Poem Titled "Solitude"

When I am alone...
My thoughts become tangible, their validity halted only
by the barriers erected in my own mind. Freedom is no longer unattainable.

When I am alone...
My childhood memories envelop me. They smell acrid
yet wonderfully familiar. I was loved.

When I am alone...
My emotions are docile. Volatility evaporates, leaving only –
Serenity. I am finally appeased. Happiness is but a breath away.

When I am alone...
My fears dissipate, halted by the quiet. The fearlessness sits on my palate like a fine delicacy. I am proud.

When I am alone

New Painting - Burqa

Dark, mysterious and heavy with the burden of ancestors.
Religious freedom to some – frightening to others
Some see only the lack and not the essence of what is real
What is hidden never as important as what is.
Judge me by the language of my eyes not by the clothes that I bear
Please see my eyes speak.

Oil On Canvas

I started this painting after I read that the French placed a ban on woman wearing burquas in public. I am thinking of doing a series on what makes people afraid but I wonder if it will ever be finished…

.

Time For New Ideas!

It's been a long time. I have been a tad busy but everything is going great. I have been accepted as a finalist for The Icon Prize . A chance to participate in this project, the republished book cover for the wonderful novel "The Unfastened Heart", is very exciting and I am truly honored. I know, I know - it sounds lame but it's true!

Also, I have just returned from a workshop at the Watts Atelier studying with Jeffrey Watts . What an experience! I will write about this in a blog by itself soon.

I feel the need to stretch my artistic wings! I have some new ideas for the next stage of my artistic journey. It involves abstracts...

Every time you knowingly hurt someone you lose a piece of yourself. I believe we are a culmination of not only our environments but also our actions. In the end, how much of us is left? The working title of my new series is titled “Fractured”. I am not sure when I will have the first painting completed or even started. I am sketching out my ideas now. I hope for productive thoughts, exciting ideas and I wish the same for you.

Best Regards, Monica

Why I Love To Paint Landscapes

The other day I was working on a new piece and I wondered why I loved painting landscapes so much. I think it is because nature is ever changing, regenerating itself despite season, desolation or man's interference. The elements of nature will be here long after man has disappeared. A volcano erupts, lava flows and what do you get? More land. Something that can be so destructive actually creates more than it takes. A fire burns, leaving the acrid smell of smoke and ashes and what does that leave? Regrowth. Buds burst from the burnt cinders and generates the wonderful gift of nature for us to enjoy once again.

The ability to destroy yet also renew, to be both as beautiful as the first bloom of a spring flower or as glorious as the most ominous storm cloud is why I love landscapes. It is never the same. I see something new in every leaf and every petal. My senses glory over the smell of newly cut grass, the scent of an impending rainstorm, the wonderful quiet of a hidden field of wildflowers that only I have managed to discover; at least in my own mind.

When I paint landscapes, in some small way, I try to show the viewer that though the nature of a season may remain the same, none are ever identical.

Monica

2010 Renoir Exhibit In Philadelphia

I visited the Renoir exhibit on Sunday at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I could not get enough of his beautiful, soft and wistful canvases. Captivating people painted with whimsical expressions having fun and looking delightfully cheerful. Pretty girls in frilly dresses that now would be called costumes. A style so distinct you recognize it immediately as a Renoir. This is a man who, like many of his peers, dedicated his entire life to his craft. In his later years even after developing arthritis he still painted for another 20 years. I strive to learn from this artist. Not necessarily his style but definitely his passion for painting, which never faltered.
　
My favorite Renoir quote -

“I think I’m beginning to know something about painting,” said on the day he died.

To learn more about Pierre-Auguste Renoir visit here or here.

Best Regards, Monica

Blick Art Materials Sponsored Red Bubble Winner!

Congratulations to the very talented George Paul Miller who won the Blick Art Materials sponsored challenge on Red Bubble.

George's winning entry titled "Lauren's Gift - With Hope" and more of his work can be viewed on the Red Bubble site by visiting here.

Thank you Blick Art Materials for your continued support of the arts and sponsoring this challenge. The products you offer and your fantastic deals keep me coming back! I hope others will discover what your website has to offer.

Best Regards, Monica

George Paul Miller

Blick Sponsored Art Challenge!

