10/6/2021 Here’s me with Tomasina, again...In case you hadn’t heard, Andy and I moved to Costa Rica.
Yes, we still have a stake in the USA. So if you have any of my contact info, much of it will still work. It might take a few days to get back to you. Anyway, Andy and I bought a slice of land here in Costa Rica in 2019. We are now renting a place while our new home is being constructed. We’ve officially been here two weeks, today, this posting. Four months ago (or maybe 5? Time is flying...so it was this 2021), I bought some acrylic gouache paint, some paper, etc. to work through Color: A Workshop for Artists and Designers. Andy and I had no idea where we would be living during construction...but I best prepare to have a very, very, very small space for an art studio. This color workshop takes up a small work space and requires a very small amount of supplies. I gift myself a creative break, finally get to learn from this book (had it 6 years!) and still get to PAINT! I filled the carry-on travel suitcase with our gym supplies and my art supplies, the book Color: A Workshop, and a few other things. Art things went back and forth from a storage unit box to the suitcase. I made a promise to myself: whatever is in the suitcase will have to work for me. The next time I’m allowed to open the suitcase is when we are in Costa Rica. The gym stuff was easy, lol! As we slowly move into our temporary home, the last setup is my studio space. My suitcase remains full of art supplies...but I get to rummage through them! I found Tomasina...and burst out joyfully with laughter. I’m so happy to have my old friend with me. Is there something that you packed for yourself and found later that it made you laugh with joy? What was it? Paper menus and the top of receipt from Versailles Restaurant...just because I don’t have my own photos of the real place, lol. I originally posted this May, 2011. Most of this still holds true. I’m reposting here because it was one of my most popular blog posts. Andy and I recommend Versailles Restaurant to everyone. I never did the bike rentals at Versailles, France. If you have the chance to take any organized workshop by Cynthia Morris, do it. Her online courses are good, too. I was in Paris, France for four weeks. I was always entertained, sketched everywhere, loved it, soaked up design. I went to bed so drunk on art that my mind spinned all night long. It was a wonderful time. I returned home because of Andy and my mom...because I wanted to figure out a way to stay longer. Without further ado, here’s the original post:
My life in Miami, Florida already includes a Versailles. It is not the palace in Paris, France, but THE Cuban food (palace?) restaurant in town. When Mama and I want a good meal that is bueno, bonito, y barato (good, pretty, and cheap), we visit Versailles. We know we are going to enjoy comfort and an interestingly diverse crowd of people. The real Versailles in France has been visited much more than the restaurant, but not by me. The first visit was in 1987 and the second was 1992. Am now learning that what tourists see of Versailles is but a small fraction of delights to see and experience. Just another reason to spend FOUR weeks in Paris, France: to be at Versailles for an entire day of exploration that tourists do not get. A day of drawing, walking, and collecting patterns off the palace's wallpaper walls! Here's the quick list of what I learned: 1. There are cafes on the grounds for rest and food. 2. Tickets can be bought outside of Versailles so you can save yourself a very long line to get one. 3. Bike rentals are available to view the gardens. 4. The garden's water fountains have shows during the summer, through September and October. 5. The website for Versailles if chock full of goodies or buy a book upon arrival for a self guided tour. How did I learn these things about Versailles? Cynthia Morris of the Curious Excursion spent a bit of time putting together a guide for those of joining her adventure. When that much effort is made, I pay attention. One of Cynthia's tidbits was of her friend Heather's Secrets of Paris website. Super site, and got the freebie guide on Versailles that helped with this Fridays in France post. 2021 PS: If you’d like to meet for lunch or dinner at Versailles Restaurant, message me! Email me! Let’s see if we can! I originally posted this May, 2011. Most of this still holds true. I’m reposting here because it was one of my most popular blog posts. Andy and I recommend Versailles Restaurant to everyone. I never did the bike rentals at Versailles, France. If you have the chance to take any organized workshop by Cynthia Morris, do it. Her online courses are good, too. I was in Paris, France for four weeks. I was always entertained, sketched everywhere, loved it, soaked up design. I went to bed so drunk on art that my mind spinned all night long. It was a wonderful time. I returned home because of Andy and my mom...because I wanted to figure out a way to stay longer. Without further ado, here’s the original post: My life in Miami, Florida already includes a Versailles. It is not the palace in Paris, France, but THE Cuban food (palace?) restaurant in town. When Mama and I want a good meal that is bueno, bonito, y barato (good, pretty, and cheap), we visit Versailles. We know we are going to enjoy comfort and an interestingly diverse crowd of people. The real Versailles in France has been visited much more than the restaurant, but not by me. The first visit was in 1987 and the second was 1992. Am now learning that what tourists see of Versailles is but a small fraction of delights to see and experience. Just another reason to spend FOUR weeks in Paris, France: to be at Versailles for an entire day of exploration that tourists do not get. A day of drawing, walking, and collecting patterns off the palace's wallpaper walls! Here's the quick list of what I learned: 1. There are cafes on the grounds for rest and food. 2. Tickets can be bought outside of Versailles so you can save yourself a very long line to get one. 3. Bike rentals are available to view the gardens. 4. The garden's water fountains have shows during the summer, through September and October. 