Monday, June 28, 2010

Watermelons and Flies

Saturday Night Watermelons, acrylic

(Seat and back were sanded; gesso was applied to area to be painted; at least two coats of acrylic paint were used; then an isolation coat; finally, three coats of archival satin varnish. All products were manufactured by Golden Acrylics.)

The owner of Sacs So Bo Eclectique asked if I would paint a chair for Third Thursdays. Third Thursdays are held in South Boston VA to raise money for arts. First I said "No;" then I said "Okay." How hard could it be? Answer: Very hard for someone like me, who usually paints without a plan.

A child's golden oak chair was delivered; I waited for it to tell me what it wanted to be. It said "I'm already beautiful and would like to be a footstool."

All my paintings have been on canvas or panels--a chair seat calls for a different perspective. I considered a painting of a robin's nest, or birds looking down at a parking lot (deciding which car to bomb), or a cup of spilled coffee. I wanted the beauty of the wood to show so I chose a napkin with cut-work; I don't have one so I made it up. What to put on the napkin--fruit, but fruit is boring. I saw a watermelon at the produce stand--not a seedless one but one with black seeds--like the ones from childhood.

I remembered summer Saturday nights as a child. Friends gathered at our country store--ten to twelve children. We played hide-and-seek, red rover, and jumped rope. A parent would bring out a home-grown watermelon and a large butcher knife. One well-placed whack of the knife cut three-quarters through the watermelon; then it was broken in half. The same method was used for each slice. We stood and ate our slices, bent over to keep drips off our clothes. I'd look up and see an older boy holding his dripping rind. "I'm gonna wash your face!" I'd run screaming and laughing through the yard; he'd catch me and rub the rind all over my face and hair. To bugs, I was the most attractive being in the Universe.

I don't think the bugs looked like these--I spent a lot of time researching flies. I know that they have large eyes and six legs. I could not determine whether their wings go up and down or back and forth. I guess these are Farber flies.



Working conditions were not ideal; I improvised. The chair fit perfectly over my trash can--just the right height.

26 comments:

  1. Hallie- I love the chair and the story from your past! Wonderful stuff! I too remember eating watermelon just like that- always outdoors- spitting seeds.
    Such a creative way to paint the chair. Perfect for summer and especially the 4th of July. The watermelon slice looks juicy and yummy and those Farber flies are fantastic!!! And I really love how you handled the cut work napkin- I had to really look close to see if it was paint. Honestly- it looks so real!
    Lastly- your studio space shot is such a great view into your process. I like those uncensored moments- the chair on the trash can. Yet another interesting post and another Farber original!!!

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  2. Hi Pam. I never thought about the 4th of July. We were good at seed-spitting, too. My kids probably think watermelons come in chunks--and I'm not sure they're aware of the messy face-washing ritual.

    I had a thrift-shop valance in the workshop--it has cut work or Battenburg lace along the edge. I imagined how it would wrap around the corner of a napkin--it droops over the edge. (That was actually the fun part.)

    About my studio space--neatness has never worked for me. When I'm painting or sculpting I see only the piece I'm working on and anything is a tool.

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  3. I love what you've done with the chair. I seems even more appropriate after hearing your story. I hope you totally enjoyed the process. The chair on the garbage can looks very engaging!

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  4. Hi Margaret. Thanks. I just applied the isolation coat (I hate the finishing part). I didn't totally enjoy the whole process. I liked the puzzling parts, though trying to make the backs and fronts of the flies match up was trying. No measuring--I eyeball--they're close.

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  5. hwfarber--what a great chair! It has charm and wit..! It's actually also very PRETTY..lovely colors--and for whatever reason, those flies look friendlier than a "pesky" fly. Let them have some watermelon..we won't shoo them. haha. It is all great...but wow...the napkin is totally impressive. You've done an exceptional job here--you should be proud of this!

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  6. I think having the chair up on the trashcan was an excellent idea. That way you wouldn't accidently sit down on it during a break between creating those cool Farber Flies.

    Like Pam, I looked twice to make sure the watermelon was actually painted on. What an excellent bit of illusionism.

