martin boyle portrait of the artist as a young mannequin

Posies

2012-01-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

I painted this over Christmas. There is something meditative about painting flowers: There is nothing to think about, just the joy of mixing up the right color and playing with illusion.

Restoration of My Public Art Project in Cleveland

2012-01-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

The Corduroy Roads, one of six windscreen - benches at Settlers Landing

Sandblasted glass panel before paint application, (A. Winton & his wood body automobile in Cleveland, 1897.)

When the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority contacted me to repair some broken glass panels, I was delighted. I was told that my public art project is very popular. The bench - windscreens explore the history of transportation in the Cuyahoga Valley from prehistoric times to the present. The line drawings I produced were originally photo sandblasted into 1/2" safety glass by Jerry Keller. I sent the films, which I have in storage, back to Cleveland and Jerry sand blasted the three replacement panels.

I used black enamel paint which was applied with a brush and squeegee. The paint filled the sand blasted lines. After drying overnight the glass panels were scraped with razor blades to remove the surface paint. This process of inking and wiping is very similar to how an intaglio etching plate is prepared for printing.

Jerry has a gallery and studio, Keller Art Glass, in Cleveland's Little Italy. The workshop has facilities for lots art production of experimentation. His new idea for decorative glass guitars has been well recieved in galleries around the country.

The finished panels were cleaned and then installed at the Settlers Landing Station in downtown Cleveland. There are a few more panels to be restored. I hope to be able to return to my home town this summer to complete the repairs.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

2011-08-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

These watercolors were painted from photographs I shot while in Finnish Lapland.

I really loved using my new camera. See my photo blog, http://portraitinfinland.blogspot.com/

Teaching and Remembering

2011-08-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

I am lucky to be teaching at one of the best high schools. According to the Washing Post, High School Challenge 2011, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School is the 7 th. best in MA! According to Newsweek, MVRCS is the 4 th. best in MA and in the top 10% in the USA. The art room in Massachusetts actually reminds me of my old high school's art room back in Ohio. We used to refer to our art teacher as Mr. Roy G.B.I.V. Houston. The photo above is of me sculpting a coiled ceramic piece, 1969. The man in the background is Mr. Houston.

"Wanderlust"

2011-07-21T09:13:00.001-07:00

A globe supports a woman who entices a man to leave his realm.
A plastic travel mug depicts the space shuttle.The sunflower's petals fall.

"Dahlia"

2011-05-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

I recently reworked this painting, changing the size of the small flowers to diminish and recede back into the space.

"Serve"

2011-05-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

This angel pose was derived from an actual ancient reference and a photo of a student. I love the way she seems to hover.

"Narcissus and Echo"

2011-05-27T18:35:00.001-07:00

The old figure ground cliche of two face profiles forming a vase was too difficult to resist. Narcissus was the Greek God who fell in love with his watery reflection.

Studio Time

2011-05-27T18:29:00.001-07:00

Moving to a new city and starting a full time teaching job has been a huge adjustment. During Spring break I was able to set up a studio. Many half finished paintings await. Summer will be a time for some full time painting.

High School, Scholastic Art Awards, Boston Globe

2011-02-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

Derek's "Color Line Array" won a Silver Key Award; It explores prismatic variety using oblique parallel projection. He is applying to colleges with a focus in environmental architecture.

Raphael, a Freshman, chose an expressive color harmony for his "Fauve Self Portrait." Does it make reference to Smurfs and Krishna? No matter, it works because of his sensitive use of high chroma color and his careful control of values.

Anna's mixed media collage was inspired by Romare Bearden. As a Junior, International Baccalaureate Art Student, she is planning her own themes: "American Life" and "Women's Road Trip." She will be exploring a wide variety of two dimensional media including printmaking. (I recently found an old cast iron etching press on Craig's list.)

I moved to Boston to teach High School Art at a great charter school!

2010-08-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

International Baccalaureate Visual Art Conference

2010-08-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

I attended a four day conference to learn about IB Visual Art standards and evaluation practices. The International Baccalaureate is a wonderful organization whose mission is to promote intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to national and cultural identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21 st. century. I teach 11th. & 12th. grade high school IB Art: Students experience the creative process as a practicing artist. Research, planning and independent studio production are part of this college level course.

