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...what can I say? I love Gustav Klimt- any anything shiny/sparkly!

Klimt has been my favorite artist since high school...and the sparkle actually goes back farther than that.

I will take some time maybe later this month to write more about past 'Klimt-inspired' pieces shown in this post...but for now I just want to share some of the images that I have made since I started with my daily art challenge to myself.

First up, July 2012. I was working with the idea of a mandala motif and the gold crept into the series pretty early one...from there it got pretty decorative, my own nod to my favorite artist. To see each image, click here.

And I got REALLY into it...so I made some extra pieces...

Like...it was (and still is)
my jam...so...

One of my pieces actually made the cover of Art Hive Magazine!

It was such a surprise! I was judging a cheer competition in Disney when I got the text from Jess! That is still one of my proudest 'art moments'.

Some time passed, and then Klimt showed up in a few pieces during my November 2013 series, inspired by 'No shave November'. I was working with a mustache theme that month. Kinda random- but it turned out to be a fun series.

More time passed...then in January 2015 Klimt showed up in my first 'Miss Matchy Matchy' series...

Fast forward to November 2016...I did a whole series I called 'Golden Girls' inspired by my interpretation of Klimt, and in honor of a special trip to NYC to see his work...more on that in a later post!

And for March 2019 I am revisiting my 'Golden Girls' theme, this time working with acrylic paint and spray paint on cardboard and trying my hand at using gold leaf...which is a bit of a learning curve so far.

I need to take individual pics tomorrow, but here is the series so far- five pieces in;

...and here is the inspiration behind all the 'sleepy' images;

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So, I finished with my Frida series.

When I first started doing the daily rt I would obsess over the consistency in the series. Okay, let me step back- if you don't know me, obsessing over little things is kinda my jam. I had a bit of a chaotic childhood, some instability, some trauma...I won't get into it all but I know that the adult version of myself finds comfort in order and sameness as result of how I grew up. I just accept it and try to make it work for me...except when it doesn't.

I would in my mind insist that the sizes of my pieces had to be the same, the materials had to be the same. Was there a narrative element in the works? If so- they had to be in order...show a progression...at least to me.

And then, I don't know how many years in I realized that it was okay if sizes and materials change. I gave myself permission to have more fun and explore my theme...and I think that has made me happier with the results.

When I first started the Frida series, my intention was to translate her into fashion illustrations. But that soon fell to the wayside- I felt pulled to portraits based on her own focus on her (self) portraits.

I incorporated her words from the diary...until I stopped doing that.

I sanded the surface until I didn't anymore.

I used spray paint and stencils...except when I didn't.

And in the end, the series ended very much different from it began, painterly portraits of Frida. I am sure I will revisit her again at some point, she is always with me in spirit.

Here is the complete series;

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#FBF...that one time...when I was Frida...

2/22/2019

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...and of course I have a blog post to go with this;
https://www.jenniferlovegironda.com/blog/knock-knock

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Happening now...Frida's are getting more 'painterly'

2/21/2019

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Somewhere along the line...my Frida's started getting more...ummmm...'painterly'. I always remember hearing that in art school and I kinda understood...but now I think I understand more. To me it's when each brush stroke becomes a painted feeling on my surface.

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Project Runway All-Stars, two new fashion illustrations...

2/17/2019

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Because I need one more thing to do...lol

Nah, I had to sketch these pieces from Project Runway All Stars! What am supposed to do, just sit and watch?!

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So much to see on my IG! Check me out!

2/16/2019

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Follow my Instagram...it's always up to date!!
@artinw_damuse

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#TBT...a pic with my forever Valentine...

2/14/2019

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Click on the picture to read about our trip to the Dali Museum to see the Frida show in March 2017!

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Peeking in on the new Frida series...

2/13/2019

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Well, I am twelve pieces into the series and it has changed quite a bit and is still developing. When I first started I was working more with my fashion illustration style, using a red dress and stylized Frida motif as the unifying elements.