5. The website for Versailles if chock full of goodies or buy a book upon arrival for a self guided tour. How did I learn these things about Versailles? Cynthia Morris of the Curious Excursion spent a bit of time putting together a guide for those of joining her adventure. When that much effort is made, I pay attention. One of Cynthia's tidbits was of her friend Heather's Secrets of Paris website. Super site, and got the freebie guide on Versailles that helped with this Fridays in France post. NOTE: This review was originally published in 2010. Photos were used with permission from Magnan Metz Gallery. Documentation of permission is available upon request. This article is being republished on May 9th, which is the anniversary of Raul’s “el malo’s” death. Why? To remember Raul’s older brother, the older brother who only wanted the best and tried his best for his siblings before he was forced to escape Cuba. This is a review of the exhibit Raul Martinez Eagerly Awaiting that was held July 22 through August 20, 2010 at the Magnan Metz Gallery in New York City’s Chelsea District. The opinions and views of this review belong to Angeline and solely express her opinions. When you walk into the Magnan Metz Gallery, you are greeted a large open space and a friendly reception. A large open window lets natural light into the gallery. The art, as it should be, is the major focus of the gallery. At this time, the exhibit was Raul Martinez Eagerly Awaiting. 1970s The first art works by Raul Martinez that are seen inside the gallery were created in the 1970s. Cuba was entering its second decade under the communist regime. The colors are bright, strong, and solid. Each drawing is outlined in black on paperboard and then painted in with no shadows. The works of art are beautifully framed in modern clean black frames. The theme of the exhibit is Cuba: its leaders, people, perception of world events, and “social themes.” The art is strongly influenced by pop art as seen through the use of repetition. 1980s Romeo y Julieta is the art work seen from the street when looking into the gallery. It is a darker piece than Raul Martinez’s pop art style from the 1970s, with darker secondary colors of oranges. It makes a seamless transition to the themes Raul Martinez is known for: Jose Marti and Che Guevara. Both I Have Seen with Jose Marti and Che have a darker feel than Raul’s previous art. Che is dated 1985, while I Have Seen remains undated. The creation dates may be similar because of the use of black lines and areas, reds, block-style shadowed facial features, and the designs around each of the figures. They are still a style of pop art, but more serious than the art from the 1970s. The next division of the gallery occurs along the same wall that has the pop art from the 1970s. Raul Martinez’s charcoal on canvas Hambriento Espero (Eagerly Awaiting) and abstract painting Hay Que Saber (We Have to Know) transition the exhibit from the pop art style to the more abstract and collage pieces found in the next formal section of the gallery. There are abstract paintings from the 1960s and the 1990s followed by collages from the 1990s. The 1960s abstracts are full of textures and subtle shapes. The 1990s abstracts paintings are full of reds, blues, oranges, yellows, blacks and lines, squiggles, and bursts of energy. The collages consist of pastels, transparency sheets, torn pages, transfers, photos, paint, and other items. Upon exiting this section, one realizes there are photographs by Raul Martinez in the office area. The photographs by Raul Martinez seem disconnected to the rest of the exhibit. The photographs can be dismissed at first because they do not seem to belong to the rest of the exhibit because of where they were displayed in the gallery. The first set is behind the reception desk: three photographs with painted designs and one large black and white photograph. The most striking photograph is the one unpainted, of a boy staring into the camera titled You (Ustedes). This is also the only photograph with a date at all, of 1960. The second set of photographs is found in the office area, past a 1960s abstract painting. These photographs commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution in which Raul Martinez highlighted the Cuban flag with color on otherwise black and white prints.
Because there were no labels, posters, etc., a small binder with thumbnail images and data was made available at the reception desk. Some title translations seemed clumsy, for example, the direct translation of Hambiento Espero is better as Hungrily Waiting. Admittedly, the translation of Eagerly Awaiting makes for a better exhibit title. Without some background in Cuban history and actual experience of the communist regime, most of Raul Martinez’s paintings seem without focus. However, the flow of the exhibit Raul Martinez Hambriento Espero matches the light and space of the gallery: easy to navigate and delicately guided. Most visitors left Magnan Metz Gallery with the impression of Raul Martinez as a Cuban artist who created mostly pop art during this Cuban Revolution. Special thanks to Magnan Metz Gallery bridging the cultures as President Obama slowly opens relations with Cuba. For a recent article concerning President Obama and Cuba, please visit the following sites: "US-Cuba Relations in Positive Phase:'' Google Hosted News (AFP), September 8,2010 Foreign Policy: Obama's III-Timed Cuba Move, August 27,2010 "Cuba Libre? Hold Off Booking that Ticket for Now,'' National Public Radio, August 19,2010 For links about artist Raul Martinez, please visit the following the sites: Museum of New Mexico Art Experts Website Pan American Art If you made it until here, what do you think about my attempt at an exhibit review? If you followed the links, what do you think Raul Martinez really means in some of his paintings? 2021 UPDATE: How many things have changed for me in ten years, concerning Raul Martinez. I don’t feel much of a connection to this artist anymore...for many personal reasons. If I ever stumble upon a work by Raul Martinez, I’ll be interested in learning more about it. But, I don’t believe I’ll travel so far to see any exhibit of his paintings ever again. It’s almost like visiting Cuba: can’t miss where I’ve Never been...can’t miss who I’ve Never met. I really have no reason to seek more Raul Martinez, and don’t really have a reason to visit Cuba anymore, too. I’m moving on…. 5/5/2021 How I Don’t Set Up ColorsMost artists will advise you to organize your colors around your palette. I’ve tried. I just make a huge mess. Why bother? I lay out my colors as I need them. I keep the paints fresh between time blocks with sprayed water and plastic. Can you tell which colors are used the most during this painting time? Your hint is to look at the size of the colors, lol. |
CategoriesAll Art In The News Art Studio Cats Classes Costa Rica Painting Painting Studio Pets Sketching Drawing, painting both analog and digital, and other artsy things while living in Costa Rica.
You can follow my blog the easiest by adding your email to my list by going here. I keep that list secret because I don’t like spammers, too. You’ll even get things that I don’t share in my blogs! |