Fine Art by Kelly Borsheim: Artist in Florence, Italy and Texas

Abstraction of the Real Figure

2012-01-21T03:03:00.000-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
It is sometimes a strange thing to understand -- this getting to realism in art through abstraction. The idea basically is that the artist is not just copying from a model. She is creating a design based on what she sees in the model. I want to capture a gesture, for gesture is a physical expression of a thought or idea.

The following oil painting “Neela” is one of my favorites of my early paintings from life. I cannot believe it is still in my collection, but then I usually keep it in my home for my own enjoyment. This is an older work and therefore quite affordable.

Neela, the model, was sitting and leaning forward a bit as she read a book during her pose time. I often enjoy working on the extreme edges of the model room, as well as working in the shadows with backlighting. And I love backs. You may see here that even if you can recognize this image as a woman’s back, it is really made up of abstract shapes of light and dark. The triangles of the shoulder blades give you an idea of symmetry in the anatomy, yet are not exact repeats of form. You may enjoy the circular shapes, the pointier ones, and hopefully the long swirling dark shape that widens as it gets closer to its bottom and denotes most of the woman’s spine.

The cool thing about this process is that one can achieve a believable human figure that does not look like a photograph. I hope that you enjoy “Neela.”

A Better Artist

2012-01-15T04:04:00.003-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I have been struggling this week as I try to get adjusted to my new life here in Florence, Italy. I have returned to the Angel Academy of Art to finish what I started years ago -- learning to improve my understanding of painting, especially the chemistry of painting. I left three years ago because -- and I am embarrassed to admit this -- another student was making me very uncomfortable in school and I could not get it to stop. I decided to leave the school, postponing my own education until this person had finished and gone. It was not difficult since I needed to continue to grow my own art career anyway.

My work moved in a slightly different direction in this period and of course, when I was back in Texas, I focused on my stone and bronze sculpture. I recently told Maestro John Angel and Jered Woznicki (my instructors at Angel) that I was nervous about starting up again because -- to my shame -- I had not even done a life drawing for over a year and a half (except for one 3-hour session with a friend).

Sometimes it is difficult to learn something when you think you already know something about it.

Being aware of this, as well as having watched other older students come in and flounder with their egos a bit, I really wanted to do as Maestro John Angel suggested, “Relax and it will come.” I wanted to learn the process thoroughly and it was important to “get it” early on so that I could “own” it and then be free to learn about what comes next. This was my mindset as I began to paint the figure in front of me. We were to use a medium-sized house paintbrush and wash in a solid shape on our canvases that matched the gesture of the model. The idea was to think in terms of FORM and MASS vs. outlines.

Then we were to add the construct over our massed-in shape . . . simple lines that placed the parts of the figure (head, limbs, etc.) where they would ultimately go, without actually drawing those parts. This takes time because it is the foundation of the entire painting. It is not enough to have the proportions correct. One must find the energy in the piece at this early stage. Otherwise, no matter how technically proficient the painting is rendered, it will be dull.

Once you are happy with this, start to articulate those construct lines. This means that you will take a smaller brush and create the outer lines of the abstract shapes that will become the figure. For example, the leg has specific edges that show off various muscles and joints. These edges will all have their own slopes and lengths and will relate to all the other parts in a particular way. Once the articulation is done to satisfaction, the artist can then design the shadow shapes (vs. light shapes). This is the start of the tonal work that will define the masses.

I hope this makes sense. Anyway, I do not usually work quickly. I am horrible at measuring things since I have a sort of impatience about being that tight … or maybe organized. Try as I might, I rarely measure the same thing twice and arrive at the same number. (Is that not related to the famous quote about the “definition of insanity”?)

So, I was VERY surprised when I found myself happy with my proportions on the canvas! I could hardly believe my luck! I checked and cross-checked, comparing various widths and heights, even diagonals (since I see better in triangles), trying desperately to find a relationship between shapes that did not match those I saw in the model. I really wanted to make sure that I did each stage SEPARATELY and that I understood the process that I came here to learn. And I felt that I was doing things well. So, what was the problem?

I did not believe that I could do that. But then, during the model break, I looked at the works of the other students who had more experience at this than I do. And I was further along the process than they were. I have never been particularly competitive (except with myself) and thus, I do not look at the work of others in order to decide how my work compares. But in this case, I knew that some things take time and we work within a system. The teachers know how to pace the class, despite some students working at different speeds. I was too far ahead and I lost confidence.

When Maestro returned to the room, I asked him if it was too soon for me to be drawing the shadow shapes. He said, “Yes, you have done it wrong.” I wanted to argue, “But you have not even looked at my canvas and now you are on the other side of the studio!” But I rarely argue something if I know that I do not have all of the information. When I am drawing or creating in any medium, I am not often aware of what others are doing and where they are looking. How did I know whether or not he saw the work I was doing earlier?

Frustrated, I went back to my canvas and wiped out all of my lines, returning to the simple mass I had painted in the beginning. I thought that was the fastest way to let go of my ego and learn the process the right way. In hindsight, I wish that I had waited on that. Once the model was back in position, Maestro came over to my easel and described each step again. And I kid you not, I believed in every ounce of my entire body that I had done exactly as he demonstrated! Even the measurement points that he said I must consider were absolutely the same ones that I HAD considered and measured! Now, I really felt frustrated because he kept saying that I had done it wrong because no one gets it right on the first try. But for the life of me, I still had no clue where I took the wrong turn.

After class and close to tears (I HATE that about myself since it makes me look so weak when I long ago discovered that I must release that energy somehow and prefer it be in a peaceful manner), I again asked Maestro to tell me what I had done wrong. So then he said, “Constructs. You have never been good at making the constructs. No one gets that right on the first try.”

That night at home, a friend called to see how I was doing in school. I must admit that I got all worked up again as I relived my frustration. He cut me off with his hearty laugh. I was not amused. What’s he on about? He said, “You . . . struggle? If anyone would get it right the first time, it would be you!”

Hmmm. Now I knew that Maestro was right (sorry, Si). I had done it all wrong, but I would need to figure it out on my own. That meant that I needed to DO more … more constructs, in this case. In that instant, I had a flashback of the time that my friend Vasily Fedorouk yelled at me in front of our stone carving students. He apologized to me in private that night as we stood outside under the stars. But having understood where he was coming from and that, in effect, his gruffness showed his affection and passion for art, I told him that, “My grandmothers love everything (artwise) that I do. But they will never make me a better artist. You will, and so we are ok.” My friend is perhaps too often my cheerleader and I need to figure this stuff out.

The image below is of the first step in this painting process taught at Angel. [I still had corrections to make then.] Unfortunately, I could not document the other steps I did that day because my digital camera is dying. I really need to break down and do the research and get another camera quickly.

New Marble Sculpture Gymnast

2012-01-08T05:57:00.001-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
I am still trying to get caught up after so much whirlwind these last several months. And I wanted to share with you a little bit of news, in anticipation of my next art newsletter. Here is the “Gymnast” marble carving that I have been writing about on my blog for a good part of 2011. She is currently on exhibit at Carved Stone in Dripping Springs, Texas. For more images, click here: http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2011/gymnast-marble.htm.

