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I seldom get political, but it's hard to ignore the current unrest in our country. It's most poignant when I see my kids' reactions to the news as we listen to NPR on the drive to school. They ask questions for which I have no good answers. The painting above reflects my unease. My sister pointed out that in this painting I am literally projecting my fears onto my children -- hilarious and true.
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One of the benefits being an artist with young children is that you have a ready source of free, if sometimes reluctant, modeling talent. I persuaded my son to help me out with some tests for a new series concept. He doesn't usually look this glum, he was just bored with posing.
I've always been fascinated by pattern and I decided to try integrating pattern with form by projecting patterns onto a figure. I'm still trying to sort out what type of brushwork looks best and what to do with the shadow.
Tiger Dreams, oil on board, 24x18"
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I've started attending a weekly open studio session with four of my favorite local figurative painters: Jennifer Balkan, Felice House, Karen Offutt and Johnnie Sielbeck.
Jennifer was kind enough to volunteer her studio and we have a different model each week. Not only is it helpful to work from life to hone my painting skills, but it's inspiring to be around all of that estrogen-rich art talent.
Figure Study, oil on board, 12x9"
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News & Notes
- In preparation for the upcoming West Austin Studio Tour in May, I placed an order for some new merchandise featuring my landscape paintings. I used the same place in Brooklyn that made my messenger bags in 2015. The package arrived yesterday and it was like Christmas morning -- gorgeous handbags, scarves and journals. I'll post pictures and more info in the next newsletter, in case any of you want to snap some up before they're gone.
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Book Corner
One of my guilty pleasures is listening to audiobooks while I paint. This is what I've been listening to lately:
- Wicked by Gregory Maguire ***
- Commonwealth by Ann Patchett ***
- The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin ****
- Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth ****
- Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart ***
- Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett ***
- The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker ****
- The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen ****
- The Strays by Emily Bitto ***
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Denise M. Fulton lives & works in Austin, TX.
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