Un beau chat, fort, doux et charmant

(Above) Nobby : Un beau chat, fort, doux et charmant
13.5cm x 16cm
September 2010
Mixed media (Faber Castel Albrecht Durer watercolour crayons, Windsor & Newton Indian ink, Daler Rowney FW acrylic ink, Caran d'ache Neocolour II water soluble wax crayons) on 100 % cotton rag, acid free paper (200g)

Nobby is one of the two tabby tom cats that live here. He's often with me in the studio. Doing this painting of him has brought to mind a poem by Baudelaire :

Le Chat

I

Dans ma cervelle se promène,
Ainsi qu'en son appartement,
Un beau chat, fort, doux et charmant.
Quand il miaule, on l'entend à peine,

Tant son timbre est tendre et discret ;
Mais que sa voix s'apaise ou gronde,
Elle est toujours riche et profonde.
C'est là son charme et son secret.

Cette voix, qui perle et qui filtre
Dans mon fonds le plus ténébreux,
Me remplit comme un vers nombreux
Et me réjouit comme un philtre.

Elle endort les plus cruels maux
Et contient toutes les extases ;
Pour dire les plus longues phrases,
Elle n'a pas besoin de mots.

Non, il n'est pas d'archet qui morde
Sur mon coeur, parfait instrument,
Et fasse plus royalement
Chanter sa plus vibrante corde,

Que ta voix, chat mystérieux,
Chat séraphique, chat étrange,
En qui tout est, comme en un ange,
Aussi subtil qu'harmonieux !

II

De sa fourrure blonde et brune
Sort un parfum si doux, qu'un soir
J'en fus embaumé, pour l'avoir
Caressée une fois, rien qu'une.

C'est l'esprit familier du lieu ;
Il juge, il préside, il inspire
Toutes choses dans son empire ;
Peut-être est-il fée, est-il dieu ?

Quand mes yeux, vers ce chat que j'aime
Tirés comme par un aimant,
Se retournent docilement
Et que je regarde en moi-même,

Je vois avec étonnement
Le feu de ses prunelles pâles,
Clairs fanaux, vivantes opales
Qui me contemplent fixement.

2: The African Boy in the American Art Gallery

(Above) 2: The African Boy in the American Art Gallery
(Width) x 16cm
Mixed media (Windsor & Newton Indian ink, Dalery Rowney FW acrylic ink, Faber Castel Albrecht Durer watercolour crayons, Caran d'ache Neocolour II water-soluble wax crayons) on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper).

In anticipation of a trip to California next February, I've been browsing the websites of the art galleries in San Francisco and their collections, some of which are available for view on-line. I came across an image of a black boy. This painting started there.

An African in Paris

(Above) An African Paris
(width) cm x 16cm
September 2010
Mixed media (Windsor & Newton Indian ink, Daler Rowney FW acrylic ink, Faber Castel Albrecht Durer watercolour crayons, Caran d'ache Neocolour II water-soluble wax crayons) on 100% cotton rag, acid free paper.

The title of this painting points to its inspiration : the sculptures of Ousmane Sow, which I first encountered on a bridge in Paris (see the last post).

Another favourite artist of mine is the Scottish painter Craigie Aitchinson who died a year ago, aged 83. Describing his work, Aitchinson said : "I do mostly black people, dogs, religious pictures and still lifes." Its a simple summary of his beautifully uncomplicated but sensitive images, which radiate glorious colour. For more information on Craigie Aitchinson, read the obituary in The Telegraph online (21 December 2009) at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/6860258/Craigie-Aitchison.html

Below : Portrait of Michael Mohammed by Craigie Aitchinson

1. The Senegalese Woman with Daisy Earrings

(Above) The Senegalese Woman with Daisy Earrings (reworked)

(width) cm x 16cm
September 2010

Mixed media (Windsor & Newton indian ink, Daler Rowney FW acrylic ink, Caran d'ache Neocolour II water-soluble wax crayons, Faber Castel Albrecht Durer watercolour crayons) on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper).

Below: the earlier version of the painting posted above.

I've recently been looking again at the art of the Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow.
(Official website :  http://www.ousmanesow.com/mac/index.htm )

I first came across Ousmane Sow's sculptures in 1999 when I was living in Paris, when there was an outdoor exhibition of half a dozen of his over-life size pieces on the Pont des Arts (one of the footbridges that crosses the Seine).

(See: http://www.peniche.com/4expo.htm )

I think the red-clay palette of this painting probably stems from my reviewing his work.

(Below) : Detail of a sculpture by Ousmane Sow

The African Boy from Saint Louis (reworked)

(Above) The African Boy from Saint Louis (reworked)
See yesterday's post.

The African Boy from Saint Louis

(Above) The African Boy from Saint Louis
(width ?) cm x 16cm
September 2010
Mixed media (Windsor & Newton indian ink, Daler Rowney FW acrylic ink, Caran d'ache Neocolour II water soluble wax crayons) on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper.

This portrait started as a study of a ceramic head of an African, which is held in the collection of African art at the St Louis Art Museum. The museum's collection is available for viewing on-line at : http://stlouis.art.museum/emuseum/code/eMuseum.asp?lang=EN

Elegant at 40

(Above) Elegant at 40
Mixed media on 100% cotton rag, acid free paper
September 2010
I've recently been busy working on a commissioned portrait. Working to commission inevitably creates its own particular challenges and I've ripped up quite a few drawings and paintings along the way. These three paintings have survived the process. Curiously enough, the painting that pleases me the most (and happily the commissioner) is the one which in terms of a direct likeness is the least successful : Elegant at 40. However, if the likeness isn't quite there, the painting holds its own.
 
Below : Portrait of a Lady (Seated)
14cm x 19cm
Mixed media (Windsor & Newton indian ink, Daler Rowney FW acrylic ink, Caran d'ache Neocolour II, Faber Castel Albrecht Durer watercolour crayons) on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper.
September 2010











(Below) Portrait of a Lady
Mixed media (watercolour crayons, Indian ink, acrylic ink, Caran d'Ache Neocolour II water-soluble wax crayons) on 100% cotton rag, acid free paper.
September 2010
11.5cm x 16.5cm

Carnival Colours

(Above) Carnival Colours
12cm x 16cm
September 2010
Mixed media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper

I've been looking at photographs, old and contemporary, of people from Africa and the Pacific Isles who practice face and body painting. The images that can now be seen on the Internet are nothing if not inspirational.

Tribal Face

(Above) Tribal Face
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper
12.5cm x 16cm
September 2010

There are some wonderful images on the Internet of the tribes people of Papua New Guinea. Many of these inspirational pictures that you might see are by the photographer Eric Lafforgue.