Because of a variety of questions that I have received, I recently rearranged the items on the right-side column of my blog. The “Search This Blog” feature is now much closer to the top (right over the “About Me” section) and I hope that will make it easier for you to find a topic of your choosing. You would have to visit the actual blog site (http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com) to see this column. Also, in a shameless plug, if you are enjoying these posts and would like to support the time and effort I put into the photographs and the writing, you may donate in any amount you wish (People tend to give about $20 per donation) via a PayPal link in this column. In addition, I am an Amazon.com affiliate and you may indirectly support this blog as you shop there – but first, you must visit my blog online and scroll down to the “Search Amazon” window box. Then just start your shopping from my page! Thank you so much. http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com

Lagniappe: How cool is this? Poet Claire Emba paired my pastel art "Songbird" with her poetry on her blog posting:
http://poetrybyemba.blogspot.com/2012/01/normal-0-microsoftinternetexplorer4.html

Italy New Year’s Eve Tradition

2012-01-01T16:59:00.008-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
On the morning on 31 December, I read on a Facebook posting about Florence, Italy, that there was an Italian tradition for New Years: According to: Freya's Florence Tours - Freya Middleton: Don't forget to wear your red underwear to ring in the new year! Italians say it'll bring you luck in the coming year. Red wards off the malocchio (Evil Eye) and is a symbol of love, prosperity, and fertility... but it must be thrown away after New Year's Eve!

I was fortunate enough to have received four separate invitations for New Year’s Eve, each different in activity and energy. I wanted to try them all! But a girl only has so many hours in the day. Before bicycling into Scandicci to catch the Tramvia, I stopped in at my neighbor’s home. Giuliana had invited me to share dinner with her and her husband Renato. Their children all had other plans and I had told them that unless I could find a couch to sleep on in the city, I was not sure if I could go into central Florence for the huge casino (mess, chaos) that occurs there each New Year’s Eve. Everyone I knew was having guests.

But that day I received the invitation from a friend and decided to go into town. After expressing my regrets to Giuliana, she asked me to wait because she had a little gift for me. Imagine that! Can you imagine my surprised joy when I opened the wrapping and discovered a small pair of red panties! Oh, I was delighted! [My mother had guessed on Facebook that I would be going commando, so this was quite funny.] So, here is an image that Giuliana’s grandson Marco took of us. The image is not so happy as we worried about his ability to use the camera, but these are my sweet neighbors.

I roamed around in town until meeting up with my friend Jacopo at Giubbe Rosse, a famous café and artist hangout for at least a century. The café is situated off to one side of the famous Piazza della Repubblica and as I approached, I could see the band playing already on a stage set up in the square. Once inside, I met some new friends and saw some other people that Jacopo had introduced me to the week before. I have to say that I was still tickled by Giuliana’s sweetness that I enthusiastically pulled out of my backpack the red panties to show everyone at the table. Hearty and understanding laughs all around – I wondered later if “my momma raised me right” and was grateful that my friends did not think me too forward.

I had to leave them before I really wanted to because I was due at Susan’s flat. Once there, I went to put on my good luck charm. And so it went that the last night of the year was spent visiting wonderful people and roaming the streets of the city. I got kisses and vodka. I watched couples dancing together in the streets and people emptying their champagne and other boozy bottles before throwing them down into the streets, smashing the glass to pieces.

Loudly booming fireworks were going off all over the city and as I walked along the Oltrarno side of the river, I had this image in my mind that this must be a small sampling of what it must have been like when the Germans bombed the city back in World War II, destroying all of the bridges except the Ponte Vecchio. We always have yin and yang . . . we destroy with bombs and on this night, we celebrated with bombs, of sorts.

The following images were taken in Piazze della Signoria AFTER the year had changed over, perhaps around 1:30 a.m. since I was elsewhere at the hour of midnight. The orchestra playing was a new addition from other Capodanno celebrations that I have attended in Firenze. The musicians were positioned inside the Loggia dei Lanzi, among the famous stone and bronze sculptures. I suspect that was to protect them and their instruments -- even drunks here will have a strong sense of respect towards the art, if not each other.

On the other hand, I am not sure what to make of this: an interpretation or disrespect? On Via Calimala where two of my street painting colleagues had created artworks earlier in the day, I thought that I saw Claudio’s Madonna crying. Well, she was, but because someone had spit on her face in order to give her this emotional response.

I did not wake until almost noon today. But I wanted to follow the Italian tradition to the full extent. This last image was taken of me right next to the Basilica di Santa Croce, moments before I put the red panties in the trash bin. Hours later, I returned to my home and went to give my auguris to Giuliana and her family, who were all finishing up their holiday dinner. I was invited to join in the meal and while enjoying a lovely afternoon with the entire family, I entertained them with my story about the fate of the red panties. Susanna laughed and said that it really is not necessary to disgard them in order to become “in fortuna,” I only needed to wash them! [Would one not do this anyway??? Where is the drama in that? Had I just insulted Giuliana?] They also agreed when I told them that my mother suggested that this tradition was created by those in the clothing business. So, Giuliana helped the local economy and I have my cherished memories. Happy 2012!

Art and the Nude

2011-12-31T06:36:00.000-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
For the past two years on my New Year’s Eve blog entry, I have shared more erotic art than I usually dish up for you. In the line of thinking similar to that of those living in Pompeii centuries ago, it was my way of wishing you a sensuous, joyful, lush, and prosperous new year.

However, this year I have not had the time to create something along this vein. Sad, really since I believe that art is the safe place in which we can explore all aspects of our humanity. That said, I still want to wish you a thoughtful abundance for the coming year. I hope that you can become more spontaneous (I linked this word because many people misuse it) and express yourself more often.

I recently wrote a little bit about my holiday with friends on Captiva Island, Florida. I stayed in artist Robert Rauschenberg’s former beach house there, owned by his collaborating partner and long-time friend, Darryl Pottorf. In entering the place, I found myself intrigued by a composition in red, black, browns, and white. I had this strange urge to photograph myself nude in front of it. This does not really belong on my “erotic art” posting because I do not know how to explain that I was not thinking sexual thoughts when this idea came to mind. Maybe more like “Nature Girl,” I dunno. That night, I did pose for my timer, but fully clothed, boots and all…

One evening, Darryl walked me over to the painting before we headed back to his place for dinner with more friends. He explained most of the objects or shapes in the composition. This was a painting about Robert Rauschenberg (Bob) and Darryl. Darryl’s art is very personal. It made me wonder if I should lose the thought of taking nude shots with this beautifully sentimental work of art. But the idea persisted and I did not believe that I was thinking anything disrespectful. So one night towards the end of my visit, I woke up just before 3 a.m. and went to work, careful not to disturb the other occupant in the house. I was back in bed by 4 a.m. I hope you enjoy this image, but more: I wish you truly beautiful experiences from each day forward.

