Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Monday, July 6, 2015

DALI & ME

Several weeks ago I was contacted by a curator with the question if I was interested in participating in an exhibition based on the work of Dali. Each artist would choose from a selection of prints by Dali and make their own interpretation of it. 

And before I even knew what pieces I could choose from, I already said yes. Do something based on a master's piece: NO BRAINER!

She send me a list of prints to choose from and soon enough one jumped out for me: A Flordali from 1969 named "Les Fruits Pomegranate" also known as "Pomegranate and Angel".




I started reading about the fruit and its symbolic meaning and found out that t
he pomegranate has been used throughout history and in almost every religion as a symbol of humanity's most fundamental beliefs and desires, including life and death, rebirth and eternal life, fertility and marriage, abundance and prosperity. Almost every aspect of the pomegranate has come to symbolize something . . . its shape, color, seeds, juice.


For instance the pomegranate is often seen in paintings and statues of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus as a symbol of resurrection and everlasting life.


Then I realized that, while drinking the juice often, I had never seen the inside of a pomegranate (yeah, I know...). So when I started to paint the actual pomegranate I used a "live model".



Little Angel and the Pomegranates (2015)
30" x 40"
Acrylics on Canvas
SOLD










I painted a little girl (a little angel) on a swing carried by Pomegranates with an open fruit next to her. I wanted to incorporate as much as the symbolism as possible without limiting myself to one meaning. True, my little angel has no wings but my mother would call me a little angel - when I was a little girl - in a more 

sarcastic way... so no wings.


At the gallery each interpretation piece was next to the Dali of the artists' choice and, I must admit, I was a little nervous to hang side by side with Dali.




The opening at MAC Fine Art in Fort Lauderdale was a success: The Little Angel sold!!

This and 32 more interpretations can be seen at MAC Fine Art in Fort Lauderdale until August 15. Show was put together and curated by Rochi Llaneza.






Saturday, August 30, 2014

One left the studio and a new one is finished.

The Girl with the Big Pearl Ear Ring (detail)

With mixed feelings I saw "The Girl with the Big Pearl Ear Ring" leave the studio to go to her new home. Mixed feelings because - even though I know she is at a very good place now - I will miss her on the wall in my studio.

And life goes on... and I finished my rendition of Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with the Ermine" which I named "The Girl with the Robot Dog". 
And I started a new rendition but this time one of Goya's masterpieces, but all that lace... so beautiful... and also so much work...
 

The Girl with the Robot Dog (2014)
30" x 40"
Acrylics on Canvas

At the same time I am working on multiple collaborations with several different artists, including a street artist, a I-photographer (yes, with the I-phone), a fine artist, and a poet. These collaborations places my work outside my usual scope and it is refreshing to see how each one of us is able to make a magic combination. I m loving this!
I cannot show you anything yet, as we keep our pieces hidden until it is shown. 



Little M 24
(aka "Uhm... it is not working...")
6" x 8"
Acrylics on Birch Wood


I also made another Little M. A little Rambo this time and this one is in show at the Trespass Gallery in Clarksville, Tennessee. I also started sketching a new Little M and that is a commission for a little girl.

So, all and all, there is no such thing as a quiet summer at my studio... because the summer is to get ready for the Miami Downtown Art Days in September and Art Basel in December.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

The Art Walk

Every first Friday of the month we have something called the Downtown Miami Art Walk, where almost all the artists in the downtown area have their studios open for everybody and all. For me personally that means that I need to "nice up" up my studio and turn it partially into a gallery so I can present my work in a professional way. 

Once every so many months I even fill the holes and repaint the walls, so everything looks fresh and nice again. Of course I only do this in a month when I do not have many obligations and deadlines. Then we (me and the 2 other artists) prepare the rest of the floor: besides 3 studio spaces, there are 2 gallery spaces, the bar, the hallway and the bathrooms.... and you probably guess it, no more time to work on a painting. 

We made it a rule on our floor that if we do not have an opening, we do not serve alcohol. The Art Walk for us artists means that we work. We present our art, we talk art with the visitors, and of course we hope that we will be able to sell work or at least have a potential buyer come back on another day.

Last Friday was a very nice Art Walk for me as I talked to a lot of new people who showed real interest in my work and I sold 3 pieces of art. 



And when a buyer is so happy to have bought your work that he wants to show that to the world, that makes it even better!!









Saturday, March 15, 2014

2 gone and 1 commission

Just another Friday... I received a message of a brand new facebook friend who asked me if it was ok to come to my studio and see my work this Friday. 
Of course it is... I actually love that - seeing people outside the Art Walks because it is much more relaxed. 

