Christmas Card: Attempt #1

St. Francis at Greccio.
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I don't know if it is too plain and cold for a proper Christmas card? The scan is bad of course - in reality the colours are softer, and the wreath is not cut off. Perhaps if I added a thin gold edging to the composition it would be enough to enrich the card.
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(The figure is after a painting attributed to Antonio Carracci)

What I am doing today.

And what I'm thinking about.

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I'm making Christmas card designs today. Not to send - just to make them. I love Christmas and Christmas things - but not all together at once. For some reason, Christmas season - or the preparation for it - seems to me to be a time to make things. So I'm making things and looking at creative stuff to post.

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I decided I don't want to post negative things anymore, and I'm not going to be so critical anymore either. (I hope! I never trust myself and my resolutions.) I don't want to tell people how to live their lives anymore either. It seems to me everyone just tries to do their best and in the end we find out if we did or not. Life is hard enough without me harping on things.

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I went to the Dr. yesterday. It was a short visit because I have no insurance and I have lost most of my savings in the crash, recession, depression, what have you. At the end of the visit he asked if there was anything more I wanted to do about some issues I have, and I said "No, I will just take the medication I need and let the rest play out." I have the nicest Dr. in the world.

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Anyway - let's not be mean to one another any longer.

A few of my favorite things...

Ornament.
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Over the years I have collected antique repousse, ornament for furniture and trophies and other object d'art. I used these things for my own decorative art - often on painted boxes and eggs that I sold over the years. Today I only have scraps of what had been a fairly large inventory, collected in Europe, and flea markets in the U. S. - they remain little treasures I take out from time to time to admire.

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My apologies for the poor quality of the scan, and I mixed categories by inserting a crest from an old blazer - the rest of the collection is brass or bronze, often with a gold wash (gold d'ore). (Click photo to enlarge.)

Making a screen.

A design idea easy to replicate.
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In the background of this lovely vignette is a folding screen made of old doors. Painted simply, or embelished, they could work nicely for a place apart in a large room or in a loft space. I found the photo on Tea At Trianon, from Elena's shopping spree at Chartreuse and Company, in the enchanted countryside of Frederick County, Maryland.

Retablos and Santeros

The American Icon.

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In Southwestern United States, especially New Mexico, a sacred tradition of painting exists from Spanish Colonial days. The artists are known as santeros, or saint makers. In New Mexico, most of the paintings are done on wood, some on Buffalo hide, while elsewhere in Mexico and South America they were painted on copper, tin, and canvas. The Southwestern retablos are patterned after high Baroque European religious art, reworked with lovely simplicity. Retablos are the American version of Eastern Orthodox icons, in so far as they are made according to a traditional formula, and executed with deep faith and devotion. The retablo and ex-votos associated with the art form have long been a major inspiration in my own religious and secular art. Likewise, one can see in the work of Frida Kahlo how strong an influence this art form made in her own painting.

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Catherine Robles Shaw, Santera

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An award winning santera, Catherine Robles Shaw, has a wonderful website of her work, which is remarkably affordable as well. This is what she has to say regarding the art of retablo:

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"As a Santera (Saint Maker), I hope to preserve some of the unique traditions of my Hispanic culture. Retablos are the story tellers of my ancestors. They are the natural extension of the beauty and simplicity of our Spanish lives. My husband, Michael and I aspire to represent our work with as much historic accuracy as possible.

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My first exposure to this art form came when, as a child, I visited the churches in the San Luis Valley. My family had been among the first settlers in the Conejos land grant and lived in Mogote and Las Mesitas, Colorado. After visiting old churches in Chimayo and northern New Mexico, as an adult, I came to realize the meaning of the little retablos that had been in our family. In 1991, I began making retablos for my family and friends. Then in 1995, when I was admitted into the Spanish Market, I became a full time artist." - Finish artist's statement.

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Image shown: "Retablo Screen" - Carved and painted by Catherine Robles Shaw. Visit her website for more information.

Bunny Rabbit's Advent Wreath

Now this is an Advent wreath that could be in my house - I just don't do Advent wreaths however. Visit Blosterverkstad for more fun ideas.

Bunny Rabbit Christmas: The perfect wreath.