New Year’s Eve 2010: “Anthurium”
New Year’s Eve 2009: “Tesoro!”

la bicicletta e la collina

2011-12-29T07:33:00.002-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
I must admit that I really enjoy living out in the country, even if I prefer easy access to the city. It is so beautiful living in the hills, with views of distant snow-capped mountains. This is Tuscany. However, I have not yet made friends with my local collina (hill). I do love her when I leave the house. The way to go anywhere is basically … down. But after a long day or a fun evening out, she presents the opposite side of her coin and I find it difficult to ride my bike UP her lovely lines.

When I was a child of about 12, I think, I remember the very first day that I ate an entire Big Mac burger. I also remember another day in which I finished the entire can of pop (‘Soda’ or ‘Coke’ to some people). I felt SO proud! We often remember our “firsts.” And so I am looking forward to my new challenge of this collina. Unlike a Big Mac or a soda pop, this hill will make me a stronger and healthier person for tackling her!

The first image here is one of the lovely scenes I get to view on my way home. The second is a picture of my bike -- a gift from a friend. I took the image of my bike on Christmas morning and you may see one bag of artwork going with me on the ground beside the bike rack. I parked there and rode the Tramvia to get to the train station since I went to visit a friend in another city for the holiday.

And on another topic. I am fairly convinced that today was the second time I was way overcharged for something because I am not yet a savvy foreigner. In a small mercato, I bought two lemons (well, actually, one lemon and one small citron [cedra in Italian], a lemon-like fruit that is used to make the famous limoncello liquor down on the Amalfi Coast of Italy). I was charged 1.50 euros! [That is currently about $1.93.] I thought the price high, especially after he asked me if the price was ok (and I was remembering one half of that illustration by Norman Rockwell in which the merchant has one finger pushing down on the scale, see below). All doubt was removed when a woman nearby remarked, “Buon prezzo!” (A good price!) I was pretty sure that was sarcasm and a joke between them. None of the other customers heard this sort of comment.

The other time I thought I overpaid was when I purchased a new bike pump recently for 20 euros. I felt that was way too much, but since I had previously tried the two pumps that were in my current home without success; the woman at the bike shop had just put air on both tires for free; and I wanted no problems during the holidays when I suspected that the stores might be more difficult to access, I paid it. Besides, I am not in a habit of arguing about something when I really do not know the facts. And in a free market, there is the reality that something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Enjoy the Rockwell!

Palazzo Pitti Italy Art

2011-12-28T06:22:00.003-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
Last night all of the state-run museums in Italy were free to enter as they stayed open late. So, after enjoying a wonderful aperitivo with a few friends in a cool place in Piazza Santo Spirito in Florence, we found ourselves staring at the long line in front of the Uffizi Gallery. It should have come as no surprise that everyone apparently had the same idea.

My friend Simone, one of my “character” friends who is always good for a laugh and often a dirty joke or two, suggested that the line would move fast and we should wait in it. But we had passed the Palazzo Pitti on the way over and noticed there was no line there. Both locations have so much to see, so it was a no-brainer to go there instead.

Well, we were in luck. The Pitti was having a very special exhibit that included works by so many of the greats and they had hand-picked these pieces from the Uffizi, Bargello, and other big name museums. So, we got to be close enough to touch a Botticelli, Michelangelo, Cellini, Donatello, and so many other names that I can only recognize them, rarely call them to mind. Such is my problem with labels. We were there for almost three hours until they began to close around 11 p.m. It was so cool to be inside the Pitti Palace that late at night! What views from the windows!

And while I was not supposed to take photos, since I do not use a flash, I follow that naughty guideline of “It is better to ask forgiveness than permission.” Mind you, this “rule” does not fit for all kinds of rule-breaking. So, I want to share with you some of the images that I took last night since I went to the effort and all . . .

And in closing, I just want to share that it is almost an overwhelming experience to be in a space in which you walk on design, look up at the ceiling for marvelous art, and then have the walls to compete for your attention! In fact, when the Italians put on a temporary exhibit, they erect colored walls to stand IN FRONT OF their decorated walls. It is bizarre how rich this country is with aesthetic and sensual experiences!

And I wanted to thank Linda Bell Brighton for featuring my charcoal and pastel (and SOLD) drawing “Tuscan Vista” on her blog Secrets of How to Write a Book. In a possibly strange coincidence, she also spoke about a quote from William Arthur Ward: “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” This made an impression on me as a young child (it was on the cover of a diary that I received one year for my birthday) and I used it as the basis of a speech I gave during my high school graduation.

Permesso di Soggiorno Italy

2011-12-23T08:13:00.001-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
I am in Italy now and this post is not about art. It is about politics or at least government. And if you want to stay in Italy (or in most parts of Europe) for longer than 90 days, you must obtain a visa (probably from the Italian Consulate in your home country, as I had to do in America) and within eight days of arriving in Italia, you must apply for the “Permesso di Soggiorno” (permission to stay). Over the many years that I have been doing this, the process has become easier – a bit.
For many years it has been possible to go to the postale (post office) instead of directly to the Questura (immigration police). That is wonderful because the Questura is only open in the early morning for this part of the process and if you wait in line for hours, but arrive too late to the door, you get to repeat the experience. The post office has much better hours!

The color for the Postale is yellow. You will see a yellow banner in the signs announcing a post office and the bicycles of the mail carriers are yellow. When you enter the post office, you must take a ticket from a yellow machine and wait for your ticket number to be posted on the board with the number window for you to approach. Which ticket you choose depends on the service you want. For my task this week, I took an “F” ticket. This ticket is for the “Sportello Amico” (Friendly Window) and it is there that I picked up my application packet for the Permesso di Soggiorno.

As with English, legal language is not always clear and I had a friend help me through the forms. I do not understand government much at all. For example, one must buy a Marca da Bollo. That is a special stamp that currently costs 14.62 euros, but you cannot buy it at the Postale. You must go to a tobacco shop to buy one. The only purpose I can see for this is to share the wealth with the little guy. [Tobacco shops are everywhere. Besides tobacco, you may also buy cell phone minutes with most carriers, as well as lottery tickets. They have a decent-sized “T” sticking out from the wall so you may fine them.]

Anyway, the next day, I returned to Firenze, got my F ticket from the machine, verified a question that I had about my application (I had understood the word, but not the question on the form. It simply said: “Frontiera” or “border,” which I took to mean that they wanted to know which city I had flown into in Italia. In truth, I did not get the impression the postwoman knew the answer either but she nodded as if my guess was as good as hers), bought my health insurance for one year, and paid the application fee. [I had already attached the purchased Marca da Bollo stamp to the correct position on the application.]
I now am legally here, as long as I bring my original documents with my application receipts to the Questura on my appointment date in February. Whew…

This last image was taken during my reward: a stroll around the Duomo (Cathedral) in central Florence, Italy. So happy to be home! [That is probably a bit premature – ha!]

Happy Birthday, Momma!

