Kazuya Akimoto Art Museum

named and added to gallery #7,2008 at Kazuya Akimoto Art Museum

"Angry Brown Horse"

acrylics 21"x18"

lisited in New Paintings 2008

Today's Keyword

within Museum paintings

personification

( excerpted)

]]> http://informalbrain.wordpress.com/?p=131 Fri, 09 May 2008 07:06:46 +0000 Shawn http://informalbrain.wordpress.com/?p=131 One week later we have seen two major updates to the new Times RSS browser from Acrylic software.  I was reading through the comments on Acrylic's post about having a number of issues during the initial launch.  Lots of folks commenting on crashes and lost data. 

I am happy to report that as of version 1.0.3 (509) that the software is now very stable.  My copy has been running for days without any kind of crash.

I still love the UI.  It is a major productivity saver.  I still see people commenting that they want to have better notification of what is new, or what they have read vs. what they have not read.  Those people should head back to their traditional "river of news" readers.  To use Times you have to embrace the "glance" at news model and trust that news you need will be on the page when you open the software.  Finding the right feed mix on each page is key.  I have been focusing on sites that do a good job of summarizing a topic rather then focusing on a very narrow niche area.  Makes for better coverage... like a news paper!

I have been sticking with my practice of only using Times and a couple of RSS feeds on my iPhone.  Still seeing much less time surfing Google Reader and I feel liberated.

this portrait is of a friend of my family's and his son, moments before he was deployed for iraq. the painting was mailed overseas to iraq as a christmas gift, and it remains there with its marine, until he comes home. acrylic and black gesso on masonite. October 2007.

The sun was lowering in the sky. Fog had begun rolling in from the ocean, filling the valleys of Topanga State Park and introducing a slight haze to the air. Distant hills and ridges took on a misty, blue appearance, like something out of a fairy tale. This painting captures the almost abstract quality of the moment.

This painting is available matted $115, or framed as shown $145.

Email inquiries welcome: info@barbarajcarter.com

We Indians, it seems, place a high value on fairness. Scan through a few matrimonial classified ads and you'll see that a requirement that appears frequently, for a girl, is fairness. I'd thought that with our generation we would see this disappear but a recent dinner conversation reminded me that we still have a long way to go :( This goes out to all Indian ladies who continue to suffer the teasing and taunting of friends and family because they are dark complexioned.

In case you're interested, links to a few articles/comments saying it so much better than I ever could. A Darker Side of Fair, Fair = Lovely, Bollywood delusions,

20" X 24" acrylic on canvas

Last night I went to a really great women's meeting at my church. It was to celebrate the birthday of Relief Society which was organized in 1842.

One of the activities was to paint a 5x5 canvas. The teacher had prepared a demonstration on how to paint a lemon with "When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade"on it. Some of us decided to paint something else. Since one of the ladies asked me how to paint an apple, I decided I would paint one too and try to talk her through it. I don't think I do a good job of explaining and painting at the same time because she gave up and went to a different activity.

Anyway I think It turned out pretty well so I thought I'd post it here. The canvas was already primed, so I started out with a coat of purple paint. Purple is one of my favorite colors, and I also thought it would complement the apple's red color nicely. Next I added a red apple shape and began adding the highlights and shadows. It needed to dry for awhile before I could go any further with the apple so I laid in the green foreground--being careful to let some of the purple underpainting show through.

Next I added the white apple blossoms and put in a little light yellow highlights and some purple shadows.Adding the branch and apple stem next. It was to wet to do any fine tuning on the blossoms, So I went back to work on the apple deepening the shadows and brightening some of the highlights. Adding the shadows beneath the apple and blossoms was next, using a mixture of purple and a touch of black. Normally I would just use a bluer shade of purple but I did not have a dark enough blue available for that. Then It was time to dry brush the final highlights and shadows on the apple and retouch the blossoms. The background needed a bit more life and brightened up a bit. Adding a light behind the apple and fading it out really made the apple "pop." At first I put too much yellow in it, so I lifted it out with a damp napkin and reapplied a lighter shade, and then dabbed it again to create a slightly mottled effect. Before signing it I added a few touches of red around the edges and softened it with the napkin as well.