Isn't this so cool. Rabbits love sprouts.
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And I love home-made things for Christmas. I found this wreath on a great blog, "House Martin". The lady of the house links to the source for this wreath in her post, "sprouty".

Getting excited about Christmas!

The rabbits and I have already started decorating and having our special treats - but just on Sundays - because it's Advent you know.

My online art show.

Best In Show.

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Two of my "white" friends stopped by today. I asked if they had seen my art show and they said yes. Then I said, "Well, what did you think?" They replied, "I have never seen anything like it." They are so darn cute and polite. But that was really a compliment of sorts, because it meant that my work was not as derivative as I had feared.

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It really doesn't matter what people think because I was having more fun than anything. Yep - I was serious - but I was having a blast giving myself permission to be mental enough just to create. I also must say I was very surprised and deeply appreciative of those of you who commented and enjoyed the show along with me. The real treat is to study the work after it is enlarged enough to see detail and technique.

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The piece above is my personal choice for "Best in show". It is "The Fool". I chose it because it is so aboriginal - and the detail amazes me. (Click on it to see detail.) It is my "Aboriginal Icon".

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Thanks again to all who commented. Other friends I spoke to let me know they appreciate my representational art and religious art more, and I appreciate that. Anyway - this was my Holiday gift to my readers - I hope to have a smaller show as my Christmas gift to you next - if I get the work scanned that is.

Sacred Icons From Yaroslavl, Russia

A little bit of heaven at The Museum of Russian Art.
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Saturday I finally visited The Museum of Russian Art. It has been opened since 2002 and is only about four blocks from my house. The Museum is housed in a completely renovated Spanish Colonial style former church. It is an amazing space, beautifully restored and updated with state of the art lighting, the second level of gallery space being a suspended glass enclosed balcony surrounding the open interior.
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I finally made my pilgrimage in order to view the collection of icons from Yaroslavl. The exhibition happens to be the one and only show outside of Russia of this particular school of Russian iconography. The collection arrived in Minneapolis directly from Russia, and will return there after the exhibit closes.
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Writing or painting?
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I once prided myself as an iconographer. I painted icons. I objected to saying one writes icons as opposed to painting them. I felt it was pretentious. As it was, Orthodox believers told me a non-Orthodox (a person not a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church) could not paint, much less write icons. Our "icons" were simply paintings. That said - I continued to believe I painted icons. Eventually I tired of the "snob-ism" associated with the art and turned to my own style of painting, influenced by Spanish Colonial style religious art. I even sold many of my antique icons from Russia (18th - 19th century) - indeed, they were "real" icons, yet none bigger than 12" x 15".
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Yesterday, coming face to face with these "real" icons from Yaroslavl - icons of great size - some measuring at least 6' x 4' - I was stunned.
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Heaven on earth.
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The icons glistened like jewels, shimmering in the dramatic darkness of the museum. Being a former church only enhanced the sense of the sacred, walking amongst the living pages of the Bible and the company of saints, dramatically depicted in the iconography. I looked at the images quite in awe, at times feeling a sense of rapture. I understood what it was like to be an illiterate peasant, standing for the Divine Liturgy in a darkened temple... reading the icons... conversing with the saints.... enveloped by heaven; standing in the presence of the Most Holy Trinity, beseeching the Most Holy Mother of God, Joy of all who sorrow, and experiencing the grace of God surrounded by angelic choirs and "sharing the lot of the saints in light".
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Do yourself a favor, and visit the museum for the Christmas season. I can think of no other excursion more spiritually and aesthetically gratifying in this special season of Advent and Christmas. Visit the museums website for more details - they have an incredible gift shop as well. Go to: Russian Museum - location and information.
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Image: "Mother of God, Joy of all who sorrow" from "Transcendent Art: Icons from Yaroslavl, Russia."
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Russian Museum website: http://www.tmora.org/index.html
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Visit another icon museum here: Museum of Russian Icons, Clinton, MA
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[By the way, I realized I have never painted or written an icon - I just naively tried to paint in that style. How good it is to be humbled.]

