Skewing, An Artist Date and Endangered Sounds

"Seated Pink Nude, Tattooed" - acrylic and ink on canvas, 24" x 18".  Inquiries: imajenation@gmail.com

It's COMING!  Next month at Ciel Gallery in Charlotte...SKEW THE MASTERS!  My favorite show of all time, where artists "skew" their favorite masterpieces in the most amusing ways.  Two years ago, I skewed Rothko on three different pieces, now all in the hands of private collectors:

This year, after acquiring a book on Matisse and Diebenkorn recommended by Stan Kurth, the choice was obvious.  One Matisse (above, top) and one Diebenkorn (to be revealed), both skewed nudes.  There is something about this challenge that launches me out of my comfort zone and into a big stretch - which I really like.  Plus, there is something delightfully wicked about making fun of the masters. :)

It was a weekend of treasure hunting as hubby and I climbed around dumpsters at local construction sites and scavenged the scrap bins at hardware stores.  The smell of freshly cut wood fills my studio now, with enough pieces reclaimed to supply my substrate needs for the next month.  Success!

Thanks to Julia Cameron and The Artist's Way, I try to build in an "Artist's Date" (something fun, frivolous and adventurous) into each week.  Recently, I took a field trip with a friend to my favorite local shop, Buddha Happy .  There,  the owner and sweet spirit, Pim, taught us all about smudging with different woods, how to use exotic stones (like peacock crystal!  Who knew?) and how singing bowls are used to activate energy in objects.  Julia Cameron knows best!  I was refreshed and re-inspired after our field trip, and I have an arm full of groovy new bracelets as well.

And now for your Monday delight,  a little stroll down memory lane from the Museum of Endangered Sounds.