Up and Coming Art

Well, I have not posted for a while because there has been SO many things going on. First off, here are some upcoming events to be aware of…

Artist Showcase at NoHo Performing Arts Center

Artist Reception, Saturday, Nov 13, 2010 ~ The November “Artist Showcase” at NoHo Performing Arts Center will feature “Face to Face“, Rich Brimer’s solo art show of figurative and landscape oil paintings in the main gallery along with musicians Jodi King and Jack Diaz, C3 Dancers and Monkey Butler improv. The evening will be hosted by the talented comedian Shaun Roberts.  It’s FREE!!! NoHo Performing Arts Center ~ 11020 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601

SCIART Open Studio Tour and Holiday Market. Join the Artists in Residence on Saturday, December 4^th, 9 am to 5 pm, as we celebrate this festive time of year and welcome the community into our studios. SCIART is very pleased to have the Holiday Market in our new studios location in downtown Old Town Camarillo. Holiday Market events will include demonstrations, refreshments and strolling singers. Artist in Residence (AIRs) Studios 2222 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo, CA 93012

Golden State Treasures ~ A California Art Club Exhibition at the Historic Blinn House

Artists’ Reception: Saturday, December 4, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Includes the opening of “Golden State Treasures” along with the “Magnificent Miniatures” sale

December 4 – April 14, 2010 Featuring biannual exhibitions by Associate Artist members of the California Art Club
Women’s City Club, 160 North Oakland Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Map and Directions to the Women’s City Club

Teaching

I have also been teaching a few art classes. I had a couple of home school students taking a beginning Drawing class. Also, I had a long running series of evening figure-drawing workshops. Also, in Cabrillo Village, Ventura, I have a book making class that has 4th and 5th grade students. I am working with them to write a biography of one of the significant community members, Juan Gomez. Señior Gomez was foundational in helping to develop and maintain Cabrillo Village since the beginning over 25 years ago. In addition to writing his story, each student is creating a block print to be used as an illustration for the part of the biography that they are writing. Its a thrill to see such excitement and accomplishment with the kids as they collaborate on this project together. I will post some photos soon.

New classes have been added to http://blueskyartcenter.org. Feel free to contact me directly if you are interested in individual or group classes.

Painting

In addition to all of this I have been doing a lot of painting. The painting on the left here is a work-in-progress. I still have a lot of things to work out, but you can see the direction I am going with it. It is from my trip to the Channel Islands in September. This is a tide-pool on San Miguel Island in Cuyler Harbor. The painting on the right is the sketch I did on-site.

This trip brought a wealth of subject matter. I am so glad I did the field sketches that I did, but the next time I go back, I will do them with more intention, knowing how useful they can be for working up studio paintings. These sketches along with the photo references allow for some really dynamic work.

“Face of Love” being Exhibited at BIOLA

Yesterday I sent off the four completed diptychs in my “Face of Love” series. The went with John Alderson and his son Bryce to BIOLA University for an exhibit that will last the entire semester. It will be in the foyer of one of the buildings on campus. I will post photos of the display when I get them in. It seems a bit strange to send off my paintings and not be there to hang them. I fully trust John’s judgment, but still odd not to be there.  ;.)

Below is the current stage of the paintings. I have not displayed the “I was Thirsty” paints ever before, and (don’t tell anyone…) there is still a bit of work to be done on it. I want to fuss a bit with the faces still, but I need a break to do some other work, so I shipped them off as is for the time being. Click on an image to view larger.

I was thirsty - You gave me drink" 36" x 72" Oil on canvas

I was sick - You visited me 36" x 72" Oil on canvas

I was sick - You visited me 36" x 72" Oil on canvas

I was naked - You clothed me 36" x 72" Oil on canvas

“Faces” video – Talking about the art

You can watch a video here of some of the things that took place at the Opening of my artshow “Faces” that was at the Cafe on A in Oxnard last fall. I never posted it here on my blog. Thanks for all who came to support me and listen to me talk about these paintings. Now I continue on with the final three paintings in the series “Face of Love“

This series of paintings “Face of Love” is based on Matthew 25: 35, 36…

I was hungry and you gave Me food
I was thirsty and you gave Me drink
I was without shelter and you took Me in
I was naked and you clothed Me
I was sick and you visited Me
I was in prison and you came to Me

Thirsty 8

OK… I am getting closer. I have at least put some effort into ALL of the faces now. I have quite a lot left to do on each to tweak them but I can start to see where this is all going. I plan to finish this week with it because there is a “Board and Friends” art show for the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley that I am in. I am wondering what else to show? Here is the current state of things at the moment….

I have the first layer for her face in finally. I wiped of her mouth about 4 times before I found one to keep. Now to finese it.

Thirsty 7

So, I got a lot more progress done tonight on this painting. I was not ever that satisfied on having the large hand coming in from off screen on the bottom right. I felt it was to “present” and drawing too much attention to itself because of its size and being in the foreground. Its dominance was a distraction. My wife say the painting for the first time last night and told me she thought the same thing. So… I painted a coat of titanium white over it last night and put the first layer of the new limbs and background over it tonight. It can be tedious to work over something that you have spent time putting in place, but overall, I would have never been satisfied with it being there, so alas, it is not. You can see what it LOOKED like here. Below is my progress after tonight’s work.

Here is the details of after painting some of the arms of the last figure back in.