Sunday, November 13, 2011

PAINTING A SIMPLE DISGUISE

THE SIMPLE DISGUISE
OIL ON CANVAS 24 x 30
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2009

This is one of my favorite paintings because I love the different angles and the subject matter. I am also smitten with the colors.  It's a 24 x 30 size painting.  I like to use this size for class paintings and sometimes when I am painting on my own.  The title, 'The Simple Disguise' is somewhat of a mystery to this painting.

I remember when I was beginning to paint this piece and I was really charged up and looking to seriously express something.  I just didn't know what.  At the moment that I put the paint to the scary white canvas, I was a woman on a mission, a rebel without a cause ( can a woman be a rebel, I'm not sure?) but anyhow, as I worked the paint around, I found my groove. I became aware to the idea that I was able to make a bunch of sense from the nonsense I was feeling.  This painting asks you to look closely at it and it just might help answer it's meaning.  I don’t like to talk about the deeper meaning to my work and how it reflects my secret world or life, as we all don’t.  So, you won’t find the answer to the exact meaning of this painting, however, since I am talking about nonsense, it brings me back to the title of this painting, 'The Simple Disguise'.  It is such a topic of conversation for people who view this work. "What does it mean"?  But the curiosity is not whether I have a simple disguise or if you might have one?  It’s about why we have one?  I have come to believe that we all do but in different ways.  I am reminded of a song by Bruce Springsteen titled, ‘The Brilliant Disguise’.  His lyrics in this song speak to me and make me think about the public face and the private face that we all might have.  Again, do all of us really have a disguise?  I'm not so sure how many of us do, but I'll bet that it is more common than people believe or will admit.  And as for my disguise, keep looking because it might reveal itself to you when you are not expecting it to.  But for now, I think it is something for me to think about and to ponder, as I always do. I search for the simple disguise in myself often and try to figure out how it does it's thing in my life. How about your disguise and it's purpose in your life? 


Cheers,
Loren

Thursday, November 10, 2011

THE FEAR OF CHOOSING AND MAKING DECISIONS

THE FEAR OF CHOOSING
OIL ON CANVAS 30x4
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2010

This is one of my favorite paintings and I wanted to share it with you, here on my blog.   I really love the colors and the images of the ladies lips and the single flower.  It is quite a large painting 30 x40 and is really dynamic when viewed in person. The title, ‘THE FEAR OF CHOOSING’, really reflects an inner struggle that I often feel, when faced with too many choices.

Have you ever had THE FEAR OF CHOOSING?  I know I have the fear in some areas of my life. Well, how great is the feeling when I finally do choose something and I feel like my mind is uncluttered and the struggle has ceased?  I love when I am at a crossroads with a decision and I finally feel that internal push over the fence and then BANG!... the decision or choice is made.

One way I have recently been trying to attack making creative choices and decisions is to carry a small pad of paper, with a small little pen. Whenever I am overloaded with intense creative ideas or choices, I try to write them down in the pad.  I write down the pros and cons and ask myself, "how is choosing one decision over another, going to improve my life or get me where I want to go?" If it doesn't fit with my goals, I realize I have to let it go. After, just listing these points by writing them down, I am seeing that I really feel as sense of peace and less blogged (hee, hee) down.  Also, after writing down my options, I can put the pad away and let ideas settle in my mind for a while.  After I get away from it for some time, the choice sometimes reveals itself.  I have also been using this method with images, painting ideas and inventive kind of things that are stirring in my mind. I sketch them out and then I can see where I want to go and what ideas to abandon.  I can more clearly see my direction and whether something is a good choice or not.  But I think the act of choosing might be a much more simpler one.

Once, I realize that there is no perfect choice, it makes my choosing much easier.  It’s just the fear of making the choice that is the struggle. Deciding on something can be challenging as it is some times for me, but it can be done by realizing that there are many good and great ways to do some thing.  Choosing can be such a personal thing because our decisions are backed up by all this history about ourselves. This history is stored in our brains all out lives. What might be the right choice for me, may not be the right choice for you.  I think for me it is overcoming some fear I have at times to abandon my fear and go for it..  I am choosing in my life to let things happen and to ‘just choose’.