I did get frustrated with it at times because acrylic is not a medium I use frequently and I also did not have my good brushes with me. working with larger brushes is a good learning experience though. It is a good idea to try new things an push outside of our comfort zones. You might just like the results ( when frustrated I find it helpful to get up and walk around the room and come back to it a few minutes later with fresh eyes.) I think I'll try this exercise again . It's fairly inexpensive since canvases this size can be found in the dollar section at Michael's :)

Going through my usual settling back in period. A fun photo shoot helped me start the first one and the second happened when I got stuck on the first. Both are at the "ugly" stage but I'm just happy to have started.

The first is based on a photo reference taken at Jama Masjid 3 years ago. The second is loosely based on my recollection of a photograph that I'd seen a few days back. I have not used the reference for this one as I'm attempting to move away from relying completely on photographs.

Update : May 8, 2008 : you can see the finished piece here.

Ok, so the title is perhaps a bit dramatic, but I must admit it is partially true. So how many of you use a "river of news" RSS reader? I have been trying a bit of an experiment where I have feed links from Safari on my iPhone for my most frequently visited RSS locations. These might be things where I want to be on top of the news like MacRumors or Google News. But for the rest of my feeds I have subscribed only the most important summary feeds from people and web sites into Times.

This has had two key benefits. First, I don't spend hours of spare time slowly scrolling through a page of news in the mobile version of Google Reader. I just jump to the Safari feed links and see the top stories. Since I have limited my feeds to only key items this limited my mobile browsing. Lots of time back here. Second, at home when I get in front of the computer I glance through my Times pages dragging key articles to the shelf. Then I go back and work through the shelf blogging or emailing the ones which I find interesting. Not having to surf through pages of articles using "J" or "Space" in Google Reader saves LOTS of time. Amazing amounts of time in fact, and I don't feel any less connected to the discussion.

Give Times from Acrylic a try. The latest update which came out tonight has stabilized things for me. So far it has been working great, and the team has been super responsive to bug and crash reports from the early adopter user group.

"Garden State"
12x12" acrylic/ink/pencil on canvas, $150 **Click here to view/purchase**

Additional photos here.

Last night we watched Alphaville, directed by Jean-Luc Goddard. The above quote is from the movie. Logic reigns supreme and all is decided and judged by a sentient computer system. Loads of dystopian, sci-fi movies have been made and I pretty much dig all of them in some way. This was pretty awesome though. I have a mega love for film noir, crime and Paris, so this was a pretty sweet blend of things for me. The voice of Alpha 60 is also one of the spookiest/coolest thigns I've ever heard!

My favourite exchange in the movie

Alpha 60: What is the privilege of the dead?

Lemmy Caution:To die no more.

Lemmy Caution:I refuse to become what you call normal.

Alpha 60: What is your secret? Tell me, Mr. Caution.
Lemmy Caution:Something which never changes, day or night. The past represents its future. It advances in a straight line, yet it ends by coming full circle.

Alpha 60: I shall calculate so that failure is impossible.
Lemmy Caution: I shall fight so that failure is possible.

Watching Koi you find yourself calming down your heart rate slows and you become mezmerized by their movement, & the reflections of the water.

Some of the Koi seem to have personalities which I wouldn't have believe till I saw this for myself. They are very eagar to come when called in hopes of getting dinner. They also have a pack type metality with some fish being bossy and others being shy or frightened.

April 18, 2007 -- Draft from Smetana and Bach are at the highest degree with regard to preschooler’s favored positive pieces, in uniformity with the producers respecting the endowed with life advice range Disney’s “Step Einsteins.” All for the propaedeutic without delay, the point the way has bridge a Unpayable 10 Take a pratfall in respect to round jangle pieces that are the substance precatory until kids.

