Seventeen in Art Basel

Xavier Cortada created 17 drawings on carbon paper, as a metaphor for the impact (or "carbon footprint”) that humans have had on these species, even across the boundaries of protected nature preserves. Cortada's original drawings of the seventeen species -- including the Wood Stork, the Key Largo Rat, and the Smalltooth Sawfish-- will be on display at his studio.  

For Art Basel seventeen local artists were invited to reinterpret Xavier Cortada's "80.15 W" carbon paper drawings.

The seventeen invitees are: Vince Herrera, Ernesto Kunde, Alex Yanes, Sean Ritchwood, Diana Contreras, Eleazar Delgado, BMD, Anthony Burks, TMNK, Kid, Courtney Rutter, Clay Frye, Yoko Sigiura, Sri Prabha, Alexandra Seda, and me. 

I was lucky enough to get the Piping Plover as my subject, the little bird at the beach that seems to have a love-hate relationship with the tides. Below is my interpretation and it will be for sale at the exposition.

 

The Openings Reception was tonight on December 1 at  the Gallery at Cortada Studio

104 SW 9th Street, Ground level | Eastside, Suite B, Miami, FL

Darkness in Pompano Beach

Last night I received the confirmation that my 3 entries are juried into the group show "Darkness" at the Rossetti Fine Art Gallery in Pompano Beach. 

Pretty Pretty Flower

Artists were encouraged to enter works with dark themes and imagery. In other words for the artists to tap into their darker side. I chose to stay with one of my favorite subjects - children - and painted 3 fictional portraits (12" x 12"), using ink, charcoal and 4 colours of Acrylics (White, Red, Grey and Payne's Grey). I did not feel that full colour would do justice to the subjects and chose to stick with a limited palette.

I was aiming for a slightly subtle level of darkness and I was surprised that it was actually hard to restrain myself from going into a"SAW" kind of blood filled darkness, while setting up the portraits.

I am really pleased with the result and of course that I am juried in. The exposition will be open for public October 24th and the opening reception will take place on Thursday 27th from 8 pm - 10 pm at Rossetti Fine Art Gallery in Pompano Beach.

Zebra I Presume

Currently I am working on a new set of paintings which will be different from what I have been painting lately. I wanted to step away from the pouts and nudes, and explore different subjects in my paintings. 

The first painting, which I finished today, is about perception. Again the photo I took does not do justice to the colors at all, but it gives you some impression.

This painting - I named it "Zebra I Presume" - is in acrylics, ink and graphite, and is 36 x 36".

Mona, Mona, Mona.....

Several weeks ago I received an invitation from MANO Fine Art to create my interpretation of one of the world's most famous paintings: The Mona Lisa.

Talk about a creative challenge and a very inspiring one indeed for me. Leonardo da Vinci was the artist that wanted me to paint as a little child. My father came home with a book about Da Vinci's work and I was in awe with every picture in that book. By the time my father sat down to look in the book himself, my little fingerprints were all over every page.

I made a triptych (3 canvasses of 12x12") like a little story board and put Mona Lisa in a different background and not as the pretty little model with the mysterious smile, but an active young woman . I named the triptych "Mona Lisa Rules".

And here is my little teaser for this exposition: a small strip of one of the canvasses.

 

If you want to see the rest of this painting and all the other interpretations, you should come to

MANO Fine Art Project Space

4225 SW 75 Avenue

Miami, FL

Opening Reception will be on Saturday,  September 17 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm.

Visit the facebook page for more information. 

Out of Context

Galerie Jenner in Fort Lauderdale came up with another creative idea for a show: Buy a paint-by-numbers-kit and get inspired. Anything goes as long as it is OUT OF CONTEXT! 

So a couple of weeks ago I went to the art supply store and stood in front of all the "paint-by-numbers-kits" section, trying to figure out which one to choose and what to do with it.

Anyway, I choose the kit numbered "PJS49" and that is also the title of the painting.

I worked with the subject and let myself be inspired by this kit. 

It was for me a complete out of context experience and I had a lot of fun with it and I think that it shows in this work. For now I only show you a little piece of the whole painting (30 x 40").

