What is that silent noise????

The silence on my blog must have been deafening, but I just couldn't find the time nor the peace inside me to blog. I was painting!!

The summer was filled with wonderful projects: mural, drawings, paintings and live painting.

First I was invited to participate in the beautification of Carol City School in Miami Garden aka "Art in the Gardens". This school has fought to make it a safe place for their students in a challenging environment. Part of this project was to bring uplifting art to the students via their walls. 

"Little Winner"

This was my contribution to the project: a reminder that they all have talents, some more obvious than others, but nevertheless. I painted it in the colors of the school.. so my usual red was replaced with a bright orange. And I like it.

I also got the wonderful news that one of my pieces was selected for the Seventh All-Media Juried Biennial at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood (FL). A huge honor as only some 80+ are selected from over a 1000 entries. 

"Dona Isabel and her Control" in good company at the Biennial.

In the mean time I was also working on 2 commissions:
A little Frida and a piece based on the "Girl interrupted at her music" by Vermeer.

"Little Frida" (2015)
9" x 12"
Acrylics on boxed wood

"Planning a Gourmet" (2015)
30" x 30"
Acrylics on canvas

And this was not  all... but I know that breaking the silence with too much noise is never a good idea... so I will keep the other projects for the next blog... See you soon.

And let the scamming begin...

Credit Jantoo.com

It is that time of the year again... the prelude to Art Basel Miami. Even though the actual shows start in December... the scouting, booking and - in some cases - scamming the artists has begun again. Last year was the wonderful scam of 100 bags with 100 cards to be handed out to a select group of collectors and galleries... for a mere $ 275.00 per artist.

This years' try and - believe me - looks legit, until you take a closer look. And that people is really what it is all about... take a good look!!!

I have removed the name of the show but not the contents of their email(s) and made my observations in blue between their lines.
Our Marketing Plan for the Art XXXX Basel, 2015 Event

An invitation to participate in an art show during Art Basel Week in Miami, Florida· Thirty Day Event – Art XXXX Basel, 2015· December 1st – December 31st , 2015
(that is nice.. a whole month... not a soul in sight after Art Basel has ended because the people are tired after 5 days of BASELTON) 

· Location – Wynwood Arts District – Best arts district in Miami
· 565 NW 27th Street, Miami, Florida
(Location, location, location...and this location is not prime Wynwood... you will not get the full blast of Wynwood, unless you are that avant-garde gallery worth roaming the streets for) 
· To be held during Art Basel Week – 200,000 art lovers, collectors and art resources descend on Miami for the art shows and fairs· Opening Vernissage – December 5th, 2015 – coinciding with the openings of the other art fairs – 3000 people expected
(Now... did they say that 200,000 art lovers are crowding the streets of Wynwood... NO, it is the whole of Miami... and they expect 3000 people to come to the vernissage... 3000 expected, doesn't mean at all that they will attend)  
· Thirty day Events – Performance art, music, lectures will be held throughout the show· Promotion – Email Marketing, Social Media, Banners, Flyers, Handouts at the larger events
(First ones are email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter... and they will ask you to do the same. Banner is for the front of the building, and handouts at the larger events means that they haven't done their marketing.. but oh well do not worry, we will hand out a flyer at a larger event during Art Basel and who knows... ) 
· Miami Networking Professional – Hired to invite and attract collectors and art enthusiasts
(Get a popular girl to get friends over for free drinks... and the artists paid for it) 
· Event Space Next Door - Show will coincide with a number of fashion and media events held next door
(If anything, we might be able to lure in a lost soul from next door)

Our goal is the exposure of your work and with a little bit of help from you, your friends and collectors we can make Art XXXX Basel, 2015 a wonderful beginning to the art season in Miami.
(We have no real connections, so pay for the wall and bring your friends, in case our popular girl aka Networking professional cannot persuade her friends to come and have a drink... this way we make the 3000 people attending reality.)

The cost to show is $375 for a wall space 10' High X 3' Wide or 5' High X 6' Wide. Larger spaces are available!
(Oh this is good! Either you get a wall space for 1 painting of maximum 30" wide, but of course you could hang multiple paintings above each other... because you are curating your own wall. Or you can entertain either the little people (under 5') of the giants (over 5'), so you need two spaces above each other to hang on eye sight of your average person. And that is not including your 25% commission if you are lucky to sell something. 
Of course they want you to get larger spaces more money for them without doing anything) 


Now... we all want to show at Art Basel.. we might sell.. we might connect with that gallery we are dying to show in, we might even be invited to show in a different city... but these vanity places are not the places where the real buyers, scouters and galleries will go to.
There is no curating... anyone who pays, hangs aka your masterpiece could hang next to someones 8 y/o absolutely talentless nephew.
Avoid these vanity places because they don't want to show you, nor promote you... they are there to fill their own pockets with your money.

