Advice From Bowie...

It's taken me awhile to get this one to the finish gate. I am glad I stuck with it. Sometimes our brain just gets in the way. Right?

I wasn't quite sure if I would continue into a second year of painting large format portraits, mostly form life. But the path has become clear. It is obvious now that there is no turning back.  I am on a journey with them and good things are happening, slowly but surely.

As David Bowie said once, as an artist  if your feet aren't dangling off the edge of the diving board in fear, creatively, then you are not really creating. You are missing the point by staying in a zone that is familiar and safe. He of all people knew this changing his look and vision  so many times although there was always a consistent revisit to some older "Major Tom" themes until the day he died.

 I have been sitting on the edge of that diving board since picking up the palette knife in my portrait work about four years ago but especially last year with 16 large portraits painted mostly in two life sittings of people I met who interested me and some favorite models. It spun my head around.

Here's to more spinnng. Onward.

Johanna

Through The Eyes of a Child
by Johanna Spinks
36 x 36"
Via Palette Knife.

Close-up
Image copyrighted

Thru The Eyes of A Child

Close-up
Work in Progress
of Beautiful Grace
36 x 36"
Via Palette Knife
By Johanna Spinks

It's A Wrap - No Bacon.

It's a wrap - almost! My three month solo portrait show "The Face of Malibu" has its' last week at City Hall. That sure went fast.

Thank you to Dave Teel Photography for taking this pic today to mark the moment.  teelphoto.com The opening reception was so fantastically busy it was hard for me to get near the wall. Nice problem to have!

Special "Thank Yous" to the Malibu community, the sitters pictured here who sat for a single two hour sitting to be painted, The Malibu Times publishers Arnold and Karen York, that featured the sketch and life story each month for five years, managing editor Emily Sawick, main writer Homaira Shifa, The City of Malibu's Cultural Arts Commission who sponsored the show, and curator Alan Roderick-Jones.

I couldn't have done it without you and it has been a wonderful experience. The journey continues.

The Face of Malibu By Johanna Spinks
Photo: Dave Teel Photography

CHANEL-ing Patience, Holiday Returns

CHANEL-ing Patience, Holiday Returns
NOW SOLD
8 x 10"
From my sketchbook.
www.johannaspinks.com


I saw this lady decked in Chanel from head to toe, even her dog, doing Holiday returns. She had to be sketched.