I was painting when he and his partner walked in, they looked around and we started talking... and soon enough it became clear to me that they were collectors and owning a gallery. They contacted me because of a very dear friend of mine (and major fan of my work) who recommended me to them... So there I am wrapping my head around it - because I actually didn't see that coming at all - and in the meanwhile they start happily shopping among my pieces.

The result is: 2 pieces sold, 1 commission and possibly a contract for shows in the Middle East.


Little M 11
aka Little Charlie
6" x 8"
Acrylics on Birch Wood






Little Andy with  Bananas
9" x 12"
Acrylics and Resin Coating on Italian Poplar Wood Panel


What can I say other than... Just another Friday but a pretty AMAZING one.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Little M's leave the State

The following 4 Little M's I made for a very special show: OPEN, the openings exhibition of the Trespass Gallery in Clarksville, Tennessee.

I had to make them special for the show as the ones that I had planned for the show all sold before I could send them to the gallery. So suddenly I had this new super tight deadline. But I kicked ass and created 4 Little M's who are now at the Gallery.



Little M 7
aka Little Carmen M
6" x 8"
Acrylics on Birch Wood



Little M 8
aka The Hitman Too
6" x 8"
Acrylics on Birch Wood

Little M9
aka OOPS
6" x 8"
Acrylics on Birch Wood

Little M 10
aka Cheering the Stars
6" x 8"
Acrylics on Birch Wood


To see the Little M's and other great pieces, please contact:
Trespass Gallery
110 Franklin Street, Suite 202
Clarksville, Tennessee 37040
(305) 915-7819

Sunday, December 29, 2013

End of 2013

In my last show of the year I saw my name in lights!!!




In the last week of 2013 I started and finished the first of a mini series of MINIONS!




Yes, on the very last possible Sunday of 2013 this online Magazine writes about my very first Art Walk in Miami in 2014!

dominicanaenmiami.com - Monique Lassooij expondrá en el primer Downtown Walk de 2014


Now that is kicking ass!!!! :)


Monday, December 2, 2013

DIGITAL MIAMI for ART BASEL


I am really excited about the exposition Digital Miami, where I have two large paintings with my children and referring to works by 2 Dutch Masters.


Join us on Tuesday 3 and please RSVP:
http://siqueiros.com/digital-miami/

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Honorable Mention


I participated in the Annual Juried International Competition by Irresversible Magazine and I won a Honorable Mention!!!!

All the winners are showing their pieces at Gallery 2014 in Hollywood, Florida and the artists are from all over the world. 

To put the cherry on the cake: all my 6 pieces showing are already pre-sold!! 



So yes, I am glowing and smiling...

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Little Kurt Cobain... and so much more



After "Little Jimi" and "Little Janis" a "Little Kurt" could not be left out.And while painting this one, I learned so much about him, that I wondered how this genius had passed me by back in the 90's. 

At first I wanted to put the words "Come as you are" in the back ground but for some reason it didn't cover him enough.. so after long deliberation I decided to go for the Nirvana logo, even though he was way more than Nirvana. 

Little Kurt
11" x 14"
Acrylics and Resin Coating on
Italian gesso panel

And now back to paint more... 6 panels of 9" x 12" for the Art Fair in Mexico City and then starting with 2 canvasses of 55" x 46" for Art Basel. Oh, and also a small commission of 9" x 12" and a larger one of 16" x 20"... and somewhere in between I have to breath... I love my life!!!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Busy, busy... and it only gets more busy...

Yes, I have been busy but all my hard work is paying off... 

First I finished "Little Adam and Little Eve". I painted them just at the precise point where God is asking "What are you doing". Adam has just handed back the apple and tries to look like it has nothing to do with him.... If Adam could, he would have "unfriended" Eve on the spot. Eve knows she will get the blame and the snake is slithering away from the scene...

 Little Adam & Little Eve
2 x 9" x 12"
Acrylics and Resin Coating on Italian Gesso Panels


I am also starting to create 6 new panels (each 9" x 12") for the Art Fair in Mexico City in October 2013 and also will have to start to paint a few new panels for Art Basel as I am in one of the Satellite Show in the Intercontinental Hotel. 

And yesterday Miami Art Scene did a little write up about me and put it all over the social network/media... 

To see the write-up, click HERE.

As I said, I am busy... but in a very, very good way!!



Thursday, August 29, 2013

MUGSHOT.... and then some...


What do you do when you get into the studio as an artist and you bring your new mugs with you.. Not just any mugs, but mugs with your artwork on it. Simple, you get 2 other artists and have one take a MUGSHOT.

And today I am the Featured Artist on The Artistic Blog.

Yes... I am having a great day!!



Monday, July 29, 2013

Artist Profile - in Soul of Miami.