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 the 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.

WALL BRAWL March 2015

I was invited to participate at the Wall Brawl Miami to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida. For those of you who do not know what a Wall Brawl is: a contest between artists to create a piece of art within a very limited time frame of a few hours.
 
I had never done a Wall Brawl before and I was a little worried: 3 hours to paint a piece of 24" x 48"... I never done that.. well since my days at the Art Academy (little time to do homework so it was mandatory to be extremely fast). So needless to say I was nervous about it, not only because of the time frame but also because I was going to be painting next to (street) artists whose work I truly like.

photo credit: Alessandro Abate

So there I was... nervous, thrilled and did I say nervous at the same time. I set my things up and started painting like a mad woman...
And the 3 hours passed by like it was nothing and 3 hours of pure joy for me.. Not only had I fun painting the piece, I had some pretty nice encounters with the audience and it was a pleasure to see the other artists work develop during the event. 

The pieces were in a silent auction and people could bid on it all through the night and also vote for their favorite piece.
The bidding closed the moment the artists had to put down their spray cans/brushes... and all the pieces sold!!!

Photo credit: Mitchell Zachs

Including this little girl... and then The Hitman (my partner in all my crimes) came running to me and told me that they were calling my name... I won the Wall Brawl!!!

photo credit: Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida

 
My first Wall Brawl and I won my first trophy ever... and we all sold our pieces, making a sweet amount for the Ronald McDonald House charities!! 

ART BASEL has begun....

Yesterday it actually started... the first events.. the first parties.. the first openings and expositions, and it will continue full blown for a week.

And I.. am showing in three shows:
A Little Brooklyn Water Tower at Elemental

Photo credit: Carol Gregoire

At Spectrum (one of the Satellite Shows in Miami - Midtown) with Life is Art :
2 collaboration pieces and my very own "Girl with the Robot Dog".

Now that last piece also made it into the Around Town Magazine under their Must See Art for Art Basel and this is what the curator Sebastian Laboureau has to say about it:

I am so happy with this, you have no idea.. little by little my hard work pays off.

At Spectrum I will also paint life on Thursday December 4... I have an idea what I will do.. but still a giant collaboration piece with 5 other artists.. it will be a challenge and fun!


Finally I am also showing 2 pieces at Midpoint in the show "North of Modern" curated by Joshua Kingston.
Here is one of them: My take on one of Goya's masterpieces but now with her own control

Dona Isabel and her Control

Yes, this year Art Basel started really well...

For all my fellow artists: street, cross-overs, outsiders, gallery-artists, etc. Have a great Baselton!!

Little Super Heroes

I have been working hard and I am pretty pleased with the result. 

First good news: I did 3 collaborations (each piece with another artist) and 2 have been chosen to be shown at Spectrum with "Art is Life" during Art Basel.... do I will not show you these yet.. come to Miami in December. Also the Girl with the Robot Dog was selected, so imagine the enormous smile on my face when I heard this.

After finishing the above collaboration, I did a collaboration with a local artist called Registered Artist for his solo show "With a little help of my friends". All the pieces in the show are - yes you guessed it - collaborations between him and another artist. We made a piece titled "Little Big Batman".

Little Big Batman
20" x 20"
Mixed Media

Then I was invited to participate in a pop-up show (yes, the one you set-up, show and break-down in one day) in Downtown Miami and liking my little batman as much as I did, I decided to make two more super heroes.

Little Captain America
14" x 18"
Acrylics on Boxed Birch Wood

Little Super Girl
18" x 14"
Acrylics on Boxed Birch Wood

Finally I also painted a little piece for that same pop-up which was sold within hours after hanging... and let me tell you it is a great feeling to see someone look at your work and falling in love with it.

The Little Girl with the Curly Hair
9" x 12"
Acrylics on 300 Lbs Cold Pressed Water Color Paper

And I a back in the studio.. working on new pieces... perhaps more super heroes... soon you will know.

The Art of Getting Money

"Be one of the first 100 artists to connect with Basel Art Collectors during opening night!"

That was the first thing I saw in a little announcement on Facebook this week for Art Basel and it tickled my curiosity, so I read on...

