I'm Painting for the Symphony!

Soap Bubble Nebula

I was approached last week by the New West Symphony to take part in a project. Yes, they called me.  Who gets a call like that?!!!  They are inviting a handful of artists to create work inspired by Gustav Holst's The Planets orchestral suite next month.    Be sure to get tickets right away and tell me when you're coming so I can look for you at one of the performances.  Here's the link.  I should be at all three venues and I'll keep you posted on details.  I'd love to have as many friends as possible come!

I'm pretty excited about the project. I get to choose any planet I'd like...when I heard Mars I couldn't resist.  It's big, rich and glorious.  The music actually inspired some of the theme music John Williams wrote for Star Wars.  It's remarkable how modern it sounds even after 100 years.  He wrote it in 1914-16.

Mixed Media/ Oil 4"x4"

A piece that has that kind of cultural impact for generations is pretty special and to have the opportunity to take on a commission for a symphony orchestra is remarkable.   So I've gotten started with a vengance and the whole thing has captured my imagination like few other subjects ever have.  

As much as I love landscape I've discovered something that is probably pretty obvious to anyone who has explored space.  There's no horizon line.  Nope.  None.  And that has set my imagination free like nothing else ever has.  

Even as an artist I've tied myself to so many "shoulds."  I should paint things people can understand.  I'm not a real artist unless I can do everything.  If I show people how I really see they won't "get it."  

Pluto, What's not to love?  Check out my brilliant son's site:  Is Pluto a planet?, It's not included in the symphony as it wasn't discovered until 1930.  And, of course, we know what's happened since then.  Not a planet

The more I paint as a professional the more I know this.  What I think matters.  What I feel matters.  When I expose my feelings I open other people up as well.  My vulnerability opens up possibilities that wouldn't exist if I wasn't willing to be seen.  When I see deeply I help others see in new ways.  When I engage my imagination others do as well.  So....I need to get over myself and get to the paint.

Pluto-Not a Planet, 3"x3" oil, I
just couldn't leave it out.

Being a knowledge fiend but knowing that I didn't have time to search for images and get started with painting I got my cousin Ben Green on the job.  He spent a precious Saturday morning downloading images from Nasa sources and giving me some basic insights into the "look" of the planets, moons, astroids, etc.  It would have taken me a month to get through all of that.  Pays to have a good researcher in the family.  I got a crash course in the solar system.  Thank you Ben!  The images here are only a handful of what he found for me.  

I glanced at what I downloaded from Ben on my phone and tried not to absorb too much information before setting out to create mock ups for future paintings.  The little jewels I painted were a pleasure to create and much more than just practice.  They are the beginning of something very special.

I forsee creating a long term project from this tiny beginning. This has captured my passion and my imagination as no other project I've ever done has.  The synthesis of music and painting along with the landscape of space are compelling to me.

Io, one of Jupiter's moons

 The thing I've found the most remarkable is how I felt when I began to paint landscapes without horizon lines.  I basically blew the lid off of my approach to painting "things" "out there" when I painted space.  It's hard to describe, but the horizon line has created a sense of separation for me.  Earth from sky, sky from ocean, it's all been distinct and delineated. Space...is free.  I feel I can paint without boundaries...Color, texture, sensation are all that exist.   This is going to be a joy!

This One Captures My Imagination,

I thought it was Titan...but that was

before I went back to read the labels on my reference photos. It's a detail of  Io,  one of

Jupiter's moons.  I think I'm just 

making this stuff up as I paint but Nasa says otherwise....

So, save the dates:  Performances of The Planets by the New West Symphony are March 27-29 in Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Santa Monica.  My, as yet uncreated painting, Mars (oil 30"x30) will be on display.  I'm looking forward to seeing you at one of the performances!  Below are a few more photo references and paintings from my first series.  I'll have them on my web site asap and they are all available for sale.

Here's a little bit of insight from Wikipedia, "The Planets", Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst.*

To a large extent Holst was inspired as much or more by the mythological aspects of each planet, thus the symbolic meaning attributed to each movement.  The symbolism is inextricably bound up in the sound.  For me that will express itself in abstract, gestural paint dominated by color and texture.

