"Story Within" New Painting Video

Here's a new body of work created for Peterson-Cody Gallery, for my upcoming show opening Nov 4, 2011, Santa Fe, NM.

"Story Within"

It's a two person show with Forrest Solis.

My daughter Carly, a recent graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, has opinions. It was her idea to do the voice over rather than music on this video.

I have to admit I experienced a little stage fright. I have no problem talking with my friends, family and students about art but I was nervous about recording my thoughts and hearing my own voice recorded.

Thanks to Carly's awesome editing you can't even tell I'm a slow southern talker, woo hoo for garage band!

I welcome comments and constructive criticism since I'm planning on doing more videos. I have a few other videos on my YouTube Channel.

Miller Gallery - CONTEMPORARY REALISM: Invitational

I'm thrilled to have been invited to participate in this show! Cincinnati, OH. Shaping up to be a great looking exhibit.

These images are from the gallery's facebook fan page.
Opening Friday, September 30, 2011, 6-8 pm

The gallery is located at:
2715 Erie Avenue - Hyde Park Square
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208
phone-(513) 871-4420
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 10-5:30 / Thursday-Friday 10-8 / Saturday 10-5:30 / Sunday 10-2
Miller Gallery 

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Veni, Vidi, Vici

"Veni, Vidi, Vici", 14x11, oil on panel

Fresh off the easel and curing for the small works 2011 Holiday Show at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA. Here are a few details.

Reportedly uttered by Julius Caesar 47 BC as a comment on his short war with Pharnaces II of Pontus in the city of Zela. "I came, I saw, I conquered."

This painting is unapologetically campy and was much too fun to paint, although it was a challenge to paint the figure blurry enough when they are normally the focal point of my paintings.
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Fire Dance

"Fire Dance", 8x10, oil on panel

detail

Thinking of titles is a tricky venture and sometimes I go blank. In my last post I asked for ideas for a title for this little painting. I received some interesting ideas but my favorite came from LA artist Shanna Galloway, "Fire Dance". Here are some of her thoughts about the painting: 

"...The moths don't seem to me to be near their end but are hovering around, circling the fire... which is a purification... the moths will no doubt be transformed... the matches speak of the duality of death and life..."

Another reader suggested "Torch Dance" which is beautiful as well.


A big thanks to all of you that played along taking the time to share your ideas about my work. I couldn't have said it better myself! 

Here is link to other still life paintings I've done. This one is called "A Cautionary Tale", 9.5x10, oil on panel, but as they say, that's another story...

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Like a Moth to a Flame

This is a new painting, actually I'm still not sure of a title. Any suggestions?

It's 8x10, oil on panel, it's curing for the small works 2011 Holiday Show at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA. 

When researching ideas for a title I found this interesting... interesting but not surprising, once again Shakespeare.

Origin 
The phrase is a simple allusion to the well-known attraction that moths have to bright lights. The word moth was used the the 17th century to mean someone who was apt to be tempted by something that would lead to their downfall. This is referred to by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, 1596:

"Thus hath the candle singd the moath."

Flames and matches have shown up a couple times before in my work. It's interesting to me when a certain imagery surfaces over time and I'm not really conscious of doing it. Painting is cheaper than therapy and way more fun but sometimes I'd like to know why.

In this instance I've used this idea before but always wanted to do a painting focusing just on the moths and the flame.

"#!%*&#$@", oil on canvas over panel,  37x24. This piece was done in 2006. My son was the model.

I had so much fun designing this. I did a lengthy photoshoot of my son wearing the Hulk hands, rummaged through the rubble of a torn down house to gather material for the still-life, photographed the flame from a blow torch and photoshopped in the lightning.

In the course of designing it I wondered if the lightning was over the top but finally decided It was a dark and stormy night... was a fitting background and just campy enough. And seriously once you've gone with Hulk Smash hands is there such a thing as "over the top?"

I think this is an example of a painting where humor and a campy attitude can still reveal truth. Channeling human drama, pop culture, emotions and irresistible attractions I just let it flow on this one, free associating imagery.

This piece is one we have added to our collection and it still makes me smile. 

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Hear Ye, Read All About It

 

Sign Up For My Email Newsletter

The thrill of change, new galleries, new publishing company, new adventure's in the air at Terry Strickland Art.

Interested in keeping collectors, students, friends and family up to date, I'm creating a newsletter, first edition Sept. 15, 2011. 

The newsletter will be monthly, not too long but chock full of news about upcoming shows, workshops and new paintings fresh off the easel. It will include a teaching spotlight, art world musings and of course lots of pretty pictures.

I'm using Mail Chimp, a "newsletter publishing platform". I settled on this service because several art friends have used it and been pleased.

Wow, there's so much to learn! They have many video tutorials but it does take time to sort through it all.

The trickiest thing is creating a recipient list. I don't want to risk getting reported as spam, plus it's not cool to jam up the in boxes of people who don't really care about Terry Strickland Art, so I'm starting from scratch on a brand new email list.

Even though this had been a good deal of work setting everything up I know it the long run it will help me safely keep in touch with the people that really care about my work.

Sneak peek at the first issue...

A new painting, "The Bribe"... is that Athena, Eve or Wall Street?

Incognito Project Update

New Gallery Representation

A New Strickland Family Business

"The Lion Tamer" in the Spotlight

Well almost the spotlight... 

I'm happy to announce that my painting "The Lion Tamer, The Incognito Project" has been named a finalist in The Artist's Magazine's 28th Annual Competition, figure and portrait category.

They say that the model is half the success of a figure painting and I think Peggy proves that true. She was willing to play along and share her fierce side with me, a side that not many people see. She also has a great energy that was a joy to try and capture.

Here are a couple more posts about this painting, they include details of the painting and a painting I did of this model 8 years ago.

Here's the first Incognito Project announcement, a portrait series I've been working on since June 2010.

 Here are all the posts about this Project. 

 You may see the paintings that are finished thus far on my website's Incognito Project Gallery.

Also...I'm launching a new email Terry Strickland Art Newsletter using mail chimp, if you didn't notice it on the sidebar you can subscribe here. The newsletter will be monthly, not too long but chock full of news about up-coming shows, new paintings in the works or fresh off the easel, workshops, possible teaching tips, art world musings and lots of pretty pictures :D