Book Street Painting Florence Italy

2011-12-15T08:40:00.003-06:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
I head to Italy soon and wanted to make a shameless plug for my new book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” and it looks great! There are over 330 images in the book and while I did try to focus on the art, there are images of the artists who create the paintings. I also wrote about various issues that street artists face, including our struggles with taxes and government and the joys of sharing the street with other performers and artists and vendors.

I have had a couple of repeat buyers – several art lovers who bought the book for themselves and after reading it decided to order more for holiday gifts. One of my favorite comments was that I really portrayed what it feels like to work in the street all day making art… the ambiance of it all. [Street painters in Florence, Italy, tend to start around 10 a.m. and work until midnight creating one artwork in chalk and pastel.]

I have some books here in the USA with me that I have no room to take to Italia. They will stay with my mom for a bit, but I would love to be able to ship a copy or two out to you before I go. If you enjoy art and people and travel, or any of those, please consider this book for you or a loved one. Do not forget to include the name(s) you would like me to write into the book signing.
To order, please visit my contact page: http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm and you may pay safely with PayPal.

Thank you so much and Buon Natale.
My next post will most likely come from Italy!

Robert Rauschenberg Darryl Pottorf artist

2011-12-09T08:04:00.002-06:00

Cari Amici (dear friends),

I have been sleeping in Robert Rauschenberg’s former bedroom on Captiva Island, Florida, since Sunday night. Even better: I wake to the art of Darryl Pottorf. I wrote about Darryl when I visited him at his solo exhibition titled Links at Brenau University in October 2010. I had met Darryl and his partner Mark in Florence, Italy, in June 2010 with my friends Johnny and Simon on Via Calimala where Johnny and I created large pastel and chalk street paintings. We all clicked right away and have been friends ever since.

I wanted to share with you Darryl’s art because in truth, I had never seen anything like it before and did not know what to make of it. Sometimes I just did not get it. But when I asked Mark if I had permission to write about how I have been “converted” and share images of the beach house that Simon and I are staying in now, Mark responded that it was little surprise that I would be drawn to Darryl’s work since Darryl had been classically trained. Ah, so yes, a possible connection! Darryl Pottorf is wonderful with composition and it is the mathematics of good design that draws me in, for starters. Many times in the past, I have made the point to many emerging artists that classical training teaches you not only nature’s proportions, which sit well with our brains, but also improves the communication between your eye, your brain, and your hands. You will gain the skills to create a mark you intended, not just happen into (all “happy accidents” aside). Then you can make any style of art you wish and communicate skillfully with a visual and tactile language.

Also, there is no substitute for seeing art in a livable space. There is an amazingly enticing large red, black, and brown composition featured on the main floor of Robert Rauschenberg’s former beach house (Bob died on May 12, 2008). One evening Darryl explained to me that this work is all about Darryl and Bob. These two artists were close friends and collaborators for over 25 years. Each part of the composition refers to some memory that Darryl shared with Bob. While I was drawn to the work as I entered the room, learning about the symbolism in the shapes and objects makes it all the more enchanting. For example, the clock on the upper left is set to the exact time that Robert Rauschenberg died. The huge black circle of lace behind the bicycle is from Venice – a personal memory of the two artists who appreciated the handiwork from Italy during their many visits there.
I do not know if I will ever attach large physical objects into my own created wall art as Darryl sometimes does, but I must say that living with this art is so much easier and joyful than I ever imagined. And as I discover more and more of Darryl’s art (we will be working in his studio today), I find myself enjoying the tactile qualities of his various textures and colors and movement.
I hope you enjoy this little peek into another world. I must get back to the beach now . . . what a vacation Darryl and Mark have made possible for me!

The Unwritten Future

2011-11-09T07:53:00.000-06:00

Dear Artlover,

Thank you for such a warm response to my recently announced new oil painting “New Year’s Eve.” This is your last art newsletter from me this year, although I intend to have a few more blog posts before this year’s New Year’s Eve.

I have been talking with a few friends recently about the topic of courage. People often tell me that I am so brave to do … fill in any activity you like. For example, many times they will say that I was brave to just pick up and go to Italy. My friends have had similar experiences. But is it brave to do something that you feel needs to be done, especially when you recognize that what you are currently doing is not working? I had stopped growing. I went to Italy to become a better artist. It took me longer to get there than I had hoped, but somehow I knew it was necessary to be surrounded by the art there and to see for myself how it was possible to live with many different forms of art everywhere. [It is amazing, by the way!]

This new bronze is titled “The Unwritten Future” and is a play on my bronze “Cattails and Frog Legs.” Instead of the original amphibians, one man hangs by one hand from the end of the cattail, while another man sits on the lily pad below, watching in anticipation. Sure life can throw in her little surprises, but in essence, we all have an “unwritten” future until we have made a choice and taken the corresponding action.

I like the particular view of the bronze that I have chosen to share with you now. The shadow cast by the sun implies that the hanging man will not drop, but will choose to grab hold. It is optimism in a precarious situation.

This is one of the more than 20 sculptures and about 30 two-dimensional artworks on exhibit NOW in my solo show at the Quattro Gallery in Austin, Texas. Please go by and say hello to gallery director David Sackmary and get a gander at the art while you are there.

THIS SATURDAY, November 12th is the LAST DAY of this exhibition. I hope you can check it out. I will be there for a book signing from 2 - 5 p.m. (see below).

“Places and Poses: the Art of Kelly Borsheim”

Quattro Gallery
12971 Pond Springs Road (Inside Audi North Austin)
Austin, Texas 78729
Gallery Hours: Tues-Friday, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
Closed Sundays and Mondays.
[Take the McNeil exit from Hwy 183 in NW Austin. Pond Springs Road is NE of the intersection of McNeil and 183. You will see the Saab dealership right before Audi.]

For more information, Tel.: 512.219.3150 (Audi); David Sackmary (gallery director) = 512.924.7498

Dates:
Exhibit: NOW through 12 November 2011

##################################################
Book Signing: "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"
Full-color book with 330+ images
By Kelly Borsheim

Saturday, 12 Nov, 2 to 5 p.m.
Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas

##################################################
Book Signing: "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"

Thanks to artists Penny Arrowood and Jeanne Rhea, as well as Event Coordinator
Sharon DiGiulio, I will have my first book signing in NORTH CAROLINA!

Here are the details:
Book Signing: Sunday, 20 November 2011
noon to 2 p.m.
Jerry's Artarama: Art of the Carolinas
3060 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
Tel. 919-876-6610

[The above image of my exhibit at Quattro Gallery was taken by David Sackmary.]

As always, you may find details about events here:
www.borsheimarts.com/exhibits.htm

*******
I hope to see or hear from you soon. Thank you for reading and sharing in my adventures. By all means, forward these invitations to anyone you think would enjoy them.

Thank you,
Kelly Borsheim

New Year’s Eve Art Texas

2011-10-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Almost two years ago, on New Year’s Eve, I was outside here in my Texas studio carving on the marble “Gymnast.” It was starting to get dark, and then I realized it was getting darker than it should be for that approaching dusky hour. I felt the sudden change around me. A frisky wind whipped up. The air smelled cold and crisp. I remember laying down my tools and running over to the field, the only place in which the trees give way enough for me to see the sunset better. Even then the orange glow of the setting sun was broken up with the ragged silhouettes of treetops. It felt magnificent!

