"Animal Farm Gothic", my entry for March's 'Farm Animals' Nibblefest Theme

Nibblefest, again (finally!).

"Animal Farm Gothic", acrylics on 8 x 10 found wooden plaque

"Animal Farm Gothic" 

(click to see my entry/auction here (ends 2/27))

Oh, Nibblefest Art Contest.  That lovely-and-lively, fun-and-friendly art competition which rolls around ever so faithfully each and every single month.  Did you think I'd forgotten about you...?

No indeed.  Happy to report I'm back in the Nibblefest saddle again this month after a wee hiatus while I was off and busy doing other things.  And now here we are in March. 

Having sat out several contests in a row, I unfortunately missed out on some really neat themes I would have otherwise been quite inspired by, like "Creatures of the Night" and "Fruits and Veggies".  So when I found myself with time to finally put something together THIS month, I crossed my fingers for what I hoped would be a really juicy, inspiring Theme...., 

....only to find March's theme to be 'Farm Animals'. 

Well...? I certainly love farms, and I of course I adore animals.  But I still admit my very first reaction to this was... bleh.

 That is, until one second later I flip-flopped the words giving me "Animal Farm"...,  and then it was off to the races, yee haw!

 I recall reading 'Animal Farm' way back in middle school English.  We also watched the animated film in class.  I'm positive most of the political allegory of the story, Orwell's telling of the rise of Communism after the Russian Revolution, likely went WAY over my head at the time, though I remember I did find the tale of the trials and tribulations of these assorted squabbling, intrepid farm critters interesting.  It wasn't until high school however, when I read the book, "1984", that I found myself really sucked into Orwell's Dystopian writing (with"1984" still being my favorite of Orwell's tomes, and in fact among favorite books in general.  Note that I did do a small tribute to '1984' years ago as part of the 2012 '29 Faces' Art Challenge -- hope to do another, more thorough dedication again one of these days, when the stars align!).   However 'Animal Farm' is fascinating too, and so I set out to do a little fangirl tribute....

Thus I had my concept, which I knew would incorporate a portrait of the handsome author in some manner.., but what next?  I'm sure I could have argued my way into making a straight-forward, simple portrait of George fit the theme -- but I wanted to do more than that.  Yet how to visually reference his book "Animal Farm" in a way to be instantly recognizable....?

 With what has to be probably the most iconic farmers art history, that's how:  Grant Wood's gorgeous 1935 classic, "American Gothic".  It's only been parodied bazillions of times already, so why not another.....?  I do love my 'mash-ups' after all...!

And so here we have the venerable author, George Orwell, posed a la "American Gothic" iconic fame, along with a main character of his story, the pig named Napoleon.  In his political allegory, "Animal Farm", the ambitious and power-hungry Napoleon is a stand-in for the tyrannical Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin.  To portray Napoleon from the book, I featured him here in full Empire regalia (though he doesn't actually wear such in the book), to refer to exactly which pig character of the several in 'Animal Farm' I am representing....  

    

Of course, it can't very well be a loving spoof of the painting "American Gothic", without including the famous, American Gothic-style window of the house Grant Wood's farmers stand before, from which indeed the painting got its name (and which I've actually visited in person, in Eldon, Iowa).   With George and Napoleoan standing in front of a house of American Gothic-style architecture making little sense however, instead I took liberties (lots and lots of liberties) and turned the structure into the windmill which features so prominently in the book (the Windmill being Orwell's symbolizing for the massive infrastructure projects the Communists embarked upon after the Russian Revolution, which the animals of the farm take to building and re-building.). 

The following is my auction description.....:

........

"Animal Farm Gothic"

"ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL / BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS....."  

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC), the theme for March being "Farm Animals", features a wee portrait in loving tribute to the British author, George Orwell, and his famous 1945 book of political allegory, "Animal Farm" (...in addition to the classic USA painter, Grant Wood, of "American Gothic" fame).

Painted in acrylics upon a 8.25" x 9.5" found wooden plaque, this original piece is signed and ready to hang.