Like a Ghost

2010-08-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

It seems that Andy is everywhere, even at an IB academic conference. My students know that I am not inspired by pop art. I was lucky to have gone to Yale when there was an old guard abstract expressionist teacher, Lester Johnson, who contended that Warhol ruined everything. I whole heartedly agree. Warhol blurred the distinction between commercial and fine art, low and high culture, beauty and ugliness. His paintings are poor quality silkscreen prints on canvas. In his own words, he admited the con artist nature of his work, "Art is what you can get away with."

Art Teacher, Sept. 3rd. 2010

2010-08-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

I am teaching high school art at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School. The students are great enthusiastic learners with wonderful manners. The yellow document on the wall, is the school's mission statement, flanked by the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

I like Boston!

2010-07-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

"Dry River Bed" High School Drawing Class

2010-06-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

This is my exemplar for an India ink drawing. The goal was to explore the qualities of line from thick to thin to describe deep space. Cross contour lines describe the undulating surfaces of rocks and river bed in an imaginary landscape space. Optional additions to be chosen by the students were local woodland animals and trees.

Power Point Presentation, High School Printmaking

2010-06-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

My cooperating teacher, Judy Flamik, brought me a yukata (men's kimono) to wear for my Japanese multicultural printmaking class. Judy who had been to Japan helped me explain what a Japanese art class was like: The teacher and the students show imense respect for each other by bowing down as a greeting.

High School, Beggining Painting Class

2010-06-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

I provided each student with a board to which they attached still life objects. A spot light was arranged and the students painted from the model set up. Below is my example, "Figs, The Gravity of Desire" which is painted on a much larger scale. The rule of trompe l'oeil painting is that objects are painted life size.

"Squirrel in Chagrin Falls", monotype

2010-05-21T21:40:00.000-07:00

A monotype is a unique, one of a kind print; it is a printed painting. Researching the history of the monotype process I learned that many of Edgar Degas' pastels started as monotypes. Willam Blake used egg tempera with the monotype process. The above image was painted on a plate, printed with a press, and adjusted with Prismacolor pencils. I am excited about reinvestigating this process after teaching it to a high school art class. The Monotype Guild of New England, is holding a national exhibition this year.

"Squirrelly"& "Pile Up", Monoprint exemplars for a high school printmaking class

2010-05-21T21:31:00.000-07:00

A monoprint uses a matrix, block or stencil which can be repeated with variations. A series of prints can efficiently be produced. These monoprints were made with 2 squirrel shapes cut out of acetate. They were inked and printed on an etching press. The cut outs can be moved around and printed again, producing a "ghost" image. Additions were made with Prismacolor pencils.

Students' Prints, grades 9-12

2010-05-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten

2010-05-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

I found this great little book about a kangaroo, "Marsupial Sue" who ate the wrong kind of food: fish. Marsupials are vegetarian.

I showed a Power point about Australia; landscape, animals, Australian Aborigines and their dot paintings.

The children used templates to cut out the shapes. They painted dots with Q-tips and colored a landscape base for their marsupials to sit on.

"All Lights Be On", my first white line woodcut

2010-05-19T04:34:00.000-07:00

The high school class 9-12 really liked this technique. Pine boards were cut with a V groove using an X-acto. The paper is taped to the board. Each color wash is printed one at a time.

One perk of teaching is being able to explore new techniques. White line woodcut is an American form of printmaking started on Cape Cod in the early 1900's. Based on Japanese wood block technique it is a quick and fun way to explore flat design patterns and variety in color.

Fifth Grade Sculpture Project

2010-05-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

We talked about surrealism, expressionism and Alberto Giacometti. His life size bronze sculpture (below) "Walking Man", sold for $104.3 million at a 2010 Sotheby's auction in London. Surreal! The students first planned their sculpture by drawing sketches expressing an emotion or attitude.

Lucky Seven

2010-05-17T03:37:00.000-07:00

The Art Education Masters program at Case Western Reserve University is small and very intense. The seven of us really spent a lot of time with each other.