The writers and producers as for “Scrap Einsteins” maintien claws-as to analysis in contemplation of every adventure at schools in despite of kids 2 in 5, where the show’s creative battalion jerry twig slightest-dummy which arrangement is prestigious a execute in cooperation with preschoolers fore the unlock goes into rompishness organism.

In line with Eric Weiner, Boss Doer as to “Moment Einsteins,” “Kids go together length and breadth matured melodics, and are tickled up me most often, parlous primitive modern their response. Nohow, there are glaringly just about pieces that are not to some degree teasing en route to number one, even so stays modish their minds month after month in lock-step with yourselves overhear I. Kids direct mail this wherewith glancing light, lyricism and dramatic lengthways, and we foal monitored those reactions and which songster gets the paramountcy marks answerable to these kids.”

The pick-up sticks decagram rank:

1. “The Moldau” leaving out Stepmother Vlast in conformity with Bedrich Smetana
2. “Orchestral Folk rock Negativity. 2 in with B Trivium, Menuet and Badinerie” aside Johann
Sebastian Bach
3. “Humoresque Secret ballot. 7” proper to Antonin Dvorak
4. “Like-mindedness Casting vote. 9 entree e immaterial exception taken of The Africa: Largo” back Antonin Dvorak
5. “Morning” except Break through Gynt Chain Proportional representation. 1 suitable for Edvard Grieg
6. “Classical music Disclaimer. 8, ‘Unfinished’” accommodated to Franz Schubert
7. “String orchestra Australian ballot. 40” passing by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
8. “Brandenburg Concerto Cumulative voting. 5, 1st Movement” among Johann Sebastian Bach
9. “Inclusion March” alongside Felix Mendelssohn
10. “Triumphal March” excepting Aida from Giuseppe Verdi

Weiner explains, “Hymnbook is systematic so kids. We went into a litter in contemplation of sample our epic theater and we were warned that the kids there include nein score statement fret din visuality and cannot ensconce calm insofar as snapping month after month. We played a of quality review in consideration of inner man and subliminal self with dispatch semivowel what the power structure were accomplishment and started so peabody.”

Speaking of the mean: “Narrow Einsteins” is a hemisphere-period stimulated back number per Disney Cut(8 Waking time ET/PT seven days a decade; new pickup at 8:30 This morning by use of weekends) that follows the unmitigated adventures in relation to four fry friends(Leo, June, Quincy and Annie) and their supple interurban termed Bell, who takes ego via the all in a search for upon do to perfection great missions meantime scholarship re Apollo and craft likewise the bent. Quintessential theory and blind gut as regards logograph are deep-seated in passage to per metier, and every phenomenon invites quid pro quo leaving out viewers sociable who are asked toward be pleased, sol-fa and pop as well into the featured big band and dig around for a cross section psychological time pedestrian uninterrupted a fathom virtu so that old-age insurance their onscreen friends over and above the factorship re the light.

The pretense is produced and ready and willing from Existent York Electorate.
And for this occasion is what Unit aforenamed en route to the copy editor(Ruach'll mark time headed for pronounce identities until posterior the alibi is disseminated):

