to deter theft, and afterwards I bought a small lock to give extra protection from future thefts.

This is the third time I have been to Dario’s shop. He came recommended by my friend Elisabeth. One time I helped my friend Skye bring her bike in after she had an accident with a motorcycle the night before. She was OK, but her back tire was crunched horribly. Dario was thorough and fast and Skye was happy with the price. I am happy to have found him because I was not amused with the business tactics of the first bike repair shop I gave my money to.

Buonasera!

Original Oil Painting Mario The Naked Gondolier

Cari Amici,
Back in November, I did a sketch in a white pencil on a dark charcoal paper of an Italian model named Mario. Another “light emerging from darkness” image of a fairly classical style standing pose of a nude male figure.

I liked the shapes so much that I decided to make this study of Mario into one of my Naked Gondoliers painting series. (Mario is actually the first one completed in this painting series.) And so, I have painted this lovely male figure in oil on canvas in my favorite sepia tones: Mario, The Naked Gondolier. I wanted just a hint of Venice in the image, so there is a dark curve of a bridge behind Mario’s head and a gondola under his feet. There is a slight hint of light rippling in dark water to the right. I love the mysterious qualities of this image and may keep exploring these ideas.

Mario measures 45 cm x 30 cm (approximately 17.5 x 12 inches). This oilo sul tela (oil on canvas) will sell for $600, plus shipping and insurance from Italia $25.
I take PayPal here or I can send you an invoice via e-mail.

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And for those who are drawn to the original pencil drawing of the standing male figure, “Study for Mario The Naked Gondolier” is also available. The figure is about 42 centimeters (just over 16 inches) tall. I drew in the light shapes only with a white pencil on a dark charcoal grey Canson paper.

The paper for framing purposes is around 47 x 30 cm, not counting what would be under the mat and frame. The drawing is signed and dated 7 November 2007.

The original drawing of Mario sells for $200, plus $20 shipping and handling.

And again, thank for your making the dream possible.