If you want to see the whole painting and all the other creations based on painting-by-numbers-kits, come to Galerie Jenner on Saturday October 15th.

Life is Art

Life Is Art is a south-Florida based non-profit corporation founded in January of 2009. Their goal is to help elevate the south Florida arts scene to a level comparable with other international artistic cities, such as New York and Paris. They do this primarily through the production of arts events: Art Shows, Fairs, Parties, Showcases, Networkers, Seminars, Workshops and more targeted at supporting south Florida artists and arts professionals. They provide opportunities for artists to grow and share their work, as well as learn about the business of being an artist and how to better make a living at what they love.

On June 18, 2011 the organization "Life is Art" will hold their fundraising party and it will be a night filled with art, music, fashion, performances and even free drinks. Also there will be a raffle for which I made a small painting (6 x 18 inch).

I made it in Acrylics and gold leaf and I called it "Life is Art".

And I apologize as this is not a great picture of the painting.... 

So if you are in Miami (or in the neighborhood) on June the 18th and want to support the arts come to the Surfcomber in South Beach, have a great time and don't forget to buy raffle tickets. You might end up with a real Monique Lassooij painting...

For more information go to: http://www.lifeisartfest.org/2011/05/28/the-big-fundraising-party-june-18-2011/

The Gorgeous Blogger Award

It makes perfectly sense that I would receive an award for being gorgeous but to receive one for being a gorgeous blogger... well not so much. I blog barely two years now and not even that often, however I have been gorgeous all my life and I will promise to keep that up for many years to come.

Nevertheless and to my surprise Ricardo unloaded and bestowed upon me the Gorgeous Blogger Award anyway.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As this award requires that I answer a few questions and then pass the award onto others, I will do so without further ado.

1. When did you start blogging?

I started in 2009, after much arm twisting by Ily. She was and - I believe - still is convinced that both my talents and my wacky sense of humor should not be limited to a few, but be shared with many.

2. What's your blog about?

My art, impressions and observations. Nothing specific and everything and all goes, as long as I find it interesting, creative, weird, funny or worth writing about. Rarely about politics but sometimes I cannot help myself. But mostly I try to blog with a healthy dose of humor about the things around me. Occasionally I will showcase a painting that is finished. So what I am trying to say is that I am all over the board with my blog and why not? I am having fun with it and in many ways still test riding it... it is like... uuuhhmm... me in a Ferrari, driving at full speed while trying to figure out the clutch....

3. What makes your blog special?

Well.... (this is almost the same as the typical job interview question: "What makes you special?" I once answered that question with a straight face : "I don't slurp when I eat Spaghetti." and despite that reply I got the job, which was not in a restaurant.

Anyway, what makes my blog special and I have to answer with that I am the one writing it. And the people that return regularly to my blog and leave their comments make it extra special.

4. What got you into blogging?

Ily got me into blogging and I am happy that I followed her advise. Although it took a while before my arm was completely recovered from her persistent twisting it.

5. What would you like to change in your blog?

I would like to blog more often. Not as a journal but more often than once or twice per month. I will aim for 3 blogs per month... starting... oh well... somewhere in 2011.

I present this award to the following bloggers: Riot Kitty, Granny Annie, Valentina Ramos because they are so often an inspiration to me. Of course I would love to pass this award also to Ily, but Ricardo beat me to it (darn you Ricardo, why don't you break a leg.... )

What is on my easel...

Last Saturday I finished this painting and I named it "Secrets of a childhood".Again I painted on an unstretched canvas with acrylics. The painting itself measures 33" x 35". with a band painted in blue of 4" all around it.

The subject relates to me when I was a little girl and I would hide little secrets inside certain dolls. It could be a pebble, a little note, anything that I felt to be my own little treasure and some things I did not want anybody to know about. But even though I was always a little afraid that somebody would find it, I never thought all these little things inside a doll's body would make a noise. I now know my mother would take the arm of the doll to look inside, curious what made that noise when she moved the dolls to clean, but she never said anything to me about what she would find.

Happy Valentine..

Where did the Tradition of Card giving on St. Valentine come from? We have to go back to a time before the Christians took over the "civilized world".

