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Borsheim Art Newsletter:

by Kelly Borsheim copyright 27 May 2012

    CONTENTS:
  1. ARC Salon Finalist
  2. Squish Appeal - painting like sculpting [Angel Academy of Art]
  3. Moroccan Art
  4. A Teaser of Tuscany
  5. Blog Highlights
  6. Subscription Info.

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[Sunset, Florence, Italy]

Sunset over Florence, Italy
Photo by Kelly Borsheim
[Tuscany Italy] Dear Art Lover,
Ooh - why is time passing so quickly? It has been a while since I last wrote to you and shared images of some of the art inside Florence's Palazzo Vecchio. It is poppy season here in la bella Italia and it is always difficult for me to remain inside. Fortunately, I have a friend with a home in the countryside of Tuscany and I have been inviting other artists to come out there with me. They create lovely landscape paintings of the rolling hills, vineyards, and olive trees, while I have been starting a new design in marble carving. More on that as the work develops …

I am thrilled to announce that I just received word that at least one of my stone carvings was accepted as a finalist in the ARC Salon Competition. The Art Renewal Center (ARC) is a US-based organization that is working to promote representational art. The actual winners will be announced soon, I hope. Check out what they are doing at: www.artrenewal.org

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Squish Appeal - Painting is like Sculpting:

[Figure art figure painting]

Life is about learning and I decided some time ago that not only did I need to improve my drawing skills, but I also wanted to learn more about the chemistry of oil painting. In addition, I needed to return to Europe and Firenze seems to call to me too often. Thus, I re-enrolled into the Angel Academy of Art in the Renaissance City. That keeps me learning and also provides me with a student visa to be able to remain in my beloved Italia for longer than 90 days.

I have been sharing some of my projects and experiences at the Angel Academy on my blog (see selected posts below). At this time in my life, it has been a wonderful thing to be connecting with other artists on a daily basis. I have so much to do each day and enjoy sharing time with like-minded souls as I make my life's transitions. This Florentine life has been extraordinary, or as a friend just last night agreed with me: surreal.

So, perhaps it is no surprise that I enjoyed a "Eureka moment" last week in the studio. Sometimes we hear informative things, but are just not ready for it: Hence the reasons teachers, including myself, become repetitive. It works. For example, the Maestro John Angel often tells artists to stop dabbing the paintbrush onto the canvas, but instead to use the belly of the brush. Well, honestly, there is so much to learn and think of when creating that it really takes a person 100 paintings to make most of these technical things become a habit. Once this material is owned, the artist can move more into the art part of the work.

The maestro was watching me work apparently, for he approached me as I painted on my interpretation of a Carpeaux plaster cast. He accused me of being too subtle! Well, that got my attention because this is a RARE accusation! Then he demonstrated how I should be handling my paintbrush, pushing it into the canvas and dragging it along, never losing touch, to create the shape I wanted. Sure, I have heard this before, but for some reason, trying it again that day reminded me of why I became a sculptor.

The push-and-pull mushiness of oil painting was what led me to try clay back in 1994. How could I have forgotten this first wonderful experience that changed my life for the better? And yet, I had not truly forgotten. Perhaps my brain was just full for a very long time and I lost my way for a bit. However, I spent the rest of my afternoon painting in this way and enjoying the sensual experience of brush against canvas. There is more TOUCH involved in applying the paint in this manner and no doubt why I took to it as I did. I am a tactile learner and often need to touch something to fully understand it. I do not know how to explain that HOW one approaches a process and the thoughts in one's head during the process change everything. I fell in love again and while this may strike others as "too much information" or maybe just "art talk," it was what I sorely needed to be able to continue on with this painting.

[Carpeaux copy painting almost finished]

Above: 11 May 2012: Using Sight-Sized method of painting
(however, in this case, the entire studio was moved during the course of this project and thus,
sight-sized was abandoned as the cast position and lighting was totally changed.

[Carpeaux copy painting almost finished]

Above: 28 May 2012: "After Carpeaux" (almost finished),
oil painting by Kelly Borsheim of a plaster cast
from a sculpture by Carpeaux.

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Moroccan Art:

Over the Easter holiday about two months ago, I flew to Morocco and spent about 12 days in Fez, Marrakesh, and Essaouira. I would be lying if I claimed that it was the most amazing trip that I had ever taken, but there were some good times with people I met there and even when I was alone.

Still, I went with a purpose and have gathered enough materials/information to create a body of art related to my time there. I must admit that working an average of 10 hours a day at Angel most days is cutting into my time to make my own art, but I can still give you this little taste of my latest work-in-progress. The image below is a charcoal on Roma-brand paper. I still have details to finesse, but I think you can see the idea in the work.

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2012/04/morocco-illness.html

[Morocco Charcoal Drawing in Progress Art]
Above: "Untitled" for now, charcoal and pastel drawing on Roma-brand paper, 46 x 64 cm,
WORK-IN-PROGRESS by Kelly Borsheim.

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A Teaser of Tuscany:

Those of you who follow me on Facebook might see that I enjoy photography as much as making art by hand. In fact, I often tell my students that even if they never do anything with their photographs, they should get in the habit of taking shots. I really believe it helps an artist hone her eye for composition and lighting. Each of us shows a lot of our uniqueness by the choices we make.

[Tuscan Sunset Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim] [Tuscan Sunset Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim]

[Dolci Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim] [Florence Italy - original art by Kelly Borsheim]

[Sunset Florence Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim]

[Florence Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim] [Sculpture and Architecture-Daily Life Firenze Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim]

[Artists Dragana Adamov and Kelly Borsheim Florence Italy - moving art]
Artists Dragana Adamov (Serbia) and Kelly Borsheim move Dragana's paintings
after her art exhibit in Florence, Italy.
Kelly bought one of the mixed media paintings by Dragana, her long-time friend and former flatmate.

[Tuscan Vineyards Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim] [Tuscan Olive Trees Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim]

[Tuscan Poppies Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim] [Poppies in Tuscany Italy - photo by Kelly Borsheim]

[Florence Italy Firenze Italia - photo by Kelly Borsheim]
Firenze, Italia - (all) photos copyright 2012 Kelly Borsheim

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Recent Blog Topics:

You may follow a variety of art topics on my blog:
http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com
(This is a different subscription list than the one for this art newsletter.)

Thank you for sharing my journey with me. By all means, forward this newsletter to anyone you think would enjoy it.

Pace (peace),
Kelly Borsheim
27 May 2012

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If you enjoy Borsheim Art News, please forward it to friends and colleagues. It comes to you about 6-8 times a year from Florence, Italy-based artist Kelly Borsheim.

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Give a Book Review:

Thank you for your interest and support in the book I wrote this past summer about being a street artist in Italy. I was thrilled to receive such glowing feedback about how I had shared not only the art and the artists, but also something of the political environment regarding street art, interaction with the public and other street performers (my favorite chapter is the one in which I have invited children to join me on the pavement), as well as images of the Renaissance City herself.

The book is titled "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy." If you have read the book and would like to help in the promotion of it, perhaps you would consider writing up a short review for Amazon.com (or even send me a testimonial for my own site). Your review does not have to be fancy. The intention is to help other people get a better idea about what is inside and whether or not they may enjoy the read.

Just click here. Scroll down to the section on Customer Reviews. Click on the button to the right that says, "Create your own review" Sign in and follow their guide.

If you have not gotten your copy of the book, you may order directly from my site:
https://www.createspace.com/3659334

or from Amazon.com:

I have about 20 copies here with me in Italy, so if you are also here, just write me and we will organize the rest…


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