(*NOTE:  This is for a 3-Day Auction, ending 3/27)

It didn't take long at all to come up with a concept for this month's theme.  A mere flip-flopping of the words "Farm Animals" instantly gave me "Animal Farm" and I was off and running.  I first read George Orwell back in high school and have been a fan ever since, so I was very happy indeed to have occasion to pay him my own little personal tribute.  Thus we have here a portrait of the writer along with a main character of his classic "Animal Farm" tale, the commanding and power-hungry pig named Napoleon. They stand in front of a windmill, which features prominently in the storyline.  (And of course, because I love my little artistic 'mash-ups', guess I just couldn't resist tossing in an additional loving, if cheeky, reference to what has to be one of the most iconic farmers in art history (...and with sincerest apologies to artist, Grant Wood, of the 1935 masterpiece, "American Gothic"!) )

Here's hoping you enjoy my little tribute as much as I did painting it...! 

.....

   

(To see ALL the lovely "Farm Animal"-themed entries in this month's Nibblefest Art Contest, click here....).

**UPDATE - UPDATE**

"Animal Farm Gothic" ended up winning this month's 
Nibblefest 'Big Chomp' Award...!
 

A big shout out of thanks to my lovely bidders...!




 

In More Papier Mache News....:

In addition to the Papier Mache Vegetarian Boar's Head I just previously wrote about, there was also some recent mask-makery on my end.

Back in 2009, I was asked to create some special costuming elements for our local production of 'The Nutcracker Ballet"...:

2009 Stick Mask props for 'The Nutcracker', "Soldiers" vs "Rats"

Still in use today, in fact the ballet company's cast list has grown and they now needed an additional children's "Soldier" mask for this past Nutcracker season....:

Easy enough to whip up another

(especially with an old one to borrow as an example (because to be honest I kind of forgot how I went about it the first time 'round) )...:

"Soldier Stick Mask", in progress...:

The plain mask I was using to build off this time of wasn't quite the same as the one from 2009 (couldn't find that old style), so adjustments had to be made (which is fine, because really, who's going to notice some wee tiny differences from the house of a 1500+ seat theater? No one, that's who!).,,:

Lots of paper mache layers later, and it slowly comes together...:

A little necessary detail work...:

A little painting....and....voila!  A "Soldier Stick Mask" copied...!

Here's to another successful Nutcracker for the Ballet! 

Always fun keeping it local and working within the community....

Paper Mache "Boar's Head", Redux...!

Boar's Head #1, at a VIP event

Been a wee bit quiet in here as of late I know.  Despite my lack of recent posts I'm glad to say I've still been creating stuff -- it's just that these last few months were busy with several lovely private commissions that had me up to my eyeballs in elbow grease (besides, as you know me, even though I may come and go out of here at times.., I always, always come back.  Eventually.).  

Now that most of these projects have been finished up and sent along their merry ways, it's time for some updating....

Who remembers this li'l cutie (well, pretty big actually) from a few years back....?

Vegetarian Pig Head Scultpure Commission, from 2012

(Mister Pigster #1 (above) made for local theatrical production  in '12

--See the original post here)

I was recently commissioned to make another of these guys -- a vegetarian paper-mache "Boar's Head/Pig Head", for a customer in the great state of Oklahoma.  
Fun times!

Some progress pics of Pig Head #2...:

Disembodied Boar's Head, in progress:  Sculpting the overall shape (as always, Duct Tape to the rescue)...:

Before attaching his ears, I rmust make sure he will still actually fit into the box I've targeted for re-use as his shipping vessel (He fits!).....

Sculpted piggy ears...!

Ears attached...!  Looking more oinky all the time.

Still, lacking in personality, it's time to work in some detail....

Detaila in place, and ready for painting.  I began with a nice deep, dark undercoat.

Lightening him up gradually (plus painting teeth!)...

Always the fun part, painting ...

Never complete until the requisite apple is in the mouth. 

And here we have "Piggly Wiggly" in his new owner's Oklahoma home.  Happy Customer/Happy Artist!

And, as with my first papier mache head, I'm happy to report once again that no harm was done in the making of THIS (2nd) Vegetarian Papier Mache Boar's Head.

Pig Head #2 at his recent Medieval/Madrigal VIP special event.

A Very Special Commission Project...:

'Mama and Babe Portrait' by Patience, 11 x 14

 

There's quite a story behind this one....  Without going into too much detail for privacy's sake, suffice it to say the lovely mama pictured here is facing terminal illness.  Though a stranger to me, a thousand miles away and in another country, I put as much love and compassion into this one as I could.  I'm hoping it shows. And I'm so happy and thrilled to be able to say it was really well received by the recipient (the mama), and well on its way to becoming the precious family keepsake I'd hoped for as I was painting it....

 

Please hug your loved ones a little tighter today....

