Announcing Irving Artists Home Studio Tours, Nov 4 & 5!

Want to see me at work?

Many of you asked me to post photos from my studio. So here they are, I just finished arranging my new studio and finally am able to work again. And because I know all of you are curios about seing how a painting is created, I will keep you posted with step by step photos.

Eugene Delacroix about painting

"the material process which we call painting, is no more than the pretext, the bridge between the mind of the artist and that of the beholder. Cold accuracy is not art. Skillful invention, when it is pleasing or expressive, is art itself. The so-called conscientiousness of the great majority of painters is nothing but perfection in the art of boring. If it were possible, these fellows would labor with equal care over the backs of their pictures.It might be interesting to write a treatise on all the falsities that can be added together to make a truth." (Eugene Delacroix, July 1850)

Top 11 reasons to buy original contemporary art!

Some folks may ask: "Why buy original art when you can buy a nice print?" I tried to gather several reasons for which buying original contemporary art is more valuable and satisfactory then purchasing ordinary prints.

TOP 11 REASONS TO BUY ORIGINAL ARTWORKS FROM CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS:

1. Because you will own something far way more beautiful then a print, plus absolutely unique! No one else in the world has it. It's one of a kind!
2. Because the original captures the soul of the artist, what the artist feels when is creating the piece can tangibly be felt in an original artwork.
3. Because it directly reflects your character and personality!
4. Because an original artwork is something that you can cherish and enjoy for a lifetime, and your children and grandchildren after you. It will enrich your life.
5. Because it is more than time for another Renaissance in the arts.
6. Because there is no better way to encourage a talented artist.
7. Because it is a shame that most of the best artists are ignored in their lifetime.
8. Because some of the best painters of all times may be alive today.
9. Because this could be an incredibly good investment.

10. Because this is the perfect present for someone who already has everything.
11. Because prints are definitely not the same!

Romania, simply surprising 1

Antoher great video with Romanian landscapes!

Bucovina, The dream land - Presentation

A video about Bucovina, northen province in my home country, Romania.

Butterfly 2

Butterflies have become the symbol of open minded people... I don't know who started this wave but, lately every life coach, photographer or designer has a butterfly as a symbol on his business card, among works or as logo. Butterflies everywhere!
This is a custom work that I've done for someone who adores butterflies!

Isis of Egypt

My Little Romanian Girl - "Romancuta"

I miss my family from home in Romania and again that invisible hand painted this Romanian folk style painting on linen canvas. The girl is wearing a Romanian traditional costume. The three colors white, red and black, are the most representatives for Romanian Folklore.

"PHENOMENON"

24 X36 INCHES

2D MIXED MEDIA

$2000

Title: "Praslea cel voinic si merele de aur"

mixed media, 2006

8 x 16 inches

This is a painting for children and for the child in everyone of us. My Romanian friends will feel familiar with it because it represents the a Romanian fairy tale - "Praslea cel voinic si merele de aur" - about a prince who had to guard his father's gold apples tree, from a monster who was stilling the gold apples. So the prince had to watch for the tree every night, in order to find out the thifh and knock him down. And so begins a very beautiful tale, that my mom and grandma use to tell me as bedtime story when I was a baby, and that I will tell my children when the time will come.

An artist at Las Vegas!

Recently came back from a trip to Las Vegas, the city of lights! A city which is alive mostly after the sun goes down. Amazing things to be seen, fake and artificial, yes, but still beautiful. I especially liked The Venician with its impressive reconstruction of Italy views but in a perfect manner, untouched by the time. The Sistine Chapel's copy and The Canal Shops with its gondolas and a clear blue water, with the fake summer sky and the architecture, makes you forget for a moment that you are not in Europe. Las Vegas in the last couple of years has become more a city for entertaining than for gambling. And this seems to be the future: the shows! Of course you may gamble, right from the airport, you barely put your feet on the ground, as in the same moment hundreds of slot machines welcome you right there at the gates. Wherever you go, you see casinos, they don't know what to give you for free anymore, just to make you enter and gamble. But see, that's the catch! If you can visit Las Vegas and enjoy everything without gambling more than just for fun, than you really can have a wonderful vacation in this city!Concerts, shows, events this seems to be on vogue right now. I have seen Cirque du Soleil everywhere presenting shows that are behind the imaginary. It seems that Guy Laliberte had a dream and transformed into reality. This is what I call artistic genius! Bravo Monsieur Laliberte!

Irving Arts Center, Art Connection Members Show

A photo from Irving Arts Center, The 6th Art Connection Members Show

9th July - 3rd September, 2006

The exhibition features artwork in a variety of media including painting, printmaking, photography, textiles, ceramics, sculpture and more.

Favorite Quotes of the Day

“I have a horror of people who speak about the beautiful. What is the beautiful? One must speak of problems in painting! Paintings are but research and experiment. I never do a painting as a work of art. All of them are researches.”– Pablo Picasso

"If we cannot free ourselves, we can free our vision." - Piet Mondrian

Acrylic abstract painting- new work

"Red Ghost Ship"

acrylic on canvas

20 x 16 inches

2006

price $250

I can't wait to see the "Pirates of Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest", I loved the first movie and I've heard the second has good reviews too. So, thinking about the pirates and the great passion for adventure, I entered in the imaginary...and this is what happened. Of course to me everything is abstract, this is the way I see life or better said this is the way I want to see life. Freedom is very important and this is what I want to offer to the viewer: imagination. I just give him a glimpse and than let his imagination create the whole story behind.

I used the red color to reinforce the spirit for adventure, a passion that never dies on a background of very pale green, white and black to create the impression of a rock or even a glacier, since everything is wild, untouchable and lost in time.

The contrast, strokes and the rich texture gives it a plus of charm and makes "The Red Ghost Ship" existent somewhere in time...

Artworks hanged in Dallas Elbow Room

Saturday, I hanged few pieces in one of the most popular clubs in downtown Dallas, The Elbow Room. It's a nonconformist I would say, type of bar, take a look on the following extras from Guidelive.com review also published in Dallas Morning News:
Elbow Room
Nightclub Review
By TODD EPPERSON / Special Contributor
"Tucked away on Gaston Avenue just down the road from Baylor University Medical Center is a bar and restaurant that's as comfortable and familiar as a longtime friend.
As its Web site attests, the Elbow Room has been serving Dallas "since a long time ago." Workers from the area stop by for a day-ending buzz with locals who appreciate a cool neighborhood hangout, devoid of pretense. It's that kind of place.
The look is textbook funky, urban-dive cool: exposed brick walls, dark woods, red vinyl banquettes and one-of-a-kind artworks. (Pieces by Richard Ross, Todd Camplin and Richard Sharum will be up through January.)
There are pool tables and dartboards to show your game and a separate dining space that accommodates private parties. We really enjoyed the all-inclusive jukebox, stocked with everything from Johnny Cash to the Bee Gees to Guns N' Roses. And bands sometimes drop in for jam sessions; call ahead for details.
The Elbow Room definitely feels more like a bar than a restaurant, but we were pleasantly surprised not only by the depth of the menu but also by its capable execution. "

Artist Life- no comment

Some posters

I am not a genius in this mater like our friend Robi, although I wish to be, tough I am trying to do my homework. The first poster is made for an art show I had in April and second for a Romanian theatre company that was suppose to have a performance here in Dallas.

"My Inspiration"

Remember Dr.Wayne Dyer's "Inspiration Your Ultimate Calling"?
That was my inspiration when I created this piece which is part of an Irving Arts Center Art Connection Exhibit.

"My Inspiration"
Acrylic on Canvas
30"x40"
year 2006

Another article

February 2006, Romanian Global News