Debbie Clarke Art: 2012

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Art Blab

Last February we had an engagement party for my daughter Elizabeth and her Joshua. Towards the end of the evening Elizabeth secretly recorded one of our conversations. here's a short snippet. we had a good laugh.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Kitchen Studio Tour

it starts in the dark. a tour of my very messy work space. it took 24 hours to
upload 8 minutes. i really need to learn to hold the camera still.
best,
deb.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Portfolio Review: Drawings, Sue Anne

Drawing of Sue Anne

18x24"

oil/turp on Strathmore archival paer

circa 2000

Sue Anne was my business partner when we had the Willis and Clarke Gallery in Magnolia (home of The Debbie Clarke School for Drawing). She also modeled for the drawing classes that I offered. This drawing is of Sue Anne in the great red coat, and proved to be a good study for a reverse glass painting that sold right away, so i did several more, and sold them too. maybe i should do another. more great drawings of Sue Anne coming up.

best,

deb.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Portfolio Review: Drawings of Brenda

Drawings of Brenda

18x24"

oil/turp on Strathmore archival paper

circa 2000

more drawings from when I taught. Brenda was my studio assistant and model. We worked well together.

best,

deb.

Portfolio Review: Judy

Drawings of Judy circa 2000

18x24"

oil/turp on Strathmore archival

These sketches were done during one of the drawing classes I offered through The Debbie Clarke School for Drawing, which I ran between 1995 and 2006. We all drew from the model, here the model is my good friend Judy. She was a great model with theatrical inclinations. Have always loved these drawings, the mother lode of drawings is in Judy's extensive collection of Debbie Clarke art.

enjoy,

and best always,

deb.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Portfolio Review: Drawings

after Gaston Lachaise

conte crayon on museum board, 8x10" or so

when Elizabeth was wee and we lived in Rockport MA

recently sold one, gave the other away, or did i sell both or give both away? either way, these drawings are no longer in my possession. i always have problems with feet, hand, head sizes, quite evident here. these were studies for a very large foil cut out that i sent to a framer for lamination, then never retrieved. not sure why. I was going to throw these away. now, i'm pleased that they have new homes, and i don't have the angst of wanting to 'fix' them and i don't mean fixative.

best,

deb.

Past Perfect

"Natasha, again"

24x30"

oil with metal leaf and chalk on canvas

It has taken years for my paintings to catch up to my sketchbook drawings. This is part of the "Faces I Remember" series that I have been working on for several years. Natasha studied art with me when she was in her tweens, and now, she is a grown woman completing her masters.

best,

deb.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

first light work in progress

darkest light, lightest light. work in progress.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Documented

I've been saving the shells from the green eggs that show up in our eggs from a local farm. The initial intention was to save the shells for use as pigment for egg tempera. Have not gotten that far; but, I have documented the consumption. I haven't been painting, just picking away at work here and there. Am so glad that I have at least documented my movements. My mother passed away on May 28th and within hours of the news found myself in the very hot, dusty basin of Phoenix. Gone a week, home for almost 2 months and have been losing a sense of time and doing. The gardens thrive, evidence of care and nurture. The eggs intimate the perfect vehicle for working through the silence that has entered my heart.

best,

deb.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Artist on Art: Clarke on Fitz Henry Lane and William A. Ellwell

I repaired the box. The glass is plexi, it is pitted, scratched with mildew stains. the box lining is warped. the posters continue to shrink. the bottom was coming apart, i screwed it back together. wiped off a crust of pollen and grime. gave it a wash of slow set gilder's oil. gave it a speed dry with the hot sun. laid down aluminum leaf. burnished the leaf to an almost hard tack (t?); rubbed in non oxidizing gold dust, light sipe with a milky tacky brush. laid down more aluminum leaf. inscribed sharpie drawing. i saw the silhouette of gloucester in the leaf, then signed it. one more burnish. done. the only audience? a man taking a deep lumbering nap on the rise behind me.

best,

deb.