{"id":993,"date":"2010-09-30T08:45:19","date_gmt":"2010-09-30T15:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/?p=993"},"modified":"2010-09-30T08:45:19","modified_gmt":"2010-09-30T15:45:19","slug":"going-to-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/2010\/09\/30\/going-to-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Going to South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

In mid-October we’re going to Africa, South Africa, Cape Town South Africa. We’re told it’s the farthest you can fly from Southern California. I suppose we should be practicing sitting for 24 hours straight. We’re going for a week-long event called The Lausanne Congress<\/em>, along with 5000 others, invited from around the world. They’ll be sitting; I’ll be standing . . . on the periphery, painting some 12 standing portraits of people I’ll meet there. But more about that later, like after we get back. Meantime, here are some pieces recently finished that will be going with us.<\/p>\n

\"Blue-Scarf-650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Blue Scarf, oil, 9×12<\/a><\/h6>\n

In preparation for it all, I’ve been painting internationals again. I call them internationals<\/em> because they’re “not from here.” To them we’re the internationals. Here’s one painted from a photo from one of my earlier African trips. Nigeria, I think, or was it Kenya, or Sudan? Personally, I love the face, and the way the blue scarf whisps into the background air, like paint in movement.<\/p>\n

\"Red-Scarf-650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Red Scarf, oil, 9×12<\/a><\/h6>\n

Then there’s the richness of the truly dark face, which can go altogether white again when struck with the bright sun. These two, “Blue Scarf” and “Red Scarf,” are small pieces, unlike those to follow. I mention it because, in this context, scale is hard to determine. (See Studio picture at bottom.)<\/p>\n

\"Miao-Moment-650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Miao Moment, oil, 25.5×21<\/a><\/h6>\n

Though we’re going to Africa, it’s not just Africans I’ve been painting. This one, Miao Moment,<\/em> is from the Guiyang Miao (pronounced like the cat speaks), one of the many ethnic groups of China’s hinterland. She looks like a queen, no? So it is with so many of these. Economically they’re dirt poor, but the way they dress can make us look like we’re the financially bereft.<\/p>\n

\"Mongolian-Braids-650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mongolian Braids, oil, 21×28<\/a><\/h6>\n

Some years ago I read the story of Genghis Khan, then this year I saw the movie. Both were great. This woman played the part of his wife, Borte. Who knows if the real Borte was so beautiful. Maybe Genghis would have stayed home.\u00a0 And world history would be different.<\/p>\n

\"Eyes-of-Green-650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Eyes of Green, oil, 26.5×20<\/a><\/h6>\n

Onto India. I don’t know if any have green eyes in that country or not. In fact, I don’t know what race has green eyes. (Okay, just checked Google: “Afghan, Brazilian, Iranian, Irish and Italian.”) But this one has them because they go so well with the sari . . . rather than the other way around.<\/p>\n

\"Eyes-of-Green-detail-1300\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Eyes of Green, detail.<\/h6>\n

I don’t often put so much detail into the eyes, but some paintings call for more than others and this was one. Click on it for a larger view.<\/p>\n

\"Guatemalan-Regal-650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Guatemalan Regal, oil, 28×21.5<\/a><\/h6>\n

On to Guatemala, where we lived for a couple of years back in the 70’s. There all the tribes are known by their distinctive garb. But for all that, I can’t place this one (from a photo I came across). I’m thinking Quiche of Santa Catarina, Ixtahuacan<\/em>.\u00a0 Somebody help me out. In any case, she’s another queen.<\/p>\n

\"Guatemalan-Regal-face-1300\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Guatemalan Regal, detail. Click for larger view.<\/h6>\n

Of course, it’s not just the raiment that provides the elegance, but the face itself, the beauty of which there’s no end of in every race around the earth. I’m not saying I did this one so much justice, the style calling for a certain informality of stroke. Then again, it can be a rugged life out there, and in time, it all shows on the face.<\/p>\n

\"African-Balance-650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

African Balance, oil, 26×21<\/a><\/h6>\n

Speaking of brush strokes, just because they’re “informal” doesn’t mean they aren’t intended. I painted this youth from Central Africa with a brush two inches wide. Only toward the end did I get out a small one\u00a0 (and that, not very small). It gives a certain look, doing it that way, not to mention the paint laying down about an eighth of an inch thick. It provides a vitality that just can’t be found in any photograph.<\/p>\n

\"African-Balance-face-detail-1300\"<\/a><\/p>\n

African Balance, detail. Click for larger view.<\/h6>\n

Just to illustrate, here’s a detail. Wild splashes of color in some places, a little more “controlled” in others. All intended, in either case.\u00a0 Part design<\/em>, part discovery<\/em>, that’s the creative process,<\/p>\n

\"Waiting-for-Heaven-650\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Waiting for Heaven, oil, 32.5×32.5<\/a><\/h6>\n

I called this one “Waiting for Heaven” because someone told me they thought that symbol on the wall between the figures is that of “heaven.” It’s a painting of friendship somewhere in China’s more remote\u2013and colder\u2013parts.<\/p>\n

\"Waiting-for-Heaven-rt-nck-1300\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Waiting for Heaven, detail. Click for larger view.<\/h6>\n

Once again, the brush work itself is worth calling attention to, and the color, the energy of application, the laying it and leaving it. It’s all part of what makes a painting.\u00a0 Sometimes it’s the very paint itself that’s the beauty, the way it mixes on the canvas. One friend of mine, an abstract painter, is always coming up to my paintings and cropping a small section with her hands, not even (or ever) the center of interest, and saying, “There’s a painting!\u00a0 Beautiful!”<\/p>\n

\"Waiting-Detail-1300\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Waiting for Heaven, detail. Click for larger view.<\/h6>\n

A case in point is this small section pulled out of the lower garment area of “Waiting,” (above, our left).\u00a0 Of course different light will reveal different things, but it’s rather fun to find things that have just happened <\/em>in the process of it all. A wonder, really. One among many, on any given day.<\/p>\n

\"Studio-w-Ethnics-1300\"<\/a><\/p>\n

An unusual moment in the studio (a clean pair of clothes). Click for larger view.<\/h6>\n

Finally, a photo of me in the mess. All these and there were painted on unstretched canvas for the sake of easy transport to South Africa (and possibly back again).\u00a0 Once dry, they roll well in a mailing tube. Then, once purchased, they’re easily stretched during the framing process. Meantime, they all provide a richness of variety\u2013the nations of the world represented together on one wall, or soon, in Cape Town, South Africa.<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

Ongoing and Upcoming Events<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

.<\/p>\n

Show at the House<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

November 20-21, <\/strong>Mark your calendars<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lecture: How to Start a Painting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

November 19, 2010, details next issue
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Art Fair, Del Mar Fairgrounds<\/strong><\/h2>\n

November 25-27, <\/strong>details next issue<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Loosen Up Workshop <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

December 11-12 in San Clemente, California
\nCall: 949.369.6603<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Laguna Art Walk<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First Thursday evening of each month, 6-9 p.m.
\nAnne at Sandstone Gallery in Laguna’s north end
\nHyatt at Studio 7 in Laguna’s south end<\/strong><\/p>\n

Semi-Private Coaching for Painters<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In Hyatt Moore studio, Mondays in Dana Point
\nCall for your two-hour slot: 949.240.4642<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Printmaking Classes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In Anne Moore studio
\nCall for info: 949.240.4642, or email: anne@hyattmoore.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Take a moment for art. The paintings here are headed for South Africa . . . at least those that aren’t sold beforehand. Until then, they’re available. If interested, click on the pictures themselves. Or just enjoy the international tour with the light commentary. It’s for the art of our lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=993"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1061,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993\/revisions\/1061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyattmoore.com\/egallery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}