Dry Point on Plexiglas Project: High School Printmaking Lesson

2010-05-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Dry point is a delicate printmaking process which produces only a few consistent prints. A line is gouged directly onto a surface. The bur wears down very quickly with each successive print. The Chine colle' technique adds a piece of color tissue paper on top of the inked plate before running it through the press.

Masters of Arts in Art Education

2010-05-16T03:37:00.000-07:00

We did it! Anna Arnold, Cory Sampliner, Me. (The fourth grad is from Music Education.) Anna and I were the two "non-traditional students", in the graduate program at CWRU. "Non-traditional" means older, among other things. Cory Sampliner recieved a certificate for the highest Praxis scores! We really supported each other throughout the program.

"Squirrelly T-Shirt" stencil lesson

2010-05-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

My lesson plan for the T-Shirt project included repetition and compositional movement across the shirt with tints and shades of one color. This was a multicultural unit so, elements of the Japanese aesthetic were stressed: nature, asymmetrical composition. Some students used manga and anime images.

T-Shirt Project, Grades 9-12

2010-05-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

There is a huge multiculturalism element to the Master of Arts in Art Education degree at CWRU. This printmaking project focused on the Japanese aesthetic. The high school students designed and produced T-shirts using contact paper and silk screen ink.

"White Tiger Lilly", Year of the Tiger 2010

2010-05-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

This is the third Chinese Astrological Animal I've painted for the Saint Clair Superior Development Corporation. The fiberglass sculpture will be auctioned off and the funds will be used to provide art classes for Cleveland inner city school children. The art classes focus on Chinese culture.

CWRU Arts 201, 3D Design

2010-05-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Tammy Tran, a sophmore biology major created a fantastic wire sculpture of an ancient Greek vessel for CWRU's Virgil Week. There was an all day reading of the Aeneid, with visiting schools. I helped organize an art competition and exhibition. Most of my 2D students created scratch board drawings based on Greco Roman themes. Tammy, who was in the 3D design class won a prize!

"PA Hex. Sign for 2nd. Graders"

2010-05-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

This is a sophisticated and challenging project for 2nd. graders. They loved it. I presented a Power point on the Pennsylvania Dutch, William Penn, religious freedom, and hexagonal rotational symmetry. The children each designed a personal symbol of welcome and colored it with watercolor & crayon resist.

"Pennsyvania Hexagonal Signs, 2nd Graders"

2010-05-13T20:58:00.000-07:00

The children designed their signs by using one initial from their name, one organic shape, and one geometric shape. They were instucted to choose colors based on cool and warm hues.

A Really Big Show

2010-03-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

Anna and I are showing our best (unsold) art work from throughout our careers. I never thought our work would look so good together. There is a total contrast in stylistic approach, but a total harmony in spirit. Someday I would like to organize a proper retrospective, borrowing art work from various collections.

Painting the Mask

2010-03-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

In preparation for the exhibition post card, I thought I should add more gray hair, and touch up the bags. I'm nearing the end of my studies at CWRU. Anna Arnold and I are having an exhibition.

Smart Board Learning

2010-02-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

For the first 2 weeks of student teaching, K-8, I observed my "cooperating teacher": Mrs. A. Heiman. She is adept at teaching with the Adobe Smart Board. I am learning so much from her. The class is quietly attentive as she teaches a color wheel collage lesson.

"A Cultural Chair"

2009-12-31T13:44:00.000-08:00

This silkscreen print was made a long time ago. I was in the summer program at the Lake Placid Art School in upstate New York. The image is about participating in culture. Most people feel that they can not sit in the Cultural Chair. As a teacher I feel it is important to change this attitude. Everyone should feel the joy of making a cultural contribution. Art making is an avenue available to all.

CWRU Art Studio, Student Exhibition 2009

2009-12-16T21:24:00.000-08:00

Angie put a lot of work into this kinetic scuplture, she is considering her options after her senior year: graduate school for medical illustration or art education.

"Icarus" Kinetic Sculpture

2009-12-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

Angie described her creative process as if one had eaten a mythology book. I like the way the 3D expressionistic images are flattened in the video.

She told me that her mother read Greek myths to her when she was falling asleep as a child.

