SEASCAPES, TIME AND NEW FRIENDS

'WHAT GOES ON AND ON'   12 5/8 x 3 1/2  acrylic on 1/8 inch matte board  (c) Loren Fidalgo 2016

                   

'STILL WATERS'      7 x 5        acrylic on matte board      (c) Loren Fidalgo 2016

                    SEASCAPES ARE ALL ABOUT 'TIME'

I am lovin' the process of painting these seascapes on 1/8 inch matte board.  The paint just glides across the surface and it lends itself to my process and technique perfectly.   Lately, I have been obsessed with time again .  Time passing, time ahead, time past and how much time is left.  These seascapes really let me get into the physical expression and energy as I try to put my message down on the board as quickly as I can so the paint does not dry before I've made my mark.   These seascapes are all about time in every way I can think of.        Time, time, time it's all about time.

                               
GIRLFRIENDS

Some fun news...I've been developing the beginnings of a wonderful friendship with a woman I've met at Fleisher Art Memorial.  Her name is Nina.  She is a fellow painter   (Abstract Expressionist).  Nina started painting at age 60 and is rocking the painting to the ma!.  You can see her work on her site   www.ninahopenklein.com    Her work is super and I think you will love it especially if you love abstract paintings.  We've been sharing information, tips and leads to help what I call 'our painting business'.  Nina had two pieces exhibited in Philadelphia at a studio/gallery industrial building for artists.  Her pieces looked great on the wall among about 60 other artists.  Nina, you go girl!!!
Cheers my friends,
Loren

I'VE BEEN FALLING SLOWLY LITERALLY!

Hey guys...it's Loren here.  Been a bit of time since I filled you in on what is going on in my studio and life in general.  Lot's going on and many changes in the past few months.

                                   

                                     FALLING SLOWLY

I've had to take some time off from painting and life in general before Christmas and now because I have been having some medical issues.  I mentioned it in a blog post a ways back that I was having some mysterious problems walking..  Well, to be brief, I had been falling and falling a lot.  I have fallen 10 times in 2016!  The most serious was the time I got a concussion from landing backwards on my head on a cement floor.  I had to call 911 and go to hospital in ambulance.  Scary episode.

What had been causing me to fall had been a mystery to every doctor I saw.  I went to back doctors, knee doctors, spine doctors, neurologists, physical therapists, orthopedics and on and on.  It baffled the doctors.  I did find out that I have severe nerve damage in my legs however, no one thought that was why I was falling.  So, I had been having this problem for 2 years and it was a extremely upsetting and debilitating problem.  I couldn't walk anywhere without the fear that I would fall and just going to car would be too much and I did fall getting into the car 4 times.

I went to see a new neurologist and he was perplexed as well..  He said as he looked at me straight in the eye, "I don't know what is wrong with you!"  Needless to say, that after waiting 4 months to see him, I was devastated.  He had me get some blood work and thought I may have had a neurological problem called Myastenia Gravis.  But the tests showed up normal. On my last appointment, the neurologist said again that he didn't know what was wrong with me and I didn't fit any neurological disorder.  He did however nonchalantly and briefly check my blood work and he saw that my B12 level was really low!  Yep, that's right B12.  Well, it just so happens that a B12 deficiency can cause all kinds of neurological problems in the legs and when walking.  Also, I was walking in to things like doorways, tables lamps and so on. This also can be because of B12.  The other things that can be caused by B12 are severe anxiety, mood problems, balance problems and on and on.  The doctor told me he has never seen someone get better from B12 treatment!  Then he proceeded to tell me not to come back.  He didn't want to waste my time!!  He said "go to your primary Doctor and see about B12 injections."

So, I went to my primary and she wanted to do a second test to be sure and it came back that I was in the range but it was low/normal.  She agreed that I should try B12 injections (not pills they don't work) once a month for three months.  I just had my second shot and I have been able to walk a little better without getting numbness and tingling down my legs.  So that is really good.  I even managed to walk an hour at the mall before Christmas!  Before I could only walk about 20 feet and I'd get wobbly and was afraid of falling.  Now, I am waiting to see how I do with the shots for three months and get reevaluated to see if I need them for the rest of my life.  B12 shots are stored in the liver and pills are not.  The question I asked was "How did B12 level drop so low?'  One answer may be in that I was taking a heartburn medicine for another problem with my esophagus and the medicine can delete your B12 level.  Also, I was not eating a lot of meat and that can deplete it as well.

I am telling this story for everyone to beware of heartburn meds and B12 levels.  If you are taking heartburn medicine, get your B12 level checked to make sure it is normal.  B12 deficiency can be extremely serious and may cause permanent neurological problems.  In general I am feeling a little better.  It may take 6 -9 months for the neurological problems to get better if thay can.  I am hoping that I will be back to myself soon but in the meantime, I have started to paint again and am back in the swing of things.  No falling in a month!  I'd love to hear from anyone who has had B12 deficiency.  Please leave a comment.

