A blog about my work and the way it happens. Things I see, hear, feel and find interesting, funny, odd or just plain curious. News about Everything and Anything Art wise, Expected or Unexpected. This blog is an open work diary for myself, and you are very welcome to follow me on my journey...

onsdag den 25. maj 2011

Student Art Exhibition

We all felt it would be great to if the student’s pet portrait could be on display somewhere for a while, to get them out in the world! I was thinking that perhaps the local veterinary clinic may be interested - that would be a great and obvious choice. I gave them a call, and luckily they really liked the idea. So, we went there today, a couple of students, teachers and I, and hung the 12 paintings around the waiting room. Since I saw the paintings last, they had even framed them very nicely, and they looked great and colorful on the white walls.

So, this fine work will be on view at Dyrlægegruppen Vestjylland until the beginning of October.





torsdag den 19. maj 2011

My Improvised Studio

My improvised, borrowed and very stunning studio.



A while ago I was contacted by the local TV station (TV Midtvest), they asked to come visit me for an episode of their cultural series Nærbilleder. They wanted to look at my work, as well as the work of another painter, (Niels Steen Sørensen) who paints strong, masculine bulls, among other subjects. The focus was feminine/ masculine art.


I was very excited, but also a bit nervous about the whole thing. I had never been filmed before, and wasn’t sure how I would react. But obviously I said YES, anything else would have been crazy!

My situation is a bit strange: I am only in Denmark for a year, and so I don’t have the perfect work conditions. I have made it work, but it really was not suitable for TV. So I started to think a bit creatively. A couple of friends of mine live in a beautiful house in the country side. During Easter I was at an event at their house, they had just refinished an old garage. It had been turned into a nice white room, with a raw wood ceiling. It had huge windows, with a view of the water. Basically, it couldn’t be better!

I asked if I could borrow the room for the filming, they said yes - and thanks to them, their help and kindness, I had the best surroundings possible to present my work.

These are pictures from this beautiful space. My improvised studio. I have amazing friends, and feel very privileged.


To watch the show - please click this link:

http://www.tvmidtvest.dk/nettv/?id=6341

onsdag den 4. maj 2011

Back To Teaching

It has been a little while since I have been teaching art. In the past I’ve taught at a few art museums in Wasington state, and later on, I started teaching kids on my own, while we lived in New Jersey.

Now being back home, I was given the chance to teach an art course at Rom Skole, an old elementary school, now changed into a work and school center for mentally challenged and/or disabled adults of all ages. From the moment I stepped foot in the building, I liked the atmosphere. The rooms were light and open, and the communication very friendly. One of those places you just enjoy being at.

During a few initial meetings, we decided that my project should be inspired from some of the work I do myself, and the pet portraits seemed like a good and logical choice. I went home to prepare the course, the project. My first day was actually my birthday, and we got off to a very good start. The project as a whole, took a month, working only two days pr. week.

I truly enjoyed every day there. I taught a small group of only eight students. Everybody worked well, and were really helpful and courteous. It was a real joy. I also sensed that they were quite proud of their work, which made me vary happy, and I had no doubt we’d chosen the right subject matter. We started out with dogs, cats and horses, and as we had a few canvases left over, and extra time, we widen the animal subject span, and were suddenly painting zebras, parrots and monkeys.

Here’s the collection of the final pieces, as well as a few “work in progress” photos: