Contemplating Lautrec, Degas, and Renoir

If one were to choose one art movement that seems to resonate with the broadest possible audience, it would surely be Impressionism. I am certain that this is in part because, now that fragmentary brush work is more acceptable in the art world, the soft colors and forms of Impressionist works are generally pleasing, but also more importantly, because they portray people and every-day events in an intimate and romantic light, and because they give us a vision of the world of a bon vivant, complete with cafe life and trips to the theater, a world that, to suburban Americans in particular, is extremely enticing and very exotic compared to their own.
Having recently viewed a remarkable Impressionist exhibit in Nashville (which could have only been possible in a dreadful economy-- otherwise, I cannot imagine the Musée d'Orsay shipping such a grand collection of its most iconic and valuable Manet's, Monet's, Renoir's, et cetera, around the world in such a manner), and having also seen fine paintings by prominent Huntsville artists Yuri Ozaki and Michelle Lee portraying Beth Norwood, a colorful local personality who can be seen and heard at Lowe Mill and on WLRH, in burlesque attire, I wanted to attempt to apply my Expressionist style to a different, more Impressionistic type of subject matter. The excitement and creativity surrounding the performing arts-- theater, cabaret, ballet, burlesque, concerts of all levels of formality-- have often inspired painters. In Burlesque Beauty [above], Beth is dressed for winter as her stage persona, Aunt Sofonda.

Keeping with this interest in performing arts and the expressive and creative nature of costumes or period dress, I spent yesterday afternoon sketching in the Lowe Mill theater during one of the K.I.D. Artist Collective's monthly "Draw!" events. I liked the way these sessions gave traditional figure drawing a twist-- by having the model dress up in an interesting outfit or two. In the above sketches, I focused on form and clothing, then imagined a character to go along with each pose. I particularly liked thinking of Degas and Lautrec while sketching the model in a tutu, and am currently using this sketch as reference for a new painting.

Huntsville Art Blog Discussion: How to Be a Successful Artist

If you would like to take part in an open discussion on what it means to be a "good" or "successful" artist, please click here to read my full post on the Huntsville Art Blog. There will be new prompts each month; if you would like to see a particular theme elaborated upon, feel free to leave a comment on this post or E-mail ChristinaBWegman@aol.com!

A Media Experiment

Using the same sketch that served as a reference for House, Frankfurt an der Oder, I recently created a block print variation [above, carved linoleum]. It was of particular interest to me to see how a different medium would influence the tone of the scene. The house, inverted and emphasizing negative space, appears more shell-like in the stark print on slightly textured paper [below], whereas in the oil version, it seemed transparent and open, as if its historical tales and atmosphere were emanating from the walls rather than strictly contained and hidden by them. The painting and print come together to form a bit of a study on matter and solidity. . .

Painting as Microcosm

Upon first seeing House, Frankfurt an der Oder [above], my mother remarked that it made her think of our trip to Ernest Hemingway's home in Key West and all of the stories that either took place or were written (or both) there, that it was an image at once simple and complex. Of course, the design itself was taken from a sketch I made while visiting friends in Frankfurt, but I thought that this was still a fitting reaction-- a house is a sort of world within a world, full of stories, routines, and events hidden yet recognizable to any outsider, as is any objet d'art, and the idea of "microcosms" and predictable patterns in both the smallest molecules and the largest galaxies were on my mind as I was painting.
The canvas [above] is fairly large and boldly colored, yet the work is full of extremely subtle details, whether in the textured chaos-into-order of the background or the interconnecting structure of the design itself. It is, on one hand, a depiction of an earthly home, and on the other hand a trip into the cosmos which is the greater home to us all.

Ascribing Artists Reception at 16 Main

The crowd was bustling at 16 Main during the reception for the most recent Ascribing Artists exhibit, where old friends greeted each other with Southern cordiality and new friendships began to take root over lively conversation. The artwork is rich and varied and will be on display until the end of January.

[Above, the artists and visitors begin to mingle.]

[Above, Jessica Oden and I in front of her work.]

[Above, the upstairs hall after the reception. My paintings, The Wanderer and Winter Traveler, are at the far left. For more photos of the reception, please click here.]

January Interview and a Call for Artists

My latest Huntsville Art Blog interview features artist and Huntsville Museum of Art curator David Reyes. In it, he discusses working at a museum, his own art, and offers good advice for all who would like to make careers for themselves in the arts.

Speaking of art careers, I am currently working with a team at Reflectives Frame and Art Gallery in Hampton Cove, AL, to plan and organize outdoor events over the summer, and this means opportunities for artists, both established and emerging. If you are an artist or craftsman interested in displaying (and selling) your work during one of Artisans Cove's "Second Saturdays" scheduled for summer 2011, please click here!

Happy 2011! A New Year of Art

It has become my tradition to begin the first day of January with a new work of art. This year, I decided to work on a block print [above, Variations on a Village I]. I have not made one since I was a child and so it seemed like the just the right medium to encourage me to take a fresh approach to making art in the new year.

I bid adieu to 2010 with friends, tuning in together at 1pm to listen to my radio interview on WLRH with Beth Norwood. 2011's exhibit schedule is already underway with an Ascribing Artists group show at beautiful 16 Main in Madison, AL (In addition to my own work, art by Vicki Garner, Leslie Brasher, Linda Morton, Russ Sexton, Gina Hurst, Lynn Weatherford, Beverly Basham, Deborah Taylor, Carole Esk'ridge, Jennifer Martin, Jackie Segars, Doris Sisk, Diane Lehr, Jessica Oden, Melissa Carter, Jane Blevins, Paul Fulda, Amanda Lyle Dunn, Cynthia Massey Parsons and Paul LaBathe will be on display). In February, my work will be featured at Reflectives in Hampton Cove. As the year unfolds, I will continue to share event updates and thoughts on art. . . for now, I send wishes for happiness, success, and well-being to all!