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery One

Top: Homage to David Ligare

Middle: Domestic Scene

Bottom: All the Lonely People

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery Two

Top: Still Life Levitating

Middle: Homage to Cadmus

Bottom: Requium

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery Three

Title: The Renunciation of St. Fraancis

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery Four

Top: The Fool

Middle: Still Life

Bottom: Dream

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery Five

Top: Homage to Kahlo

Middle: The Suicides

Bottom: Still Life

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery Six

Top: The Soul In Mortal Sin

Middle: Still Life With Figures

Bottom: Pastoral

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery Seven

Title: Baby Compartments

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery Eight

Triptych: Compartments: 1,2,3

Title: Homage to Hockney

Compartments - Terrance Nelson - Gallery Nine

Top: Fragment

Bottom: Mass At Midnight

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Happy Thanksgiving!

"Compartments" Paintings and Drawings by Terrance Nelson

The Exhibit at Abbey-Roads.

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The exhibit, "Compartments" Paintings and Drawings by Terrance Nelson will NOW open at 6:01 PM Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at Abbey-Roads online gallery. (Here.)

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The exhibit consists of small paintings and drawings by Terry Nelson on paper. Each piece is approximately 5" x 7", and is executed in oils, or crayon. The pieces will be shown in groups of 2 or 3 on separate posts. No particular order or classification is made as regards subject matter. The exhibit is a glimpse into the concept of compartmental thought, as well as vision; whether it comprises one's perception of the details of a painting, a landscape, an aspiration, or a memory. The work is serious, albeit undisciplined; the result of an exercise of free association and expression.

Where is the "Janice" post from "For Your Consideration"?

Last night I took some youtube posts down, thinking they were causing problems for me. I'm having computer troubles again and so I'll have to call someone in. Hopefully it will not interfere with my gallery opening Wednesday - remember - it is my online art exhibition entitled "Compartments". It debuts Wednesday, November 26 at 6:00 PM. Everyone is invited.

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I think it will be family friendly.

Questions I ponder... for a second or two...

And yet dare to speak.

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Michael Jackson converted to Islam. I wonder if he will have to wear a burka?

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Now that Obama is president-elect, will Kwanza be celebrated in the White House?

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I wonder if we are going through the collapse of the United States - I think we are financially.

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People without health insurance sometimes ration their meds and then they get sick.

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Did you know Kwanza is a late 20th century invention? It's like Festivus from Seinfeld - only more subversive.

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I think something is wrong (mentally) with Madonna.

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Has anyone started criticizing Michelle Obama's taste in clothes? That black and red Rodriquez was pretty ugly. Otherwise she kind of dresses like Jackie Kennedy - 1960's socialite.

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Jennifer Anniston can't act, can she. I realized most pop stars can't, just like many singers can't sing.

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Did you know that refined people once looked down upon theater people as rather vulgar and considered their lifestyle scandalous? Refined people also never publicly discussed wealth in terms of money or property either, yet that is all that matters to most people today.

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Today we remember the assassination of JFK. If he was alive today he would be as pro-abortion as the rest of his "Catholic" family. Maria Shriver recently stated she is a cafeteria Catholic - aren't they all? (Pretty much all of the Kennedys and most Catholics, that is. Catholic education was wasted upon many.)

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Sometimes I think that the use of the pill is one of the reasons so many women get breast cancer, and that there could be a link to the increase of autism and stuff like that.

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Mel Gibson has a lot of issues doesn't he. (Not a question.)

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For a couple of years now, the recession in the advertising industry has been ignored - until now that it is beginning to affect other industries: Magazines, writers, photographers, designers, sales people, and so on. That said, it had its beginings in the slowdown of manufacturing home goods, which affected retail as well. (It is all inter-depenedent.) Of course it has to do with the housing crises... which led us to the credit crises we are now in. It is just going to get worse and worse. Politicians and financial people have been lying to us, and Americans bought into the lie and lived on credit. Consumer credit debt will take the next fall. And all of that pretend money will not be able to bail anyone out either.

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This week Thanksgiving marks the beginning of secular Christmas! I love the holidays. For the first time in decades, Americans may be able to understand what the season is truly about. "Poor Christmas" - it's a good thing.

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Anyway - if you ever wonder what goes through my mind - it's stuff like that. (Love that song!)

Eating on the cheap.

More tips for the new depression.

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Italian peasant food. It is so good and practical and cheap. Below is my recipe for a bean dish.

