Standing in Front of the Gernica

Standing in front of Picasso's Gernica (1937) at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia this summer (2009) in Madrid, Spain, was like taking a bath in fresh squeezed orange juice, overwhelming. Picasso painted the Gernica in black and white oils over canvas. Having waited many years to see
this work, I approached it with hesitation by sketching several of Picasso's individual studies, such as Picasso's study of a horse (estudio para elcabello). 

After viewing the individual studies, I crept into the room where
the painting hung (349 X 776 cm). Overcome, I backed away and completed another sketch. Viewers can take pictures in the museum if the flash is inactive, but shooting Picasso sketches felt more like an assault on them.

Drawing slowed me down enough to converse with the lines, the composition, the process, and with Picasso.

Drawing in a public place, much less the Sofia, was like standing naked on a crowded street. I felt vulnerable, yet the act of drawing allowed me to block out the noise. I could hear in the background, "Mama, mira, undebujante." (Mother, look an artist). Being called an artist by a child in the presence of the Gernica was a great honor. 

The night we returned from Spain, I completed an acrylic (22" X 22") of a double bloom daylily. Spain left me hungry to pick up the brush once more.

Posted by Stephen Kroeger

Horses and Coffee

It was a beautiful Friday evening, with perfect light streaming out of the evening sky. Who could ask for more, if you are a photographer.

Friends of mine have horses, who had invited me on several occasions to come out and take pictures whenever I wanted. Tonight was the night. I ran out to their house and quickly headed to the pasture. I let myself in and watched where I stepped, wishing I had worn boots, not sandals. Then, the horses headed to me to check out this new thing in their territory.

Now, I am a city girl. This may not have been the smartest move on my part, to just let myself into their pasture. I wanted to turn around and run, but I think my camping and bear training kicked in. "Don't run!!!" I told myself, as if they would catch up and maul me.

I had forgotten how big horses are. Too many movies watched about one of man's best friends, and how gentle they are. Then suddenly as well, that large cup of strong coffee kicked in, that I had just polished off. My hands and knees started to shake. What a great time for a caffeine buzz.

They came up to me and started nudging me. I was thinking, "This is not good". I have never been bitten, nor kicked by a horse, and really have never had a desire to be, as well.
One of the big guys took an interest in my camera bag I had left hanging on the fence post. He started to chew on it. My mind is now thinking "LENSES!" All my lenses were in there and I could imagine them being stepped on or crunched by the beautiful creature I might soon resent.

As I am watching my camera bag being chewed, and being nudged by a REALLY BIG horse, I am trying to take pictures, but my hands were shaking so badly it was impossible. I must have passed the test though, they moved back to grazing, mean while keeping an eye on me. I quickly unlocked the gate and grabbed my bag and let myself out.

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Posted by Elizabeth Murray

So long, Farewell, Auf wiedersehn, Adieu

Since the opening night of studio 313's expansion, Louisville artists Tom and Mary Kinney's exhibit of custom jewelry and enamel on copper miniatures have delighted Cincinnati visitors through their offerings of unique wearable art and collector pieces.  

After over a year long running exhibition, Tom and Mary will be leaving us this month to go on the road for summer festivals, so Friday night will be the last opportunity to purchase the pieces you have been saving up for.  I can tell you all for sure that every artist in the studio will really miss all the positive energy and fun times we have had with them.  

Be sure to come down Friday night so we can give them a great send off!!

Did you miss these?

Thanks to everyone who came out to open studio Friday night! Our first gorgeous weather to take a break out in Artist Alley, eat hot pizza and talk about art!  Here is some work you might have missed if you couldn't make it!

Ready for Mother's Day?

I must say, I do love Mothers’ Day!  I love being a mom, even when that means wiping a nose, stopping the older one from strangling the younger one, teaching them math, driving to soccer/baseball/dance/girl scouts/skiing…because it also means lots of hugs, lots of “I love you”, and lots of joy.  Let’s hear it for all the moms out there!!

And since Mother's Day is just around the corner on May 9th, I am offering THIS WEEKEND ONLY $75 gift cards for only $50 for studio portrait sessions at Karen Minzner Photography studio.  One card will cover the sitting fee and can be used toward a print!!  That's 33% off!!!! What mom would not love photos of her children or grandchildren?  The best part…you can simply give them the gift card and let them decide exactly who and what they want photographed.  

This offer is ONLY available at April’s Final Friday.  You need to come see me in studio 313 on April 24^th (or, ok, you can call me on Second Look Saturday too) to purchase the gift cards.  Posted by Karen Minzner  

Mother Nature

The world has turned to wonderful shades of greens, and the spring flowers are partaking in this wonderful time called spring. It has been breath taking this spring, wandering around, as I do with my camera, taking in all the colors that Mother Nature has to offer. From the magnolia trees, to the red buds, it was a welcomed change from this long gray winter.

As I hold the camera up to look through the lens, the world changes for me. I suddenly start to see the things I miss in my everyday life. The beauty of a curve of a petal, the wanderings of a ladybug, or the flight of an osprey. All these small things slow my mind down long enough to appreciate what our magnificent environment has to offer us. It helps me realize that I am but a speck on this rock we call the earth, and to act as one of it's many stewards.

