Akiko’s dead blog - 1618-v1

lesson #1 : don’t wait till the day before the show closes to see something you really need to see. The line went around the building and back for this and when finally inside, it was soooo crowded that it is hardly a condition to be appreciating art.
But I did get to see the real deal. The gold “Adele” painting was striking. What I like most about this painting is her hands. As I study the pattrens, I hear a kid say ” it’s like a bunch of eye balls. I can do that”. I felt like smacking the kid. “Beech Woods” might be my favorite. The crowd was the smallest in front of this peice, so I was soaking it all up at will. Then an old guy pulled me out of the trance as he yelled ” you have to step back to appreciate this painting. You can’t see anything up close!”.

-_-**

“There are many ways to “see” a painting”. I almost yelled back but didn’t. The irritaion of the crowd seemed insignificant when you’re in front of 5 great work of art.

headed out to Orcutt ranch again to paint the barn - 101F

drove down to Pepperdine University art gallery to see the California Art Club paintings on Malibu - 71F

Swung by to catch the Klimt show at LACMA - 90F

capturing white objects in shadow was a challenge. The color combo of the blue vase againt a pink pillow is refreshing to me. It is border line garish - but not quit.

I really liked this Model’s attitude and profile view.

the 700 year old oak tree

tress and plant studies

More than enough information to blow up ones mind. and my mind did explode. At least I was able to get most of it written down on my notebook. I am not trying to be the greatest storyteller or anything. But it is such an important field for artist to understand. and eventually aid for my own story development. Some of my questions were answered, new questions emerged, and the list of movie titles to watch just got another foot longer.

a book by the Betty Edwards. She is more known for her “right side of the brain” book. It sounds like this is a sequal to that book, which I have not read yet. My brain feels weird after reading this book. It starts out by talking about the process of creativity and how the brain shifts between Left and Right in each stage. She leads us towards the theory of “leaning drawing skills can impove creativity skills”, since the process is similar. The book focuses on stage 2 of the creative process : saturation - where you research and saturate your brain with information relative to the problem at hand. To do so, we need to learn to “see”. the rest, you can read the book. It feels like the part of my brain that’s been idle all this time has been instigated. key word is perceptual language. As with anything else, unless you practice these principles, they don’t do squat. Time will tell if this book improved my creative process.

Several panels of storyboards are on display till end of July. Speedy Gonzalis, Tazmanian devil, Alvin to name a few. I saw 4 frames of Flinstones as well. The very effective line of action on the bugs was really nice. The whole book on Ren and Stimpy was amazing. The drawings are so energetic and gesturalized. the binder on display had the “fire dogs” episode. I learned a lot just by looking at these boards - the way the dog chief comes out of the fire department door, the vertigo scene, the big lady rescue, expressions. Gosh, I’ve never seen the actual cartoon, but I have a feeling that I would enjoy these boards more than the finished version. This is a great exhibit.

there are places in LA, like here right by the Burbank studios, that doesn’t seem like LA. Or is that what it makes it LA?

also saw Minmi the Ankylosaur roaming around in the grass. Info at www.nhm.org/dinoalive