(Belated) February 2019 series intro...

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.
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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;