Cheers,
Loren

Friday, October 7, 2011

A NEW TO YOU YET SOMEWHAT OLDER PAINTING

THE BEAT OF THE HEART
OIL ON CANVAS  30x40
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2010

 I wanted to touch base with everyone and share a new yet old painting.  This painting is called "THE BEAT OF THE HEART". Initially, I wanted to title it, "THE WATCHER", however, I decided that the new title expresses more of my feelings about this painting.  What do you think?  
This painting is painted with oil on stretched canvas.  The size is 30 x 40 and one of my favorite sizes to paint on.

I feature birds in a lot of my fantasy paintings.  I love the free flowing form of them in flight and I especially love their wings.  I love painting their wings.  I also love the idea of the birds being able to move so easily from place to place.  Ahhh... what I would do if I could only fly!

Currently, the most significant thing is how the expression of the birds made their way into some of the final words I had with my Mom before she passed away in May 2011.  When my Mom could no longer speak, I told her to, "fly high and like a bird when you are ready Mom.  Just fly."  Now whenever I see a bird, I think of her and feel that maybe she is around me.  Soon, I will be starting a new blog about my my Mom and my relationship with her.  It will be titled, MY MOM MATTERS and it will feature all the memories, stories and poignant things that have entered my life since I found my Mom.  It will surely be chockfull of so many experiences, some joyful, some profound and some very emotional and sad. So, keep checking back for a post about the opening of this new blog.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

MY HEAD INJURY AND MYSTERIOUS OBSESSION WITH PAINTING

As I have been wanting to do, I would like to share some more info with you about the head injury I had some 3 years ago. In a nutshell, I had a huge, at least 7-10  lb. ceramic vase/vessel fall on the top of my head or "clunked" me on the head, while I was loading some pottery on a wobbly shelf.   If you are interested to learn more about how it happened, check out the post in my blog MIND GIGGLES TM.  There you will get the details of the accident before and after it happened.


THE SECRET
OIL ON CANVAS 30x40
 

(c) Loren Fidalgo 2010
Since the "clunk" on the head,, I have had an addition and change in the direction of my creative passion and interests.  Prior head injury, I was primarily passionate about graphic arts, and illustration.  I was mainly pursuing a career in art licensing working with pastels and colored pencil. I never thought of painting as a medium for myself and I was not interested in the fine arts as a career.  But, something changed in me after the injury, some thing that I do not have an explanation for.  Although, I  still working on illustration and graphics, I have begun to furiously start painting and working in mixed media.  The ideas for painting have been coming from my heart.    Some time soon after the injury, I signed up for a painting, drawing and watercolor class which was "odd" for me, and although I was painting still lives in class, which I now loved (also odd for me) I was painting images from a deeper place in my heart at home from a deeper place in my heart.  You can see some of these still life paintings here and my fantasy paintings here. 



After being "clunked" on the head,  I have found that I want to create more meaningful and thoughtful images and pieces of art.  I am much more interested in expressing my emotions in my work.  I feel compelled to express my deeper feelings, thoughts and ideas.  I have made changes and choices in the ideas for paintings and mixed media works and they have also taken a turn in subject matter. Although, I have always been strongly interested in concept and ideas,  I have now become interested in expression of feelings and life experiences.  This is an amazement to me.  I have been shocked at the depth of my despair at times that has been coming out of my heart and soul and portrayed in my work. I find myself compelled now to express not only my joyful and exuberant feelings but now my sorrow, depression, pain and challenging feelings about my life in a way that I did not know existed. I am having to face and question some of my experiences of my life presently and as most artists do at some time, I am also facing experiences from my childhood traumas.  (UGGHH!!! this is a topic that in full is still too deep to share here).  Although I am not one to often wear my deep feelings of sorrow on my sleeve, and share it with others, I am for some reason expressing it in my paintings and art. Go figure! 
SEARCHING FOR MEANING
OIL ON CANVAS 18x24
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2010

 So as you see, things have changed creatively for me and I am just hanging on for the ride.  I wonder if anyone has experienced this same sort of shift in consciousness and focus from an accident or head injury?  I was "clunked" on the left side on top of my head and since I did not show signs of a concussion, it appeared that nothing was injured internally.  The only signs and symptoms are these changes in my obsession with painting and mixed media, and a change in my perception of color. which I talk about it in my blog MIND GIGGLES TM  So, as I have said, "Is my huge obsession with painting a coincidence or a direct result from being "clunked" on the head from a 6 lb ceramic vase? You be the judge."