Announcing an oil painting challenge currently in progress in the Oil Painting group (OPG) on a site I am a member of called Red Bubble (RB). If you don't know about it, it is a social networking art and photography website and is a wonderful forum for communicating with other artists and also exhibiting and selling your art. Unfortunately, the contest is for RB members only, but now that you know about it - check it out! You may want to become a member and enter the next contest. Please visit the Oil Painting Group Challenge Page to follow the challenge titled "Artists Choice". This challenge is sponsored by Blick Art Materials . If you haven't visited their website you're in for a treat! They are currently celebrating their 100 yr anniversary so please visit their website http://www.dickblick.com/ to discover all this company has to offer.

Best Regards, Monica

Results of the Red Bubble Challenges Sponsored by Kama Pigments

And we have our winners! The talented artists who won the Kama Pigments sponsored challenges on RedBubble are:

Graham Clark won the Landscape challenge with his painting "Brimham Rocks".

Elena Oleniuc won the Still Life challenge with her painting "Happy Morning" .

and Elena also won the Human Figure challenge with her painting "Dance" .

To learn more about Graham...Graham Clark or
here.
To learn more about Elena...Elena Oleniuc .

Red Bubble hosts thousands of talanted painters, photographers and writers. Please pay a visit to the wonderful art networking site.

Thanks again to Kama Pigments our sponsor for these challenges and visit their website to discover all this company has to offer.

This was a wonderful challenge but I have one question. Are you ready for next year?

Best Regards, Monica

Announcing Oil Painting Challenges

This message sponsored by Kama Pigments






Announcing numerous oil painting challenges currently in progress in the Oil Painting group (OPG) on a site I am a member of called Red Bubble (RB). If you don't know about it, it is a social networking art and photography website and is a wonderful forum for communicating with other artists and also exhibiting and selling your art. Unfortunately, the contest is for RB members only, but now that you know about it - check it out! You may want to become a member and enter the next contest.

Please visit the Oil Painting Group Homepage and then click on the challenges tab to access the three current challenges - The Landscape, The Still Life & The Figure In Movement all sponsored by Kama Pigments.

Please visit their website www.kampigments.com to discover all this company has to offer. Two of their unique pigments now have a permanent place of my palette so I hope that you will visit their website - you will not be disappointed.

Best Regards, Monica

The Cubism Movement and Why I Finally "Get It"

I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art today and saw the Picasso and the Avant-Garde in Paris exhibit and I now have a new and utterly profound respect for the Cubist Art Movement. Previously, I liked the art form but I was not in love with it. I am a lover of nature; show me a Turner, Moran or a Constable and I am in heaven. But Cubism, though interesting, was just not all that fascinating to me. I never “got it”. Until today. Walking through that exhibit I finally understood the concept of this wonderful and energetic movement, it’s ability to take the average and make it exciting, forcing the viewer to experience this world in a different and, in my opinion, wonderful way. I know now why these innovative artists hold a very important place in art history. I learned today that what might seem boring and mundane can be shattered and remade. What may have been plain and uninteresting before I now know can be dissected, and a work of art can be created by eliminating my preconceived ideas of what reality and beauty look like.

Why did it take me so long to see it? Maybe viewing the actual artwork in all of its glory helped or maybe as an artist who is continuously expanding her art education, I wasn’t ready to understand it before now. Strangely, it wasn't even a Picasso piece that enlightened me. It was Gris. Juan Gris to be exact and believe me I want to be exact because standing in front of his painting “Still Life Before an Open Window. Ravignan” was a very strange experience. My first thought was (exactly what I always thought when looking at anything abstract, including cubism) -“Hmmmm. Interesting”, while walking away. And then I stopped, backed up and really looked at it. And there it was. For some reason Gris was able to communicate to me through his canvas and finally I understood Cubism.

The painting I am speaking of is below. Is it pretty? Well, quite honestly, I don’t think so. Does it have a stunning color palette? Again, no, I don’t think so. But, for me, it is now one of my favorite works of art. I will tell you what I saw when I looked at this painting and why I like it so much.

The trees above framing the top half of the composition gives me the impression of being enclosed as if Gris was looking out of a window. I then saw what looked like a balcony with a table in front. I saw the writing which made me think it was a newspaper on the table and I also saw what looked like a cup. I imagined Gris sitting at his balcony deciding to share the view of his world at that moment but on HIS terms. Through Cubism.


Juan Gris, Spanish
1887 - 1927
Currently on exhibit here

Everyone has different taste. Maybe you don’t like this painting and believe me, I respect that. But I would ask that you use my story as an example to please keep an open mind when experiencing new things or, like me in this case, try looking at the previous in a different way and you may notice something you hadn’t seen before. And just in case you don’t know, this advice does not apply only to art.

If I could talk to Juan Gris today, I would say thank you! Thank you for taking me on a magical journey and allowing me to see the world through your eyes if only for a moment.

To learn more about Juan Gris
To learn more about Cubism

Best Regards, Monica

African American Artists

This blog post is dedicated to master African American Artists who many may have never heard of. I will try to add links to their work, biographies and their movement. There are so many many more that are not included on this list. To continue your art history education and to learn more about these and other African American artists not included in this blog, a great start is Artcyclopedia. This site provides the artist, date of birth/death and worldwide locations of their artwork. These artist’s have contributed their creative vision to the history of art and I hope some will research and view their body of work and enjoy.



Robert Scott Duncanson, 1821-1872. Hudson River School Painter. Beautiful and serene, Duncanson’s work sheds light on American art that has been forgotten over the years…






Edward Mitchell Bannister, 1828-1901. Painter/Tonalism. Although primarily known for his idealized landscapes and seascapes, Bannister also executed portraits, biblical and mythological scenes, and genre scenes…








Harriet Powers, 1837-1910. Quilting. She used traditional appliqué techniques to record local legends, Bible stories, and astronomical events on her quilts…










Edmonia Lewis, 1845-1911. Neoclassical Sculptor. Was the first African American and Native American woman to gain fame and recognition as a sculptor in the international fine arts world…







William “Bill” Traylor, 1854-1949. Folk Artist. William Traylor was a self-taught artist born into slavery on a plantation near Benton, in Lowndes County, Alabama…







George Joseph Herriman, 1880-1944. Illustrator/Comic Art. was an American cartoonist, best known for his comic strip Krazy Kat…









James Van Der Zee, 1886-1983. Photographer. He was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance…

"Lily" is Completed

I have just completed a new painting titled "Lily". The concept for this painting was to use a predominately cool color palette. I wanted to know if the composition would be balanced with only a small portion of the canvas warm (in this case, the skin tones). I am happy with the end result.



HAD I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with the golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams beneath your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams...

William Butler Yeats

Samaritan Hospice Exhibit 2009

I am posting a couple of photos from my latest exhibit "Arts for Awareness". It was an important fund-raising event for a wonderful cause, The Samaritan Hospice. Check out http://www.yogacenterofmedford.com/ if you get a chance. It is a beautiful venue.

I wish all of my fellow artists creative and productive year!

Best Regards, Monica Vanzant

I have recently been looking for a printer of giclee prints and have been inundated with the term "DPI". I have learned that printers use this as an indicator of how well a print will be produced. Unfortunately, a lot of artists are not printers but we do use cameras to document our work and to obtain reference material and anyone with a digital camera uses the term "pixels". So how do you translate pixels to DPI? I found a great article by Ken Powers titled "The Myth of DPI" that explains exactly that. Please visit his site to read the entire article. His site provides a lot of great information about digital cameras and is very informative.

Regards, Monica

Johnnie Liliedahl Workshop At Painter Paradise

I wanted to share a great experience I had recently attending a painting workshop with Johnnie Liliedahl. The workshop was held at a wonderful out-of-the-way jewel in the small town of Claymont Delaware called Painters Paradise. Johnnie happens to be one of my favorite living artists and I was thrilled to be able to finally study under her in person. Please visit her website I promise you won't regret it. As an added bonus we also had the pleasure of following a demonstration given by Linda, one of Johnnie's artist teachers. The three day workshop was an exhilarating creative experience, one that I hope I can do again. The owner of Painters Paradise is Jo Lutness and what a ball of energy this lady is! Down to earth and with a sense of humor to match, she immediately made me feel welcome and coordinated this event like a well oiled machine.

The painting area itself, at first glance, looked small but the atmosphere was intimate and even though there was a full house of budding beginner's, intermediate and advanced artists in attendance, there was plenty of room to lay out your supplies and paint to your hearts content. Not sure how long this establishment has been in business but I would urge my fellow artists to check out the website and see if you find something of interest.

All told, this was a great and challenging weekend and if you decide to attend a workshop, enjoy the great atmosphere and the delicious homemade goodies Jo prepares for you everyday!

Take Care, Monica







STUDY

Michael Jackson Earth Video

I am posting this video because we have truly lost a gifted artist in Michael Jackson. No matter what your opinion of his personal life, I believe him to be one of the greatest artist in my lifetime. I cannot, will not deny him this.

This song was not released in the US, but was Michael's biggest hit in the UK, beating out "Thriller" and "Beat It". It was released in 1996 and, in my opinion, is one of the most moving songs (and videos) of his adult career. The focus is on the environmental issue's happening in our world today and this piece of art sends a powerful message. At the end, there is some information you may find interesting about the making of this video.

Surround Yourself With Positive Influences

What a weekend. I have started two new paintings and I am very excited. One is actually from the study titled "Lily" under the new paintings area of my blog. The other is an idea that I have had in my head for a few months. It is about a nightmare I had months ago. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be literal in my approach or abstract but I know now how I want to proceed.

Message of the Day:

A good friend of mine once said, "Life is not difficult. People make life difficult".
The older I get the more I understand what my friend meant by this. But there is a way to counter the negative influences you may come across. Surround yourself with positive people, fill your mind with positive thoughts, and open your heart to positive experiences. This is how we get through each day with dignity and grace.

Take Care and Keep on creating!

And The Winner Is...

Hello Everyone!

The Fine Art America contest titled "Oil Painters - Your Best Figurative Art" is over and the results are below.

First, many thanks to the other jurors:

Darice Machel McGuire - http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/darice-machel-mcguire.html

Kerry Burch - http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/kerry-burch.html

Also, many thanks to the sponsor of this contest Dick Blick Art Materials http://www.dickblick.com/. The prize of $50 in art supplies was very generous and greatly appreciated.

Last, thanks to all of the entrants who submitted their wonderful artwork. FAA is truly a home for many talented and diverse artists and it was a pleasure to view their artwork.

Best Regards, Monica Vanzant

Grand Prize Winner:




Lee Alban


Honorable Mentions:

Richard Scott
Jean Hildebrant
Emilio Valerio D Ospina
Sibiline S
Lawrence Supino
Daniela Isache
Katherine Fernie
IIse Kleyn
Elizabeth Jose
Kendall Kessler
Ashlee Comerford
Cj Rider

New Skyscape Video - Heavens V

Moved to Video Library Below...

Art Contest On Fine Art America Sponsored By Dick Blick Art Supplies

Calling All Artists!

I am currently hosting a fine art contest on Fine Art America. If you don't know about it, it is a social networking art website and is a wonderful forum for communicating with other artists and also exhibiting and selling your art. Unfortunately, the contest is for FAA current members only, but now that you know about it - check it out! You may want to become a member and enter the next contest.
This contest is for oil painters only and is titled "Oil Painters - Your Best Figurative Art. This contest is being sponsored by my favorite art supply company Dick Blick Art Materials.The grand prize winner will receive $50 worth of Dick Blick product ordered directly from their website! I have been ordering art supplies from these folks about ten years and I can honestly say I have found the best deals with Dick Blick. If it seems that I am talking them up, well I am. I don't attach my name to anything I don't believe in so give them a try.

Best Regards, Monica

New Website for Art Demonstrations

Hello,

I have two new sites to share.

www.mvanzant.webs.com - This one will be used to introduce/show my new painting(s).

www.paintingdemonstration.webs.com - This one will be used to share my art demonstrations. Currently, there is only one, but more will be added later.

Thanks! Monica

Online Proportional Scale Calculator

Hello,

I found a Proportional Scale Calculator on the web and thought I would share the link. If you want to create a larger canvas from a study and need the correct dimensions the link is -

http://scriptygoddess.com/resources/proportioncalc.htm

Thank you so much Jennifer for creating this!

Regards, Monica

Playing Dress Up Completed

Well, she is finished (see to the left). Playing Dress Up is completed and on to the next. Too tired to write anything else right now. Maybe tomorrow...

Monica

New Painting "Playing Dressup"

Ok, I figured out what I want for this painting and I am on my way.

Monica Vanzant

The Beginning of "Playing Dressup"

I have been "starting" a new painting for my study titled "Playing Dressup" for a month now. I am stuck. Stuck, stuck, stuck! I sketched it on my large canvas using charcoal and I no longer like the composition I originally chose. For me, composition is EVERYTHING and I can not proceed until I figure out what setting I want for this little girl. Oh...what to do, what to do.......
(heavy sigh).....................