I cannot really explain my excitement. It was energy that I simply absorbed from the surrounding fragrance, wind, temperature, color, and light. I remember shouting, “Come look at this sky – it is fantastic!” No one came. I learned as a child that it is amazing to see something naturally wonderful, but so much better to share the experience with someone else. And thus, I decided that I would try to capture in a painting the excitement in the dark clouds that seemed to funnel the light of the falling sun.

I started the painting that night, sketching it out onto the largest canvas I had on hand. But life and other projects took me away after that magical evening. The canvas of clouds remained untouched for over a year. Each time I looked at it, I felt that I had failed to capture the smell of the fresh air that night and I began to doubt that the painting would mean anything if it were just another sunset. Over time I realized that I wanted to add something to it, but could not think of anything that was not overly contrived.

And then it happened . . . divorce has some perks. I have been living a life in transition, or at least limbo, for a long time now, but 2011 has been the year of action and stepping away. This spring the idea for my painting emerged as quite natural. So many of my artworks have been personal and oddly, perhaps, those seem to be the ones most admired among those who share their thoughts with me.

I am losing my home and my studio. However, my former husband John, who has been a dear friend to me for about half of my life, has let me stay in his home this year so that I may have the time to finish my stone carvings, pack up, and figure out my new direction. I started this spring by sorting through our photographs, including our wedding album. And it made sense for me to incorporate my favorite wedding photo into my art.

Finding the universal through the personal has been my approach for much of my art career. And it became my hope that my painting would not necessarily be seen in a negative light or even give-off a negative feeling, in the same way that my bronze “Together and Alone” has not.

As I created this newer version of my painting, I wondered about her title. Ultimately, I decided that the original title “New Year’s Eve” was perfect. The phrase references an ending in the terms of a beginning. So, with no further delay, I introduce to you my newest oil painting (30” x 40”) called “New Year’s Eve.”

You may see this work and many others at my solo exhibit going on now:

“Places and Poses: the Art of Kelly Borsheim”

Quattro Gallery
12971 Pond Springs Road (Inside Audi North Austin)
Austin, Texas 78729
Gallery Hours: Tues-Friday, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
Closed Sundays and Mondays.
[Take the McNeil exit from Hwy 183 in NW Austin. Pond Springs Road is NE of the intersection of McNeil and 183. You will see the Saab dealership right before Audi.]

For more information, Tel.: 512.219.3150 (Audi); David Sackmary (gallery director) = 512.924.7498

Dates:
Exhibit: NOW through 14 November 2011
Artist’s Reception: Saturday, 5 Nov, 7 to 10 p.m.

Book Signing: "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"
Full-color book with 330+ images
By Kelly Borsheim
Saturday, 12 Nov, 2 to 5 p.m.

I hope that you can make this exhibit because after it closes, I will be leaving Texas. No doubt I will be back at some point, but I cannot promise when. I will be heading off first to North Carolina to visit family, then Florida for the Art Basel Miami and more family. Then, it is back to Italy. It is a new day.

*******

Invitation Quattro Gallery Austin Texas

2011-10-27T16:19:00.001-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Oh, you can tell it is October. People are buzzing about again and it is beautiful out! And I hope that you are not missing my posts too much – there is so much going on and I recently injured one hand, so am moving a bit slower. However, I wanted to invite you to my “Arrivederci Texas” art exhibit. I am so excited about working with David Sackmary, who has modeled for me in the past, but also has returned from Hawai’i to Austin. Texas, taking up his role again as the director of the Quattro Gallery. Here goes:

“Places and Poses: the Art of Kelly Borsheim”

Quattro Gallery in north Austin, Texas, is hosting accomplished artist Kelly Borsheim in a very special exhibition this fall before she returns to Italy. Kelly tends to focus on introspection, specifically how our bodies express our thoughts. In this art event, you will see paintings and sculptures with titles such as “Together and Alone,” “Relinquish,” “Hindsight,” and “Pensive in Bologna.” Quattro Gallery is located inside the Audi North Austin at 12971 Pond Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78729. The exhibit runs from October 25 to November 14, 2011, with a reception on Saturday evening, November 5, 2011, and a book signing on Saturday, November 12 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.

You will also see some works from her “lips series.” These sculptures have been hand-carved in stone by Kelly and combine human lips with animal forms in an exploration of how Nature’s shapes commingle.

When this versatile artist began living part-time in Italy, she added pastel to her media as she learned the old art of street painting. She combined her skills from the street with her classical art training to create lovely images inspired by Italy. These are not your usual Tuscan landscapes, but a more personal look into Italian homes, streets, and courtyards. For more information, visit www.quattrogallery.com or www.BorsheimArts.com.

For more details and RSVP opportunity, check out this listing: http://www.preownedcertified.com/IHGNewsletter/Oct2011/Group/events.html

Stone Turtles 500 blog posts

2011-10-20T01:21:00.001-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

This is my 500th blog post! And I want to talk turtles. I am still working on the details of my marble “Gymnast” and hope that you have been following along. I must admit that I am running out of energy right about now, so I hope that you will pardon me for just adding these images of one of the heads on the four-headed turtle who supports the “Gymnast.” I am having a fun time with the subtle and different textures I am carving into the stone. And it brings a smile to think of turtle lips!

Sculpture Show Invitation – Wesley Gallery, Texas

22-23 October 2011
Sat: 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun: noon - 5:00 p.m.

Metal and Stone Sculpture Show hosted by Wesley Gallery
Wesley Gallery
27008 RR12, Ste. A
Dripping Springs, Texas 78620
For information, please contact Julie Speir at the gallery via telephone at 888.806.0678
E-mail: art@wesleygallery.com

I hope you can make it (and yeah, I will have some copies of my new book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” available this weekend – signed too, if you like.

Art Open Studio

2011-10-13T08:26:00.001-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Well, I guess that I have now been officially sculpting so long that I have little memory of sculpting the child’s portrait shown here. See what a delight it is to be moving and sorting through all kinds of hidden “treasures”? This little boy was probably done around ten years ago, shortly after I took a portrait class with sculptor Eugene Daub at a workshop in Colorado. This piece is water-based clay and was never finished. However, plastic garbage bags do not really keep in the water; they simply delay the drying out. You can see how the unfired clay cracked as it dried: Kind of a cool effect.

So, come on out and see what other surprises there are. I am also having a moving sale and selling or giving away art supplies in several fields (photography, fabric arts, sculpture, etc.)

Kelly Borsheim’s Open Studio and Moving Sale
October 14 - 16, 2011
Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day

Borsheim Arts Studio
223 Greystone Lane, Unit A
Cedar Creek, Texas 78612 USA
Tel. 512.303.3929

This second image was taken during my recent book signing at the Community Renaissance Market (CRM) in Austin, Texas. Susan Wenck is showing of her new copy of my book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy.” She is standing in her shop called “Renaissance Apothecary” and showing off (on her hand) the big Pandorus Sphinx Moth” that was discovered just outside of CRM.