It all started as a pagan tradition in the third century. The god Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. During this time hordes of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks. So the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks.

Additionally, during the Lupercalia, but in honor of the goddess Juno Februata (are you still with me here?) , the names of young women were put into an urn. Later their names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls who were matched would be considered partners for the year (yes, the Romans invented the friends with benefits), which began in March. It will probably surprise nobody that this celebration continued long after the wolves ceased to be a problem to Rome.

After Christianity took over Rome, the Christian Church sought to replace this holiday with something a little more tasteful (read less ... way less sexual). It changed the name-drawing. Now, both men and women could draw names. Surely, the young Romans felt cheated as they found the name of a Christian saint on their cards rather than the wonderful companion they wished for. Instead of getting a companion through the lottery, they got a saint which they were to exemplify for that year. 

The Romans were miffed. They missed their friends with benefits every February. Some ingenious Roman lads thought up an idea. Instead of hoping that the woman they admired would be on their card, they went about sending cards with their names on them to these women. This tradition has carried on to this present day. 

So if it was not for the Romans (a.i. Italians) we would not have a Valentine Day Card Tradition. Life is so much better with an Italian...(I know... I live with the Hitman!)

Happy Valentines Day

Two expositions in February!!!

Once upon a time there were two "call for artists". I entered my work for both the events... Yes I was feeling gutsy and you never know, right? 

And then I was juried into both events...

Tonight is the opening of the first event. It is the Cheesecake Pinup exposition and I have two small male nudes showing there (yes, MALE nudes.... why should all pin ups be female?). 

The show is at Galerie Jenner in Fort Lauderdale and will continue until March 31.

The second event I was juried into is the "River of Art"; an annual event organized by Life is Art here in Miami. The event is only one evening and every year 7 or 8 artists are selected to show one painting at the event. And there is my painting on the poster.... the third one from the right bottom row.

Meanwhile I am working on a new painting ...

Life is just wonderful...

What is on my easel?

Just an hour or so ago, I finished another painting and will be send to The Netherlands next week where it becomes part of a private collection.

It is painted on (non-streched) canvas with acrylics and its size is 33" x 32".

Anybody who knows me a little, knows that my pictures of my work are not the best and yet again I manage to NOT capture the true colors. 

The following detail of the painting gives a better idea about the colors.

I named the painting: "OWL"

2011 and then some

Going home last night I sat in the metro. Across from me sits a young woman trying to ignore ... well basically everything, a true poker face, blank eyes and staring into nothing. The next stop two men walk in and one decides to sit next to her - still no chance in her expression - and the other one sits next to me.

The man next to me was carrying several bags and out of one he lifts a bottle in a brown bag and takes a zip. 

The man opposite of him - yes next to the poker faced woman - looks at him and then the following conversation starts:

"Is that a single malt?"

"Nope just some pick-me-up"

"Sounds good, sounds good. Are you sharing?"

"Sharing?"

"Yeah sharing, like in the spirit of the holidays"

"Nope I am not spiritual at all."

"Oh good, cause I should not be drinking with my medication and all..."

Still no change in her facial expression and I know she is listening...

"What kind of medication would that be?"

"To stop the voices"

The conversation now hangs in the air.. what can you say after such a reply, right? 

But I made a little bet with myself that she will get up within 10 seconds, even though she kept her cool.

"Do you hear the voices often?"

"Yes... even now..."

She only gave me a quick look and gone she was.

I smiled  and the little girl inside was doing a little victory dance.. I won... I won...!

The men kept talking with each other and I returned to my book. A good beginning of the 2011.

Have a wonderful 2011 filled with good conversations, little victories, good health and a lot of smiles!

What is on my easel...

I know I have not been on the blog so much lately... ok, ok, not at all for weeks. But I was a little busy with several paintings and this weekend I finished the below painting in acrylics. 

I haven't given the painting a title yet, but on the wall behind her the text of the first article of the Bill of Rights is written. The writing is fading a little and there are pieces missing. The little girl is staring at me... the artist, and at all of us, wondering....

