Underpainting

So, I ave begun a new set in my series of The Rendezvous.  The Sioux tipi which is at Tatanka, Story of the Bison in Deadwood inspired me.  This is an amazing place, conceived and built by actor Kevin Costner, following his making of the Dances with Wolves movie.

http://www.storyofthebison.com

I took photos looking up through the top of the tipi, or teepee, if you will.  The converging lines of the tipi poles along with the natural textures within in the tipi, called to me.

In this image, you can see the start of one of my new pieces.  It is the underpainting.  I start by staining my surface: usually a yellow ochre, then add the basic structure of the painting.  Here, I am beginning to modulate the textures to show depth.  I do this to all the images I am working on, as I paint in layers.  Letting the image dry between layers allows me to do my technique.  Watch to see the paintings unfold!

A Very Special Easel

As I return from an inspirational trip to London, I am rejuvenated with energy to resume work on a series of paintings I have been developing, which I call The Rendezvous series.  These images explore the converging lines and textures of  a buffalo hide tipis, along with the stories that were told in similar lodges over the millennium.

While on my trip to London, I had an exhibition at The Brick Lane Gallery, showcasing this series of art.  I visited my very dear friend, Janet Weight Reed, an artist there.  She  lives in the Hampton area, and has kindly hosted me in her home three times now.  This brings me to the point of today’s post.

This is a very special easel I am privileged to work on.  This easel was a gift from Janet, when she was leaving the West Chester, Pennsylvania area in which we both lived.  Many outstanding pieces of art were painted on this easel by her, and now I have moved it from Pennsylvania, to my home in Spearfish, South Dakota.  I am continuing to use it.  Not only is it large and very functional, but it holds that spark of creativity for me.  Having belonged to a talented and dear friend, it is now a tool I count on in my artists studio as well!  Thank you, Janet!

Back to the Drawing Board

In my studio, I have a large drawing board, which is made from a piece of bowling alley flooring material, mounted to an antique wood base.  It tilts, and for my watercolor paintings, I leave it at a slight tilt in order to avoid water spots forming as I paint.  I have a really cool antique raised stool, which sits by it, and I very rarely sit on!  (I usually opt to stand when I paint and draw)

In the foreground, you see the start of one of my new paintings for the Rendezvous series I am working on.  I am inspired by the converging lines of the lodge poles inside a buffalo hide tipi.  I am intrigued by the stories told around the campfire during long Dakota winters, and this is the impetus to the painting.  I will incorporate imagery from stories long told of a life once lived.

I love creative spaces… just being in the studio is enough to get my energy going:  I’m fortunate to have such a nice place in which to work.  I have built up a nice collection of studio fixtures, and have enjoyed working on this drawing board from my college days!  Stay tuned for more images of my studio and insight into my creative process!

The Creative Process

Here is where I am currently sitting:  it is a pile of chaos… organized chaos, mind you, but pretty cluttered.  Note to self: clean up desk area!  But, the next posts I will be doing are involving the creative process.  I am often intrigued to see how creative people work.  I have toured numerous artist studios, and enjoyed the sneak peek into their world, so thought you might find it interesting to peek inside of mine.

I have a beautiful studio in my home.  I was fortunate enough to be able to design it, so it functions well for me.  I have a skylight, sink area, amazing storage, and a large studio area, with which I re-arrange my work area to suit my projects.

Right now I am beginning nine separate canvas pieces in my Rendezvous series.  I will show the progress of various pieces as I move along with them, and give you a peek into my creative process.  This is the Bonnie Halsey-Dutton studio tour.

Back to Work

People gatheredBack from my travels, and now eagerly back to painting! I will be exploring the idea of storytelling and it’s role in  keeping a history alive.  Ancient man as well as modern, use storytelling to keep propelling culture forward.  Whether through a joke, an e-mail, a phone conversation or even a blog….

This image is from a painting inspired by an early Winter Count.  This Yanktonias Nokata Sioux tribe record is known as The Lone Dog Winter Count, recording tribal history from 1800 – 1877.  It depicts a famous eclipse of the sun which happened in 1869, helping to date all the other years depicted in pictograph form.  Narrative history.

I am drawn to the imagery of the people encircling the sun-like image.  The unifying nature is very strong.  I will be exploring more about winter counts and ledger art imagery to tell a history not adequately conveyed in modern history books.

Leaving One’s Mark

Northern Cheyenne MoccasinThis painting is entitled “Leaving One’s Mark”

I feel this is what I am doing in life:  leaving my mark.  Hopefully it is a good mark.  Mankind has left his mark over the years, and this is what my painting is about:  the tell-tale signs of life which we leave behind.

The petroglyph wall carvings depicted here are renderings of actual ancient rock carvings which can be found all over the plains region in which I live.  Not a lot is known about the native  people who left these drawing, yet much is know, as well.  Similar renderings are found the world over.

The moccasin depicted is a beaded Cheyenne relic.  I was struck by the checkered pattern the maker incorporated into this not only functional article of clothing, but the attention to detail as well.  The rock carver and the garment maker each left their mark, lasting much beyond their lifetime.

Public Transportation

I have enjoyed the challenge of figuring out how to use the public transportation system here.  Now, I know that sounds ridiculous to anyone who has grown up using it, but for those of you who, like me, have not… it is quite an accomplishment!  Overcoming the fear of the unknown, mostly.  Making a mistake…

These are all lessons in life that I am learning during this trip:  that largely, people are ruled by their fears… real or imagined.  I have conquered my fears in many ways.  Yes, public transportation and figuring out the maps and the stations.  But, also the fear of the unknown, and trust that I can decipher it and move forward.  AND overcoming the fear of making a MISTAKE.  For some reason, being wrong is something to be feared.    So what!  There is usually a train going back the other direction in short order, or perhaps, an unexpected and exciting path has just opened up by the “mistake”.    Any comments on this?

Save the Elephants

Save the Elephants projectThe Save the Elephants project is very large and is evident everywhere I have been in the London area.  The elephant forms are in several poses, and are painted by numerous local artists.  There are 260 of them, displayed at major areas in the city.

Attached is a collage of 3 different ones.  One is called Vorsprung by Storm Thorgerson.  Another is Elephantastic by Lily Marneffe,  and the third is Map Elephant.  It shows a version of the tube map (subway map) of which I have become very acquainted!  This elephant is by Anna Simmons.

More can be read about my clicking:

http://www.arslifelondon.com/dettaglio2/2010/5/save-the-elephants.htm

London Art

I took the day yesterday to look around at contemporary galleries in London.  I had contacted many before coming, and again, once I had my show up here.  I now wanted to walk into the spaces and see what contemporary artwork is looking like.  I saw some I really loved: I saw some I really did not love.  Hint: I wasn’t fond of Richard Hamilton’s show, “Shit and Flowers”  I did see some original Picasso, Dali, Rodin and Impressionist artworks by lesser known painters, but very lovely.  It was a good day!

Scale

The scale of anything is truly an important factor;  I have always enjoyed seeing the sculptural quality and humor of bookends designed on this order.  The first I was aware of were Disney’s Micky Mouse: posing as though they were struggling to hold up the books.

This sculpture, done in that style, is exceptional in regards to its size and color.  Anyone who knows me knows I like RED!

I’m enjoying being amongst so many different ideas.  Very eclectic, mixing old with new.  In South Dakota, old is about 150 years old…. over here, that is new… a different scale of measure!