And then...my book arrived in the mail;

This book is unique because the majority of the book is her actual diary- sketches and doodle, musings and stream of conscoiusness writing...but in SPANISH. Luckily, the back of the book is all the translations of the material.

What happened next was...I started to do portraits of Frida and stopped with the fashion illustrations. You know...I had thought in January that I might work with the idea of fashion sketches all of 2019 but truth is...it didn't fit for Frida. I wanted to create images that included more of her face.

This was the first piece showing the change in direction;

And something just kinda clicked. When the art flows from my brain to my hands more fluidly...then I know that I am on the right path. If I find myself sitting and thinking too much instead of 'doing' then I know that it is time to switch it up. And it was.

So I kept making portraits;

The thing with painting is...for me at least...it is more of a push-pull relationship. When I work in watercolors, which I often do, the watercolors are less forgiving...so I make the work in 'one pass'. I either get it right or I don't, I don't keep re-working the piece.

When I work with thicker paint I always go with acrylic. I love how fast it dries, so if I want to change something I just let it dry then paint right on top. I love the smell of acrylic paint- I love the way it glides on the surface. I just love it.

But...I also had fun spray painting last year with some of my themes, and I still had spray paint and stencils so...this happened;

...and that is where I am right now with the series. Frida portraits on colored backgrounds, spray paint, her words scribbled on the surface- then sometimes sanded back...that is what I am doing- for now.

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You're SO warped!!

2/13/2019

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I wanted to add this post because it may be helpful to someone out there. If you are following my #LoveFridaJLG series then you know that I am painting on board. I really like the warmth that the brown of the board gives the works, even if it's in my imagination (you know, since I am painting on it with thick acrylic paint!) One thing that I noticed early on is that my boards were warping due to the paint on the one side. I remembered a trick from the late, great Mr. Ray Elmore at my beloved alma mater, East Carolina University.

If you have a cardboard or canvas board that is warping- just paint the back with gesso. This balances out the moisture and pulls on the fibers in the board (I don't know if that is the exact explaination, but it sounded kinda smart and legit to me) ...like magic, it flattens out the work.

For real, it works! Try it!

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(Belated) February 2019 series intro...

2/5/2019

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So it's not so much that I was too busy to post about the new series...it's just that I was still thinking it all through. When I was thinking about what I wanted to do I knew that I wanted to do something 'Valentine's Day' inspired...because...well...I usually do. Not always...but usually.

Here are some links if you are interested...
2012...2013...2014...2015...2016...2017...2018

Well, something happened on Friday, February 1st that gave me my final direction and inspiration for my series. My colleague, Brent, arranged for a guest speaker. We hosted John Parra, a childrens's book illustrator that was the featured artist at the Biblioarte Festival in Lake Worth that weekend.

Here are some pics;

Parra shared some of his originals with us and it was his Frida Kahlo images that really spoke to me. They were breathtaking. So many layers- such rich color! And...TEXTURE. I was smitten. He shared his process with us, which involved layers of paint, masking and sand paper and I was intrigued.

So, I left from school thinking about Frida and those images...especially the techniques that he shared. And I started thinking...maybe I should do something with Frida imagery. I mean...I have worked with her image before. Heck, I have dedicated a couple whole month series to Frida Kahlo, and she has appeared in my daily art from time to time over the years;

Links to dedicated Frida months;
August 2014...October 2017

Examples of 'Fridas' that I have made over the years...the two black and white images are part of monthly themes- so there are 30 more of each of 'em!

My idea right now is Frida and love...thinking about the passionate (yet REALLY tumultuous!!) relationship that she had with Diego Rivera. I am focusing on some of her love-related quotes right now but I have some other ideas, too...will see where those take me.

I am doing my own version of what I learned from John Parra, focusing on those textures that dazzled me. I have been saving the back pieces to my sketch pads for, well- forever so I had a on already on hand. I prepped a few by taping them off, gessoing them and then adding some colors. I have been adding my Frida image (of course it is my 'fashion illustration' style that I have so much fun doing!), then words, and spray painted stencils (that's MY touch to his technique!) and I am trying out the sandpaper to rough up the surface. I feel like this initial idea and the materials and techniques will give me enough structure to work with but also room to play around.

