HUNTER COLLEGE MFA THESIS EXHIBITION 2012

I was really excited to get to see this show for HUNTER's mfa students.  I am applying to go to this school for my MFA in painting, and I thought this show would give me a good idea of what I could expect to see not only what kind of work they are looking for, but to see if my work would fit into this type of setting.  I think my work is overall more traditional than the work here, but there are a few students who were using representational figures in a more conceptual, contemporary way.  That was exciting for me to see.  This is also, as far as I can tell, the most affordable MFA program in NYC for painting, so I am hopeful to see if they like my work.   

Amanda Valdez

 

Matteo Callegari

Tim Donald Webster

"The Portrait Sketch" class by Richard Piloco

My first day of class at Grand Central Academy was really cool.  My teacher, Richard Piloco did a beautiful three hour head study demonstration in oils and large round bristle brushes.  He likes to mass off large shapes and values, beginning with midtones, and slowly add detail and variance in color/value.  I was really jealous of his Manet bristle brushes.  The bristles were extremely long and extremely soft.  He did a large part of the demo using a size 14.

Gustav Klimt

I love the paintings of Gustav Klimt.  The Neue Galerie recently acquired this portrait.  I was able to get this one shot of it on my phone before the security guards stopped me and let me know there was no photography allowed.  Luckily it came out ok!  I found out that the first Friday night of the month is free to get inside the museum, except be prepared to be waiting in a line outside for at least a half hour!

The MOMA has this piece of Klimt and I got to get some detail shots of the women.  

Willem de Kooning at MOMA

If you are in NYC and have a chance to go the MOMA, get there before January 9th when this show comes down.  Unfortunately photography wasn't allowed for the actual paintings, but this wall had six black and white reproductions of some of my favorites from his retrospective show.  When I saw these images without color, I was really moved to see how bold his strokes were and the overall rhythm of dark to light values.  When I saw the paintings in full color, some of this beautiful and daring brushwork to me seemed to get overpowered by the saturation of color choice.  Truly inspiring.

                                  

NoMAA Grant

Excellent News!  I just found out that I will be receiving a NoMAA Grant from the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance.  For the grant, I will complete a series of five new paintings this year and have the work exhibited in NYC.