Incidentally, I am starting to get feedback from people who have received their shipped copies of my book. The wonderful thing is that a few have been so pleased that they have placed GIFT orders now! One new book owner, sculptor Gene Piersa in Minnesota wrote:
Thanks Kelly. The Book arrived in perfect shape, I felt excitement on every page I turned. Bottom Line, I Love the book content and the quality overall.
Hugs and Best Wishes,
Gene P.

P.S. Happy birthday to my sister Danielle who flies into Texas tonight to see her new nephew!

Art Open Studio Texas

2011-10-06T08:42:00.000-05:00

Dear friend,
Well, I have just spent the last 16 hours or so trying to figure out why I cannot send out my art newsletter to my subscription list. So, I am hoping that Facebook and my blog here will get the word out to most of you who would like to know about the following events. First one is TODAY!
Thank you for your continuing interest.
'night (nap time) and see you at the book signing later today,
Kelly

CONTENTS of Borsheim Art News:
* Invitation to Last Open Studio
* Book Signings - Austin, Texas: “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy”
* Subscription Info.

Dear Art Lover,

Hello again. I just wanted to send you an invitation to my last Open Studio in the place that I have lived and worked for over 20 years.

October 14 - 16, 2011
Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day

Borsheim Arts Studio
223 Greystone Lane, Unit A
Cedar Creek, Texas 78612 USA
Tel. 512.303.3929
Online directions:
http://borsheimarts.com/map.htm

Besides letting you see the near-finished marble “Gymnast” that I hope that you have been following the creation of via my blog, I will also be introducing two new works. Both are inspired by the divorce that I have been going through this year. The first is a bronze “The Unwritten Future” and the second one is a 30” x 40” oil painting titled “New Year’s Eve.” Images will have to wait until my next newsletter.

While this kind of thing is never really happy, per se, I am not trying to share depression or anything dramatic. And moving offers opportunities for many, including an array of good deals on selected artworks, time to visit, and also a sale of a variety of art supplies and random goodies that I just cannot take with me. I hope that you will come out to this event or the few others I have before I leave Texas in November.

For details about all the future events, please visit my exhibits page:
www.borsheimarts.com/exhibits.htm

##################

Book Signings - Austin, Texas:

While you may order my new book "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” online at:
http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm
you may also pick it up at the following events in Austin, Texas, this week:

Book Signing - North Austin: Today 6 October 2011
6 - 8 p.m.
hosted by the Art Space and Austin Visual Arts Association (AVAA)
Austin Art Space
7739 Northcross Drive
Austin, Texas 78757

Book Signing - South Austin: Saturday 8 October 2011
4 - 6 p.m.
hosted by The Curioseum inside the Community Renaissance Market
Community Renaissance Market
6800 West Gate Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78745

Wrote Mary Condon, Mayor of Florence, Texas, "I love your book. I can barely put it down to do my work. I would like to order two more . . . "
[If you have already placed your order: I expect to ship books on Tuesday, October 11 since Monday is a postal holiday.]

*******

I hope to see or hear from you soon. Thank you for reading and sharing in my adventures. By all means, forward these invitations to anyone you think would enjoy them.

Pace (peace),

Kelly Borsheim

--
Borsheim Arts Studio
http://borsheimarts.com E-mail: sculptor@borsheimarts.com
Exploring our Internal Thoughts and How Our Bodies Express Them
223 Greystone Lane Unit A, Cedar Creek, Texas (USA) 78612
Telephone: (512) 303-3929 (local to Austin)

P.S. If you enjoy Borsheim Art News, please forward it to friends and colleagues. It comes to you about 6-8 times a year from Cedar Creek, Texas and Florence, Italy-based artist Kelly Borsheim. And on the contrary, if for any reason you would prefer to unsubscribe from this newsletter, just respond to this message with your wishes. Thank you.

Details Stone Carving

2011-10-04T23:01:00.001-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

It is not all in the details, but the details can offer fun little bonuses. These images show the beginning of my carving marble shapes into the hair band on the ponytail of the “Gymnast.” This is another case of a seemingly open space to work in that is actually not: There is not really enough room for me to get in an electric rotary tool to carve the small spheres in the band at all the angles I would like to reach. The legs that point to the sky in her pike position get in the way. Still, I hope that the details will be worth the efforts.

Below, you are invited to come over to say hello, during my upcoming book signings. The first is in North Austin this Thursday, while the second is in South Austin this Saturday. The book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” is getting good reviews, including this one:

Says Mary Condon, Mayor of Florence, Texas, "I love your book. I can barely put it down to do my work. I would like to order two more . . . "

Book Signing – North Austin:

Thursday, 6 October 2011
6 - 8 p.m.

Book signing for "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"
hosted by the Art Space and Austin Visual Arts Association (AVAA)
Austin Art Space
7739 Northcross Drive
Austin, Texas 78757
www.austinartspace.com

Book Signing – South Austin:

Saturday, 8 October 2011
4 - 6 p.m.

Book signing for "My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy"
hosted by The Curioseum inside the Community Renaissance Market
Community Renaissance Market
6800 West Gate Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78745

Book Signing Street Art Florence Italy

2011-09-26T12:46:00.001-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I am delighted to announce that I received the proof copy of my new book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” and it looks great! There are over 330 images in the book and while I did try to focus on the art, there are images of the artists who create the paintings. I also wrote about various issues that street artists face, including our struggles with taxes and government and the joys of sharing the street.

I placed my first order for the books, which should arrive before October. And so, I am offering a very SHORT-LIVED Special Offer:

Pre-printing sales offer:
Signed copy $25 + $5 shipping (anywhere in the world)
[regular price for unsigned book = $28.95 + shipping]
Offer Expires 28 September 2011
Do not forget to include the name(s) you would like me to write into the book signing.

To order, please visit my home page:
http://borsheimarts.com
and you may pay safely with PayPal
or
send a check to me for the proper amount, depending on your book quantities to:
223A Greystone Lane, Cedar Creek, Texas 78612
and then send me an e-mail to lock in your rate. I will reserve a book for you.

##################

Calendar: Art Events:

My time in central Texas is coming to a close soon, so I do hope that I get to see you before I leave. Here is what I have planned thus far:

~ 1-2 October: Stone Carving Competition, The Vineyard at Florence (Texas)
~ Thursday, 6 October, 6 - 8 p.m.: Book Signing - ArtSpace, Austin, Texas
~ Saturday, 8 October, 4 - 6 p.m.: Book Signing - Community Renaissance Market, Austin, Texas
~ 14-16 October: Kelly's Last Open Studio in Texas
~ 22-23 October: Sculpture Show, Wesley Gallery, Dripping Springs, Texas
~ 25 October - 14 November: One-man exhibit, Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas
~ Saturday, 5 November: Quattro Gallery, Artist's reception (evening, time to be announced)
~ Saturday, 12 November, 2 - 5 p.m.: Book Signing - Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas

This coming weekend:

1 & 2 October:
Saturday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

2011 Stone Carving Competition and Fine Arts Festival
The Vineyard
8711 FM 487
Florence, Texas 76527
Contact: KAMBRAH GARLAND at 512-924-7447 or ph. 254.793.3363
www.thevineyardatflorence.com E-mail: stonecarvingevent@gmail.com
The competition will be judged on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm by no less than 3 independent judges. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places will be given.