With the exception of Earth, which is not observed in astrological practice, all the planets are included in the symphony.*

Mars, the Bringer of War

Venus, the Bringer of Peace

Mercury, the Winged Messenger

Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age

Uranus, the Magician

Neptune, the Mystic

Venus, 1 of 2 paintings, 3"x3", oil
by MG King

I've done other work with the New West Symphony.  They are a pleasure to work with.  Their dedication to creating and supporting classical music, outreach to the visual arts community and service to the public are evident in everything they do. 

Their free lectures and "meet the artists" events are worth putting on your calendar.  Check out my previous blog post:  Fuel for the Creative Fire

Just listening to Mars again and it is absolutely amazing!  My painting for the symphony will be 30x30 which is smallish for what I'm feeling but this is just the beginning....If you could see my face right now I'm smiling as wide as I can while I listen to storm troopers tromp around the planets.  Boom boom BOOOOMMMM!

This is a diagram of the sixty photos Voyager took while on its trip around the solar system 25+ years ago.  Might be a decent layout for a series...I see a lot of square formats.  It's interesting that the pattern of photos shown in the diagram among the planets Saturn, Venus, Earth and Jupiter looks vaguely like a symphonic hall.  And, of course,  the fibonacci sequence crosses over all of the patterns related to this subject....music, movement and visual patterns.  Look at it all spinning!

On that note ;) here's a link to something that blew my mind.  Look for the spiral pattern of the letters that correspond to the musical chords on the keyboard.  Yup, there's that shape again.  Spacey ;) Sylvain Lalonde's Fibonacci Sequence in Music.  Genius.

Be sure to "like" my Facebook page to keep up to date on this and other projects I have going on!  Mary-Gail King's Facebook Page

*

Everyday Beauty, A Visit to the Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum in Pasedena

George Carlson's
Witness of Time, oil on linen, 42 x 42 in.($65,000)which won best in show and was
purchased for the Autry's permanent collection.

It's been far too long since I've written but I'm back and plan on posting again on a regular basis.  Lots of exciting things are going on but the most recent involved a trip to the Autry Museum in Pasadena, CA for the Masters of the American West exhibition.

I started the day meeting my friend and one of my favorite travel buddies, artist/ veterinarian Kathy Jonokuchi.  Today we hopped in her Prius and hit the 101 to the 134 with NO traffic.  I think there was a giant cultural event going on today that emptied the freeways....It involved some deflated footballs and a bunch of guys hitting each other repeatedly.

Some of us with George.  L-R Dorene White
George Carlson, Me, Diane Nelson Gold

                                                We skipped that and met up with a number of friends at a Pasadena home where we were treated to an amazing collection that included numerous paintings from artists in the show.  The collection even included original cells from Disney animations signed by Walt Disney.

My personal favorite, also George Carlson
Basalt Cliffs, oil on linen, 42 x 42 in.($62,000) 

As a special treat we got to meet some of the artists and their families.  If you're a football fan think of meeting the big guys on the Patriots or Seahawks team in the home of a personal friend.  This was the artists' equivalent sans drama.

The sweeping canyon vista George Carlson painted that you see at the top of this blog was stunning and the perfect choice for best in show.  George is an outdoorsman from Idaho and has an obvious love of the land.  He was also a sculptor for 45 years which shows in his masterful control of the paint.

I personally enjoyed Basalt Cliffs more than any other painting in the show because of the variety in the brushwork, the negative shapes and color harmonies and the almost abstract composition punctuated by the aspen that are the focus of the painting.  I was mesmerized and spent a lot of time with it.  George has a sensitivity and refinement that I enjoyed. It's very different from my bold, assertive approach. I'd like to add a bit of this to my own work.

I found myself viewing it next to Aaron Westerburg  at one point intrigued by the same area and asked him what he saw. The work around the top of the aspen to the right was what I was specifically curious about. 