Chien Nguyen's Tryptich

2009-12-14T11:13:00.000-08:00

This project is about expressing three related concepts in a tryptich format using die cuts to show different views.

Chien used spiraled wire to connect the panels.

The planar sculpture when fully opened reveals the warm colors.

"Modern Warfare", by Jonathan Klein, Arts 101

2009-12-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

The assigned project was to use security envelope textures to create a collage. Jonathan K. came up with a riveting combination of image and medium that resonates. For the project's essay he explains, "The image is a screenshot from a popular war video game. How to deal with the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the tie between government funding and the military are alluded to with security billing envelopes."

Arts 101, Texture Project Instructions

2009-12-14T11:09:00.002-08:00

I made this video to show to my students.

Students' Work CWRU, Shapes In Space

2009-12-14T10:45:00.000-08:00

Martha Kriley excelled at this most difficult project: Two complimentary colors are mixed to produce a nuetral gray background. Strofoam shapes are designed, cut, and painted. The use of atmospheric perspective results in a convincing illusion of deep space.

"A Compendium of Half Circles"

2009-12-04T20:56:00.000-08:00

I had some mystical experiences, meaningful coincidences, AKA synchronisities with the half circle. This is a great example of divergent thinking for fun. Can you find the chocolate chip cookie?

"A Compendium of Mobile Homes"

2009-12-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

I presented a power point titled "The Figure in Geometry, How I Became a Neoclassic Artist" at the Ohio Art Education Assoc. Convention. This etching done in 1975 reigns supreme in my understanding of dynamic shapes. Buckminster Fuller's ideas about the square being a shape connoting contraction affected me deeply.

Pedagogy & The Wizard of Oz

2009-11-21T10:22:00.000-08:00

Recieving the Ohio Art Education Association scholarship award for graduate students was a little surreal. I never looked at that man behind the curatain, but that is Mary Cassat, holding a baby, behind the podium. I'm working on a Masters degree in Art Education at CWRU. Dr. Karen Hutzel, OSU, is tying a black apron on me. The label on the apron reads: "Mr. Boyle Art Teacher". The Award means so much to me, giving the term "Life Long Learning" concrete validity. The help with tuition is also much appreciated.

Oscar Night

2009-11-20T11:42:00.000-08:00

It was a fun night. Tim Rollins was the guest speaker. He is a wonderful NYC artist and art educator, who collaborates with urban disadvantaged youth to create amazing paintings based on literary sources. Tim Rollins K.O.S. (Kids Of Survival) is the name of his corporation formed with these young artists who now exhibit around the world.

Happy Halloween, Self Portrait

2009-10-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

An exemplar for a lesson plan on Chiaroscuro. The idea is to have the students photograph each other with dramatic-spooky lighting from a flashlight. The photo reference is traced. The shadows and highlights contrast with the medium gray background.

"Saltmarsh at Wellfleet"

2009-10-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

Even though I painted this in 2007, I remeber exactly how it felt in the hot sun. I will never forget the little fiddler crabs that popped up out of the holes in the sand all around my chair.

"Paths"

2009-10-17T23:17:00.000-07:00

Painting in the summer of 2007 was an adventure, just finding the right spot to set up took half a day. Now I want to go back to that little hill, every year.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

2009-07-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

I returned to that "Meadow on the Cove" in Orleans, MA. There is a path cut through a wonderful native wildflower meadow. I painted for about 2 hours and shot lots of close up photos of the vegetation. Details will be added later in the studio. Can you imagine a world with less unnecessary cancer causing pesticides? I like weeds: weeds are flowers!

Raku Class, CWRU, Valley Ridge Farm

2009-07-24T21:41:00.001-07:00

I created all of these pieces at the Case Western Reserve University Farm.
Raku is a Japanese inspired form of ceramics, revived in the 60's. Themes of nature with random iridescent glaze patterns, and smokey black and gray mat surfaces set a mysterious and ancient archaeological mood.

Pan was the ancient Greek god of music, shepherds, and the forest. The form was created from a plaster life mask/pug mold. The raku glazes are unpredictable. The green and ochre colors of the mask were a total surprise but appropriate for Pan.

