A few new things

Here is a finished piece I posted earlier in progress, a little painting of objects in the studio and a detail and drawing of the same. I am currently trying to figure out a way to make paintings that merge the sensibilities in drawing from life with the freer inventiveness I feel in working from a photo...

Thomas Chimes

photo courtesy Locks Gallery

I love these two Chimes that recall the Bay Area, done around the same time. I think I was supposed to live in the 60s.

A little Bonnard

This is one of my favorite paintings. It took me a while to come across a color representation so I thought I'd share. I love the composition and relate more to the cool light in this piece than most of his warm southern Francy light. Plus a painting that incorporates a woman, a wicker chair, a window and a table scape is pretty much perfect (Diebenkorn has done it, George Segal in his pastels too...but that's for another post...)

Jello

I was getting some recipes from my Mommom recently and came across this amazing Jello book. I love the photos and they have seduced me into wanting to make a Jello mold. There must be something to it if they were all the rage for such a long time. I think I'm going to start with crown jewel mold (seen in the last pic) and stay away from the savory 'cheese vegetable salad mold' for a while, seems more for the devoted Jello eater not a novice like myself.

Gross McCleaf: Places, Everyone

About a week ago, I stopped by Gross McCleaf gallery and saw the Places, Everyone show. I thought it had some interesting pieces, especially for this gallery which seems to be more traditional usually. I thought Sarah Gamble's work most embodied what they all seemed after: something of whimsical childhood turned on its ominous head.

Mt. Mansfield, oil on panel, 24x24, Gross McCleaf Gallery

I also thought a lot about how the show was curated as I walked through. I felt little strings that brought them together but also the distinct visions of each artist. Later I found out the show was curated by artist Mark Brosseau, who recently showed at Bridgette Mayer. I liked reading his statement on the show and generally like seeing painters curate painters. I wish there was a blog about contemporary painting in Philly, or maybe I just haven't found it yet. I read the artblog faithfully but it is most concerned with performance, video and DIY type shows. Getting local, contemporary painters' opinions is always so useful and interesting to me.

PMA First Sunday

Today I went to the PMA for the Pay What you Wish first Sunday. It was pretty crowded but good to stroll through with friends plus I haven't been since about April. I sort of miss certain paintings there when I don't see them for a little while. These old favorites include:

Vuillard's prints

Monet's Morning Haze

Van Gogh's Portrait of Mme Roulin and Baby

Soutine's Girl in Green

The pieces that were my best new discovery for the day were Eakins' sketches. I've always known he was a very good painter but never had much of a reaction to the work until today. I liked these pieces because they are unassuming, I can feel the casualness of his brush and the subtlety in his color is beautiful.