Thursday, April 2, 2009

BACK FROM SPAIN AND INSPIRED!!!


We returned on Monday with a 27 hour marathon and 3 separate plane rides but happy to be home. Today I feel somewhat normal and ready to get back to art. I tried to download my 1589 photos but the computer refused!!! I will have to take the card and have discs made and then work from there. In the meantime I scanned this drawing so I could get something from the trip onto the blog. This was done sitting in front of the Prado Museum. It is a beautiful statue of Velasquez. I wasn't really close and my eyesight is poor but I think I captured the essence of the object. I mostly did ink drawings on the trip with a few small watercolor paintings. On my next trip I am going to just take drawing materials. I can do a nice drawing in less than an hour and it makes a nice resting period between all the walking. I always take a photo of what I am drawing for future reference. Often, my husband takes a photo of me holding up the drawing in front of the scene I just drew. We went to the three major museums in Madrid. At the Prado we saw the Velasquez painting of the Infanta called "Las Meninas". There was an English Speaking Docent in the room explaining the painting (we listened in!) It is a huge canvas. Later, in Barcelona, at the Picasso Museum, we saw over 20 variations on this painting that Picasso did (I guess he had the idea of a series first) and then at a contemporary exhibit at the Caixa Forum of a painter from Bosnia, Mersad Berber, there were more variations on this Infanta painting. There must be thousands more versions by various artists around the world. It was wonderful having just seen the original and then all the additional interpretations. I was totally enthralled with Berber. He does mixed media with exciting results. I studied some of the paintings and recorded what I thought was his process and sequencing. I hope to try out my theory sometime soon. He combines masterful portraiture and drawing with all kinds of other abstract forms and media. I didn't relate to a great deal of his subject matter but loved his mastery and inventiveness.

I am thinking I will spend the coming year developing paintings from the images I captured on this trip. The wheels are turning. When I awake at 4 in the morning I start envisioning these paintings in my head. I have the first one all planned out. Better get those photos out of the camera!

11 comments:

Meera Rao said...

Sounds wonderful! glad to have you back blogging :) - Can't wait to see the paintings.

Anonymous said...

Welcome home, we miss your post.

Sandy Maudlin said...

Missed you a bunch and glad you're back safe and sound. WHat a wonderful adventure you must have had. I'm drooling! Looking forward to seeing what happens with your fabulous art this next year:-D

Chris Beck said...

Welcome back, Myrna! Looking forward to an interesting year here!!

jane ferguson said...

Welcome back Myrna ,I missed you Great drawings

Yorky said...

If you have trouble with your memory card, try PhotorecoveryLE from www.lc-tech.com a free recovery program.

I recovered 350 deleted holiday photos on a neighbour's memory card with it.

Peggy Stermer-Cox said...

Welcome back and its great to hear about your trip! I like the pen drawing, it's expressive.
In the 90s we went to the Prado and the Picasso museum too! I'd like to see them again. You remind me of how interesting it was to see all those variations of "Las Meninas" from Picasso; it was eye opening. In the Prado, it was fun seeing Velasquez, El Greco and I particularly liked the room with the Goya collection. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip.

Kathy McChesney said...

Welcome home. I really missed you & your daily inspiration - there's nothing like a cup of tea & Myrna's blog to start my day...ahhh. I continue to have so much fun with all the good stuff from your workshop. Will email some photos to you later. I'm having a blast with the textured paper. xoxo, Kathy

Jeff Chase said...

Welcome back. Mornings were incomplete without you.

Mary Paquet said...

Welcome back, Myrna! I missed my daily fix with your blog. Love the sketch.

sanjeev joshi said...

I am going to bhutan next month and had the same idea as yours to do lots of black and white pen sketches and limited palllet watercolour sketches,as carrying bigger pads and papers would be cumbersome.Do you have any better idea? I am waiting to see your drawings!

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