"The Man Himself"

 6 x 8"

oil on panel
sold

What occurs to me when I study Self-Portrait by Rembrandt van Rijn is this is not only an exquisite oil painting but it's the man himself - notably one of the most famous artists of all time.

Rembrandt is known to have drawn, painted and etched many self-portraits during his lifetime and one can gauge his personal events and moods just by the differences in appearance in these portraits.  He painted this self-portrait in 1659 after he had suffered financial failure after many, many years of success.  He lost his mega-mansion and other possessions to pay back his creditors.  He was in a state of defeat, one can imagine.  Yet there is a sense of dignity in his older face and a deliberate portrayal of a learned painter.

From the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.

"Tradition"

8 x 10"

oil on panel
sold

Watching the skillful hands of the Gullah men and women weaving their baskets with sweetgrass and thin strands of palmetto leaves is quite awesome.

A little history - the unique culture called Gullah is a blend of African and European that lives today in Sea Islands along the coast of South Carolina and Georgia.  All around the city of Charleston SC, the Gullahs exhibit a long standing West African tradition of what they call 'sewing' baskets made of dried sweetgrass and thin strands of palmetto leaves - both resources that grow in the low country region.  Their technique is not the usual weaving - rather they bundle dried sweetgrass and coil it into baskets held together by sewing the coils with the strands of palmetto leaves.

It is said these sweetgrass baskets are durable and will last indefinitely if taken care of.  The declines in habitat for sweetgrass are threatened by coastal development and the Historical Society of Charleston has established reserves on nearby Sullivan's Island - recognizing the culture and history of the Gullah communities.

From a sunny sidewalk in Charleston, South Carolina.

Please click here for a larger view.

"200 Faces, No. 150"

5 x 7"

oil on panel

I stretched a little further today with this new addition to my ongoing series BUST-ED.

Please click here to the auction page.  Auction ends April 1st, 9 pm ET.

"200 Faces, No. 149"

4 x 4"

oil on panel

A little stretching and exercising needed - adding to my ongoing series BUST-ED.

Please click here to the auction page.  Auction ends March 31st, 9 pm ET.

"Big Red"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

There comes a day when you want to paint a cow.

From a farm in southern Georgia.

"Hammered"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

From the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC - a woman stands in front of the hammered-bronze sculpture Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece by Henry Moore.

"Weavin'"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Back from Charleston and back to painting.  Yay.

More about the opening on the next post...

A woman weaving beautiful baskets from sawgrass in Charleston.

"Me Time" Show

Okay.

I'm going to plug the show one more time before the opening Friday night at Robert Lange Studios in Charleston SC.

All were delivered and hung today.  Those legs are not mine.

And here are the paintings in the show....

Aromatherapy

6-3/4 x 16" 
sold

Moms

12 x 12"
sold

Good Weed

9 x 12"

sold 

Folksy

9 x 12"

sold

Wayne's World

20 x 11"
sold

A World of Her Own

8 x 10"

sold

Laze Fare

9 x 12"
sold

Front Seats

9 x 14"
sold

Women of Color

9 x 12"

sold

In the California Sun

9 x 12"
sold

Two For One

7-3/4 x 16"

sold

World Domination

12 x 14"
sold

I See a Pattern Here

12 x 12"
sold

It's Not Always Black and White

16 x 16"

sold

Room Mates

10 x 10"

sold

For larger views on each painting, go to the gallery's page and click on the image.

Hope to see you on Friday night ~   Karin J.