He noted that the play of yellow paint on purple background (both neutralized and grayed down) made the area look more three dimensional due to the play of complementary colors with each other. The visible surface included exposed linen from the underpainting up to thick paint throughout the piece but he left more underpainting showing around those branches where he carved them out of the background than in some other areas. The branches looked layered and dimensional also because of scumbling and transparent layers. Beautiful brushwork.

Daniel Pinkham, Renewal
oil on linen 30"x24" $18,000

• Renewal, oil on linen, 30 x 24 in. ($18,000)

• Renewal, oil on linen, 30 x 24 in. ($18,000)

• Renewal, oil on linen, 30 x 24 in. ($18,000)
  
  

Daniel Pinkham is a painter who my mentor David Gallup considers one of the best living representational painters.  He is from an old North Carolina family and is related to Robert E. Lee.  His colors are pure poetry and the sense of wonder he brings to the canvas is something I enjoy.  I also like the tension and interest he adds to his compositions with things like the beautiful little evergreen in the foreground of Renewal.  Imagine the painting without it and, while beautiful, it becomes somewhat ordinary.  Also note the negative shapes, the variation in the whites, the mood....He's a natural storyteller with words and it shows in his paintings.

Geological Illusions, oil, 38x34, $32,600

The last painter whose work I spent a lot of time with was Len Chmiel.  He has a wonderful family that includes four daughters and has a passion for making wine.  I enjoyed the traditional California coastal piece and alpine stream in the show (you can see them by following the link just above) but fell in love with his very abstract painting Geological Illusions.

I am happy to see work in the show that bridges abstraction with realism.  In my mind it's a contemporary, fresh approach to the realism that is very much what these painters do.  You can feel the love and skill these painters have for the paint and the passion they feel for the land.

Here are a few photos from a post on FB by Marian Fortunati that illustrate the skill with and love of the paint George Carlson has. 

So what a day.  I thought some of you would enjoy a glimpse into the appreciation we have for fine art.  I am constantly refining my eye and enjoy looking for the next surprise whether it is a striking vista or a stroke of the brush.

We have so much love and respect for each other and for the leaders in our field.  Collectors, artists and appreciators alike enjoy seeing the world through eyes that spend years looking at the land and playing with the paint.   This was a yummy, satisfying day right down to the smell of paint in one corner of the museum where a newly hung painting had just come fresh from the easel!  I stood in a corner to take a whiff of it and anchor my experience in yet another sense....I believe I covered them all.

 "When love and skill come together expect a masterpiece."  John Ruskin

BTW, I've been working on some little sketches that are intimate, everyday works on paper that I'm now selling on Etsy.  My shop is MarygailSketchbook.  Pieces in the shop have already been featured in four treasurys and I'm enjoying the little production line I have set up for order fulfillment.  There are some nice valentines waiting for you!  Check it out.  You can help support the arts and the artist with your purchases!

• Geological Illusions, oil, 38 x 39 in. ($32
  
  

Little Sketches or MarygailSketchbook is on its way!

Sketches both unleash my creativity and support my spiritual life. I bring a sense of non-judgement to sketching.  That fresh, casual attitude comes through in this newest work.  

For the last month I've been finishing small paintings every day.  I started by working through my inventory finishing a number of oil paintings and getting rid of some that will never work.  I also went back to doing watercolor sketches.  They are a fun way to warm up my artistic brain and capture my first impression of a subject.

"Washed" Watercolor and Ink apx. 6"x9"

The first day I did a tree.  The next, a pinecone.  The heat wave we've had this week inspired some seashell paintings.  It's been like unleashing a dam!  I've done an average of two paintings a day for the last week.  They've been consistent in theme and look and are ready for sale.  

"Tossled"  Watercolor and Ink apx. 6"x9"

I've decided to start an online store specifically for these daily sketches.  They are very different from the typical work that I do and I am making sure they fit in properly with my current and future offerings.  These make my original art available for entry level collectors.

