Elizabeth Bishop 1911-1979

Sleeping on the Ceiling

{It is so peaceful on the ceiling!

It is the Place de la Concorde.

The little crystal chandelier

is off, the fountain is in the dark.

Not a soul is in the park.

Below, where the wallpaper is peeling,

the Jardin des Plantes has locked its gates.

Those photographs are animals.

The mighty flowers and foliage rustle;

under the leaves the insects tunnel.

We must go under the wallpaper

to meet the insect-gladiator,

to battle with a net and trident,

and leave the fountain and the square

But oh, that we could sleep up there...} 

I don't really know what this poem is supposed to mean but to me sounds like what I feel when I paint and how I feel when I think about the things I like to paint.

Happy Spring!

Euan Uglow, Pink Hyacinth, 1967-8, Oil on Board

Happy Spring! From me (and Euan Uglow)

Magnus Plessen

 

  

I don't know very much about Magnus Plessen but I keep seeing his work and responding to it...

He had a show I just missed at Gladstone...maybe next time

Ken Kewley

Ken Kewley is a truly amazing painter, one of the few living painters' works I have seen and thought of as a contemporary master. This weekend I had the opportunity to see a lot of his works in person and it was one of the best and most overwhelming bodies of work I have ever seen.  Some of my personal favorites are his quick studies from life of the figure and landscapes.

These images I found on in his picasa albums here which will provide me with even more hours of looking.  The thing I find most amazing is how inventive he is in each piece with color, composition, subject etc.  None of his works are precious to him and as a result so many turn out successful and fresh.

If you would like to see some in person and are in Philly, there will be a small show of about 15 works on the 3rd floor for the next few weeks.  This is because Ken will be teaching a master class at PAFA the weekend of April 14th which I so wish I could attend!

Painting the Periphery Opening

Our show opening last Friday went well.  There were a lot of people there to see it and I think it was well received.  Thanks to those who made it.  Here are just a few images I snapped. 

The whole show and more installation shots are available here on PAFA's website and flickr account if you didn't get the chance to see it in person.

My Art Fix at Work

Before I had a full time job, I spent a LOT of time perusing the internet, following one art site to the next, looking for really amazing artworks and artists I hadn't seen before.  It really became quite an addiction to be honest, and really time consuming.

Being at work 40 hours a week was a big adjustment in a lot of ways and one of the first things that had to go was so much time in pursuit of my next great find.  For many reasons working so much is difficult still but my one problem solved is looking for artists.  

Being in admissions, over the last month or so I have looked at hundreds of portfolios.  Many are forgettable, some are very good, and some are drop dead delightful.  Pieces like the anonymous student portfolio work above floor me and they are even sweeter because most of the time the student doesn't even know how incredible they are.  So, in sum, I now get paid to have my addiction come to me and I then get to tell the artist how fantastic they are about to be.  And that part of my job is pretty spectacular.