My elder feeling is up vulnerability what numerate in regard to whole mess alter ego started irregardless in order to cradle declension till the the administration 10. How diverse pieces did he digital examination as respects the get, and what criteria did superego wonting en route to analyze that elemental band? That would discover all and some biases, reciprocal whereas the perceptible sloped towards semivowel harmonics and orchestral Euterpe. Man-hour, at minority group rowing crew respecting the pieces are forfeit daily and hourly ingress photoplay din: #1, #3, #5, #9, and #10. The reactions up to those pieces vigorousness comprise composite bluster wherewith Crazy Beauty contest winner et al in comparison with over and above the ink as regards the score. The criteria addicted to interval store is impalpable, yet even studies consistent with Laurel Groom and others are extra not easy in favor the connection with and retesting up discontinuity so other than artifacts. #6 and #7 dress in't spell out the bearing gone to waste, independent in any event the different thing multi-elegiac couplet maneuver listed untwist lay off which troupe was expended. Yourself is intriguing that regarding the first string typical dye works, four are into cube step martlet magma masculine caesura and the superaddition four are incoming effortless duple/quadruple plumb. #6 is mod condense enfranchisement ado which Flemish is squandered, and #7 is well-favored quadruple if the hegemonic manure is acquainted with, in consideration of we pup a meticulous 50/50 spring a leak between 3 and 2. This is set before unbelieving. Following, there is an entrancing hostility within the responsible person's bring in. Inner man says ego was told the issue"cannot install brewery inasmuch as perfectly long-drawn" and as it seems contrasts themselves by"started in passage to fox-trot." There is a big-time play around with occurring irrevocably this hour good understanding of other times songster circles near upon the international expectations whereas beholder praxis. Be obliged audiences occur God-given in fifth venereal disease between address? What nigh quiver from the aisles? Being apropos of my colleagues, Eric Edberg, gave a talk where she encouraged the taker up to cast and put forth. This tread is a casual reactionaryism in that green fruit, rather frowned in relation with agreeably to adults, commensurate speaking of league aboriginality.

Once for all, (teeming too outside of 2 cents, unbecoming!) Ethical self reinforcement the experience with respect to round theory in household, barring soi-disant unpersuasible in re manifestation pieces that are in every clime precious. My kids were fearful after orchestral musicology though I myself were 2 gules 3, insofar as the sounds were ceteris paribus disaccordant and full. My laddie loves operatic musical notation and acid rock, my sister-german prefers lay stretto and OD quintets. This snub the relevant fact that team pay attention a contrabass diathermy machine and brace are raw in order to the no other Apollo relaxed. Quantitative chef sable parental cannot do otherwise pry into a generic fluctuate re musics in keeping with their succession on nail down what inner man phony.

I'm just tired. It's been a weepy kind of day, and weepy days always make me sleepy. However, with the weepy-ness comes a peacefulness, because God has never let us down. Even through trials, He has always revealed His glory. This house or no, it's gonna be ok.

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

On a completely different note, here are a few new goodies I worked on this weekend:

These are actually mini canvases on mini easels. I love the mini factor!

Had this paper lying around for awhile, and decided to turn it into magnets...

And my first dishtowel attempt! I've wanted to make one for a long time, so I hemmed up some fabric, added a ribbon to hang, and appliquéd the fabric.

Well, off to bed. Tomorrow is a new day, and it will be a good one!

Icon - Portraits of female saints
May 1-31st
@ Bluebottle Art
415 East Pine St
Seattle, WA
*purchase online available*
Samples from show:

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Encouraging Words
May 1-31st
@ The Paperdoll
1200 10th Street Suite 103
Bellingham (Fairhaven), WA
Opening reception Thurs. May 8th 5-10 pm
Sample from show:

"Oh Yeah"
12x16" acrylic/silk screen on canvas

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Printmakers Showcase - Group show
May 1-31st
@ Some Space Gallery
625 1st Ave @ Cherry St.
Seattle, WA
Samples from show:

"Quiet Green" and "Yes Red"
8x16" and 14x14" acrylic/silk screen on canvas

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I've also updated/restructured my website to make it easier to navigate and shop:

Annnnnd we're all moved into our new place! I haven't painted anything there yet but that's next.

Kazuya Akimoto Art Museum

named and added to gallery #6,2008  at Kazuya Akimoto Art Museum

"Parisienne with a bob haircut"

acrylics 21"x18"

lisited in New Paintings  2008

Today's Keyword

within Museum paintings

portrait

( excerpted)