Inquiries -

Beck's work available thru Eden Fine Art, NYC.
Call: (212) 888-0177 for info OR contact Beck directly with questions!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Entry 51: New painting underway!

 
Decided to start working on a new unstretched canvas - in total it's 7ft x 9ft, once it;s stretched the painting surface will be 6ft x 8 ft. Been dying to work on something larger but the costs would be astronomical at this point so here we are:

The start - black gesso and aerosol.
To see how I start, how I work, what keeps me movtivated and what makes me freeze up watch "Yay, Newly stretched canvas" a vid on Youtube about prepping newly stretched canvas to paint and what causes me to become jammed up. : 
 http://youtu.be/DSCcZb1BXGw
 


Used aerosol to layout the basic design, find the figures and place doilie/stencils that will be used in the clothing.


Digging in with oils.

The reference photo is over to my left taped to the canvas.


The view from a very messy desk.
Oh so happy...



All work available exlcusively thru
Eden Fine Art, NYC
(212) 888-0177


Video on Youtube that involves this particular painting -
Studio 120: Painting from experience



 - JOIN ME -
 
Thanks!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Entry 50: The Silks portrait FINI!

Portrait of Providence based band the Silks is finally FINI!
Check out the video slideshow of the development and construction of the portait on Youtube:



Visit the Silks on Facebook:
 http://www.facebook.com/thesilksmusic?ref=stream


Drummer Matthew Donnelly
http://www.facebook.com/CerealSoundSystem
  
Lead singer JT - James Tyler

Bassist Jonas Parmelee
http://www.facebook.com/jonas.parmelee

 
 


 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Entry 49: I'm full of unwarranted advice

From the time I was 4 years old I wanted to be an artist. My mom always wanted me to be a teacher but I'm not a person who's good one on one. I'm not good with people face to face - I get surly with people  who are disrespectful, don't listen and or people who don't want to work  as a team.....and I think that's what teaching is - taking people who are so uncomfortable not knowing things that they can't or don't listen and getting them to learn. I cannot imagine a worse job.

Me, I'm an artist...a hermit like painter who is more comfortable talking to people thru blog posts and videos (and walls) than in person. But, in an ironic twist, I like being helpful so I started putting together videos that cover topics I know best and thought (or hoped) would be a boost to others. The main theme in the series is always about being an artist. Individual videos cover a range of topics that include: painting techniques, mediums, working thru fear, obstacles, advice on setting and attaining goals as well as correcting some of the really wrong headed ideas I was fed along the way. Each video is peppered with personal stories and some insane babbling. The end result, HOPEFULLY, gives less confident artists a few techniques to try and the courage to simply go ahead and DO.

 Below are links to my most popular vid and two more recent  additions to Youtube -

And then there's art critic and writer Robert Hughes, someone, who's opinions and points of view, I always learn(ed) from - http://youtu.be/ShV1h85dnkc

Freshly started piece of girl seated on a stoop.


Best advice piece of unwarranted adive I can give:
Don't think DO!

Friday, February 22, 2013

Entry 48: Just because

.....they were awesome.

 
Bob Ross' "Happy liile clouds" (music) remix:
 and 
Julia Child's "Keep on cooking" (music) remix:
     
      
 

    Thanks PBS!!!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Entry 47: Facebook finds

I love Facebook - it not only provides me with a platform on which to build an audience but it gives me access to people, places and things I never would have or could have seen without it. I've learend about museum's and collectors in Berlin, the art culture in Tel Aviv, buyers and sellers in Texas, international magazines who cover what is going on now, and I've found artists from around the world who have completely opened my mind.

Although I'm sure I'm seeing things thru a limited scope, I want to share a few things I've found on Facebook that have expanded my little world:

5 or 6 years ago, I was opposed to FB - it can be a tremendous waste of time but, in the last few years, I've found myself using it to visit and learn about places and people I will most likely never have an opportunity to see in person. In a world that's as widly diverse and deeply intricate as the art world, there's so much out there, it should be explored. FB has not only given me courage to show my work on a world wide platform but it's turned out to provide me with a great sense of exploration and adventure! I love having the world at my finger tips - I love Facebook.


Check out more interesting finds by going thru all my "likes" on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BeckatReBar?ref=stream


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Entry 46: Yayoi Kusama portrait - DONE

Painting this portrait became an overwhelming obsession that had to be done. Like a derailing train, the moment I saw her face and a photo of her seated I had to paint her - it couldn't be stopped. My head wouldn't let the idea go.

And now the portrait is done....or done-ish. May make a few adjustments in a couple days but for the most part - she is done and my head can rest for a while.



The great Yayoi Kusama
 

     
Oil on acylic and aerosol on 48" x 60" canvas. 
Photo taken in studio.




