Passions of an Odd Chick

Monday, March 30, 2009

Bringing Warhol Home




I recently had the privilege of visiting an art gallery at the Bellagio in Las Vegas that was showing original Andy Warhol paintings. I've never been a BIG fan but I am a questioning, wondering, curious kind of gal and so I visited the show and parked my original judgments at the door. I decided to view these paintings with fresh eyes as if I had never seen pop art or the posturizing of images and portraits. Like a man who goes to a mountain top and carries away a gift under his arm, I carried out of the gallery what I learned - a new tool, a new brush stroke, a new way to add pizazz. I took it to my plain old self-portrait.

I painted this self-portrait in acrylic last summer at an art class at the Roswell museum. I was never really happy with it- although it was a fairly good likeness, it was flat and boring to me. I did the best I could with what I knew to do, but I wanted the painting to have more poP!!

I think all it needed was a little warholing.
I'd be curious as to which you like better.
Every gift I collect along the way is making a difference in my seeing eye and ultimately my own artistic skills.

10 comments:

Michelle said...

I like them both, for different reasons I suppose. The original is lovely and I admire someone who can do a self portrait, mine always end up in the bin, and the second one is just cool!

Unknown said...

I like them both too - I like the bottom one's touch of green - and I like the top one's clearer outlines. They are both really cool! I find myself looking at art differently than I used to as well. It's not as easy as I used to think it was :)

Karin Bartimole said...

I really like all three of your self portraits - your original is quite amazing, to me, as I've never been able to come close to self representation! As for the Warholizations, the first one has more serenity for me, and the second has that zingy pop happening. Pretty cool!
I love how you continuously share your expanding views and openness to the ideas and new experiences you encounter - it's quite beautiful.

Vikki North said...

That's gorgeous and very Warhol of you. I was just as moved by the Bellagio exhibit. I especially liked that they chose to cover the walls in black versus the usual stark white. The color of all the works just scream off the walls.
Vikki

Anetka said...

ok...I like your own self portrait. For some reasons I just cannot come to the terms with pop art, I guess it doesn't show enough warmth...but that's just me:)

Genie Sea said...

I actually like all three of them for different reasons. I like the softness of the original. I like the top one for its amazing contrasts that preserve the original's contours. I like the last for its' dramatic coloring.

Cheryl said...

Hi Odd Chick, thank you so much for your kind comments. I always enjoy 'meeting' new bloggers.
I agree with everyone. Both portraits are extremely good. But the original, somehow, has a sense of self consciousness about it. The second, as you hoped it would, really does pop out at you. Sometimes the simpler you make an image the stronger it can be. It has a greater sense of play about it.
again thanks for stopping by and I look forward to seeing your future works!

Unknown said...

(I did get your comment :) .... I don't know what's wrong - I took off the secret code request they do just to make it easier for comments to be left - maybe it's just a busy day in blogspot bloggerland)

p.s. thanks!

Carol Anne Strange said...

Thank you for your lovely comments and I'm delighted to make your acquaintance.

You asked for feedback on your self-portraits and I must say that I like both for different reasons. I think the pop art version has more energy, but your original version captures the mood of the moment.

Looking at some of your other works, it's clear that you are very talented and capable of diversity in your creativity. What an inspirational lady! I look forward to journeying with you.

Steve Emery said...

I'm not a Warhol fan - but I like your Warholled version of your self portrait. Definitely more pop. More sparkle, too, and I suspect that makes it a better likeness.