 

 

"Tennyson's Dragon-Fly", My Nibblefest Contest Entry for Sept's "DRAGONFLIES" Theme

Nibblefest.

"Tennyson's Dragon-Fly", acrylics on a found, 5x7 wood plaque

It's time yet again for the fun that is this monthly art contest.

September's theme is 'Dragonflies', and here is my interpretation.  Another in a series of personal tributes to classic literary poets, this piece is an ode to the famed Victorian English gentleman, Alfred Lord Tennyson, author of the short-but-sweet, 1833 poem entitled, 

"The Dragon-Fly".

*CLICK FOR AUCTION LINK*

Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson is NOT amused.

The following is my auction description...:

~"Tennyson's Dragon-fly"~

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for September being 'Dragonflies', features a portrait painted in loving tribute to the English, Victorian-era poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson. 

Alfred Lord Tennyson, author and British poet laureate hand-selected by Queen Victoria herself, was extremely popular during his lifetime, while continuing to be much admired yet today.  He lived for much of his life in the country, often writing poetry describing the natural world around him.  The following short poem was one written by Tennyson in 1833, which, as part of my ongoing Poet Tribute Series, I used as my inspiration this month (with the first two lines of the poem written along the edges of the painting)...:

The Dragon-fly
By Alfred Lord Tennyson
Today I saw the dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew.

 Using a 5 x 7 found wooden plaque, this original, "Tennyson's Dragon-fly", is painted on all its beveled sides, signed, and ready to hang.....

Add caption

To see ALL the lovely and inspired 'Dragonfliy"-themed Nibblefest entries this month, click here.... 

My Entry, 'Percy Shelley: On a Faded Violet,' For EBSQ "State Flowers" Show

"Percy Shelley:

On a Faded Violet"

"Percy Shelley: On a Faded Violet" acrylics on 9 x 6 Oval Plaque

Another show, another entry.  This time, it was the August '15, EBSQ 'State Flowers' exhibit.  EBSQ, the online art community I've long been a member of, once hosted several themed shows each month.  But starting in January '15, this was reduced to a single monthly theme.  August's theme was 'State and National Flowers' -- a throwback to when there was a different flower theme every month, which EBSQ hosted for a decade and which was popular with botanical and still-life artists.  I'm neither of those per se, so if I was going to participate last month, I was going to have to make this single August EBSQ theme work for me....

Side View

The following is my artist statement....:

This painting,"Percy Shelley: On a Faded Violet", is my entry for the EBSQ August 2015 "State Flowers" exhibit.

I've lived in two states in my lifetime, Illinois and Wisconsin.  It just so happens that the official flower for both states... is the Violet.  Even though show participants could have painted any flower associated with any state for this exhibit regardless where they live, I took this wee coincidence as a sign that I had best paint a violet in some fashion or another....

And so naturally, as those familiar with my work know I am want to do (because I am an admitted geekish book-nerd), I looked for inspiration amongst one of my favorite sources:  Classic Western Poetry.  Thanks to the help of a good friend, I found it in this little poem, written as it was in 1818 by one of England's most renowned poets of the Romantic era, Percy Bysshe Shelley...:


On a Faded Violet,
by Percy Bysshe Shelley


The odour from the flower is gone

Which like the kisses breather on me;

The colour from the flower is flown

Which glowed of thee and only thee!


A shrivelled, lifeless, vacant form,

It lies on my abandoned breast;

And mocks the heart, which yet is warm

With cold and silent rest.


I weep -- my tears revive it not;

I sigh -- it breathes no more on me:

Its must and uncomplaining lot

Is such as mine should be.


............ 

Being as that Mr. Shelley is best known for his lengthy, verbose Epic Poetry, this wee rhyme might be considered down-right succinct in comparison.  Short yet sweet (or bittersweet in this case), I was moved by the romance and poignancy of Shelley's few, carefully chosen lines (all the more so in light of Shelley's own highly unconventional and complicated personal life....!).  As such I chose to paint a portrait in tribute to this master poet, with a sad, drooping blossom perched dispiritedly upon his collar, and deep melancholy in his eyes.  Though the flower may be faded, I made up for its lack of color by painting the background a brilliant violet hue (one of my favorite colors which sadly I don't often find myself occasion to use), while adding in script the first line of the poem around the edge of the painting.

This piece, "Percy Shelley: "On a Faded Violet...", is my latest in a long series of painted odes in personal tribute to my favorite literary authors and poets....