For details about all the future events, please visit my exhibits page:
http://www.borsheimarts.com/exhibits.htm

Straccetto Toto de Angelis

2011-09-24T23:56:00.003-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Toto de Angelis (aka Straccetto) breathed his last breath this evening in Italy. Or, as his niece Anna Innocenzi wrote, “Il cielo da questo momento non solo sarà profumato di lavanda...ma sarà pieno di tanti colori...ZIO TOTO STRACCETTO CI HA LASCIATO.............” ["The sky in this moment is no longer perfumed with lavender, but it will be full of many colors. Uncle Toto "Stracetto" has left us."]

Toto was born on 31 March 1948 in Rome. At an early age, he was stricken with polio, which left him with a permanent limp. He had a difficult childhood in a ghetto in Roma, with a father who was in and out of prison. As he got older, Toto sold lavender from a cart that rarely left him. He often admired the work of the madonnari, who created devotional paintings on the street, but it was not until 1982 that he began to try his untrained hand in art. He painted consistently once he got going, teaching himself mostly, and in 2003, he began to receive recognition from such events as the street painting competition in Grazie di Curtatone in northern Italy.

Straccetto was arguably the most famous of all of the contemporary madonnari in Italy. Even in my relatively short time street painting in Italy, it was not long before I met Toto. I was introduced to him on May 15, 2009, in Nocera Superiore, a small town in southern Italy that hosts an annual street painting competition each May. I noticed him at another table before I understood that he was also an artist. His face caught my attention and I remember thinking that he would make a tremendous portrait subject – what a sculptural face! It struck me as classically Italian and reminded me of the many Dante sculptures I have seen in that country.

He was always friendly to everyone and the night after we all finished our paintings that year, my colleague Johnny McGrogan and I got to share a drink with Toto and another true madonnaro Pino Vommaro (also from Roma). That was a pretty cool evening!

Toto was never far from his cart and in August 2010 at the competition in northern Italy, I saw that his dogs Mara and Valeria were with him as well. His art would be considered folk art, but like any true artist, he walked his own path and spoke with his own symbols in his work.

This blog post was intended to be about my new book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy.” In it, I shared a few of the images I have of Toto. But on the eve of his death, it feels wrong to try to sell anything to you in my tribute post to him.

That said, there is another situation that I was made aware of by my contacts on Facebook. The Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida recently experienced something quite unpleasant. The City’s Art Funding program just changed the rules on current applicants for those events happening this year. My understanding is that the Chalk Festival no longer is eligible because they are not “old enough” yet as a non-profit organization. However, this event is not new and they appear to have had an understanding that they had properly followed all of the rules and application guidelines (until they changed). They thought that they would be receiving a serious chunk of change to fund the many artists who have bought airplane tickets to arrive in Florida for the event, which is scheduled for 1-7 November. And it is a little late for them to be having this kind of funding surprise.

Check out their Web site and if you like what you see and would like to support them, whether or not you can attend this year, buy a catalog of the art, or make a donation in the name of Toto de Angelis. Maybe they can even create an award in his name for the artist who shows the most creative or story telling work. That would be a good way to honor Toto, as well as the history of street painters. Toto de Angelis was part of making street art into something more than a few small voices in one country.
http://www.chalkfestival.com

Art Calendar Book Signing

2011-09-23T12:19:00.001-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Good grief, time moves with such fluidity! On the mornings that I have been home, I continue to work on the marble Gymnast. These images were taken about a month ago, but I am starting to run out of time and must really focus now on using my time well. I must say, though, that carving ears are really fun. In truth, I am only carving one ear since I wanted that asymmetrical look and have part of the figure’s pontail falling to one side and over the other ear. I find that the non-ear side is actually more difficult to carve. No doubt you have seen bronze figures in clothes in which the proportion of the body looks off. It is because the artist got lost in the fabric and forgot that clothes hang on a skeleton. Without clear reference points (in my case a jawbone), it is easy to lose one’s way.

Art Calendar

Here is what is happening in my neck of the woods and hopefully yours too:
1 October: Stone Carving Competition, The Vineyard at Florence (Texas)
Thurs, 6 October, 6 - 8 p.m.: Book Signing - ArtSpace, Austin, Texas
Saturday, 8 October, 4 - 6 p.m.: Book Signing - Community Renaissance Market, Austin, Texas
14-16 October: Kelly's Last Open Studio in Texas (Cedar Creek for the event)
22-23 October: Sculpture Show, Wesley Gallery, Dripping Springs, Texas
25 October - 14 November: One-man exhibit, Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas
Saturday, 12 November, 2 - 5 p.m.: Book Signing - Quattro Gallery, Austin, Texas

After this last date, I will be heading to North Carolina, Florida, and then Italy.

My book is out and it looks great!

Do not live in Texas and would like a signed copy of my new book “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy”? It has over 330 images and you may find out more about what is inside here.. But take advantage of a pre-printing special by visiting the special offer on my home page. Early Bird Offer expires 28 September 2011.

Finally, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome into the world my new nephew, August. He was born on 12 September and is a complete joy to our whole family.

10-Year Anniversary of September 11

2011-09-11T10:25:00.001-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." ~ John F. Kennedy

Yin and Yang

2011-09-10T01:51:00.002-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote to you. On my end, I drove over 18 hours to a suburb of Chicago to visit Dilbara Arapova, the wife of my dear (and late) friend Vasily Fedorouk. Our visit was barely 24 hours, but we packed a lot in. I took this shot from their living room, enchanted by the morning light and shadows. Three of Vasily’s sculptures can be seen in part here.

Then I drove another four hours to get to Indianapolis to see my good friend and gallerist Don Elliott. He owns the Franklin Barry Gallery and was featuring my work for the art event. The First Friday Gallery Walk was a lot of fun. Fewer partiers and more people really interested in original art. Labor Day weekend turned out to be a better turnout than I expected! I was really happy getting to visit with kids as well as grown-ups; reconnecting with familiar faces and making some new acquaintances. We got to share stories. And I got updated on the travels of several patrons of the gallery that I have met in years past. This next image shows our little “after-party dinner” at a nearby restaurant.
Don is sitting next to me, while artist Travis Little and I hold down the end spots of our group of friends. What a day! I think that Don and I arrived at his home around 1 a.m.

I did not leave the gallery until they closed on the next day, only to drive another more than 18-hour drive back to Texas. I slept maybe 3 hours along the way, so once I returned to my home studio, I fell into a coma-like nap on Sunday. I woke to a call from John B. asking if I was close to the wildfires. Well, that was a bit sobering for an eye opener! He ended up coming over to help me pack what we could. Thankfully, I had not unpacked the art in my car that I brought back to Texas from Indy. The frustrating thing was that there was so little information. Not on TV, not radio that I found, and even the Internet offered little. As the hour got later, John just told me to give up. He believed that the authorities were more focused on getting everyone out than they were in talking about details about the fire. But then, lack of accurate information is often the case in emergencies. John, Cat (the abandoned kitten that now has a home here), and I drove off around 5 a.m. to Austin.

