New Painting

 This is a new painting that I think I have completed, or arrived at some resolve. I think I am going to make some more like this...I like the background at the top...I got loose with some acrylic housepaint...

Three beautiful women in the Park, 2015, 30" x 48" acrylic & mixed media on canvas,
Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

Three beautiful women in the Park, Detail 2015, 30" x 48" acrylic & mixed media on canvas, 
Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

more observations from number 1156

After drawing and painting and making illustrations these past 50 years (since childhood), I have been thinking about major influences...both visual input and emotional experiences that shape one's output of expression....and one that comes to mind is my sensory experiences of being in church. All of the sensations ;sound, space, prayer, energy, people, love. ...and stained glass. We (my family up-bringing) are Episcopalians and I have experienced some beautiful church interiors throughout my lifetime. St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Atlanta...built in 1906 is, and has been our family church for years and I have spent hours staring at the beautiful figures & stories depicted in stained glass..as well as the main altarpiece - an oil painting "The Good Shepard Mural" by Edwin Howland Blashfield shown here:

The Good Shepard Mural, approx 1906, Edwin Howland Blashfield

 These images take root from an early age and shape an artists creative output in my opinion.
To this day, I can see these early influences in my own work.

My Twins, "day and night"

Day and Night, 2013, 12" x 16", monotype on Rives paper, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

My Twins

It boils down to observation, emotion…and a visit from the “muse” for the flow of a makers or artists creativity . The ancient Greeks say the inspiration or “muse” will only visit your house if you are already busy trying…i.e…“god helps those who help themselves”…or the physical law: “An object in motion stays in motion” and Goethes famous truth …“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it“… all truisms indeed, one action leads to another action intuitively I think. The hard part is combining creative with the pragmatic actions necessary for a business.  “You have to put down the brush and build the bus that takes the art to the mart “..that’s my own quote !

My “twins” co-exist…or try to harmonize.

 My “Twins”,  one being creative, ..the other being pragmatic, are trying to get the job done …and I, or “we” admire the ultimate jugglers and multi-taskers out there because my “twins” can’t work in the same room together. They work separately, one at a time.  That’s the challenge right now.

Making the work is a process which I am familiar with…when it’s firing on all cylinders…it borders on euphoria. ..but the other…; inventory, marketing, cataloging, photographing the work, how is the best way to present this…thinking in a “physical problem solving practical mode“…efficiency?..,that  comes from another part of my brain. Don’t get me wrong… I am enjoying this…I’m in a good place trying to figure this out.  It resembles the life I had when I was a free-lancer….it’s entrepreneurial. I now have a home base to place my work and I , or “we” are learning new things everyday…

new large painting

Prayer Trees, 40" x 40", acrylic, collage & mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

my sculpture in stone

Figure L, approx. 16"h x 8"w, sculpture in white marble, Andrew Portwood

Newly installed in my gallery space at 14th Street Antiques & Interiors...2 pieces of stone sculpture that I carved when I was around 20 years of age,...let's hear it for youth & vitality. I recently rediscovered, and re-evaluated these pieces... and realized that their design integrity has held up very well over the years. I have found some old drawings as well that are familiar... but look very different today after experiencing a good bit of life. At the time, I was drawing figures every day, so it was only natural to try an abstract form in stone.....I am very proud of this work.

Princess Nile, approx. 15"h x 8"w, sculpture in pink alabaster, Andrew Portwood

These sculpture pieces took 3 months a piece to carve...starting with the white marble block I purchased at a quarry in Sylacauga, Alabama. I began first working up a design...building a small clay model. Then,.. I removed large chunks with a heavy chisel and hammer...slowly subtracting with finer chisels and refining with various files. Then begins the sanding...stages from rough to fine wet sanding under running water. The alabaster was not nearly as hard a substance as the marble, but still solid stone. The thing about sculpting from stone is.... that it is a subtractive (subtraction) process....once you remove material, it's gone. So...it's kind of a destructive, and a bit violent process that yields a new form. But to achieve that new and ideal form...it requires constant maintenance from all sides...every angle at the same time....subtracting little by little. Very labor intensive, but worth it for the results...that rock should be around for a long time!
In the future though, I should like to try casting in bronze.

They are both available at my gallery space at 14th Street Antiques & Interiors

Andrew Portwood Gallery Space at 14th Street Antiques & Interiors

new painting

My yellow bird garden,30" x 40", acrylic & mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

My yellow bird garden, detail, 30" x 40", acrylic & mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

My Own Gallery Wall

Well, I have taken the plunge and decided to do something proactive with my small business, I decided to invest in myself. I have joined a group of really wonderful, like minded folks at 14th Street Antiques & Interiors in midtown.....and I have the distinction of being their first solo artist gallery,...that is, I have only my original contemporary art inventory displayed, no furniture. I spent most of the day setting up Andrew Portwood Studio Gallery and going for a gallery/art fair look, and I am really pleased with the look so far!...I'll tweak it here and there as I go along... And, of course, I will be adding and changing out new work often....so you know where to find me in Atlanta !

Here is a shot of the entrance...the Market is on Fourteenth Street at Northside on the right, heading east toward Peachtree. They are open 7 days a week. Come by and visit...it's an amazing place!

14th Street Antiques & Interiors

"Rain Tree", 30" x 30", acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood

Rain Tree, 30" x 30", acrylic & mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

music trees, 40" x 40", mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood

Music Trees, 40" x 40", mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

This one, Music Trees, is available at Bennett Galleries Nashville

"Pieces of Myth", 40" x 40", mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood

Pieces of Myth, 40" x 40", mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015

"Gardens & Recollections", Sold, 36" x 36", mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood

Gardens & Recollections, 2015, 36" x 36", mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2015