It only takes a moment to make an impact,that can change your life. Be one of the first 100 to have an exclusive opportunity to reach VIP Collectors during the opening night of Art Basel Week. Each premium promotional package will be given to hand selected collectors and galleries with all artist information and a sample of their work.   Let us help you stand out from the rest of crowd with our elegant and eye catching designs. We will make sure your information gets into the right hands.

Not too shabby, lets read on...

 

Give us your best shot and we'll take care of the rest.
Premium Promotional package includes:
100 double sided color and uv gloss coating
Sponsored promotional tote
VIP presence during fair opening
                                                   $285.00

To reserve your place as the first 100, Artists please have ready the following information:
- 3 high resolution images of your best work ( include size,medium and title)
- artists contact information ( website, email, phone#, social media )

Sounds great! Now let me summarize this exceptional deal for you as far as I understand it:
You pay $ 285.00 together with 99 other artists = $ 28,500.00
100 sponsored (sponsored by whom... let me think.. oh yes 100 artists) promotional totes will be prepared each with 100 double sided color and uv gloss coated card with 3 photo's + info (1 per artist).

Ever carried a tote bag filled with a 100 post cards... ever took a look inside and read all the cards?

I thought so.

Let's say the person behind this offer is of good will and spends around $ 7,000.00 on the whole package, puts it all together and makes it look really eye-catching (after all he is of good will). What to do with the rest of the earnings? 

Maybe the person will pay for a stand at one of the bigger shows at during Art Basel. Yes, the 100 artists just sponsored a stand... they are mentioned of course, just take a look in the promotional tote. 

Any of the 100 sponsors who want to their work in the stand, they can always email them for the other exhibition opportunities (with a price tag) during Art Basel Week and put "Fair Opportunities" in the subject line.

I am almost sure they mean art fair and not "honest, upright, honorable, trustworthy". 

To me it seems that this whole offer has very little to do with art made by artists but everything to do with "The Art of Getting Money".... from the artists again.

 

I will normally not vent about these offers, but I know how hard it is to get into a proper stand during Art Basel if you are not represented by a gallery. Many of the hardworking serious artists will try to find other opportunities to be part of this important art week and pay big bucks just to be shown and hopefully interest a buyer, scout and / or gallery. 

Because it should be about ART.

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.

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.

Bad things that happen and Good things that happen too!

Sometimes I get that people think that artists party a lot and live the life of a 19th Century Bohemian in Paris... but many of us don't. We go to the studio every day and work. If you are lucky to be in a building with several studios - like I am - you share what you do with other artists... we have coffee together... and complain about all the bad things that happen and share all the good things as well. And then right back to your own studio and back to work!

Sounds pretty much like life in an office, doesn't it? In some ways it is but with one huge difference:
I love what I am doing... it makes me get up in the morning.. It feels great to see my creation come to life on canvas or wood. It makes me want to do more... and again and again... And every day is different!

Then there are days that nothing works... the days any artist should stay away as far he / she could from the studio. I had such a day last weekend. Did I listen to my gut feeling? Of course not. I was working on a commission and I really wanted to finish it. 

After a few hours of working I looked at it and to my horror I had overworked it... it looked awful (and that hurts me to say so). I freaked out, tried to correct it which made it look even more awful, and called my better half at home. He calmly listened to my rants and then asked "Do you want me to sand it down?" 
This commission is on a wooden panel and sometimes I ask him to sand it down if I am not satisfied with the result.... On canvas it is a little hard to sand it down but on wood.. I have him to delete my mishaps. And that is what he does and I start over again... doing what I love!

And good things happen too of course... like this morning when I opened my email and realize that somebody wrote an article and mentioned me. That makes me feel so amazing!

Here is the article: http://www.miamifashionspotlight.net/2014/01/the-real-life-of-viviana-g-mccormick.html
and the Examiner.com took it and made it part of their online publication. 

And I am back to work... getting ready for the February Art Walk or as I call it "The LOVE Edition" with some special LOVE-M's like the little fellow below:

Little M's to start the New Year with a smile...

Here are some of the latest M's which are currently for sale in my studio... 

They are all part of the series "Proprietary Innocence and to see all the pieces from that series, click on the following link

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.144431802409924.1073741831.139503036236134&type=3 

Little M 2

6"x6" 

Acrylics on Birch Wood

 

Little M 3

6"x6" 

Acrylics on Birch Wood

Little M 4

6"x6" 

Acrylics on Birch Wood

 

Little M 5

6"x8" 

Acrylics on Italian Poplar Wood

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...