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LinkedIn Fecha: 21/07/2012    Things in Common......... GABRIEL, Buenos Dias!! Boy oh boy, lady-- that was a thousand years ago at least-- my days in Miami were days of youthful adventure , writing poetry and "auditing" art classes at UM doing a little painting which I framed with boards from my landlord's fence. Massin stirred me up and met some others. Did not know of the Massin- Sequeros connection but I can see it! I wound up in San Miguel and was there for an indefinite -- rather hazy period. Sorry but can't register on Al Vranas, however, Scornavacca's name stirs couple of synapses. Gabriel, take a look at my website and page on art restoration/conservation and other goodies. Address-- mcartplus.com Tell me what you think. I'll do my best to answer answer any ??? you might have and thanx for reviving so many fading memories. Yours, STEVE McLACHLIN Both Steve and I had the same art teacher and mentor at

Walking In The Natural World.......

 Yesterday was a day out in nature. My biologist friend invited me to a place about 2 1/2 hours from Queretaro, Mexico, out in the boonies called El Peral, located at the end of the road behind Zamorano mountain between the  states of Queretaro and Guanajuato. We went to the back, or north side, from where we live, thanks to Google earth, where one can look up  and find these remote areas.  We go and  observe, study, take readings, collect, and set traps, mostly for insects, since Robert is an Entomologist, a bicho man. Bicho is the slang word for Bug in español, his specialty is weavels. Lately we've been having a lot of rain in the area, so a local person as our guide tooks us to see a beautiful water fall, about 80 meters, in a beautiful setting with huge boulders and beautiful wild flowers around, one in particular that struck me ,was in a shade of a cobalt blue- with a dab of violet, an  incredible color .  The person who took us on this magical excursion told us and

GREAT THOUGHTS = GREAT MINDS

 Great mind = great thoughts Gabri, Your notes are full of charm and an elegance that tastes like fine wine for my tired and distracted mind... thank you, whatever the reason you chose to look up my profile and write to me at all. I long for rain the rich scent of forest and the sea. :) I envy your trips with your Biologist friend, sounds like wonderful simplicity, not least being able to share ideas with such tactile presence. I knew I missed this... your notes remind how much.... I don't mind if you ramble or brainstorm, be random as you please... it's lovely, it somehow gives me a sense of being in a studio with you...and you talk your thoughts out loud to me as you work.. :)) It's funny that I receive your messages at a time where I feel compelled to paint, where I feel so deeply drawn to the process and have already been considering putting a brush to canvas.. I have too a pile of rough marble stones from a trip I made a few years back to the Carrara mountain

CONCEPTS,NOTES AND THOUGHTS ABOUT MY ART

Concepts, Notes and Thoughts about my art.                                         June -July 2012 How would you define your style or art? The lengthy introduction above had a serious point. I wished to show that I question all aspects of art, and especially painting. I intentionally choose to paint, in the Western tradition, instead of working in the so-called New Media, creating installations, performance art, ready mades, etc. I think that there still is mileage in the Western tradition of painting. I see my work as totally experimental and a kind of serious research. Not merely in a cerebral or rational manner, but first of all on a sub-conscious level, exploring how we think about life, objects,  feelings & emotions and how we perceive them, and subjective stuff,...  etc I work piecemeal, slow sometimes fast and  something like a philosopher, exploring every detail of the process of painting, bit by bit. Some of these bits are developed into different series of p

SMALL PAINTINGS, BUT YET POWERFUL IMAGES

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I began this series of small abstract  paintings while teaching at the MAQ Museo de Arte in Queretaro, Mexico.  I started a collection of different size cards announcing  art openings  from all the different cultural centers, museums and art galleries, both in Queretaro and San Miguel Allende area. I accumulated hundreds over a five year period and they were every where around my studio tables and I began using them as palettes where I would mix colors when painting. After a while amazing interesting and provocative images  from accidents, drips, smears, brush strokes,collage ,mono printing and color transfers...that began to interest me tremendously. I saw a great potential and venue  for me  to move away from my minimalist work to a more spontaneous and improvisational approach. At this point they are Untitled pieces  and I think I will Not title them. I want the viewer to finish the piece to interact and be more involved with the image ,rather than have  a title tha

ISSUES OF OUR DAY. NAME RECOGNITION AND PUTTING OURSELVES ON THE MAP....