So on this up coming Mother's Day, I would like to thank the Mother of all Mother's, Mother Nature for the gifts she leaves us everyday. Small gifts or large, the beauty we encounter and those overwhelming moments of pure gratitude for what is put before me. It is my joy to be able to try to capture those moments.  Posted by Elizabeth Murray

Mother's Day

When I was a (younger) kid, I used to pick flowers for my Mom for Mother's Day, her birthday and other occasions that seemed appropriate. I would often pick the wild violets and dandelions that grow everywhere at this time of year. Just as often, I would find wonderful tulips, daffodils, roses and other flowers, Unfortunately these were often the flowers adorning someone's yard but perhaps just outside the fence or around back of their house. Mom never chided me, but did admonish me not to pick other people's flowers.

 

A few years ago, I decided to undertake a long term project of picking, photographically, all the flowers I could find and giving them to Mom for various occasions. Her walls are now full of these newly picked flowers. About three years ago we had a particularly early and beautiful growth of tulips as well as verdant hosta. I decided to "create" a bouquet and placed two flowers in a beautiful plum colored vase and set this in the midst of the hosta. I photographed the bouquet and gave it to Mom for Mother's Day that year. This is the image on our ecard this month celebrating the bonds we share with our mother's. Posted by Tim Freeman  

--

Such A Mystery!

With this painting I was experimenting with texture. The Grapefruit was painted using the tip of a palette knife. Learning to control the paint and edges of the forms with a knife is a fun challenge. I added more creative colors to spice it up a bit.

Painting what I don't see is what makes the painting really work for me. It can mean emotional/spiritual or, in this case, simply the use of color. The act of creating is for me always somewhat based on what we don't see but what we chose to communicate. With the Grapefruit painting I am just slightly exaggerating what I see. 

 
A painter once said to me that the best thing we can do when making art is..."at some point putting down or turning away from the material we are looking at to make the art. When we turn away from our perceived reality we allow something new and different to occur." 

Isn't painting wonderful...its SUCH a mystery!  Posted by Cindy Olmes.

Finally!

At long last, we have had a breath of fresh spring air! Spring has started, revealing itself much too slowly for most our tastes. I finally dusted off the camera that had been laying dormant for most of the winter. The first outing was a beautiful, shiny day to Krone Conservatory for the Early Spring Floral Show. I think I should have gone there during the winter. I had forgotten how a trip to there is good for the winter blahs and good for the soul.
Standing in a sea of green and breathing in the wonderful air, I felt like my body melted off some of the cold and ice, that had sunk into my bones over the winter. Color, texture and shades began to pop out at me as I stood there for a few moments. After that...I felt like a wild cat stalking it's prey, mine prey just happened to be flowers of all colors, shapes and sizes, with a few lady bugs along the way.

I look forward to having some of these photos on display over the next few months along with many more spring days to come of photo field trips. Posted by Elizabeth Murray.

Backyard Tragedies-Spirit

The work of a fine art photographer is not always about capturing or creating that single image. Sometimes one must create a body of work to express the ideas one has artistically.  A couple years ago I set out to capture the backyard like it should not be imagined.  My plan was to set up different types of accidents and tragedies in everyday backyards.  The image here is called 'Spirit.'  If you look into the ever so calm pool a white orb rests.  There are cars in the driveway, the lights are on in the house, but the gate to the pool has been left open.  Something has happened here, but there is no crime scene.  In my backyard images, there are no people, there is no blood, there is only our imagination to put the pieces together.  This image was selected into the 'Trick of the Light' exhibit at Manifest Galleries in Cincinnati in December 2007.

With these thoughts in mind and as spring surrounds us as people start preparing for the opening their pools, consider any hazards you can fix now while we are having this great weather, to keep your kids and family safe.  Posted by Francis J. Michaels

Karen Minzner - Hocking Hills

I love the great outdoors.  That sounds a bit strange coming from someone who didn’t really care for nature as a child.  I think being able to capture images like these has changed me.  My husband and I headed out, to what has become one of our favorite parks, for a day of hiking.  I was a bit pessimistic at first because it was a grey, misty, rainy day.  By the time we made it to the top of the mountain (or hill, depending on who you are taking to), my tune had changed.  I loved these trees.  I was so happy that we had decided to venture out that day.  It seems that nature sometimes has its own plan.  As soon as you think you know it…it throws you a curve ball.

 

Posted by Karen Minzner

 

This Weekend Focus on Foto

Hey! Yo ya'll and youse guys! Tonight's the night!  I know. . . that's what they ALL say.

But truly this weekend at studio 313 is a great opportunity to see some great work from 7 photographic artists, including our two new photographers, Elizabeth Murray and Visiting Photographer Neil Moore.

Liz has a bugs eye view of some of those creatures you love to hate--well--her's ARE awfully cute.  So is she.

Or if you have Spring Fever--was it warm today or what--and long for Hilton Head, then Neil's your man.  Won't somebody puleeze just give him a boat so he can stay there out on the water taking pictures of the beach?

Now get yourselves outdoors, into your cars, on your bikes,  on the bus, and get yourself down here.  We'll wine and snack ya'all and we'll all talk photo!