I designed a goblet drum using the golden section. A Greek inspired column crater also uses the primitave technique of coil construction.

Professor Tim Shuckerow taught us how to throw saw dust on the hot glazed bisqued ceramics. The holes were dug in the ground, layered with hay, and were covered with lids to fire the pieces.

Phyllis Sloane 1921-2009

2009-07-24T21:24:00.000-07:00

During my time in Cleveland's Little Italy 1989-1996, my dear friend and neighbor gave me the key to her studio when she went to Santa Fe for the summer. I worked on etchings, mono prints, and my GCRTA public art project. Our work shares a similar ideology: respect for good "academic" drawing skills and a belief that art can be uplifting and memorable without resorting to shock value. She once joked that her unending energy and prolific output was a symptom of OCD. Phyllis was a great artist. I learned much from her. In a dream she asked me, "Do you like my symphony"? She was pointing to one of her orange still life paintings.

"Proud" was comissioned as a charitable fund raiser

2009-07-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

In 2002 I was commissioned by Key Bank and United Way to paint a 8' fiberglass sculpture. "Proud" is now on the corner of E. 9th St. in Cleveland. It was reproduced as a miniature and replicated as a real working musical instrument by Fender. The wings conform to the shape of the stratocaster.

SmART in the City

2009-07-17T22:04:00.000-07:00

I'm team-teaching art with Anna Arnold to Cleveland 5th, 6th, & 7th grade students this summer. Titled "Freedom to Make It" this summer art day camp teaches Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, West African Percussion, Dance, and Music. It is funded by a joint effort of The Cleveland Foundation, CWRU & UBS Wealth Management. This is one of several locations across the city. Anna Arnold and I are teaching painting and drawing. The students are working on self portraits.

"American Dream", Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T20:50:00.001-07:00

Painted from a photograph, shot in upstate N.Y. this 1990 painting tries to express my hopeful feelings about America.

"Dahlia"

2009-06-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

On top is the photo of the plein air painting on October 15, 2008. Depicted is the dahlia garden of Ray Wilkins a retired KSU professor. We chatted about his diminished prospects for a planned retirement community as the economic meltdown had started. He warned the flowers would all be gone at the first frost. The vase was painted in June, 2009, in the studio.

"Paths To The Water"

2009-06-20T20:11:00.000-07:00

This and another new painting can be seen at Kendall Art Gallery, Wellfleet, MA.
The plein air landscape was done in one 3 hour session last summer, on Cape Cod at Fort Hill, overlooking Nauset Marsh. The objets d'art were added in my studio back in Ohio. There are many of those oil lamp ceramics at flea markets.

"Two Paths"

2009-06-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

This is how I work. It took me a while to figure out which objet d'art would be painted on this one. I was thinking about the two paths. The red violet colors provide a compliment to balance all that green. One path is the sensual; lilacs. The other is the intellectual; the lamp. One has to be carefull in painting in layers with oil. I sanded off the background area for the lamp; a symbol of learning. "Lux et Veritas", light and truth.

"Harvest Is Great"

2009-06-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

This one was begun last fall at Beckwith's Orchard. The plein air painting was finished in the studio. I added the stone and four varieties of apples, left to right: Jonahgold, Rome, Ambrosia, and McIntosh. The title is painted at the top. I'm thinking about concrete poetry. The Greeks were the first to do it: letters of words arranged in a shape.

"A Penny Saved"

2009-06-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

A penny saved is a penny earned and taxed. This painting (1997) is in the collection of Fidelity Investments, Boston, MA. A woman at Fidelity recently (2009) asked me what tulips and a bowl of cherries have to do with savings and taxes. The painting hangs across from her desk and people are always asking. I replied that tulip mania in the Netherlands (1663) was similar to the stock market crash of 1929. The song "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries" was written in 1931. I guess the message of the painting is don't speculate and when you loose, sing the song or one of the other depression songs. What song does our economic meltdown have? I should paint a new one with houses.

"Poppy Fields" Memorial Day

2009-05-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

An idea for a painting honoring the casualties of war has a pair of army boots. The Belgian poppy fields of WWI inspired a poem which inspired a fundraiser for VFW. Ironically the poppy now has a deadlier purpose.

