Sculpture is all about lighting and never under estimate the importance of the title of work.

Museo Soumaya Sculpture Exhibit - post number 2

The light from the skylight was hitting this small sculpture so beautifully,

 as I got closer it just got better and better......

but when I saw the title "La noche"  - well I will never forget this piece. It is terracotta on a wooden base by Albert - Ernest Carrier - Belleuse of France c 1860

I will definitely put terra-cotta on my list of materials to explore. The texture of the clay looks like pores in her skin. The imperfections = beauty. + light + great title never hurt.

 

 

Drawing with coffee, walnut ink and bubbles.

Anna is a whitish golden retriever who has lovely white paws and legs with golden ears. Last week she was in her first wedding. When the groom whistled she ran down the aisle with a wreath for a collar right to the feet of the beautiful bride Sarah. This is a wedding gift for Sarah. Thank you Gina for the wedding play by play. 

I experimented with drawing with coffee instead of ink.  I thought it would make a better likeness for a golden retriever.  Black ink just says black Labrador. Did it worked? 

I will mail it next week Sarah.  I would love a picture of the bride and groom and anna to post. 

shake shake shake -Anna                     33" X 20" coffee, walnut ink and bubbles  

shake shake shake -Anna                     33" X 20" 

coffee, walnut ink and bubbles  

Muralist Movement

Since I love monumental drawings I am particularly drawn to the Mexican Murals.  On the way to the Belles Artes Museo we saw the below mural. I am not sure the message or the artist, but the pieces does a great job of expressing anger and frustration. The drawing is 3 stories tall and interestingly the broken gun is on the corner of the building. It was cool to see a modern day mural right before we saw the works of Diego, Camarena, and Siqueiros. The Muralist movement started in the 1920's and was a powerful way to make a political statement. 

A mural a block away from the Palacio de Belles Artes. 

Curtis and Griffin lead the way to the Palcacio de Belles Artes in Mexico City- Neo classical , Art nouveau with an interior that is Art deco all rolled into one. The dome is crystal and there is a Tiffany in the theater. 

Curtis and Griffin lead the way to the Palcacio de Belles Artes in Mexico City- Neo classical , Art nouveau with an interior that is Art deco all rolled into one. The dome is crystal and there is a Tiffany in the theater. 

Liberacion or (The man is released from the misery)1963 by Jorge Gonzalez Camarena part of the muralist movement 

Liberacion or (The man is released from the misery)1963 by Jorge Gonzalez Camarena part of the muralist movement 

Work in progress 8-19 More bubbles

shake shake shake - anna 

Today I am experimenting with a "shake shake shake " of a golden retriever named Anna. Anna is so loved she was in her owner Sarah's wedding. I didn't think black ink would work for a golden so first I tried coffee then I added a little walnut water color for the darker areas. These need to dry then I will add more bubbles and shakes. Then I will send the best one off as a wedding gift to a beautiful bride. 👰🐾

Works in progress  

Works in progress  

Source: http://cindeeklement.con

pyramid pigments and drawing with nectar

In Teotihuacan just out side of Mexico City climbing the pyramids we discovered the source of Mexico's vibrant colors. A local told us that back in the day (100-200 A.D.) there is evidence the pyramids were very brightly painted with pigments from the local vegetation. His demonstration was so cool and surprisingly vibrant I had him do it again so I could video it. Griffin Klement is my translator. Gracias Griffin

I love the idea of pulling a plant out  of my garden and drawing with it's nectar. 


This mural from National Museum of Anthropology of the feathered serpent is a great example of what the pyramids used to look like when freshly painted.

This mural from National Museum of Anthropology of the feathered serpent is a great example of what the pyramids used to look like when freshly painted.

Another example of the native pigments used  on the stone carvings of the feathered serpent of the Teotihuacan pyramids. It is on display at the National Museum of Anthropology. .

Another example of the native pigments used  on the stone carvings of the feathered serpent of the Teotihuacan pyramids. It is on display at the National Museum of Anthropology. 

.

"the dark side - four Texas Rangers -late 1920's"

I did this drawing in June, which I decided to call "The Dark Side - Four Texas Rangers - late 1920's". With considerable creative freedom, I took these four characters from my original Texas Ranger's photo. This is a 50" X 70" MONUMENTAL drawing.  While finishing the drawing, I debated with myself (for a brief second) on whether I should put in the rifles, or leave them out. I had the feeling that rifles in a six foot drawing might be a little offensive in that time, the summer of 2015. I decided to be true to the history of the 1920's, and drew in the rifles, but faintly. After all, my grandparents would not have allowed anyone to live in their home, if they did not feel they were good people, and it was 1920. I took the drawing to a class critique at the Houston Museum of Fine Art Glassell Studio school, and sure enough, it was evident to me that at least one person in the class was very uncomfortable with the rifles. The animosity I felt from this one individual regarding this drawing and the rifles was eye opening. I was surprised that this drawing could evoke such unintended emotion.  The smaller piece I did a few months previously did not evoke any negative feelings in a similar critique. After the experience, I hesitated to post this drawing, not wanting to be offensive to anyone or to give the wrong impression. I have since researched the Rangers, and found that they did have a dark side. There is no doubt that many good men were Texas Rangers, however, like many systems of law enforcement you can find corruption and abuse if you look hard enough.  I do know my grandparents would not have tolerated anyone living in their home that were not good men. So I posted this picture, aware that there is a dark side to the Texas Rangers, but ultimately deciding not to condemn all for the poor decisions of a few. Further evaluating what caused this image to evoke such a negative emotion, I think it has to be the dark shadows. The shadows make these men very sinister, but the truth is, these men probably did not even realize they were standing on the dark side of the rock wall. On a lighter note, I was very happy with the use of the negative space, and how the lack of detail in the images gives the piece energy.