golden girl

golden girl

lördag 2 januari 2016

End of a year, a new studio and Helene Schjerfbeck.


Lilla Mona by Erica Stenkrona
Pastels on brown paper, 2015
Inspired by Helen Schjerfbeck

Another year has gone by. I have finished my fifth term at Farigh Ghaderi´s Art Studio. Becoming an artist is hard work. One day a couple of weeks ago I felt overwhelmed, I wanted to quit. I convinced myself that I had learned enough (sic!). It was so stressful to juggle all the responsibilities in my life and at the same time focus on my art education. 

I came to my senses and I decided not to quit. I told my teacher I needed to take January off to organize things at home and at work and do some recuperating. I will continue my art studies in February. Wasn't it Winston Churchill who said "never, never, never give up"?



Plaster cast of David´s lips by Michelangelo


This is my first charcoal drawing of a plaster cast. I worked
on it for three months. (the picture above is not the finished drawing). It´s exciting to learn a new technique and I really enjoy working with charcoal. I use Nitram charcoal.


My work space at the studio.


For 8 half-days I worked on a portrait in charcoal of this gentleman,
Zagros Ghaderi (our teacher´s cousin).


When I had one hour left with the model, a small mishap occurred. 
I accidentally hit the easel and
since I had forgot to secure the drawing on the easel 
it came flying down on the floor, smearing off
the charcoal on my back on its way down. 
So I have some restoring  to do before the drawing is
ready (besides fixing the anatomy around the root 
of the nose and the eye socket). Fortunately I have a new studio at home to work in!


Welcome to my new and improved studio!



Galloping horse made in papier-maché by Åsa Canbäck, 2007




"Våga ge sig i kast" by Shirley Tommos, 2013 (detail)





My favorite artist is Helene Schjerfbeck (July 10, 1862 – January 23, 1946), one of Finland´s most beloved artists. Throughout her long life, her work changed dramatically. Her works span 19th-century historical paintings and naturalistic subjects, as well as 20th-century modernism.
Her work starts with a dazzlingly skilled, somewhat melancholic version of late-19th-century academic realism…it ends with distilled, nearly abstract images in which pure paint and cryptic description are held in perfect balance. (Roberta Smith, New York Times, November 27th 1992)
If I could choose any artist that has ever lived to be my teacher I would chose ms. Schjerfbeck. She has an unfailing sense for color and form. She describes form and volume with masterful brushwork. In her later works she simplifies her motifs without losing in color, depth and volume. 

Below is a selection of her paintings and drawings that inspire me and help me to focus on my goal to become a skilled artist. Which of her works inspire you?

All the pictures are from the book Helene Schjerfbeck 150 vuotta (150 years)



Huivipäinen tyttö,  approx. 1878
(Scarf-headed girl)


Haavoittunut soturi hangella (Kuoleva soturi), 1880
Wounded soldier (Dying soldier)


Tanssiaiskengät, 1882


Tanssiaiskengät, 1939 or 1940


Silkkikenkä, 1938


Tyttö (Punatukkainen), the early 1890s


Bretagnelaistyttö, 1883


Koulupoika, approx. 1885


Poikia St. Ivesin rantakukkuloilla, 1887


Leikkivät pojat (St. Ives), approx. 1888
(Playing boys)


Tytön pää (Punaposkisen tytön sivukova, St. Ives), 1887


Toipilas, 1888 (The convalescent)
 (Listen to Ateneum´s audioguide, 
you can choose Swedish, English, Finnish or Russian)


Toipilas, 1927


Toipilas, 1927


Toipilas, 1938


Toipilas, 1938-1939


Tyttö veräjällä I, 1897-1902
(The girl at the gate)


Tyttö veräjällä II, 1943-1944


Tyttö veräjällä IV, 1943-1944


Katkelma, 1904
(Fragment)


Tyttö hiekkakuopassa, approx. 1912


Sisarukset, 1913
(Siblings)


Kuvakudos, 1914-1916
(Tapestry)


Sirkustyttö, 1916
(The circus girl)


Tytönpää (Katri Sahrman), approx. 1921


Punainen pää I, 1915


Omenatyttö, 1928
(Apple girl)


Karin, the 1930s

Helene Schjerfbeck, Paris, 1884


Omakuva, 1884-1885
(Self-portrait)


Omakuva, 1895


Mustataustainen omakuva, 1915
(Self-portrait with black background)


Omakuva, mustaa ja roosaa, 1945
(Self-portrait, black and pink)


Viimeinen omakuva, 1945





















8 kommentarer:

  1. Tack för ett härligt långt inlägg! Glad att du delar med dig av din resa. Beundrar din beslutsamhet att lära dig hantverket! Kul att se så många bilder av Helene schjerferbeck. Var bara bekant med "the convalescent" sen tidigare. Fint att se mer. Gott nytt konst år och gratulerar till nya studion!

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Tack Louise, läste just ett inlägg på din blogg om hur din lille son fick kravla sig fram till dig. Ett fint ögonblick som du delade med dig av. Imponerad att du även finner tid att måla i alltihop. Heja dig!!

      Radera
  2. Så inspirerande att läsa om din konst och konstutbildning! Tack för att du delar med dig! Heléne Schjerfbeck är en favorit sedan många år. Nu blev jag inspirerad att lära mig mer om henne. Lycka till vidare och hojta till om du har nån utställning på gång.

    SvaraRadera
  3. Vad jag tycker om ditt hantverk och dina målningar vet du redan men vilken ATELJE. Utsikten och rymden! Skulle ha varit min önskedröm. Den får fantasin att flöda som solljuset.

    SvaraRadera
  4. Vad jag tycker om ditt hantverk och dina målningar vet du redan men vilken ATELJE. Utsikten och rymden! Skulle ha varit min önskedröm. Den får fantasin att flöda som solljuset.

    SvaraRadera
  5. Jag tycker det är tillåtet att en far uttrycker uppskattning för sin dotters konstnärliga framgångar. Varje blogg ger tankar, upplevelser och insikter som berikar. Följer med spänning fortsatt möda.

    SvaraRadera
  6. My dad's favorite quote - never, never, never give up! Your work is amazing!

    SvaraRadera
  7. My dad's favorite quote - never, never, never give up! Your work is amazing!

    SvaraRadera