REALLY WORKING THE SEASCAPES AND MORE

"FOLLOW THE LIGHT'   12 x 16 acrylic on watercolor paper    (c) Loren Fidalgo 2016

This is one of the paintings that really drew me into painting seascapes.  I love the texture in the sky and water.  I painted it solely with a palette knife. All of these seascapes and landscapes were painted during the time I was falling and I can see my instability in my paintings.  Can you?

STUDY IN TEXTURE,SPACE AND COLOR   24x18  acrylic on canvas  (c) Loren Fidalgo 2016

 Another experimental study in texture, space and color.  I am so in love with Prussian Blue and I can't use it enough these days. I especially love it with Crimson .  Mixed together or on top of each other, either way I am in love!

'STORM IS RAGING'       7 x 5         acrylic on matte board         (c) Loren Fidalgo 2016

This painting is really a mystery to me.  I can't decide if it is a seascape or a landscape?  When looking at it one way it looks like a long road out west on the way to California.  Then when I look at it again it looks like a stormy sky with raging clouds.  I really love it especially because of it's size. It's a petite size painting 7 x 5.  I have been working on all different size surfaces lately and it really shakes things up! I did a small series on 7 x 5 inch matte board and I really like the surface.  They are quick studies that have really turned out to be small and petite paintings in their own right.  I like to see something emerge on the surface quickly to quell my anxiety when starting a painting.  I never know what to expect.  The anticipation makes me unsettled for a few moments as I am beginning my painting.  So, these small pieces are a great way to get rid of the anxious feelings

Thanks for reading.  Remember get your B12 checked if you take meds for heartburn!

Cheers,

Loren

CLOSING MY STILL LIFE EXHIBIT + WORKING ON NEW SEASCAPE SERIES

'The skies are lit from behind'    9 x 16   acrylic on 1/8 inch matte board   (c) Loren Fidalgo 2016

'FARTHER ON'     30 x 24   acrylic on canvas      (c) Loren Fidalgo 2016

Hey guys...it's Loren here. I want to share some news about my new seascape series, closing up my still life show and some thoughts about whats been going on around here.

 Still life show has come down this past week and I am feeling a little sad about the ending of the event.  I always feel so optimistic and full of energy when I begin a new venture.  Sometimes when I end or wrap up an event, I feel a little blue about closing up the experience..Reflecting on my show, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share my work with the public and exhibit at Christopher's.  I am not so sure if this is really the venue for my work to reach enough buyers,collectors and so on.  But it is however a great stepping stone to moving into a gallery.  It has created a more comfortable state of mind for me to reaching higher and greater than I thought I ever could. So, I can't say that it was a negative experience in any way, just the opposite.I will say it was a unique one.

After this exhibition and the dull feeling I have,I find that this is when I need to throw myself into a new experience so I loose that numbing sensation that I have when something ends.  I don't know why I feel this way.  I think it is what it is and I recognize it now and just go with the flow that my journey takes me.  it has taken me to seascapes again.

This new series of seascapes are so exciting for me because they are so freeing and energy releasing.  They are mostly on thick 1/8 inch matte board and are painted on long oddly shapes pieces. They require my full attention to complete one piece.  There is no room for mistakes or delaying the process since I am painting in acrylics and it dries really fast. on matte board.  To capture my message, I swoop the paint over the board really fast and pick up various shades of blues then blending the shades to create the effects of light, sky and sea.  I love love this process of painting like this.  It suits me well.
Well, that's a wrap up for this post.  Leave a comment if you would like to.  Cheers,  Loren

STILL LIFE EXHIBIT UP UNTIL NOVEMBER 30th COME AND SEE IT!!!

Hey guys...it's Loren here.  I wanted to share that my show will be up until November 30th if you are interested in seeing it?  Christopher's has great food so a lunch date would be super there  If you are new to my blog site, then I will go over details.   

        Christopher's:A Neighborhood Place  

 335 E. Kings Street

 Malvern, PA  19355

 (610) 568-4127

There is a train stop  MALVERN ,  very close to Christopher's.  It's about 1/4 -1/2 a mile from train stop.  If you can make it, the show looks very beautiful with 16 still life paintings in oil,  all on one high wall and you won't be disappointed.

RECEPTION

Reception on Monday evening was very joyful and organizing the rides from Center City Philadelphia, went smoothly.  My instructor John from my painting class at Fleisher Art Memorial and his wife Lynne attended and it was such an honor. They seemed to enjoy themselves and I was grateful.  My bro Ken came all the way from New Jersey shore and I was very happy about that.  He had a lot of fun as I was too.  Also, it seemed like everyone really was having a good time and conversation was nonstop.  We were all carrying on chatting about this and that and then I was subtly coaxed into telling some thing personal and funny about what another male student in his late eighties had said to me in the elevator one day.  Everyone cracked up and I was finding it funny as well.  Normally, I do not talk about personal things in public, but this was too funny to leave on the floor!  Too much to tell on blog, but trust me.  It was hysterical.

I on the other hand had a little bit of a medical crisis. (too embarrassing to tell the gruesome details) however, I will tell that I cut the side of my foot and I could not stop the bleeding. I wound up rigging a pad to go over cut and put tight new white socks on.  The way I fashioned it, it worked to stop the bleeding, however, I could not wear shoes or boots.  So I put on a funky pair of sandals and they looked pathetic but they did what I needed them to do.

By the time I got to Christopher's, the pain went down some and bleeding stopped.  Thank goodness.  Foot is getting better.

Thanks to everyone who came out to reception.  It is heartfelt!

Cheers,

Loren

EVE BEFORE MY EXHIBITION OF MY STILL LIFE PAINTINGS WAHHOOO!!

Hey guys...it's Loren here.  Yipppeee...wahhooo and holy moly do I want to share my excitement and thrill about the art reception of my still life oil paintings at Christopher's in Malvern, PA tomorrow night!   I can hardly stand another minute until tomorrow.  I am busting at the seams!!

Words can't express effectively how I much anticipatory enthusiasm and joy I am feeling about my show and gathering with lots of folks tomorrow night  For all of my readers and friends  that can not attend, you will be in my thoughts.  I wish I could share the original paintings with everyone that crosses my path in life. But unfortunately, I can not so I can offer you the opportunity to see them on this site.  Scroll up to tab bar and click on STILL LIFE button and there you can see most of the works that are in the show. 

                                     
                              TO DRESS OR NOT TO DRESS!!

Well, for this show I have been noticing that I am pondering much more what to wear and how to present myself.  I finally got the things I needed for my outfit and I have to say I am happy to have found the perfect skirt and blouse for this show  Leggin's as well.   I don't like to over dress because I am always hot and have trouble with too many layers..  Shoes are also always a challenge since I have leg and back problems as I mentioned a couple posts back.  It's hard for me to stand very long especially in one place all night.  So, I have to say that I have my outfit squared away.  Earrings, necklace and purse as well.

                                        
                             EXHIBIT PROJECT  YIKES!!!

As usual, I always have a project that I am working on for the people who attend the reception and I am pressed for time.  I hope I can get it done tonight.  My printer is not working right and I think I need to get them printed possibly FEDEX KINKOS.  It is one of my old stomping grounds when I first journeyed into art licensing.  I used to do a lot of my work there because I needed the xerox copier in between changes in my drawings.  Sometimes I worked there until 1:00 a.m. in to the morning!  I got to know the employees there and they stayed out of my way and helped out if I needed.  Well, anyway  My project takes a printer and some time to cut up the project  pieces.  So, if I get it done , that's great.  if not, I won't sweat the small stuff.

Well, I have to run for now to get my project done and also I am visiting with our neighbors.  If you are attending the show, drive safe and I will be happy to see you.  Thanks for reading this post.  I want to say one more time, Wahhooo again!
Cheers,   Loren

RECEPTION FOR STILL LIFE EXHIBIT COMING AROUND THE CORNER!!

 

Hey guys...it's Loren here.  Just wanted to give a heads up that the reception for my still life paintings  is coming around the corner Monday November 14th 6 pm - 8 pm at 

Christopher's: A Neighborhood Place 335 E. Kings Street Malvern, PA 19335.  Come on by and enjoy some wine and interesting conversations with some fine artists and people who are surely interested in the arts of all kinds.  Writers, musicians, visual artists, painters, illustrators, guitar makers are just some of the areas of art disciplines that will be at the show to chat with about this and that!

The show is open until November 30th if you want to take in a different time to visit the artwork.  You can also view some of the exhibited works here on my site.  Just click on the still life button in the tabs bar.

  

Hope you can make it to the reception.  Looking forward to seeing and meeting everyone.

See you then.

Cheers, Loren

STILL LIFE EXHIBIT ROCKIN' AT CHRISTOPHER"S!

Hey guys....it's Loren here.  I want to share that my show is in full swing at Christopher's!  Everything went well with the installation on Tuesday and now it is just rockin' the restaurant!   I am so thrilled and at peace that the show is up and I hope it speaks for itself? 

I, however think the exhibit looks pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I have not seen all of my still life paintings in a group and they do look so sweet up on the wall.  I see my vision, my voice and my heart and soul in the exhibit!   It's so exciting and rewarding to see all of my hard work, energy and time really pay off in the end.   I also see the theme of my series and what I had been putting together as a collection or body of work now that I get to see the full series next to each other. The paintings are mostly 24 x 30 and they are oil on canvas.   I didn't think they would look okay on the brick wall however, it doesn't bother me or take away from the work.

The reception and 'meet the artist' is on Monday November 14th 2016 6 pm-8 pm.  The show is at Christopher's: A Neighborhood Place  335 E. Kings Street  Malvern, PA 19335 Come on over and have a glass of wine and chat with some of my artist peeps and some very smart bunch of characters!!  Show is up until November 30th if you can not make the reception. Check out my still life paintings here on the site as well. Just scroll up to tab bar and click on still life tab.  

Thanks for coming,( in advance)!

Cheers, Loren

COUNTDOWN TO STILL LIFE EXHIBIT Whahoo!!!

Well, hey there...It's Loren here and I'm getting so excited that my exhibit will be right around the corner.  I can hardly contain my excitement.    I am really thrilled with the way things are shaping up and most things are done.  Painting tags are done!   Sides of paintings totally finished!  Wired up and ready to hang? Yep!  Printing for Painting/Price list will be printed tomorrow. Ring binder with info about 'yours truly' is almost put together and all I need now are some large boxes to carry paintings and keep paintings from touching each other.  I know exactly where I will get these boxes!  Great!  So far, so good!   With everything going smoothly, I have to say I expected more chaos than I actually have been experiencing. 

I hope if you live in the area, you can make it to the show reception on Monday November 14th 6 pm - 8 pm.  If you can not make it, take a peek at my Still life paintings here on my site.  Just go up to 'tabs' bar and click on  STILL LIFE.  There you can see some of the pieces that will be in the show. 

A NOTE:   If you are interested in purchasing a painting, please contact me by the 'message me' box on the left side bar on my site.  Let me know which painting you are interested in and I will message you back.  I am happy to help and answer any questions you have.  Feel free to message with additional questions.  Some times there is a problem with my email, if you can not reach me, you can contact me at   loren@lorenfidalgo.com  and I will get back to you.

Hey, just another note:  If you are interested in note cards that feature my paintings, please contact me in the 'message me' box on the left side of my site.  Scroll down and you will see it.  Write down the title of the painting and size and I will message you back.  The card size is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 and they are blank inside. The price is 6 note cards for $16.00 + shipping.  I am excited to make the cards for you.

Well, signing off for now and  I hope you can make it to the show  November 1st to November 30th.  The reception 'meet the artist' is on November 14th.

Be well and Cheers,

Loren

STILL LIFE EXHIBIT OPENING SOON!!

Hey guys... it';s Loren here.  I wanted to let everyone know that I am having a solo exhibit of my still life paintings at Christopher's: A Neighborhood Place 335 E. Kings Street in Malvern, PA.  The show will be up from Nov 1st to Nov 30th.  The reception, "meet the artist" will be held on Monday Nov 14th, 6 pm to 8 pm.

I am so excited about showing this body of work because it is very meaningful and close to my heart. Lot's of things happened personally and emotionally when I began painting.  Since I began my 'calling' and journey into painting some 8 years ago, I started and dove into painting still lives.   I started painting with a palette knife and it didn't occur to me to use a brush!  So, I used the palette knife like a brush and painted like there was 'no tomorrow'! 

It is so interesting to me because in my early years in college at Moore College of Art & Design, I studied Graphic Design and Advertising in the 80's.  I didn't have any interest or longing to paint much less still lives!   I hated the smell of the linseed oil and turpentine!  So after my head injury and my compelling need and desire to paint, I was shocked more that anyone to come to understand that I had this deep hidden need to paint and to paint still lives to boot!  Go figure!! 

So, the opening of my show is coming soon and I can hardly, hardly contain my heart and soul..  I think this will be an awesome show and I would love to see you at the reception if you are in the area.  Come say 'hello' and have a glass of wine and enjoy the energy and emotiuon in the space.

Cheers,

Loren

STILL LIFE EXHIBIT: I'M SO EXCITED

Hey guys... it's Loren here.  I wanted to share with everyone that I am having a show at Christopher's Restaurant: A Neighborhood Place. The show runs from Nov 1st to Nov 30th.  The reception (meet the artist) will be on November 14th Monday  from 6 pm to 8 pm The show will feature my still lives and I am so excited about this body of work.  There will be 19 paintings .  Most are 24 x 30's and some 18 x 24's.  I can't wait until the show and I am so thrilled to be having my still live paintings on exhibit.

My still lives are chock full of jumbo vases and chunky bowls of fruit as well as some interesting objects like a rocking horse (see above) country hat and wine glasses and bottles..  Lot's of bright colors and some textures are worked into these still lives.

Come on over to Christopher's for the reception to chat with me and my peeps about everything from art to music to science and the most provocative topic...  politics!

Hope to see you there.  

Cheers,

Loren