New Paintings

Yesterday (July 26) was quite a productive day, in terms of paintings. Below are three completed ones.

This first one is an 80th birthday tribute to my favorite director, Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick was also a chess master, who used to play in Washington Square in his youth. It is called, "Beyond the Infinite."



This one is titled, "The Return of Don Quixote," and alludes to the idea that his dulcinea will pick up the sword, don the golden helmet and become the new knight errant.



Lastly, this is to be included in a show that begins next Friday (August 1) and is my first attempt of a painting taken from a live model. Our time was limited, so I used photography and selected a shot from which to paint. Originally, the subject was to be used for "The Return of Don Quixote," but I was not happy that it looked much like my subject, so I started from scratch and did this one. It is nowhere near perfect, but closer than above.

A Painting First for the American Primitive

Tomorrow, between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., I will take another leap - in my deluded mind, at least - as a painter: I will work from a live model. There is an Upstate Artists Guild show, called, "Reflections," and in addition to two of my pieces (self-portraits), I will submit a piece that will include another UAG member.

Knowing my limited experience as a painter, I am a bit curious as to why she accepted. And I kind of asked her. Her reaction: it could be fun.

I have laid down a background for the painting; I have a concept; I have some props and costume ideas; I have a model who has a little bit of faith in me and in the idea that it might be fun.

I also have some Spanish wine.

Perhaps she is right: perhaps it will be fun.

Productive

Sometimes, having limited or no access to the internet while at home has its benefits. For the past two weeks, in addition to the obligatory and often painful job hunting, I have been painting. After a stretch of minimal to no painting, I have done a number of pieces, which I have yet to download and share. The titles are as follows. Photos to come, maybe tomorrow.

* The Prisoner, inspired by a lovely young lady visiting from Belo Horizontal, Brazil;

* Study of a Muse, which is a test run for a later painting;

* In the Field, which focuses on the field hat that I have that some question ("what's with the hat")...it keeps the sun out of my eyes and gives a little shade.

* Return to the Blue Movie Motel, all in blue of course, based on a piece just written.

Additionally, I am working on a Kubrick in Heaven piece...which involves a chess board, and I am working on my piece for the October UAG show, the theme of which is "Buried City."

Lastly, related to UAG, a final piece is for the "Reflections" show. In addition to the two self-portraits I will put in, I am working on the background for a piece tha will be featured in the back room and will include a portrait...or representation...of a fellow UAG member...and I have found my first live model...what a good sport she is!

Enough for now...off to Troy to spend time with a lovely friend...who not only keeps me mellow but is able to bring out the sweetness in me.

Movie Recommendation: "Wall*E"

Yesterday, feeling a bit down and despondent, I went to see "Wall*E" at the Spectrum8.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable Science Fiction/Comedy/Romance, with a neat ecological message. Until the last half, the movie is nearly dialogue free and focuses in the relationship between a lonely and creative trash collecting robot on a 28th century Earth that is abandoned by humans due to the toxicity of all the trash that has been consumed in the 21st and 22nd centuries. Government is run by a large corporation that owns everything, from superstores to transportation concerns. (For all the corporate types out there, Big Brother need not be a government leader. I personally see a lot of commonality between the Walmarts, big government entities, and even the megachurches of the exerbs that provide everything one needs in one location.)

But the thrust of the story is the devotion of this robot to his beloved, EVE, who is sent to Earth to search for life.

There are a few good Kubrick references, including two pieces of music humorously integrated and the red eye of the autopilot.

Overall, very fun, thought-provoking and touching.

"American Primitive - The Novel"

Now that I have completed a first draft of American Primitive, Part Three (formerly Kubris and now back to "Painter"), I have begun to work on the treatments for the other parts as well as a novel or novella version of "Painter." A few involved with film enjoyed it, believe it is film-able (probably art house and european audiences) and said the script read like a novel. So, instead of struggling with a script, I will write the novel.

I am going to Georgia this weekend and will have plenty of time to write, in between a few Guinness stouts, Irish Whiskeys, and cigars.

What is intriguing is how tough on my fictional personae I can be, it's necessary to reflect on the impact of other's actions without casting stones. It's necessary to create a character richer in depth and in feeling than what the average person who doesn't know me may perceive. Not necessarily self-flagellation,

Perhaps, also writing about a future life that might seem a pipe dream, I am also doing some creative visioning for a future I would like to see. Perhaps more importantly, by exorcising demons on paper and on screen (if we ever get there), I can liberate myself to make this a reality and, by acknowledging personal flaws, anticipate them and address them as they arrive.

That is where we are at. I'm painting, writing and screen writing, sketching sets, creating story board by way of paintings (go to www.zhibit.com/fprmclain, to see American Primitive-related pieces).

And the drawings and paintings will be slightly more improved or at least a little more error-free with the new bifocals I dreaded getting.

Photographs on My Artist's Site

A set of ten photographs has been posted on my artist site.

Painting in Progress: The Cloister

The sketch in the posting below now has some color to it. A bit more work to do.