Anyway, those are my initial thoughts on the new series, #LoveFridaJLG ...and here are the first few pieces;

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<<Previous

March 2019 series intro

And I got REALLY into it...so I made some extra pieces...

Like...it was (and still is)
my jam...so...

One of my pieces actually made the cover of Art Hive Magazine!

It was such a surprise! I was judging a cheer competition in Disney when I got the text from Jess! That is still one of my proudest 'art moments'.

Some time passed, and then Klimt showed up in a few pieces during my November 2013 series, inspired by 'No shave November'. I was working with a mustache theme that month. Kinda random- but it turned out to be a fun series.

More time passed...then in January 2015 Klimt showed up in my first 'Miss Matchy Matchy' series...

Fast forward to November 2016...I did a whole series I called 'Golden Girls' inspired by my interpretation of Klimt, and in honor of a special trip to NYC to see his work...more on that in a later post!

And for March 2019 I am revisiting my 'Golden Girls' theme, this time working with acrylic paint and spray paint on cardboard and trying my hand at using gold leaf...which is a bit of a learning curve so far.

I need to take individual pics tomorrow, but here is the series so far- five pieces in;

...and here is the inspiration behind all the 'sleepy' images;

Finally- FRIDA!

#FBF...that one time...when I was Frida...

Happening now...Frida's are getting more 'painterly'

Project Runway All-Stars, two new fashion illustrations...

So much to see on my IG! Check me out!

#TBT...a pic with my forever Valentine...

Peeking in on the new Frida series...

You're SO warped!!

(Belated) February 2019 series intro...

Here are some links if you are interested...
2012...2013...2014...2015...2016...2017...2018

Links to dedicated Frida months;
August 2014...October 2017

Author

Archives

And I got REALLY into it...so I made some extra pieces...

Like...it was (and still is)​my jam...so...

One of my pieces actually made the cover of Art Hive Magazine! ​It was such a surprise! I was judging a cheer competition in Disney when I got the text from Jess! That is still one of my proudest 'art moments'.

Some time passed, and then Klimt showed up in a few pieces during my November 2013 series, inspired by 'No shave November'. I was working with a mustache theme that month. Kinda random- but it turned out to be a fun series.

More time passed...then in January 2015 Klimt showed up in my first 'Miss Matchy Matchy' series...​

Fast forward to November 2016...I did a whole series I called 'Golden Girls' inspired by my interpretation of Klimt, and in honor of a special trip to NYC to see his work...more on that in a later post!

And for March 2019 I am revisiting my 'Golden Girls' theme, this time working with acrylic paint and spray paint on cardboard and trying my hand at using gold leaf...which is a bit of a learning curve so far. I need to take individual pics tomorrow, but here is the series so far- five pieces in;

...and here is the inspiration behind all the 'sleepy' images;​

Here are some links if you are interested...2012...2013...2014...2015...2016...2017...2018

Links to dedicated Frida months;August 2014...October 2017

Author

​Archives

Like...it was (and still is)
my jam...so...

One of my pieces actually made the cover of Art Hive Magazine!

It was such a surprise! I was judging a cheer competition in Disney when I got the text from Jess! That is still one of my proudest 'art moments'.

More time passed...then in January 2015 Klimt showed up in my first 'Miss Matchy Matchy' series...

And for March 2019 I am revisiting my 'Golden Girls' theme, this time working with acrylic paint and spray paint on cardboard and trying my hand at using gold leaf...which is a bit of a learning curve so far.

I need to take individual pics tomorrow, but here is the series so far- five pieces in;

...and here is the inspiration behind all the 'sleepy' images;

Here are some links if you are interested...
2012...2013...2014...2015...2016...2017...2018

Links to dedicated Frida months;
August 2014...October 2017

Archives