I love these sketches and have gotten enthusiastic responses from friends, family and collectors.  I know many of you have wanted to purchase some of my work but have not made the investment in a large piece.  This makes it easy.  Check it out!

marygailSketchbook

The name I'm considering is MarygailkingSketchbook.  Including my name should make it fairly easy to find.  I come up high on Google and Bing searches with it.  At the moment all I have to do is make sure the photography is good and calculate shipping costs.  Once I finish that I will be up and running by early next week.  (Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest)  In the meantime be sure to contact me if you like one of these or have seen something you like on my FB page.  I'll need lots of support getting the word out so I'll keep you posted.  In the meantime, you can "like" my FB page to stay up with the latest news.  Mary-Gail's Facebook page

Living With Passion or What Do We Really Want?

My daughter, She's one of my finest legacies.

On a recent walk it struck me.  What drives my life is passion.

It's the reason I'm an artist and why I choose both the art I create and the life that fuels it.  When people are attracted to my art I believe it's because of the unique way that I express that passion.  It appeals because they see part of themselves in the most basic expression of what I do.  I reveal my inner life ruthlessly.  At the center of this art is the most fundamental need we have of being human.  We survive and we pass our physical, spiritual and mental selves on to the next generations.  We are attracted to pleasure and run from pain.

Healing surfaced many years ago.    

The Dragon Who Gave Birth to the Moon, Mixed Media

My childhood was a combination of free spirited fun and abuse.  My adulthood has been shaped by nurturing the one and healing the other.  I've crafted a powerful, sensitive way of being because even while I'm sometimes afraid I dive into my sensations.  I revel in the sweetness and joy I find and slog my way through the challenges.  As I say these things so many specific images swirl around in my mind.  The words to describe them seem infinite.  I can capture the sensations so much more fully in my art.

I see the moon and the moon sees me.

God bless the moon and God bless me.  

Irish lullaby

Fly was inspired in part by years of 

watching Laura refine her butterfly stroke 

as a competitive swimmer.

I led the rather linear life of much of my generation and I've always had a playful, free little girl inside of me, I did what any good girl would.  I went to school, worked, married, had children.  I was somewhat confused having grown up during the feminist revolution by the fact that I longed for the peace and security of a traditional life but had been trained academically and professionally for a life more like a traditional man.  Weird.  It's an 80's problem.

I remember when I first got married being a little lost inside my new "role."  I started to feel steamrollered by societal expectations of wifedom and motherhood.  I didn't know who I was when I couldn't tell a person I met somewhere like a party that I was a sales rep for Proctor and Gamble.  I became Larry's wife, Andy and Laura's mom, the basket lady, PFO President, fundraiser extrordinaire.  I combined my life as a primary caregiver and entrepreneur successfully but sacrificed at least some of my identity because of the career path I chose.

Images of the musicians and one of the paintings on exhibit tomorrow.

Along the way somehow I discovered myself

through my art.  It was a circuitous path that required retreating from the world.  After "finishing" the job of getting my children to adulthood I've turned to the next chapter.  You are witnessing whatever that is!  And I see you becoming as well.

Andy Climbing

In the meantime I continue to paint and create a life filled with passion.  I'm sharing a little bit of the expression of my passion tomorrow in my studio.  I hope you join me.  Sunday, September 28, 2014 1-4PM Studio R1 at 

Studio Channel Islands Art Center 

Here are links to some wonderful experiences.  It will take a little while to cull through this but you can consider it a library of inspiration from some of the people I've worked with over the years.  Enjoy!

Untitled as of yet and on exhibit tomorrow

What attracts people to art is that the best of it exemplifies passion.

Explorer/ Adventurers:

Andy King Mountain Man & Laura King World Explorer

Musicians:

Matthew Zeltzer Young Conquistador

Ebony Ann Blaze Chicago Blue

Don Harper  Composer/ Musician/ Camarillo Recording Studio

Visual Artists: 

Mary-Gail King

Sigrid Orlet  Visual and Installation Artist Extrordinaire

Marian Fortunati Plein Air Artist

Pamela Price Klebaum Glass Art

Art Center:

Studio Channel Islands Art Center and Blackboard Gallery

Day 19 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

  Here's a caveat to non-painters.  This may bore you to tears. It's a little technical. For painters I'm not overediting so read at your own peril. The secret to loose paint is focus on design and irreverence towards the outcome.  