Sometimes life can take a strange turn, surprises come on your path and sometimes they are great. Just like the other day when I was asked if  "they" could do a profile on me. Now I do know the people of the Soul of Miami and I love what they are doing, so I didn't think twice and said yes!!

and this is the result of me agreeing:

http://www.soulofmiami.org/2013/07/29/local-artist-profiles-monique-lassooij-2/

And if you could see my smile now... I think I will keep it for a while.

I was also busy working on some new additions to the series "Proprietary Innocence" and here are some of my new paintings :



 Little Mona
11" x 14"
Acrylics and Resin on Italian Gesso Panel



Little Jimi
11" x 14"
Acrylics and Resin on Italian Gesso Panel



Little Frida
8" x 10"
Acrylics and Resin on Italian Gesso Panel

And I just started to paint Little Janis Joplin  and sketched Little Kurt Cobain... yes, more to come...

Monday, May 20, 2013

DOGS ... Nine, Ten, Eleven....

After the 2 plates that I made for "Art That Feeds" I wanted to paint the little French Bulldog one more time and also two small commissioned pieces 
 
 
 
The French Bulldog
12" x 12"
Acrylics and Permanent Marker on Canvas
 

 
Pom Pop (Commission)
10" x 10"
Acrylics and Permanent Marker on Canvas
 
 
The Boston Terrier
12" x 12"
Acrylics and Permanent Marker on Canvas
 
 
And now I will start another commissioned piece which will be a Cairn Terrier named Joda.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Dogs on plates

I have just finished two plates for "Art that Feeds". This is a wonderful initiative by "Touching Miami with Love" who will use the sale of the plates to feed children in an area in Miami called Overtown. 

I have chosen to paint two little puppies (one on each plate) in the blue colours that remind me of Delfts Blue, with the lines that connect us.We all have memories of pets that are special to us. Even some that were not our own. The lines in my dog paintings and on these plates represent those connections and memories.

On May the 5th there will be a special afternoon filled with art, music and hopefully the puppies will be sold.

"Fox Terrier"
Acrylics and Permanent marker 
on Acrylic Plate


"French Bulldog"
Acrylics and Permanent marker 
on Acrylic Plate

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

DOGS.... Eight


"Ready!!" 
24" x 24"
Acrylics and Permanent Marker (Orange)
on Canvas

Here is Dog number 8 from the "DOGS" series. I aimed to capture the readiness of this little Fox Terrier. 
Young or old, this breed is ready for anything... full of life and spirit.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Disturbed Children

Little VvG (aka Little Vincent van Gogh)
3.5" x 5" on wood floor sample
Acrylics, Ink, Color pencil and Epoxy Resin Coating


 Since several weeks I have been participating in "Miami Free Art Fridays" (click here to see more on Facebook). Basically artists are giving away (yes for real) samples of their art on Friday. They leave clues on Facebook where they have left the piece(s). All the lucky finder has to do is find it, take a picture of themselves with the piece and put that on Facebook. 

It is great fun for both the artists as the "collector" and I know it because I also found work and now am the proud owner of one of Derek Wilson's pieces.

Two weeks ago I put Little VvG out in the streets of Downtown Miami but my clues were too easy for some and it was found in minutes...
But then people contacted me on Facebook and I received 2 commissions out of this little sample (one for a larger sized VvG and one for a Dali portrait in this style).

So this week, I will make it harder (but not impossible) for people to find my latest contribution: "Little Pretty, Pretty Flower" 

Little Pretty, Pretty Flower
3.5" x 5" on wood floor sample
Acrylics, Ink, Color pencil and Epoxy Resin Coating
  

And then I also finished my "Grumpy Lisa" and this little girl is for sale.

Grumpy Lisa
6" x 8"
on Italian Gesso BoardAcrylics, Ink, Color Pencil
 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

ITTY BITTY KITTY SHOW

Last night ( February 18, 2013) was the official opening of the online cat-related art show ITTY BITTY KITTY SHOW, featuring more than 50 works by 23 painters, illustrators, photographers and sculptors.

Itty Bitty Kitty Show curators Lil Red Buttons and PBJ
This show is put together by 2 Feline curators aka Lil Red Buttons and PBJ. They were assisted by Colleen Dougher who is the author of Arterpillar: a blog about South Florida art and the people who create it.

Click HERE and enjoy the show...

Friday, December 21, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Inspired by RED


A few weeks ago I received a phone call with the question "You do have some pieces in red, don't you?" I looked around my work space... while pretty much being covered in red paint as I just had finished my piece with the Dachshund. 

Long story short, after some pictures back and forth, and pieces in other shows, I decided to create a new piece - inspired by Red - for this exposition and 2 days ago I finished a cat close-up on 36" x 36" (90 x 90 cm). And today I took it over to the Gallery together with other pieces in red.


This Saturday the openings reception will take place at Mano Fine Art Project Space in the heart of Bird Road Art District in Miami.