We drove back about seven hours later, around noon on Monday, September 5. These next three images were shot through the car windows. The first image was a fire we passed near a propane supply place not far from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This fire had not been reported on the news that we had seen.

The middle image of this series was taken on Farm-to-Market Road 812, just inside the Bastrop County border after leaving Travis County. I must say, it is really difficult to tell distances on things like mountains … and smoke.

And this third image was shot just as we turned onto Greystone Lane. This dirt road goes for about three-fourths of a mile before my driveway starts. That may have been the closest the fires got to our neck of the woods, but it was hard to tell. We had received a call that the fire had jumped a road near the Cedar Creek post-office (a 10-minute drive by road, not sure about crow-flying distance). But I never saw anything that confirmed that the fires had moved that far south.

For the next few days, John and I returned to the house during the day, working and cleaning up dead leaves, plants, and trees, and moving it from the house. We spent the nights in Austin at John’s place with Cat.

In all honestly, I feel a bit daft showing you these not particularly dramatic images when Facebook enabled me to see more of what was going on in the thick of it. Several of my friends have lost their homes in nearby Bastrop. Too many more that I did not know have lost so much. The drought this year and the 3-digit temperatures have been with us longer than “normal” and apparently this is the worst dry spell Texas has had since recorded history.

Still today (the 9th), I have been back in my outdoor studio carving marble and working indoors during the hot time of day again. I have been sorting things and trying to figure out what I have that can be donated to many of my artist friends who are now homeless. I finished my last book edit yesterday for my project “My Life as a Street Painter in Florence, Italy” and I must say that I cannot wait to hold the book in my hands! So, good things and horrible things: what a summer of yin and yang.

Gallery Visit Indianapolis

2011-08-24T07:29:00.002-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Well, today’s post is another invitation. But first… a little tooting the horn of my artwork:
My pastel drawing on black paper titled "World Traveler" was a finalist in the prestigious Art Renewal Center 2010-2011 ARC Salon - Still Life Category. The ARC works to promote excellence in representational art.

“World Traveler” is one of the images that you may see at my next event. I hope you will help me start of the Labor Day weekend right by checking out “First Friday Gallery Walk” in Indianapolis. Gallery owner Don Elliott and I (at least) will be on hand Friday to personally show you the latest from my studio. I would love to see you there.

2 September 2011
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
during the Gallery Walk

“Italian Living” Gallery Walk features pastel + charcoal artworks by Kelly Borsheim

Franklin Barry Gallery / The Frame Shop

617 Massachusetts Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
For information, please contact Don Elliott at the gallery via telephone at 317.822.8455.

In any event, stay safe and stay cool during the upcoming holiday weekend (here in the States anyway).

Cat and Sculpture

2011-08-20T08:09:00.000-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Well, I am back, sort of. I trust you are enjoying the holiday months. I have been working almost non-stop for such a long time, but am happy to say that I am making progress. The book I am writing about my experiences street painting in Italy has now gone to the graphic designer to work her magic. What I have seen thus far looks really, really good and I cannot wait for the day that I can say that the book is READY!

When I returned to my studio after a couple of weeks away, I began again to carve the marble gymnast and discovered that I had a new companion of sorts. No doubt, I will lose a couple of friends with this admission, but I have never been much of a small cat person. Still, people who abandon cats are much lower on my list of favorite things. . Out where I live now, her presence is no accident.

Cat (think Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) is quite a young cat. She is sweet and has funny markings on her face, with a bushy tail more in line with a raccoon than a kitten her size. Her eyes are more orange than yellow. She has sharp little teeth surrounding that raspy tongue, but surprisingly, her little bites on my fingers and toes do not hurt as much as cat bites in my memory. Perhaps she is only being affectionate.

Cat craves attention, as any abandoned creature would. While I have been stopping my work at times to sit down and cuddle with her a bit, I do not have as much patience in the morning as I might otherwise have. Sadly, with about a month of daily temperatures easily over 100 degrees F., I am no longer working outside in the evenings. I find the air too heavy and my other work has more appeal. So the mornings are precious time and I am feeling quite protective of it, selfishly saving those hours for the marble sculpture.

In any event, progress continues regardless of delays and Cat now has food and water, and sometimes me.

Happy Birthday Möbius Artist

2011-07-31T12:24:00.000-05:00

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

It is my 47th birthday today and I find myself thinking about mathematics. Or maybe it is just the morphing of shapes and paths as we affect our own lives and the lives of others based on decisions of what we do and also (and sometimes more importantly) of what we choose NOT to do.

Take a long strip of paper or a ribbon, such as 1” wide by 10” long. As you pick up one end, give it a half twist before attaching it to the other end to form a ring. You will now have a Möbius Strip. Now, pretend you are a little person and go stand on one part of this circular form. Start walking -- either direction, it matters not. Make a mark as you move along -- just so you do not get lost. You will note that if you walk long enough you will reach the point of origin and you will not have crossed an edge to do it, but you will find that your mark lies on both sides of the paper! Named for German mathematician and astronomer August Ferdinand Möbius (1790-1868), a Möbius Strip only has one side and one edge.

I understand this technology is used in engine belts among other things. That half twist is key to putting a consistent wear and tear on the belt instead of just wearing out one side. Efficient and healthy a little twist can be!

My 2-part stone sculpture ”Möbius Mouth” is part of my "Lips Series." The mouth has a heart shape in the negative space inside the lips. He is carved from a Rattlesnake Limestone from Texas, named after the shape of the shell fossils in the stone. The triangular base enhances the idea of the mathematics of the Möbius lips and is carved from Henna Limestone from Canada. He also has some wonderful fossils that I hope you will discover.

“Möbius Mouth"
Rattlesnake Limestone (Texas)
with Henna Limestone (Canada)
one-of-a-kind
17" h x 22" w x 8.5" d

To see more of this stone sculpture, including images taken during the carving process, please visit: www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2006/mobius.htm

So, thank you to all who sent me birthday wishes via e-mail, Facebook, and phone. Let’s get a little twisted! Or stoned – ha! ;-)

Fine Art by Kelly Borsheim: Artist in Florence, Italy and Texas

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################## Book Signings - Austin, Texas:

Details Stone Carving

Book Signing – North Austin:

Book Signing – South Austin:

Book Signing Street Art Florence Italy

Calendar: Art Events:

This coming weekend:

Straccetto Toto de Angelis

Art Calendar Book Signing

Art Calendar

My book is out and it looks great!

10-Year Anniversary of September 11

Yin and Yang

Gallery Visit Indianapolis

Franklin Barry Gallery / The Frame Shop

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Happy Birthday Möbius Artist

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Book Signings - Austin, Texas: