Located in Pennsylvania this is a gravesite of our Bryan Ancestors. They were father and son.
Category: Uncategorized
Autumn
Notes On A Chinese Artist’s Lecture
Art is more than just proportion and likeness. An artist’s energy and motion are connected to the model at all times. The artist must have the mental toughness to go slowly and analyze the structures and points, get involved in the process little by little. Define the underlying structure and observe the geometric shapes.
Once the structure is understood shadows as shapes and proportions are rendered before adding details such as lines, wrinkles, hair. Each line the artist puts down becomes part of the drawing whether it is erased or not, it is still there.
Drawing with emotional involvement, what you feel, defines the beauty of the form, emphasizing the muscular features. Use imagination to portray a hero or heroine, wretch or a rogue. Pay attention to the tension in the various parts of the model’s shape. Look for angles, new and interesting perspectives.
To inform your craft, look at how models are interpreted in drawings and paintings in museums, libraries outside the studio. Research is an essential component of learning to draw. Read about different philosophies and styles of drawing. Try to emulate others work without losing your own identity and authentic style.
Notes taken at a lecture by Qimin Liu, Art professor at Eastern Connecticut State University.
“Keeping Our Small Boat Afloat”
“So many blessings have been given to us
During the first distribution of light, that we are
Admired in a thousand galaxies for our grief.
Don’t expect us to appreciate creation or to
Avoid mistakes. Each of us is a latecomer
To the earth, picking up wood for the fire.
Every night another beam of light slips out
From the oyster’s closed eye. So don’t give up hope
That the door of mercy may still be open.
Seth and Shem, tell me, are you still grieving
Over the spark of light that descended with no
Defender near into the Egypt of Mary’s womb?
It’s hard to grasp how much generosity
Is involved in letting us go on breathing,
When we contribute nothing valuable but our grief.
Each of us deserves to be forgiven, if only for
Our persistence in keeping our small boat afloat
When so many have gone down in the storm.”
by Robert Bly
Beckoning
Light snow falls all this day.
Birds beckoning Spring to show her face.
Hiding lazily under snow covered frost.
Louis Honoré and Alma Rose
New Britain Museum of American Art
This museum is a little gem in New Britain, Connecticut featuring primarily American Art from the 17th century to the present. There is American Impressionism, Academic, Hudson River School, Colonial and Early Republic, First Half of the Twentieth Century and Contemporary. “The Weir Family” and “Nelson White” are two exhibits on display at this time. Both collections show works created by 3 generations of painters in the same family. The evolution from grandfather, father to son is, in itself, a lesson in art history.
After walking through the museum my friend Sylvia and I stopped for a bite to eat at the museum cafe. We had a scrumptious lunch consisting of Orange chicken on a croissant and a Grilled cheese with pulled pork on wheat. These were accompanied by a garden salad an orzo salad and for the finishing touches cubes of watermelon lightly drizzled with balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of feta cheese garnished with pistachio nuts, arugula and bits of delicious pickled beets. Very gourmet!
If I had any critical observations to make, one would be that at the end of our walk through the galleries I stopped to think about the name of this museum, ‘American Art’ and maybe because I am from the Midwest, I noticed that the majority of the work seems to come from the Eastern part of the United States of America, particularly from New England – yet all very interesting and beautiful! Despite this small detail, I highly recommend a visit to this museum. Go soon, to see the two new exhibits, the permanent collection and have lunch at the cafe before you leave. It is time well spent.
Here are some works I took pictures of with my phone and touched up with iphoto. Hope you like!
On Tiffany Creek 