I'm really happy with her. What a total joy this has been to do.
www.yayoi-kusama.jp/e
 
Video slideshow of the construction and development of Yayoi Kusama portrait:
 
 
Painting loosely based on this wonderful photo of Kusama and her work but rooted in my understanding of her character, unrelenting work ethic and energy:
 
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_Kusama


Documentary trailer for
"Kusama: Princess of polka dots":
by filmmaker Heather Lenz 
 
Read more about Heather and Kusama in the Atlatic:
 

Monday, February 18, 2013

Entry 45: Studio 120: DIY

 
I hate self promotion. I hate it. I hate how self egregious it is, self congratulatory it can seem and how horribly self centered it can feel. But if you're not affiliated with people who are going to the job for you and you want to be seen you have got to DIY.

It used to be DIY promotion meant sending your work to newspapers and crossing your fingers they would find you super super interesting, sending out postcards announcing your work or shows, and writing articles for magazines to maybe, hopefully, possibly be printed.

Today, holy crap...today? EVERYTHING is at our finger tips. There are so many ways to get seen but the easiest and most fruitful way to get your name out there is thru social media outlets: Facebook, Tumblr, blogs, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter....all you need is a keyboard, some pictures of your work and big brass balls the size of Montana to get yourself seen. Big brass ones, that's what you need unless you're so gorgeous people are falling over themselves to help you out or you've reached such a height that people are willing to tow the line for you, you have got to learn to square your shoulders, pull your chin up and scream "I AM HERE" like a 5 year old after cake and ice cream at a birthday party. For me - self promotion is an embarrassing, humiliating, horrifying job that has to be done.

That said, I'm posting links to 4 of my "atta boy, you can do it" videos from my Youtube channel "Studio 120" https://www.youtube.com/user/La102438. And no, self promotion is not easy for me but I look at it like homework and homework as an investment - after all, if I don't invest myself in my own project(s) then I have no right to ask or expect anyone to invest in me or my work. None.




Chin up - if you want to reach your goals because....you never know who's watching.....

  • Studio 120:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNG30VbOoDk CONTENT: working a DIY promotion, taking advantage of social networking, interlinking all your sites, using determination and stats to create an audience from her big, fancy command center.




Pictures of one of my presentation brocheres talked about in the two videos listed below.
That little brochere has opened so many doors for me....

From Studio 120 - How to get from here to over there Parts 1 and 2. CONTENT: building presentation, goal settings, talking to galleries, rejection, working to reach your goals and following your hear

Enjoy!
 
P.S.: Promotion can prevent your next opening from looking like this.
Yuck. Put on your big brass ones and work it.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Entry 44: RSD/CRPS-y kind of day

Today is not one of my better days - the RSD/CRPS is taking over. We have another storm coming so I can't feel my feet up past my ankles but my legs, all the way to the base of my spine, are KILLING me. My hands and arms have been a swollen mess for several days, my spine is on fire, my skin is burning from head to toe and too sensitive to be touched and my optic nerves are effected...... but I'm going to the studio regardless. If I can stand and my fingers and arms can move then I can paint. And so that's what we'll do -  paint because I'm an ocd filled, myopic train and just can't stop not even for this stupid illness.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Entry 43: Organized listing of a few videos on Youtube

So, about 4 weeks ago I started "Studio 120" a Youtube video series about my lil engine that could/artist's life and painting but it's quickly evolved into a series that's part how to/instructional, part "if I can do it you can do it", part "don't give me that you pretentious, beret wearing, hipster, snot bag ahhhhhhhhtist" commentary, part babble, part story telling, part slideshow.

Since the series currently has 34 videos, has been viewed almost 1,000 times (!!!!!) and is growing everyday I've decided it might be a good idea to organize a few videos at a time here. Though not perfect, they are getting better and they are almost always entertaining.  I'll post links to the vids in themed chunks starting with all the slideshow vids done to date.

Please watch, share, subscribe, join and follow
(see the "join this site" button? over there on right of blog screen...it's over there somewhere)  ====>
Studio 120 - thanks!:

Me, Kusama and an audio book.
 

Links to slideshow videos of paintings being worked on from begining to end available on Yotube:

One of the most popular instructional, "atta boy" videos called "Technique, balance and not giving in to a fear of failure":
 http://youtu.be/5d264YSbdU4 
I apologize for the sound....space heater.

Hope they're helpful - if you have any comments or questions please join the blog and post.
Enjoy! Ciao!

