Class Introduction

My name is Ally.

I am taking this class because I want to know about art history. I like ancient art, significant graffiti, modern and old masters. Overall, I am partial to all art forms...ceramics, sculpture, printmaking...oil, acrylic, wax, etc. I am a painter and it is not a hobby, it is a natural part of my being. I paint to breathe. As a child it was almost forbidden for me to think of studying art as a subject matter simply because it would not offer a viable means of support. I have been fortunate to have survive a successful career and now I am pursuing my heart strings.

My learning process began with the first class lecture. I have seen many of Jasper Johns works but knew little of their personal history. I was more interested in his materials use because he is given credit as a 20th century revivalist of an ancient art form. Now, whenever I see one of his pieces I will study it more sincerely as the personal history is quite influential of what might have been this painter's intent.



I love history...but I pursued science and math because I knew I would be employable. The technical side of me love the research, exploration and the amusing stories that follow art. My first piece of art that I chose to describe myself is a petroglyph, an ancient or old rock art carving. In my spare time, I am an avid photographer. I have taken photographs most of my life. My family take trips in search of petroglyphs where I photograph them. We have seen both domestic and foreign rock art similarly to shown painting. No, the one here is not one of my photographs but an ancient Khoisan/San/Bushman cave art from Namibia, Africa that is estimated to be 25,000 to 27,000 years old. It is called "The White Lady" although the dominant figure in white is a male. I chose it because it is an example of someone unfamiliar with the culture who named the piece based on what they thought they saw. The figure is a male warrior. Since I paint abstract, it is very important that the viewer at least has their own interpretation of my pieces even if it is not what it seems or my intent!




My second piece is Jean-Michel Basquiat "Self Portrait", 1982. I am drawn to most of his work because of the numerous interpretive factions his art presents, his primitive style reminiscence of cave art and his graffiti style exploitation of cultural traditions. This reminds me of my black art series that many seem to like. Some find it Americana, ethnic, cultural. Although I am not as expressive as Basquiat, I draw from his inspiration. I consider his work an influential factor, an exercise in freedom. Here is my self portrait with my two sisters whom I paint often in my cultural art series.


Every day I have an affair with color and texture. Claude Monet created exaggerated pigmented pieces that were easy to look at. This piece entitled " Mme et Mlle Monet" is personal. His eye for detail is remarkable....look at the child's toy. Monet captures realistic vibrancy at its best. l study this piece as if I want to reproduce it. As a wife and mother, I selected this to describe myself although I come from a strong legion of tough women. I like the simplicity as it is painted. This painting sends out to the audience a softer nurturing murmur cooing motherhood. Although I worked out of the home, this piece evokes memories of my maternal grandmother who was constantly knitting or sewing as we played nearby in her flower garden when I grew up.

Any artist who want to perfect color and light loves Rothko. He is the master of color in my world. His pieces require that you visit them over and over. Each time they tell a different story. I dare say that I have a mentor who actually compared one of my color series to this great artist. I laughed....I don't sell like Rothko! Yet, the compliment was endearing. This piece entitled "Orange and Yellow" 1956 is marked by the brilliance of exploding emotions yelling loudly but beautifully. It screams Cosmos, fun, confidence, cause.....transporting into fantasy. I am quiet but will speak out when it necessary and often find myself violating silence whenever there is a cause for justice. When that time comes, I am known to a big voice. I am service oriented in that I believe in responsibility to community. My aura color is probably bright orange and yellow!

My final piece belongs to a contemporary artist that I admire. Joanne Mattera paints with beeswax and resin. I look at her as a colleague, friend and mentor. This piece is part of a series based on findings she saw in Indian culture. It is "Uttar +250" 2004. Joanne also loves colors, but she works in a grid unlike my abstract musings. Here pieces represent translucent time pieces with their clean smooth surface. Sometimes wax drips are frozen in place hinting that this IS wax. This paint process is called encaustic, an ancient Egyptian and Greek manner of painting. It is considered one of the "lost" arts. Not only is it a timely process, encaustic is "green" meaning that the ingredients are non toxic. The process is in the height of of rebirth much like the Renaissance. Painters like jasper Johns who mixed wax in his oil paints have caused modern painters who want to use the encaustic process to redefine themselves. Today, a combination of pigments, resins and beeswax is the base ingredients but colored beeswax can be purchased. I just returned from visiting with Mattera at the Second National Encaustic Conference where the discourse, workshops and exhibits were exquisite. Artists like myself are eager to forge ahead. I am by learning about art history.

So this is where I will end this introduction as my painting medium starts its ascension from ancient and lost to modern, idealistic and exciting.