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 A Major issue in todays faster and faster moving world, is how to get your name out there for people to begin to  take notice  of  you and be able to sell   your art  work.   GYST - has lots of free resources as well as a book for artists called "Gettng Your Sh*t Together" which has all the  info that our website has for free in case you like to read in bed. Here are some links to resources that should answer  some of your questions. Marketing:  http://www.gyst-ink.com/resources/marketing.php   Networking:  http://www.gyst-ink.com/resources/networking.php   The Web for Artists:  http://www.gyst-ink.com/resources/web.php Selling Your Work:  http://www.gyst-ink.com/resources/selling.php This should get you started. Also, check out GYST Radio IN MY OPNION There are  many Great Resources out there on the WEB, its mind boggling not to say darn frustrating and so time consuming. Many of us are at a loss and   lost,  even when  once

EXCEPTIONAL OLD MEXICAN MASK MUSEUM QUALITY FOR SALE

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Excellent Museum Quality Mask for Sale, U$ 3,000 0 Masks are a blend of painting and sculpture that dramatically reflect the creativity of different cultures.That's what appealed to me when I came to Mexico and saw the great and varied  masks from all regions of the country. This devil mask is more than fifty years old according to the Director and curator of the Mask Museum in Morelia ,Michoacan, who looked at it and said "I wish I had a mask like yours in our collection". This are is  rare  in that its  very large size,craftsmanship,excellent condition and the polycrome paint and finish on the piece.It is a very large mask with real male goat horns and a very expresive dragon /iguana on top of its head . The mask was  carved from large trunk of  soft wood from the state of Guerrero where the mask was also made. Masks since antiquity have been used by man for many reasons, for they serve as symbols in rites, festival, parades and other festive celebration

GRAFFITI INFLUENCE ....THE COLORS, FREE FORM ,LINES AND ORGANIC SHAPES....

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Since  I moved to Mexico I've travelled most of the country by road from Oaxaca to California.   I've seen tons of graffiti, murals and  bill-board street art on walls announcing   different  shows that had beautiful hand painted  designs,colors  and lettering. Some of these works remind me of that festive -carnavalesque spirit. Captiva acrylic on canvas 46 x 74 cm U$  1,000                                                         Leaps and Bounds                                                            acrylic on canvas                                                                46 x 74 cm                                                                    U$ 900                                                                  Serpentine                                                              acrylic on canvas                                                                  58 x 54 cm                    

READING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.....

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I like the Visual  Format of reading from top to bottom like a scroll. I've repeated both  images as I like to play with multiples.                                                          Abstract Compositions                                                                acrylic on canvas                                                       4 paintings each - 34 x 48 cm      U$ 600  each                                                              

CALLIGRAPHY : ABSTRACT SIGNS AND SYMBOLS SERIES

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As long as I can remember, signs and symbols have always attracted my imagination and curiosity.   My first real encounter  at the age of fifteen with Pre- Columbian Art, Cave Art, Rock Art, and Aborigenal Art, sold me out and ever since I have been fascinated by their sophisticated simplicity, design, color and expresiveness.  When  was a kid, I first got acquainted with  calligraphy thru  the beautiful neon  signs in  China- town of New York and I inmediately  loved them.  I found these signs  to be very Festive and colorful and had an impact on me visually.                                      Improvisation in Black,White,Red and Yellow                                                            Acrilic on 1/8" Masonite                                                                    70 x 68 cm                                                         Improvisation in Pink                                                         acrylic o