Progress and Process in Painting (Amy Crehore)

 Blocking in some shapes.

Adding color to background.

Here, you can see my progress with the new painting. This is just the beginning. Some interesting things are happening as I go along. It's fun to document the steps. I have no idea how this will end up. I am "creating" as I go and enjoying the process. Each painting is really an experiment. I do not have a specific chronological order of doing things. The design elements are leading me around the painting. Around and around I go. Adding layers of paint. I'm loving the contrasting colors shown here. But, it will change a thousand times before I am done. I based this composition on a drawing that I made in pencil first. (See my previous posts here and here.)

The Art of Amy Crehore

The beginning of a new painting....

I'm using a red undercoat for this new painting. The beginning is always fun. 

The Art of Amy Crehore

(See my previous post for pencil drawing of this image)

What am I working on? Drawings, Paintings

 Amy Crehore Studio Nov 17, 2011

Drawing of Figures on Rocks by Amy Crehore 2011

Here are some quick photos (taken with my ipod touch) of my studio with my large cove  painting on my easel (which I am still working on) and a new drawing that will soon become a painting. You may wonder what happened to my custom-built Tickler Uke #3. It has some really unique features that I'm so excited about it, but I simply can't jump the gun by showing it just yet. The luthier is a perfectionist. Good things come to those who wait! 

The Art of Amy Crehore

Article/interview w/artist Amy Crehore, INKED magazine (Feb 2009)

 CLICK image to ENLARGE (to read)

In case anyone missed it when it came out, INKED magazine did this wonderful feature on my art with an interview for their Feb 2009 issue. It's nice to look back on good things.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Neo Rauch at David Zwirner

 Die Warte, oil on canvas by Neo Rauch 2011

Fundgrube, oil on canvas by Neo Rauch 2011 

The artist Neo Rauch is currently showing at David Zwirner in NYC (533 West 19th St.) Nov. 4th thru Dec. 17th, 2011. The show is called "Heilstatten". 

LINK to more images. 

Shown above are two paintings that demonstrate his amazing ability to meld narrative, surreal images into utterly fascinating, nostalgic works with a command of colors and highly unusual compositions. My eyes immediately travel to the the familiar-looking bright yellow forsythia bushes in Fundgrube (like those in my own backyard) and the green tornado of a figure in Die Warte (my favorite color is green, especially that green). But, there are plenty of things going on in his canvases to keep you transfixed and unsettled for hours, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Neo Rauch's skewed perspectives are wonderful things.

UPDATE: Here's an interview w/ Neo Rauch that I just found in the Art Newspaper, if you are curious.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Two exhibits at the Frick and the Clark that I would love to see

 Sleeping Peasants 1919 by Picasso

 Pierrot and Harlequin 1920 by Picasso

Woman with Flowered Hat 1921 by Picasso 

All works shown above copyright 2011 Estate of Pablo Picasso/ ARS/ New York

Picasso's drawings from 1890-1821 are currently being shown at The Frick Collection in NYC, 1 East 70th St.(Oct 4, 2011 thru Jan 8, 2012). If you can't make it to the show, the exhibit is online HERE

There is also a catalogue that you can buy: HERE.

And, I would love to see this exhibit at the Clark Art Institute which just opened yesterday: "Two Young Artists: Rembrandt and Degas" (Nov. 13, 2011 thru Feb 5, 2012) 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA. Here's the special website for this show: LINK  There is a nice slide show sneak peek on their BLOG. 

Shown below, a couple of works by Rembrandt that inspired the young Degas.

Rembrandt self-portrait with curly hair- etching 1628

 Rembrandt self-portrait oil 1629

Degas self-portrait oil 1855

Actual film footage of Degas, plus sketches that look like the Tramp.

Here's a film of Edgar Degas walking down a Paris Street with a woman in 1914.

One of Degas' sketchbooks (dated 1880) can be found on the Morgan Library website. Shown below is a page from the sketchbook showing sketches that almost look like costume designs for Charlie Chaplin's Tramp character (which was created in 1914). Interesting. I wonder if Chaplin could have seen this book. I also wonder if Degas could have seen Chaplin's film in 1914 even though his eyesite was terrible at the time.

CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE (Page from Degas' sketchbook)