"Babe" Year of the Ox

2009-05-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

Here is yet another painted fiberglass street sculpture/ fundraiser. This is one of my favorite causes: http://www.stclairsuperior.org/ raises funds for Asian Services in Action, Youth Art & Culture Education Program; which provides art classes for our "Asia Town" neighborhood children. Koscian Meat Market sponsored me to paint him prior to the auction. "Babe" is depicted in a flannel work shirt. We'll all be working a lot harder to dig ourselves out of our current financial hole. According to the Chinese zodiac, hard work is the only way to achieve success in the year of the ox.

Students' Independent Projects

2009-05-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

Angela Rovnyak's capstone project, "A Disjoint Set" used three stories tied togeather by a mother child dialogue. The book explores the boundaries of sequential art and stream of consciousness from a child's point of view.

Angela used her knowledge of vivisection from Introductory Entomology and her pet moth, "Stanlie" as a model. There is a reference to the Killers song "Spaceman" and an illustration of how an insect sees, as shown on the left wing.

"A Disjoint Set"

2009-05-02T22:34:00.000-07:00

Angela's capstone project combined styles and stories. This experimental graphic novel synthesized many of her interests: Slavic myth, super heros, acceptance of body image, popular song, and biology. That is Angela with the blue hair (above).

The carbon paper traced line proved to be a powerful and unique technique in her hands. I'm sure there's more creativity to come. See more at http://www.arovnyak.deviantart.com/

"Alex's Adventures in Fouierland" end of the CWRU school year

2009-05-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

Andrew made a great pop up book for his independent Design and Color project. Inspired by Lewis Carroll, he created an entertaining and thought provoking Fourierland where the Chebyshev (Type II) Cat lurks in the blue forest. He plans to earn a graduate degree in robotics at Carnegie Mellon http://www.ri.cmu.edu/

There were some real Spartans lurking at the Freedman Multimedia center.

The Art Studio exhibition was a place for the students to find closure. I found two of my most open and fun students. Julianne and Yoko, the Ying and Yang of my Arts 101 course. Julianne is transferring to the Cleveland Institute of Art's interior design program and Yoko is graduating to do graduate studies in medicine in Toledo.

"Meat Head"

2009-05-01T21:56:00.000-07:00

Remember the Hamburgler? I traded this one to my dentist for some intensive scaling. Ouch.

"Music Makes The Dance"

2009-04-18T21:22:00.000-07:00

The kithara was an ancient Greek stringed instrument. My first real solo show was at Mario Mainetti Gallery in Basel, Switzerland. I left this painting in Basel, as a gift to the Klein's who gave me the key to their downstairs apartment for two weeks. The wife was a dancer.

"Break Out"

2009-04-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

We were watching VH1's One Hit Wonders and this song came on by "Swing Out Sister". Yes that's where the title came from. She was a model who now has a singing career in Japan, with many many albums.

Virgil Week Projects CWRU

2009-04-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Professor Timothy Wutrich invited various departments to participate in a 12 hour marathon reading of the Aeneid. I was the only one who bit. How could I not be interested after painting all those Greek vases?

Greeks, Freaks, & Geeks at CWRU Greek Week

2009-04-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

The Greeks put up "banners" displaying their wit, energy & creativity. Here's the mythic Gnome on the Unicorn. I like the way there was a gallon of green patina sludge just dumped on it.

The dog house theme allows for lounging and studying.

Next door at SAGES cafe, noted scholars had an all day reading of Virgil's Aeneid. I displayed 3 of my paintings.

Outside, these sisters put a lot of effort into their display. The Office of Greek Life declared this years theme: "Nickelodeon".

Some think that the Greek myths are irrelevant. Hollywood certainly doesn't. "Troy" and "The 300" come to mind.

My Arts 101, Design & Color class produced some Aeneid themed art works for the 12 hour reading of Virgil's Aeneid event.

Professor Timothy Wutrich organized the reading event which included Notre Dame Academy Latin group from Toledo. Shaker Hts. High and John Jay High schools also read. It would be great to combine some of the carnival atmosphere outside, with the intellectual relevance inside. A special prize could be given for the best classically referenced display. The reading could be broadcast outside where an improvisational group responds. Think "Animal House" for scholars.