10 of 10 : Tandy for Annie

Tandy Kid is Annie's baby goat. He was born on July 24 this year and now I made this small portrait of him for Annie's 10 of 10 book.

As usual..... I covered some of the painting so the owner of the book will have to wait to see it all until he / she received it... But for now I will reveal that it is painted in Acrylics... 

Sorry Annie, you have to wait a few days more... (wink, wink)

A painting that I send to Holland

Last week I send a painting to Holland to a wonderful couple who just happen to be good friends of mine. They have this very special character at home and his name is Milan.

and this is his portrait of him.

 

Because I know they have received Milan's Portrait, I can now share it with you...

A good advice...

10 of 10 : The art for Shay

Aaah... the challenges in life, such as what to create for a woman that is creative herself. And not only that ... shows in her blogs the many facets of her existence. 

Well here it is... and yes, as usual I leave the good stuff out, so the owner of the book will not see the whole picture. But I will reveal that I made it in acrylics and ink on paper... One could take pleasure in mysteries...

And that will be all..... for now...

Dita Von Teese is teasing again

Here is a short commercial with Dita Von Teese.... seriously this is a Commercial for Perrier...

Watch it here.

Another reason why Dita is in my top 3 list of women.

She is already in my top 3 because I love her "burlesque" eroticism and she is a beauty.

Oh, you want to know who are the other women in my top 3?

Well.... Marlene Dietrich: untill her very last day she remained a very classy lady who took no bulls@%t from anyone. 

And the most sexy woman of the 1920's and probably of all times as she is a contemporary / timeless beauty : Louise Brooks

I was a little girl (6 or 7) when I saw a picture of her face the first time and her face is in embedded in my artistic mind and spontaneously pops up in some of my works.

Who is in your top 3 women of all time?

Spanking with a Feather

Last night I was in South Beach with my good friend Ily. Whenever we are there, we like to have some dinner together, a little wine and - how could one not like it - just talk about all and nothing. It is a great way to just break away from the day-to-day ups and downs.

So we sat down and shared a bottle of Pinot G. and then the strangest thing happened: Ily saw Johnny Depp!

"Where??" I asked her

"There..." pointing at some shrubs across the street. I saw a Latino looking man...

"That's not Johnny Depp... That is Juanito Depp."

"That is Johnny Depp... I tell you"

"He doesn't even look like him"

 "No, no... that is Johnny Depp... trying to disguise that he is Johnny Depp... "

(Wait, wait... there is a logic to it)

"If you were Johnny Depp wouldn't you want to be able to walk around without everybody (read: the screaming herds) following you?" She continued: "So with glasses, a wig and a different walk, nobody would recognize him."

(I told you there is a logic to it)

I could not stop laughing. That man was very, VERY good at not looking like Johnny Depp.  

After we left the restaurant.. we sat down with coffee and my cigarette (get over it... I am European...lol) A few feet away a man sat down as well to smoke a cigarette... I looked at him and turned to Ily and said:

"Look Ily... There is Mickey Rourke trying not to look like Mickey Rourke..."

And now to the title of this post... "Aaah Finally..." I hear you say. I found that a lot of times people try to out scream each other to have things done. You know the boss that is screaming and bitching, the impatient "Come on" if somebody writes a check at the supermarket, the yelling at the staff if something is not in stock...

You probably all know the expression "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". But who want to have flies in their honey? So I changed the expression a little bit and turned it into "Spanking with a feather" and it is all about being persuasive in a sweet gentle flirty way. And it sounds so much better than the flies in the honey thing

Why is it in the title... oh well... it sounds great and for sure it got your attention...

10 of 10 another one

Again I only show a part of the little painting. But it was an unlucky 10 of 10 book for me.

I run out of clue so I was unable to glue the artwork into the book. Therefor I could not send it to Oklahoma on Monday.

On Tuesday I had everything prepared... I had to go to Target to get the glue and then next to Target is the post office. What could go wrong, would one say.

Let me tell you what could go wrong: I forget to bring the address labels with me!

So I went today... with address labels, money and the book. And it did go to Oklahoma today.

Today I also received a new sketch book: Coby's.