For info on the work please contact:
 Eden Fine Art
437 Madison Ave - across from St. Patrick's Cathedral (!!!) 
New York, NY 10022
(212) 888-0177

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Entry 42: Youtube slideshow of the construction of "Leap frog"

Video presentation of the construction and development of "Leap frog" by painter Beck Lane Artist - available exclusively thru Eden Fine Art, NYC (212) 888-0177.
 
 



 
Part of my video series Studio 120 on Youtube -  a collection of videos on painting, paint mediums, the philosophies behind the work and what it means to be an artist.
To see more click on : Studio 120
  
WHAT'D DO WE DO NEXT???!!!

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Entry 41: New vid - relationships and emotional content

 
 
New video from Studio 120: working from feeling and in abstracts as opposed to following every detail in the reference; not being married to any one idea; what the work is about - relationship(s) and emotional content.

Staying loose, open and ready for new ideas helped me to take the painting above from what it was to this - MUCH betterTo see a slideshow presentation on Youtube of the evolution of this young girl's face visit go to:
 http://youtu.be/9VJ2tHHehgU
 
 
 
 
  • Video from Studio 120: working from feeling and in abstracts as opposed to following every detail in the reference; not being married to any one idea; what the work is about - relationship(s) and emotional content go to:
 
All work available exclusively thru Eden Fine Art, NYC. For more info call: (212) 888-0177

Entry 40: Artist, decision, definition, and doing (rough draft)

Working out an idea - ROUGH DRAFT:

Anyone can try there hand at making art work....anyone.  Anyone can pick up the material and learn, anyone can experiment, anyone can act on their desire to make something. ANYONE can even make the decision to boil up the drive it takes to become an artist. In my mind, there are no rules but, also, there ARE rules because it takes a certain drive to become an artist just like it takes a certain amount of drive to become a scientist, a singer, a furniture maker, a salesman, a doctor, a mechanic but anyone, anyone, ANYONE can try. The definition between hobbiest and professional, for me, is in the drive. The desire to explore materials and ideas and give yourself into the obsessive commitment to delve into something that is of you but bigger and outside your control.

Since I was young, the mainstay of my work has been a kind of expressionist, abstract-ish, figurative work based on black and white photographs and although I also do abstracts routed in the exploration and represntation of pure energy, my focus is taking other people's long lost family photos and projecting an emotional idea or under current to the content. I'm not interested in painting the "perfect" figure or being a realist painter, I'm interested in the story behind the photograph. I'm interested in the story of the person(s) being used as reference and the emotional relationship between the photographer, the subject and the viewer.

I remember when my interest in working from black and white photos started - I was 20 years old, a college drop out, a drunk with very few friends and a deep desire to be part of a tribe with strong, loving ties. I loved the look of people in old photographs - the cleanliness, the contrasts, how close everyone appeared to be. I don't think I understood why I was so attracted to old family photos but, after my first pencil drawing of a brother sister duo, I became obsessed. I started collecting photos by the hundreds and working from them (almost exclusively). The subjects were quiet, they didn't criticize or have anything snide to say, the material held secret stories that I could ignore, rework and make my own. Working from photographs gave me the leeway to experiment and try. There is/was no right, there is/ was no wrong. Working from photos has given me the flexibility to work when I can, rework when I need to, experiment with as much courage as I can muster and learn one of my top rules in art: it's all fixable.

Working from photos has also given me room to work in somewhat cowardly conditions - I don't have to go outside and talk to people. I can buffer myself from the outside world and hide in my studio or apartment and keep myself protected from unwanted criticism. That need to protect myself and stay hidden away has given me the freedom to grow and change and develop my work without leaving myself prone to distractions. I really don't need to take myself outside the studio and open myself up to other people's criticisms. I don't need to be audience to other people's emotional monsters, to hear people say my work is triumphant or that I may be failing. I am, on the whole, confident in my content, style, techniques and purpose..... but I am also fully capable and overly qualified to grind myself into the ground all on my own.

That said - anyone can try. Anyone can pick up a brush or a welding tool or a pen or develop a concept. Anyone. And I encourage EVERYONE to try. Everyone should try everything they can because one day you won't even have the option to participate and apply yourself. BUT....the line in the sand, the difference between hobbiest and actual artist, however, is the jump between the person who is willing to attempt to try and the person who is willing to dedicate themselves to the obessive nature of  DOING - support or no support, failure or triumph, I am stalwart in my belief that success is in DOING.



DO.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Entry 39: On my head

I have a tendancy to move my paintings around the studio - placing them upside down, sideways, and at odd angles with the lights on, with the lights dimmed, with limited light and sometimes in other spaces so I can refresh my point of view. Providing myself with a fresh point of view gives me the opportunity to ensure balance in the work and make sure my head and eyes don't focus on and obsess on any one point in the painting.

Poor Kusama - on her head in studio.
 


