My Next Public Portrait Project

Leaving on a jet plane to start painting a new town with a new newspaper...excited. A week of sitters booked back to back. Face of Ventura with The Ventura Breeze Newspaper, Face of Malibu with The Malibu Times, The next Face of Of? Top secret but stay tuned - all will be revealed.

I'm In The Museum!

Super excited to announce my Face of Ventura project, a collection of 58 portrait sketches painted from life, is a current exhibit at the Museum of Ventura County until May 18th.

http://venturamuseum.org/current-exhibitions

I will be doing an Artist Talk Saturday April 26th at 1p.m. Come join me at the Museum?

Thanks to the Museum of Ventura County, which now owns the collection, all of the sitters, co-creator Sheldon Brown publisher of The Ventura Breeze, which featured the sketches and sitters' life stories over a two year period, Lyn Fairly of The  Lyn Fairly and Friends Radio Show, who interviewed each sitter, and Bonnie Weigel, CEO of FOOD Share for sponsoring the collection's first showing.

http://www.foodshare.com

I couldn't have done it without you.

Museum of Ventura County, now home for my FACES!

The Face of Ventura
By Johanna Spinks
Permanent Collection, the Museum of Ventura County.

I am thrilled to be able to announce today the Museum of Ventura County is now to be the permanent home to my "Face of Ventura"art project - 58 portraits of 58 extraordinary folk living and working in the wonderful town of Ventura, CA, USA.

All portraits were done in a single life sitting, no photos used, over a two year period. Each sitter's sketch and life story appeared in each edition of The Ventura Breeze thanks to publisher Sheldon Brown. Each sitter also then appeared on the Lyn Fairly and Friends Radio Show.

Thanks to EVERYONE  in the town of Ventura who made this art project so special.  Check out the You Tube from the show reception.



http://youtu.be/kNh7I9hxhoQ

To read about each of the 58 sitters' unique life story please visit The Face of Ventura website:
http://www.thefaceofventura.com

The Face of Malibu By Johanna Spinks

Mr. John Paola
The Face of Malibu, featured in The Malibu Times
Two hour life sitting.

Hi all.

Feels like I am now 'off and running' as my third sitter for The Face of Malibu portrait series, the wonderful John Paola, appears in The Malibu Times this week with his life story. What a great guy.

http://www.malibutimes.com/malibu_life/article_ffd7c3ac-4a20-11e2-a463-0019bb2963f4.html


The Face of Malibu follows my Face of Ventura series which is still appearing in The Ventura Breeze thanks to the wonderful publisher Sheldon Brown, now a dear friend of mine. I am thrilled to announce that those 58 portraits have now found a final home. Stay tuned...

All portraits are painted in a single life sitting of around two hours.

It is a joy.

What is your joy?

Go seize the art day.

Johanna

The Face of Malibu By Johanna Spinks

It's official. The Face of Malibu is launched, to be featured in The Malibu Times newpaper. My first sitter was published this week,  the delightful former Malibu mayor Laura Rosenthal. Read her life story by clicking on the link below.

I am excited to see where this new project goes, hot off the heels of my Face of Ventura project published each week in The Ventura Breeze. 57 sitters were painted from life in a single two hour sitting. No photos were used ever. However I might allow myself a photo or two this time.


Stay tuned...

Ms. Laura Rosenthal, former Mayor of Malibu and my first Face of Malibu sitter.

Laura sits for me in a single two hour sitting for the portrait sketch.

http://www.malibutimes.com/malibu_life/article_b6d19c22-1489-11e2-816c-0019bb2963f4.html

http://www.thefaceofventura.com/

57 Portraits By Johanna Spinks Unveiled....

The Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks is Unveiled At Ventura County Museum

Spinks with FOOD Share CEO Bonnie Weigel. FOOD Share partnered with Spinks on the event.

The portrait artist Alice Neel, who gained fame only late in life,  once said reflecting on her lifetime of quietly painting portraits “ I paint my time using the people as evidence.”

 

I have thought of this quote many times during my almost two year art project. I know I have painted my time. Through thick and thin.  I know I have painted 57 most generous people from all walks of life in Ventura -the people as evidence on This Face of Ventura Wall today.

 

I was not alone in this journey.

 

Each of the 57 sitters shared so generously with me and touched me deeply.  Each one holds a special place in my heart. Thank you.

 

There was a co-creator Sheldon Brown, publisher of the Ventura Breeze, who brought the personal stories of each sitter to life in each edition of his well-loved publication through the written word. The project would have been faceless without The Breeze and Sheldon’s considerable input, time and dedication. Thank  you to him and his wife Diane.

 

There was Bonnie Weigel, CEO and president of FOOD Share , a woman I really admire, and a FACE sitter, who mentored me through the project at times when I needed it most. And then got this show on the road here today through FOOD Share’s Art Share Program to raise hunger awareness through art partnerships.  I would not be standing in this room today without Bonnie. Thank you.

 

There was Lyn Fairly of the Lyn Fairly And Friends Radio Show who interviewed each face in her unique way adding to the depth of the project. Thank you.

 

There was Mark Hartley who allowed each sitter's sketch and their story to be displayed in his old bank building window on Main Street twice a month adding an extra element. Thank you.

 

There was the Ventura Executive Suites who hosted the halfway point of the project with a great show and displayed those halfway portraits for six months, also hosting some of the life sittings there. Thank you

 

There was my family, Paddy, Jessie and Rosie who have heard all about me painting my time using the people evidence, probably far more than they would ever have wished. Thank you.

 

Lastly, I have dedicated this show to my mentor Mr. Everett Raymond Kinstler, painter of seven American presidents and a virtual who’s who of America for over 60 years. He has indeed reflected a  lifetime of painting very famous people as evidence in a technically grand but most honest manner.

 

Ray Kinstler and his teachings, his confidence in me, his direction and love for people and the life painting skill set,  are in each and every one of these sketches you see today.

 

Lastly, the powerful exchange and unique connection between the portrait artist and sitter, sharing their times,  each other as evidence,  remains unchanged over the centuries.  The Face of Ventura is living proof. Thank you deeply.

Thanks to KADY TV for covering this event with this video of speeches. Thanks to OurVentura.Com for doing the same, video to come.

Thanks to Mark Tovar for this video of show images. Thanks to Ventura County Star for this piece. Photos David Yamamoto.

 

 

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My Show Hits The Ojai Valley News

Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks

Poster for sale at show

Thanks to the Ojai Valley News for covering my upcoming show, "The Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks", August 26th, at the Matha K. Smith Pavilion, The Ventura County Museum.

Thanks also to FOOD Share for partnering with me on this event.

This 18 x 24 poster is available for purchase at event, a portion going to FOOD Share: email me to order johanna@johannaspinks.com. $25

visit The Face of Ventura website: www.the faceofventura.com

FOOD Share feeds 74,000 hungry mouths each month in Ventura County.