Green with frustration

The subjectivity of color can sometimes be frustrating. I was in the middle of painting when my husband came into the studio/office and made a sort of snorting grunt. I had assured him the previous day that the green color was just an under-painting. He was just so put off by the colors. As he explained his impression of green is one of inexpensive products. Because this is the last thing I want to express in my art, I started to look at the painting differently. After much thought I decided to try some color adjustments in PhotoShop before mixing any more paint. Above are the painting in its current state and the color test. If you have any thoughts, pro or con, I'd love to hear them.   Anna

Green with frustration

Beginnings 2

Ah, the paint. While I enjoy the sculptural aspect of cutting styrofoam, applying canvas and papier mâché, I couldn't wait to get to the painting. Even the under-painting allows me to play with composition and color. At first I was tempted to paint this piece in a realistic manner. Then I remembered one of the strongest critiques one of my professors had about my early work: that I didn't have a personal style. Now that I've moved more towards abstraction my work is more alive. I think we all have a period where we are searching for our individual expression. This is not to say that the search ever ends, in fact it is always ongoing...

Beginnings 2

Inspirations

Admittedly, one of the easiest places to find inspiration is in the work of other artists. For that reason I love browsing through the local galleries here in La Jolla after a good meal. One gallery in particular caught my interest-- the Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery-- by showcasing contemporary and abstract works. These are not your run of the mill crowd pleasers featuring half-naked women. These works were sculptural, incorporating a variety of media from wood to copper and paint. The artists weren't afraid to play with the traditional canvas opting for three dimensions instead of two. Three artists stood out from the rest:

Weiliang Zhao- a mixed-media artist born in Shanghai, China and currently lives in LA. The vibrant colors and underlying textures of his work make you want to touch and caress it. I was charmed by his smaller (under a foot square) life studies. It is nice to see an artist who is capable of both massive abstracts and intimate life painting.

Taraneh Mozafarian- also a mixed-media artist who draws inspiration from her Persian heritage. The oxidized copper with its interplay of organic and geometric shapes speaks to a jeweler's skill, while her experimental pieces hint at a curious and playfull nature. My favorite-- the installations-- combine both aspects of the artist's creativity.

Pascal- a mixed-media sculptor born in France and currently lives in Santa Fe, NM. The artist's use of natural woods and rusty metals invites the viewer to interact with the work. Pascal writes that wood has a character, which he skillfully brings out in each shape, harmonizing with the media.

I hope that like these artist's, my work may someday inspire others.

Inspirations

Beginnings

I've started a new painting combining sculpture techniques and mixed media. In many ways this experiment is turning into a learning experience. After attaching and carving the styrofoam I covered the leaf shape with canvas for texture and a better painting surface. The complex shape was not so easy to cover. For future reference I will probably stick to more abstract and geometric shapes. As this piece progresses I will continue to post pictures. 

Beginnings

Art in unexpected places

Driving to work on the 5 from the crest of La Jolla to the foot of San Diego I am always struck by the paint that colorfully splatters over miles of highway. This unusual canvas first made me laugh. Then I began to wonder if it was a piece of guerilla art, or just a happy accident. Did a paint truck lose its cargo on the way to a home improvement store? Were some teenagers having a little fun with paint-ball guns as they drove down the highway on a Saturday night? Regardless, as time goes by the weather and traffic are slowly erasing this curiosity. 

Art in unexpected places