The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge has been a great exercise for me. Finishing small work each day has allowed me to focus on working out design issues and I've been able to play with different approaches to the paint (brushwork) and new color combos. Those themes are actually a good thing to home in on for the rest of the month. 

Yesterday I spent the day painting at the Santa Barbara Courthouse with my friend Steve Richardson.  As you can see he is a master of plein air and he's fun to paint with. We always laugh and that joy comes through in the paint. 

Getting back to plein air always recharges my batteries!  It was good to get back to architecture and use it to explore some simple graphic designs. With the first piece I discovered I need a much larger canvas to work on for the subject. I felt very cramped on the 5x7s I brought with me. That's when I decided to look at a small area of the building and lay in the shapes you see here. Then I threw on the paint.  

With the second piece I decided to return to my watercolor roots and build a soft atmospheric piece with negative shapes working from light to dark.  There were no shadows so this was a good approach.  I laid in a light, premixed wash and blotted it with a paper towel to cover the whole canvas. As an oil painter I HAD to do that. No raw canvas for me.  I then carved out the simple negative shape of an archway and softened the facade around it to reflect the shadowless, atmospheric light of a Santa Barbara day with the fog burnoff that takes place in the late morning or early afternoon.

That's when I got comfortable. This is what happens in my zone. I tossed that panel aside to start a new one. It flipped wrong side up. I righted it and went back to the next piece. I stepped on the same piece that had flipped while working....that irreverence when working outdoors is something I like to teach when working with anyone who has a fear of white, uninterrupted painting surfaces. Lay in your design, paint, don't worry about the outcome until later. That may be on location or later the same day. Begin again- quickly. Rest, talk, get coffee, work quickly! Be yourself. 

There.   Secrets revealed. 

Day 9 of the 30 day Challenge

I had an acrylic class today. Here's the demo...I'll be doing another in oil. I like wandering the Studio Channel Islands campus looking for still life inspiration. 

The Creative Impulse and the Sketchbook/ Day 8

I love seeing other artists' sketches and have never judged anyone else's work as harshly as I judge my own. I aspire to model some of the finest artists the world has known. I'm aiming high and must say I won't ever paint like these men BUT I will work to achieve what I admire most in them. They have complete confidence in their skills and clear, authentic voices. 

Links to sketches by three of my favorites. Two are known for their oils, one for his magnificent sculptures. These are all watercolors.  The thing I admire most in all of these is the immediacy of the paintings. They are impulses straight from the heart of each artist.  You can feel the passion and sense of connection each of them has with his subject. 

John Singer Sargent was a master artist in every way.  Refined and sophisticated his paints were never far from his side. A master draftsman, his ability to capture the spirit of places or people is legendary and some of what he did was even shocking at the time. Bold, direct and filled with energy, my favorite paintings are from his travels in Africa. 

Rodin

Rodin was an earthy, sexual, powerful man who could capture mass in watercolor, one of the most ephemeral of mediums. His work hits me in the gut and leaves me amazed at what an artist can say in the simplest stroke.

Turner is an inspiration because I imagine him tromping the fields of England with his sketchbooks, eating his lunch and using the breadcrumbs (among other things) to achieve  dreamlike effects that confounded many of his contemporaries.

The intimacy of an artist's sketchbook is a window into their day to day life. I often hesitate to share mine because when I let someone look at what I'm doing it feels a bit like being caught naked for just a moment. I'm usually exploring and finding my way as I sketch. I use it to slow down, enter flow, begin to move ephemeral thoughts into the physical world. 

These particular sketches were done quickly from (omg) photos just to get them done and meet my commitment to paint for the day. I hate work done from photos mostly because I'm separated from the full experience of being with my subject. I may not get the chance to do much today because of the administrative work I need to do, but here's the artistic equivalent of a 20 minute maintenance walk in my execise regimine.