    -Don

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  7. Thanks Celeste. I think my flies might be friendly little aliens butI never think of watermelon without the accompanying bugs. I thought the napkin would be a good way to honor the oak.

    Hi Don. I thought about you and the work you create for your charity in Las Vegas. I think there's a bit of pressure to get it right--or maybe it's the deadline. For a while the watermelon looked like a slice of pizza! I'm not sure pizza and flies would have worked. Thanks for the comment.

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  8. Love it and the process " For a while the watermelon looked like a slice of pizza! " That cracked me up since nothing I do looks like it supposed to!

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  9. Hi Art Trip. The journey is always interesting. At the beginning--it's terrific; in the middle--it's awful; at the end--it's okay. The bite marks on the watermelon actually looked like slices of pepperoni at the mid-way point!

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  10. You, and your 'awt' knock my socks off Hallie...what a great story...OH and the Farber flies...they are the best!!!

    this little oak chair must be beaming to be telling such a grand little tale...

    you spin and you weave and you fill my mind with wonder.
    I cannot wait to see what comes from your Arting Around in SOVA next...
    _/\_ _/\_ _/\_ applause applause applause

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  11. Donna (Merci), thank you. It was such a great child's chair, I was hesitant to mess it up. It came from a church so, who knows, I might have sat on it.

    I managed to find where I was on June 12--I was drawing boulder-sized women holding huge fish, with a moon in the background. (Obviously, I was thinking of your blog and the moon phases.)

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  12. What a great idea!! I love your unique take on things and your ability to paint those ideas.

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  13. Hi Kathy. Thanks. I missed your blogs but I'm sure my loss was your students' gain. They're fortunate to have you as an instructor.

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  14. Hallie, The Farber Flies are perfect as is the chair! Your reminescences zoom me back to childhood, things I'd forgotten, the drippiness of watermelon, spitting the seeds... (strange, I don't like watermelon now)I can relate to your studio, mine looks similar, right now its anything goes and total chaos!

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  15. Hi Indigomar. Thanks. I still like watermelon but they get heavier each year. I've not figured out how to pick a ripe one so I buy halves that look good.

    It's nice to know that someone else can work in chaos--I find it almost impossible to work in a neat place. Maybe we should enter the studio makeover contest on Scuttlebutt.

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  16. Hi Hallie, Who would have thought of it?...oh, you would. I bet people stop and take a look! Clever, witty and nicely done!

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  17. Hi Peggy--thank you. In Stephen King's book, Lisey's Story, there was a description of a place you visit for ideas. I almost felt I recognized the place (probably not a good thing).

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  18. love those Faber flies! they look quite domesticated and settled into that homely chair ... i really warm to the gentle wry take on memories and insect anatomy ... lovely painting and writing, Hallie

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  19. Hallie, this piece is so uniquely you. I just love it and the story of your childhood. We can so relate. Hallie flies are special. This piece should be a hit at Third Thursdays. I would love to see this one entered in a competition.

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  20. Harry, thank you. I believe I was working on this when I discovered your blog. I was torn between finishing the "pretty picture" on the chair (a first & last for me) or painting another "aging" portrait. Your work is fascinating.

    Hi Mary--wherever you are; thanks. Great posts from your travels. Years ago (during the 70's) I entered sculpture competitions, and won a few. Now, I feel like a winner if I actually get into the studio and finish a painting.

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  21. Ha, Ha, what a clever idea!! At first I almost thought it was a real slice of melon.Love it for sure :O)

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  22. Thank you, Eva. My kitchen floor had several sticky spots--had to eat quite a few slices to get it close to right.

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  23. Wow Hallie! How creative are you and what a great imagination. Love how you brought this to life. Makes me smile. Great job!

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  24. Hi Kathleen. Talk about creative--you'll be in Denver with your jewelry, and Boulder with glass-making. Congratulations on both.

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  25. I'd think twice before I sat down on that watermelon!!!

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  26. Hi MM. Isn't "Sucker for Punishment" your occupation? Have a seat. I'm learning about South Africa from your blog--beautiful photos. Thanks for the comment.

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