Saturday, August 6, 2011

FIRST FRIDAY IN PHILADELPHIA, MY FRIEND DONNA & TWO NEW PAINTINGS

JOYFUL AND BLISS
OIL ON CANVAS 18x24
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2009
I want to tell you about the awesome time I had last night.  I went with my friend Donna to First Friday in Olde City, Philadelphia, PA.  First Friday is an event where galleries and artists will stay out until dark on the first Friday of each month.  Lots of people come from all over to attend this event to view and purchase great artwork.  Although the galleries stay open late, sometimes it is the artists that are are exhibiting on the sidewalk with their art and crafts, that are the most interesting.  The selection of art last night was exceptionally great and my friend Donna and I met some really unique artists.  We met one guy who was exhibiting mixed media paintings and somewhat of a collage technique  (when I get approval, I will try to post some images of his and a link to his website).

This artist does his mixed media work on masonite and canvas and then seals them in resin to capture the delightful fantasy design.  He was so gracious to talk with Donna and I about his work and his studio as well as offering some insight into how he creates his work.  He also let us in on a tiny secret about how and where he gets his prints made. So cool of him! He lives close to the Jersey Shore, about 20 minutes from my home town. So, we immediately shared a connection.  Beach people love other beach people.   His studio and gallery are in the same town as my niece, so when I am down that way I am going to stop in to see his studio with my niece or brother.  (he had some totally creative art pieces and I'd love to share them with you, when he says "go".

Donna and I enjoyed ourselves so much and I have to express how INSPIRED and MOTIVATED I felt.  I was motivated before, but this event pushed it up to the next level.  Viewing all the ranges of art in the galleries and on the sidewalk was such a creative boost for both of us.  I realized that I need to go out to these events more and let inspiration tap into all the art that's out there for me to absorb.

My friend Donna and I had our first night out as firends since we met in watercolor class three years ago.  We became instant friends and it's funny because we look alike and are about the same height.  We've taken some painting classes after watercolor class and we really have a great time in class.  We've both been saying that we want to get together out of class and attend First Friday and also, go out and paint some landscapes. So, we finally hooked up and had a fun time.

If you are an artist and live near Philadelphia, stop by First Frtiday, especially when the weather is nice. You will be inspired and excited about getting up your easel or desk and start painting.
THE FLUTE PLAYER
OIL ON CANVAS 20 x24
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2009
This is one of my favorite oil paintings I've done since I started painting.  I hope you enjoy it too?  Keep checking back for more of my paintings.

Monday, August 1, 2011

FINDING MY VOICE BLOGGING & NEW PAINTINGS FROM FANTASY COLLECTION

I wanted to share with you that I am learning that as I proceed with my blogging, I am finding that I am having trouble focusing in on my creative voice.  I seem to be all over the place lately, and unable to focus on one thing.  I've been wanting to do everything my heart conjoures up creatively and I realize that there is not enough time or energy to literally do everything I want to do.  I wonder and am baffled how people are just able to focus on one thing and stick with it for along period of time?  What I've been discovering is that the more in truth I seem to be, the easier the words and thoughts seem to flow.  They also seem to make sense to me however,  I fear the truth in art and in blogging, in many ways because it is such a vulernable and scary place to be in.  I want to share so many things through my art, but at times I am afraid of what the "truth in art" really means.  I hope that as I continue to blog and create there will be a merging of the two and a sense of focus will awaken in me.  I wait and hope to find a song in my soul.



I've wanted to post up some of my paintings that I've done over the past 3 years related to my Fantasy Collection.  I have been adding paintings to the collection and I am finding that my style seems to change from textured to smooth and back to textured again.  My subject matter and theme has seemd to change as well as style. 

I thought I'd post my older paintings up a little at a time, meeting up to my most recent work.

TIME TO OPEN UP
OIL ON CANVAS 16x20
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2010

Monday, July 25, 2011

MY VERY FIRST PAINTING IN PAINTING CLASS

I wanted to share with you, my very first painting that I painted after my head injury in Ceramics class 3 years ago. 

This painting is simply black and white with lots and lots of texture and was even more of a challenge for me. It stretched my abilities to a place I didn't know or go before.  As I mentioned in another post, I had been used to creating in bright, bold and saturated colors.  Another unusual thing was that I painted the entire painting with a palette knife. It did not occur to me to use a brush.  The palette knife seemed natural and familiar, although I had only used it on two paintings that I attempted back in the day, somewhere's 1992-1993 ish!

CARDBOARD TUBES IN BLACK AND WHITE
OIL ON CANVAS 16x20
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2009

Saturday, July 23, 2011

MORE STILL LIFE PAINTINGS ON MY BLOG

These are two paintings below,  that I've done in a yellow ochre, black and burnt sienna color palette.  I've mentioned that I love this color palette.  It is limiting in some ways and freeing in other ways.  When I only have three colors to use, there is not much thinking or decision making that bogs me down.  I've found that each color has a purpose and needs to be there when I am only using three colors.

To see more of my paintings in my portfolio, check out my Portfolio  Page.

SOME NEWS...
I wanted to mention that I will soon be posting the details about my head injury 3 years ago and how I began painting and working in mixed media after it.  Keep checking back to see when I post the "story".


A FINE BALANCE AND A PEPPER
OIL ON CANVAS  18x24
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2010
A TALL PITCHER AND A PEPPER
OIL ON CANVAS 18x24
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

NEW STILL LIFE PAINTINGS ADDED TO BLOG

I wanted to share some more paintings that I've done.
I hope you enjoy these paintings below in yellow ochre, black and burnt sienna.  Intially, when I started some of these paintings I did not like the color combination.  I've always created art that is full of color and saturation so these colors were a real challenge for me.  Now, I love this way of painting.  I love seeing if I can truely represent the colors of the still life I am looking at with just the three colors
CHUNKY FRUIT IN A BOWL
OIL ON CANVAS 16x20
(c) Loren Fidalgo  2009


This painting below is very textured with thick paint in the flowers.  I love to paint with texture and with a pallette knife.




A LUSCHIOUS VASE OF FLOWERS AND A PEPPER
OIL ON CANVAS  18x24
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2009

A PEAR, APPLE GRAPES AND A WOODEN TOY
OIL ON CANVAS  18x24
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2009

      

FRUIT IN A BOWL AND TWO BOTTLES
OIL ON CANVAS  18x24
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2010

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

NEW PAINTINGS ARE POSTED ON BLOG

ABOUT FLOWERS
OIL ON CANVAS 16x20
(c) Loren Fidalgo 2009
Hello, and welcome to my blog.
Well, I have finally posted some paintings on my blog. I wanted to post them as a group on my Portfolio page, however I had to load them one at a time.   So, to view them, go to Portfolio and scroll down the page. They are just some of my paintings in still life subject matter. I will be posting more paintings soon and they will be more still lifes and a whole bunch of fantasy paintings.

Hopefully, I will be able to figure out how to put my paintings up in a group. Until then, I will post them up one at a time. If anyone knows exactly how to do this, please fill me in. I will be so grateful!




Sunday, July 17, 2011

PAINTINGS COMING SOON!!!

It's almost 5:00 A.M. on the east coast and I'm seriously trying to get this blog up and running. This is a post to let everyone know that I will be featuring my paintings from the last 2 1/2 years very soon on this blog. I am working out the kinks in this blog formatt.. UGGHHH!!!. Keep checking back to catch them when they are uploaded.

JUST A NOTE; If you would like to see some of my designs for Licensing, you can take a peek at my blog http://www.lorenfidalgo.blogspot.com Loren Fidalgo Mind Giggles TM and to see my website www.lorenfidalgo.com.

You can view some of my products on etsy shop www.dabblingdelights.etsy.com


Thanks so much for being patient.

Cheers,

Loren