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Friday Supper

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What you will need:
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2 cans of Butter Beans, drained, but retain 1/2 the liquid from one can.
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1 cup of pasta - shell type.
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1/4 cup of chicken broth.
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1-2 clove of garlic, sliced.
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1 dried chili pepper, sliced
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1/4 cup of frozen chopped spinach - add some chopped fresh basil if you like.
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Lots of fresh ground pepper
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Sea salt to taste
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Fresh grated parmesean cheese.
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2 tablespoons of butter.
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Equal amount of olive oil.
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Preparation.
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Saute garlic, spinach, and chili pepper in large saute pan with the olive oil, just to release the flavors of the chili and garlic. Add the beans with a cup of the reserved chicken broth and liquid from the can. (Skip chicken broth for Fridays, and use all the liquid from one can of beans - sounds gross? No, it is really good.) Have ready the cooked pasta. Heat the beans quicly, add the pasta and combine over low heat; stir in the butter and add more pepper - mixture should be slightly soupy.
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Serve in bowls topped with fresh grated cheese - adding more butter if you like.
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Add a romaine with tomato salad and baquette, and you have a simple supper for two.

The next holiday trend...

Suicide.

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The market keeps falling while many people already retired, or just laid off with no place to go, are witnessing their savings wiped out. The only thing certain in life is death and taxes. I'm sure some baby-boomers will opt for death if they do not have enough money for taxes. (You know - even if your house is paid for, you still need money for utilities and taxes.)

Prada falls...

Institutional Misogyny.
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The above photo from The Sartorialist is of a model who fell on the runway in Milan. Look at her arms - how skinny they are. Look at the heels she is expected to horse-step up and down the runway in. The woman is dying. The fashion industry hates women. (The Sartorialist says the model fell because of little cotton socks in the shoes. That's attractive.)

For some reason?

I hope I'm not being paranoid...

For some reason, I think I may have lost most of my gay readers. (If you don't want people to think you are gay, you better start leaving comments!)

Jackass

The collection is finished.

"Compartments" A collection of paintings by Terrance Nelson

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I think the exhibit is finished - I may do 2 more paintings - otherwise, the collection is done. However, the work needs to cure before I can scan the pieces - I'm not sure if I'll include drawings - I'd have to have them scanned off-site due to their size. If time allows...

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I also need to pick out the wines and champagne for the opening, as well as plan the menu. Select the music, and so on. I'll just be wearing jeans and a t-shirt and jacket - but the actual opening is black tie optional. I can't wait. The show will have its preview and press opening November 26, at 6 PM, and will be open to the public Thanksgiving Day.

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Art: Detail, "Compartments: Cells" - Crayon on paper, 2008. (Not included in the show.) Image removed.

Who told you you were naked?

Who told them they could be like Gods?
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The Original Deception is in its final battle these days.

Terrance Nelson: My new art.

Pictures at an exhibition.

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Top: "Compartments #1" Oil colour on paper

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Bottom: "Homage to Cadmus" Oil colour on paper

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I'm disappointed in how these scanned, but I'm excited about what I have been working on. After the oil paint dries I will scan more images and have a "Holiday Art Exhibit" for Thanksgiving. It will be called: "Compartments" - because men are so good at compartmentalizing everything.

Another detail...

"The Immaculada" detail, aquarelle on paper.

David Hewson

Now this man is a master of fine art!
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The above image by artist David Hewson is titled: "Life of St. Bede" It is magnificent, don't you agree? It was painted for a Church dedicated to the saint. For more information visit David Hewson at his website.

Detail

"St. Alexius" - Detail. Crayon on paper.

Carceri

The origins of Harvey

And how I learned so much about homosexuals.

Sweet Talking Guy- The Chiffons- 1966

I'd like to dedicate this song to Preident-elect Obama.

On a lighter note...

Woman arrested for calling police 7,177 times.
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Police arrested a woman for making more than 7,000 emergency telephone calls because an officer did not take her initial complaint seriously, a police spokesman said Wednesday.
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The 38-year-old was arrested on Tuesday on charges of obstructing police work, a police spokesman said.
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She made 7,177 calls during the day or night between September 14 and October 13 this year, sometimes shouting "drop dead" at police, he said. - Source
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If my mother wasn't dead, I would have thought this story was about her.

Congratulations!

President-elect Barack Obama.