  • To visit my video series on painting, the philosohpies behind producing artwork, the ups and downs of being an artist, and other info visit my Studio 120, my channel on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/La102438
For info on the Kusama piece or any of the work shown on my blog contact
Eden Fine Art, NYC:
(212) 888-0177

Entry 38: It's all fixable

The thing is - not every painting comes out "right" after leaving the gate. There's a lot of tweaking and re-tweaking and playing around to get even the best laid plans to work. Here's a really good example of a painting in play:


Am happy with the overall painting...but not happy with her the right side of her face.
If I keep my hand covering it, no one will ever know. 

The overall balance and design is good but her face....what is going on with that face???  it's just odd....not even emo/creepy odd just odd. Something has slipped between the right side and the left -could be the light and shadows are off...?

Okay, love it from this angle.

  • From my Youtube series Studio 120: video entry #30 - about how frustrating an incorrect paintng can be and how to fix it because it's all fixable.


Sharing pictures of the painting (or any painting) at this stage is difficult for me. I see all the embarrassing mistakes, I see everything that isn't right. But posting and sharing gives me the opportunity to see my work clearly and remind myself of a very important rule in painting: It's all fixable.

To see the process and progress of the face of this little girl from beginning to finished end visit:



To purchase this painting
or for info on any of the work shown on my blog please contact:
 Eden Fine Art, NYC:
(212) 888-0177


Monday, February 11, 2013

Entry37: A (water) rabbit in 2013: Year of (black water) snake

Well, it's here - the Chinese new year and it's sign: the black water snake. It's not a bad thing, not a good thing, it's just a thing.  Apparently, the snake is ambivalent towards my Chinese zodiac sign: rabbit. The belief is - rabbit and snake meet, sniff at each other and move on our merry way. Not exactly epic, year of the dragon stuff but at least it's not an animal (year) where I my little sign is destined to be eaten alive.

I've decided to view the snake's ambivalence towards rabbit as an opportunity. I'm hoping I can fly under the radar long enough to not only scoot out far ahead of the game but take off and reach my goals with out failure, tragedy or injury.

Game on water snake....game on.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Entry 36: Pre Nemo, post working - painting a portrait of Yayoi Kasuma

So we had a massive storm named Nemo (or Omen) blow thru New England this weekend that knocked out power but before the snow brought modern life came to a grinding hault, here's what we got done in studio before said snow came to town:


 
Friend and fellow artist Andy Tedesco came in an generously stretched a couple canvas'.


Visit Andy on his Facebook page:
Bad Andy Art
http://www.facebook.com/bad.andy.art?ref=stream


48" x 60" canvas prepped and ready to start portrait of artist Yayoi Kasuma.
 


Although I don't do portraits very often,
I am just crazy about Yayoi Kusama. Her look and the more I learn about her creates a feeling of kinship and understanding.
However, she holds a level of bravery beyond anything I could ever posses.
 

https://www.yayoi-kusama.jp/e/information/index.html
 

Basic colors and over all design finished, next comes layering of more color but the oils will have to sit for a few days before I can go any further



Cannot wait to get back in and work at adding layers of blues and oranges, reds and greens to this - looking forward to making her colors pop!


Hangin' with the great Yayoi Kasuma in my studio.
Learn more about Kusama thru her 2012 documentary on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRZR3nsiIeA
 
To see more on painting Kasuma please visit Studio 120 - a video series on painting, the philosophies behind developing artwork and painting, and creating in spite of fear on Youtube.


Videos devoted to painting Kusama include:



All work available exclusively thru:
Eden Fine Art
Call :(212) 888-0177 for details

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Entry 35: A couple of post flu videos


These two videos may be proof....I am just that side of nuts.

Both videos conatin content on creating work, organization, working in a meditative mode to create flow, and preparation. One is failry coherent, the other is presented in a slightly confused, distracted and babbly manner. Let's blame it on the flu.


Tauton artist Andy (Andrew Tedesco) visitied the other day and was kind enough to stretch.
Yay, friends!

 
From my video series Studio 120 on Youtube:
Video #21: Yay! New canvas.
 
 

Content: Prepping to paint on newly stretched canvas, being jammed up, painting with energy, how I set up paintings, blah, blah, blah. Mentioned in video: artist Andrew Tedesco (Bad Andy Art); Soho Art Materials, NYC; my neighbor/carpenter Angelo.



Stack of stretchers (5' to approx 9')  ready to go.
Studio 120: A babbly, post flu chat on preperation, organization and getting work to flow presented in a slightly confused, distracted and babbly manner. Okay, I think this one proves my synapse and electrons don't always connect.


Oh well, there we are: (Let's blame it on the flu)

 

Mentioned in both videos: