Our computer has been taken off life support, and I am now expecting to have things back up and running by next Monday, or Tuesday at the latest.

I'm still awaiting news of my computer, which is on life support at the local tech's. It probably will not be until the end of this week before I am able to get back to regularly posting on the blog.

Max Ernst (Part 12/12)

Max Ernst (Part 11/12): Part 12 tomorrow.

Due to unanticipated computer problems I do not expect to be posting much over the next week or two. It looks like our computer has died. I'm awaiting the final word.

• Pensions for Canadian writers? Health benefits, at least, if the Writers' Union of Canada and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists Fraternal Benefit Society have their way. (The Globe and Mail)
• In tough times artists might do worse than to follow the example of older artists who more than survived economic depressions. (The New York Times)
• Torrie Groening, formerly of Vancouver, and now living in San Francisco, has some wonderfully complex digital collages on exhibit at the Atelier Gallery in Vancouver. The exhibit is titled Sanfrancouver, and runs until March 7th.(Things of Desire)

Paris
paper collage
19.1 x 25.4 cm (7.5" x 10")

It's a good thing art doesn't have to have any meaning.

Max Ernst (Part 10/12)

Max Ernst (Part 9/12): part 10 to follow tomorrow.

• Because of this thing / People think they are in hell / Instead of Denver. Luis Jimenez's mustang sculpture at the Denver airport is fighting for its' life. (The Wall Street Journal)
• China demands the return of two sculptures in the collection of the late French designer Yves Saint Laurent. The sculptures are set to go to auction February 23 in Paris along with the rest of Saint Laurent's art collection. (CBC News)

Red River, Early Winter
oil
55.9 x 72.9 cm (22" x 30")


This painting, which was begun last November, has taken forever to finish. There always seemed to be something wrong with it. I'm at the point now where I've given up. The painting is finished. (At least, for now.)

• Financial crisis? You ain't seen nothin' yet. (Reason)
• Fucking and drinking were his two great pleasures. At least so said Samuel Johnson, that most humane, as well as human, of men. Two new biographies of Johnson are reviewed in The Wilson Quarterly.

Brown and Blue
ink, charcoal, and watercolour
25.4 x 20.3 cm (10" x 8")

There's nothing much to say about this drawing. It's simply an impression of a scene.

• The newly proposed Canada Prizes for the Arts and Creativity are not without their critics. (The Globe and Mail)
• The Canadian federal government is being criticized for not supporting the Museum of Northern British Columbia in its' bid to keep an ancient Thmishian stone club from leaving Canada. (The Globe and Mail)
• Winnipeg artist Michael Dudeck's Parthenogenesis is currently on at the Pari Nadimi Gallery in Toronto. (The Things of Desire)

Black, Brown, Green,and Yellow
graphite and watercolour
20.8 x 27.6 cm (8.2" x 10.85")

The model had a close cropped hair style which remind one of images of the bobbed hair of the flappers of the 20's.

• Have we got a deal for you. The Upper Trading Post invites artists to trade their work with one another. The motivating force behind the sight is Winnipeg artist/dealer Paul Butler. Registration is free.
• The newly proposed Canada Prize for the Arts, an international prize to be worth $25 million, is not being received well by arts groups across Canada, and particularly not in Quebec. (CBC News)
• Shepard Fairey, best know for his Obama Hope poster portrait, has been arrested in Boston on vandalism (graffiti) charges. (CBC News)
• This is not Shepard Fairey's only legal problem. He is involved in a copyright dispute with Associated Press, and is seeking a fair use ruling from the courts. (CBC News) (The Art Law Blog)
• Screwed in the Outback: Aboriginal art is big business in Australia, for some but not all. (The Telegraph)

Green Chair
ink and pastel
45.7 x 39.1 cm (18" x 15.4")

This was as much as I could get done in the twenty minutes that I had for this drawing. It's passable.

The model is a former ballet student.

S.R.
charcoal and pastel
45.7 x 61 cm (18" x 24")

This is the first time that I've used pastel paper for a pastel drawing in a long time. I found it a little more difficult to use than the smooth paper I usually use. It will take some getting use to.

The model is, among other things, a poet.

Max Ernst (Part 8/12): the remaining parts of Max Ernst will be posted over the next two weekends.

Max Ernst (Part 7/12): Max Ernst continues with part 8 to follow tomorrow.

• Artists may outnumber autoworkers in Canada, but one autoworker makes more than all of the artists combined. (CBC News) (The Globe and Mail)
• British photographer Paul Graham and The Great American Road Trip. (The New York Times)

Four Fridges
paper collage
29.2 x 22.9 cm (11.5" x 9")

Possible titles for this collage included Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderland in Alice.

The background photograph is by French photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino. I believe the model is Kim Noorda from the Netherlands, and the costume is by English designer Gareth Pugh.

• Art on walls, The Murals of Winnipeg.
• The best advice for artists seeking gallery representation. (edward_winkleman)

• Making sense of sex in Kingston, Ontario. (The New York Times)

Riverbank, Winter

oil
91.4 x 121.9 cm (3' x 4')


I have nothing much to say about this painting. It's along the Red River, not far from our house.

• Collaborations, by Winnipeg artist Aganetha Dyck, is currently running at the Burnaby Art Gallery. (Things of Desire)
• There's no graffiti at The Wall Street Journal.

Crossed Leg
ink, charcoal, and pastel
45.7 x 30.5 cm (18" x 12")

The legs in this drawing look a little odd to me, particularly the crossed leg. It was foreshortened, but I'm not sure that I've properly indicated that.

The model is an artist herself.

• Strange statues from around the world. (haha.nu) (via C-Monster)
• Parisian street artists are complaining about cheap art from China squeezing them out. (BBC News) (via Art News Blog)

Woman with Her Legs Up
charcoal and pastel
30.5 x 45.7 cm (12" x 18")

I suppose that this drawing is acceptable, but I'm not thrilled by it. It just doesn't look enough like the model who I was drawing, despite my having struggled for a long time with it. In the end, I think that I would be quite happy to forget it, and move on.

Max Ernst (Part 6/12)