Doorknobs and Blown Fuses



Doorknobs and Blown Fuses, pencile and ink, 4x4 on steno pad      

What can I say?  I bought eight porcelain doorknobs at an estate sale.  During remodeling I bought some at $50 per set; I can't resist a bargain.  They may appear in future paintings.  My back hurts when I stand straight; I hate pain that suddenly appears for no reason--I may blow a fuse.  Back pain+doorknobs+fuses= drawing; makes perfect sense to me.

The Picasso exhibit is still fresh in my memory.   Yes, I do have good paper but steno pads are useful for grocery lists, pro- and con- lists, sketches, paper airplanes, and fans.

After Picasso



Pitcher in a Striped Shirt?



Flasher?



Picasso Exhibit at VMFA



VMFA Member Apres Picasso Exhibit, pastel 12x9

Planning is not something I do well, but tickets are required for viewing the Picasso exhibit at VMFA in Richmond--a two-hour drive.  Last week, I decided it was now-or-never and got myself to the museum Thurday at 3 p.m.--one of the extended-hours days.  A friend and fellow member accompanied me--she knows Richmond (I can only recall two previous trips to that city).

Eleven rooms filled with pieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris--almost overwhelming.  I could have used a break half-way through--not allowed.  Nothing compares to seeing paintings and sculpture in person; his joy in creating can almost be felt.  He seemed to slop on the paint in some places and leave the canvas bare in others.  I saw chubby hands, short legs, and long legs.   He created paintings of sculptures and sculptures of paintings; I could not pick a favorite piece; "Woman Throwing a Rock" came close.

We had dinner at the Museum's Amuse restaurant and admired the setting--the chairs (Bertoia?), the lights (Nelson?), the shades on the windows, the tall wine glasses, and the round green flowers on each Saarinen? table.  The pastel above is "after Picasso" and is not a self-portrait; I, of course, wore sensible walking shoes with socks!  This was fun and I'd like to try the style again with acrylics or oil.

A quick tour of the museum revealed large works by Guston (loved it), Stella, Dine, Murray and Twombly.  I'll definitely be returning; I regret that I missed the German Expressionist exhibit and the Chuck Close exhibit.

I was once very close to Picasso's signature.  A friend who'd cleaned out his mother's garage gave me lots of books; among them, Picasso, the Early Years.  Months later, I realized that I had one of 350 copies signed by the artist.  I took a photo of my hand almost touching the signature; then I returned the book.

Playing with Crayons (Oil Pastels)

The Seer, oil pastel, 18x12, came from many parts of my brain, piles of magazines, and a big box of oil pastels.

For several weeks I have been looking through ten years of Art in America, cutting out photographs of paintings I admire--my choice was cut them up or be buried under them. I came across an intriguing 1970 painting by Picasso, Buste, from his Mosqueteros (Musketeers) and thought of the fun he must have had while painting--this might be my favorite Picasso work. It reminded me that art does not always have to be a serious undertaking; playing is a good way to learn.

The Seer began with a Time photograph of a soldier peering into a huge night vision machine. My work looks nothing like the photograph; I spent about 20 minutes looking at it, then closed the magazine--I remembered the green at the edge of the face. My Seer looks a bit like the X Files actor, and he has the bulging forehead vein I saw on a doctor's temple last month. When the Aztec appeared on his back, the Seer's hairstyle was changed to match. Is he looking into the future? I have no idea--the painting needed a vertical and something red.

The Seer looks nothing like the psychic my friend and I visited once a year--Mr. Whiz of G Street in Washington, D.C. He never peered into anything, sparks never came from his chest, and his predictions never made much sense. We visited other psychics, laughed, and swore we'd never spend another dime on something so stupid--but we did. My friend now thinks she's a psychic and was offended when her local police department declined her help in a murder case. I enjoy my off-plumb friends; they make me feel at home.

All these thoughts surfaced as I played with my beautiful wood box of 120 crayons (Sennelier oil pastels). Next week I hope to be using a new camera, a Canon G11, and I'll post a better photo--the G2 has served me well.