Greek Week Show Time: more "banners" for recruitment

2009-04-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

"Olympia"

2009-04-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

It's Virgil week at C.W.R.U.. I'm going to show this one at SAGES Cafe. The composition was taken from a Greek vase.

"Dance Till Dawn"

2009-03-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

This figure composition was taken directly from a vase. A sensitive friend told me a story about what was going on in the picture. I love the way the woman's hand obscures the man's face.

"The Goddess Of Wisdom"

2009-03-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

This view of ancient Athens was painted from an old German engraving. I added the dawn/ sunset atmosphere with Pegasus, and Athena. She holds a vase of olive oil and an olive branch. I will be showing it along with a few others at C.W.R.U. My design class will also be showing some Aeneid themed works. The classics department is hosting an all day, 12 hour reading of Virgil's Aeneid: April 2nd 8:30 AM-8:30 PM, Sages Cafe, Crawford Hall.

Case Western Reserve University's wild party time

2009-03-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

I've been invited to a Classics Outing / Symposium / Party. It feels good to know I'm not alone. Any kind of classical reference is scoffed at in most of our fine art colleges. It really was not cool to be showing any kind of fine academic drawing skill when I was an undergraduate.

Galerie Polysemie

2009-03-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

If you happen to get to Marseilles, France, I'm exhibiting some of the Greek vase cube paintings seen on this blog at a new gallery: http://www.polysemie.com/ The gallery is at 63 Cours Puget, near the Palais de justice.

The Palais de Justice, Cours Pierre Puget, Marseilles

2009-03-04T21:21:00.000-08:00

Why do I love neoclassicism? There's something calming about it.

"With The Trust Of A Child"

2009-02-27T20:36:00.000-08:00

This was painted some time in 1988. The title is a verse from long forgotten pop song, I think.

"The Show Must Go On"

2009-02-24T21:23:00.000-08:00

The Greek theatre lecture at CWRU reminded me of this one I painted in NYC, 1986. A Greek comic actor is on the vase. Modern equivilents on a dixie cup and mug are Bugs Bunny and Laurel and Hardy. There is an African mask. I actually sold this one to a theatrical make up artist. Who would think that 23 years latter in 2009, I'd be exhibiting with a mask artist/ collector at a lecture about Greek theatre? Maybe I'm a psychic artist.

"Making Masks Play", CWRU Art Studio

2009-02-19T20:09:00.000-08:00

Our director, Tim Shuckerow, showed his collection of world masks.

Dr. Amy R. Cohen loves to play cyclops.
She presented her new discoveries about constructing Greek dramatic masks. A montage of her productions of Greek plays at Randolph College was shown. I had some of my favorite paintings hanging.

"Peace March"

2009-02-19T19:26:00.000-08:00

I think Ghandi would have liked the title of this one.

"The Two As One"

2009-02-11T21:18:00.000-08:00

This is a straight forward depiction of a real Greek vase and a contemporary paper soda cup. The horizontal banding predates the sparkle of 1960's Op Art. The two eyes on the vase are from a convention called "cup kiss". Greek drinking cups had painted eyes strategically placed so that when the drinker tipped the cup it looked like he was wearing a mask.

"Provence"

2009-02-06T21:44:00.000-08:00

If you ever get to Marseilles, France, check out a new gallery: Polysemie. This painting can be seen there. From my funny cup series this one compares ancient and contemporary images. I guess it could have been titled "Menage a tois, old and new" or something like that.

"Soul Mates Will Meet"

2009-02-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

I painted this in France, 1988. It was kind of a lonely time in the city of light. Romance was no where to be found. There was the Spanish student I met at French lessons. She compared me to Sacre Coeur, like a white marble bascilica sparkling on the inside but dirty, (sale), on the outside.

"Burger Of Love"

2009-02-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

In that touristy neighborhood where the Moulin Rouge is, I found the Love Burger fast food restaurant.

"Battle Of The Sexes"

2009-01-16T21:28:00.000-08:00

The Amazons were a nation of female warriors in ancient Greek mythology. The contemporary battle for power is fought with a laptops, briefcases and lawyers.

"Beam Us Down"

2009-01-11T21:56:00.000-08:00

I painted this in 1987, thinking about the images on our vessels compared to the ancient Greeks; Science fiction & myths.

"Builders"

2009-01-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

I painted this in 1987 while thinking about how pervasive the smurf iconography was. It is truly international. I found this little guy holding a brick and a trowel in Paris, and made a free association with masons, Egyptology, and how to construct a French breakfast.

"Harvest Is Great"

2009-01-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

It feels so good to get back to painting after the drain of the holidays. I sprayed some retouch varnish on the landscape which was painted in November at Bechwith's. It smelled like frankincense. I drove up to Giant Eagle and bought 4 different apples: Roma, Aphrodisia, McIntosh, and Jonah Gold. I'm trying a new, (for me) way of painting the title directly on the niche.

"Harvest Is Great"

2009-01-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

Some Kent State art students dropped by as I was painting on the last warm day of 2008. They were changing their majors from fine art painting to illustration. It is strange and wrong that there is this separation. The Renaissance painters were illustrators.

At this point the light is fading, I was getting cold and decided to pack up.

There is a painter in Boston who has a huge delivery truck that he parks all over the city to paint from. It is such a great idea. I'd like to try that some day. Like Steinbeck's, "Travels With Charlie", I'll drive across the country.

"From Sea To Shining Sea", Happy New Year

2009-01-01T12:54:00.000-08:00

It's a new year. This painting of a neighborhood stray cat, intends to make a positive statement. I used a stable composition with the tip of the mouse's nose, the gold finial of the flag pole and the foot of the pitcher forming an equilateral triangle. Stripes and sinewy curves are repeated. The path winds down to the Atlantic. It is sunset or sunrise.

"Nine To Five Warrior"

2008-12-31T18:02:00.000-08:00

Have Blessed Christmas

2008-12-20T00:40:00.000-08:00

I painted this in 1993 from a photograph of a German sculpture. The red yellow & blue make a positive almost happy feeling. The rose was painted from life.

"Out Of Egypt"

2008-12-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Case Western Reserve University, Art Studio Student Exhibition

2008-12-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

Dustin Fisher drew a very graphic portrait of his brother. Dustin is a Physics Major and was one of the best students in the class. I'm writing a letter of recommendation for an Engineering Major who is applying to IIT, RISD, & SCAD for a Masters degree in Industrial Design. These science people are the best and most responsive students I've ever had.

I teach Design and Color I & II: 2D & 3D
Joanne Giordano teaches Fibers. Jinmeng Zhang took all 3 classes and is applying to Medical Schools. That's her wire sculpture, silk scarf, and stitched photo collage in the middle. I hope it helped her eye to hand motor skills. Jinmeng offered me a free operation when she becomes a surgeon, if I need one.
Lauren Kory and Mridu Kapil were very helpful in hanging the show. They really surprised me with an extra burst of energy at the end of the semester. Those are two of the projects above us: "Figure/Ground" and "Shapes In Space"

Maxwell Stern's Kinetic Sculpture, Arts 201

2008-12-11T21:00:00.000-08:00

I give the 3D students a battery opperated motor and they design a kinetic sculpture. Max is an afficianado of everything hip hop: turntables, NYC subways, and graffitti.

Jinmeng Zhang's Kinetic Sculpture

2008-12-11T20:45:00.000-08:00

Jinmeng used 4 cd's with spider & web images. The colors are inspired by the prismatic reflections.

Lauren Kwasniewski's Kinetic Sculpture

2008-12-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

Lauren was deeply affected by a yellow jacket attack as a child. I hope she worked out some of the bad memories.

Portrait of Brian Walker

2008-12-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

A friend commissioned this portrait in 1980. We had a photo session on the roof of his apartment in Hell's Kitchen. That is the world trade center in the background. Brian was at first freaked out that his eyes were closed. I was making a contrast of inner & outer worlds. New York is so crazy that looking inward is one way to find peace. What freaks me out, now, is that lone white cloud at the top of the towers.