...................

***Edit~Edit~Edit***

This piece is actually the 2nd in a wee series of tributes to the Shelley's, my first being a fanciful portrait of Percy's wife, 

Mary Shelley....:

"The Monster's Bath", my little painted tribute to both Mary Shelley, and Mary Cassatt

As regular readers might recall, this one was painted for the October 2014 Nibblefest Art Contest theme, "Monsters" (and was a tribute to TWO historical Mary's I much admire:  

Mary Shelley, and Mary Cassatt).  

And so, having 'done' Mary S., I guess it seemed timely to, in turn, 'do' Percy S. ...:

My entry, "Percy Shelley: On a Faded Violet"

To see my entry as all as the EBSQ "State and National Flowers" entries in the show, click here (mine being on the 2nd page)....

"The Mad Tea", My Nibblefest Contest Entry for August's "TEA TIME" Theme

It's Nibblefest Art Contest Week...!

'The Mad Tea', acrylic on found, 9x6 wood plaque

August's theme is 'TEA TIME'. 

*CLICK FOR MY AUCTION LINK*

So what's the first thing that comes to mind when YOU think of tea....?    

Yeah, me too.  But of course, the famous Tea Party scene of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' is going to pop up, front and center.  Which it did.  And yet, I was initially a little resistant to the concept, only because, as much as I adore Alice (this being my third in a series of "Alice in Wonderland" tribute paintings), it felt at first maybe a little too....What?  Obvious, perhaps?   But then another idea came to mind.... 

I have long admired the work of American impressionist, Mary Cassatt, with one painting of hers in particular standing out for me.  Known as "The Tea", it captures a sweet little 'slice of life' scene featuring two young Victorian-era women enjoying the quaint custom of a proper afternoon tea.  Particularly striking is the pose of one of the women.  With her straight, 'lady-like' posture, she's captured in the middle of taking a dainty sip of her drink, pinky raised, with the teacup obscuring fully half of her face.  Only her eyes are visible, peeking brightly over the rim of the cup....:

 

My Inspiration:  "The Tea' (1879), painted by the American Impressionist, Mary Cassatt

I've always loved this Cassatt painting....and so, I decided to do a fun, little 'mash-up' of the two, while injecting plenty of my own personal style, resulting in this wee, loving tribute to them both....:

"The Mad Tea":  Side View showing the painted, beveled edges....

Note that this is actually my third piece in an "Alice in Wonderland" series of pieces.

A couple of years ago, I created a Nibblefest entry for the theme of 'Cats', featuring my own version of the Cheshire Cat...:

 

'The Cheshire Cat", painted upon a found wooden, cat-shaped plaque

I referred to 'Alice' again a number of months ago, for the Nibblefest theme of 'Books' ....:

"Logical Nonsense", my entry for the Nibblefest theme, "Books"

And now we have what I've titled, "The Mad Tea"...:

'The Mad Tea'

 

The following is my auction description for 'The Mad Tea" (*MINUS* the glaring error I made writing it (blushing), which I am now unfortunately unable to edit!  Check out and read my auction to see if you can figure out my mistake....):

......................

~"The Mad Tea"~

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC),  the theme for August being 'TEA TIME', features a fancifully painted scene from the timeless classic tale, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (with a nod and apologies to the lovely and talented American impressionist painter, Mary Cassatt...!).

Folks familiar with my creative style know how I love to mix things up a bit in my artwork, all while frequently painting the first concepts that come to my mind when reflecting upon a given theme.  Often this results in fun and interesting "mash-ups", and this month was no exception.  Reflecting upon the theme 'Tea Time' made me think of two classic, historic references -- one literary, and one artistic.  Naturally, the tea party of Alice in Wonderland fame popped into my head (but of course)..., but then so did a sweet, 1879 painting by the American impressionist artist, Mary Cassatt, known as, 'The Tea' (as seen here in my detail photos).  For fun I decided to combine these two entities (all while taking my usual liberties), with this as my result.  Here's hoping you enjoy my entry, "The Mad Tea", this month as much as I did creating it...! 

'Alice in Wonderland' meets Mary Cassatt!  Painted upon a 9 x 6 found, wooden plaque, this original, "The Mad Tea", is painted on all its beveled sides, signed, and ready to hang (Note: This is for a 5-day auction)..... 

............

 

To see ALL the lovely 'Tea Time"-themed Nibblefest entries this month, click here....