PAUL JACKSON, aws, nws

"Muse" 27x56" watercolor by Paul Jackson

2012-01-20T09:19:00.002-06:00

My first painting of 2012 is a bit of a diversion from series past. I have a muse that inspires me to paint and I must follow the whims in my heart.

This latest watercolor was censored from Facebook already...although I'm not sure why. If it offends you...don't look. :) (I reposted!)

Personally I think it is a rather conservative study of a beautiful female form, but some people are appalled that a woman isn't covered from head to toe. Please just delete me from your friend's list if you can't take it. Then rush right out to a museum and culture yourself.

The human body is a masterpiece, in any form, in any condition. We're all stuck with one for a very short time, like it or not. Embrace it, love it, appreciate the complexities and celebrate the nuances! The human form is a work of art.

Ballroom Dancers

2011-12-21T17:27:00.000-06:00

I love time in the studio for massive projects! I just completed this diptych watercolor for a formal dining room in Baton Rouge, LA. The collectors are very good friends and have built an exquisite place for these paintings. I believe they will truly make the walls come alive. :)

Following the Fall

2011-11-12T15:13:00.001-06:00

Arriving home from India in late October, I expected Missouri's fall colors to have faded and fallen, but I was greeted with ten days of gorgeous landscape before the rain and wind brought winter's first icy blast and ushered in the decline of the fall.

Our timing was perfect as we drove out of the Midwest, following the traces of Autumn through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and down through the Florida panhandle. The tall pines take over in Alabama, but there are still a few deciduous trees to splash warm colors into the dull green palette that is the Southern landscape's winter wardrobe.

Where the warm Gulf breezes meet the winter wind that blew us in, a zone of perfect weather exists to feed the butterflies and hummingbirds before their migration across the water to Mexico. Just along the coast I found Plumeria and deep sunsets to replace the colors of Fall.

It is a true joy (and a miracle of planning) to be able to extend the season of color by traveling with the tilt of the Earth's axis to be in the best places at just the right moments. It's not always possible, but when we can we take full advantage of our nomadic lifestyle. Adventure on!

Kolkata - Lasting impressions

2011-11-05T11:28:00.004-05:00

Kolkata, India was not on my bucket list, but I never pass up an opportunity for adventure, so I accepted the invitation to the International Art Meet Kolkata. As I did homework to learn about my destination I read a lot of negative impressions and found few photos enticing me to go, but I guessed there might be more to the picture than easily accessed online.

Not high on the list of India's tourist destinations, Kolkata's treasure is in it's people and their attitudes rather than a roster of tourist sites. The friends that I made were the ultimate reward for the chance taken. Of course there were a million visual rewards and inspirations to paint as well. I expect to be painting ideas from India over the next few months.

During the Art Meet I completed a few paintings, and a I finished a couple of them at home. The paintings I finished in Kolkata are now part of corporate collections there. The more complicated work just needed a few extra hours of time in my studio. I call this one "The Colors of Kolkata"

Any expectations I had for my visit to Calcutta were far exceeded. My passion for adventure burns even brighter, my reservoirs of inspiration filled to overflowing and my list of friends even richer. Thank you to Babita and Atinku Das for being such amazing hosts and to the new friends who welcomed me to India and shared this great adventure.

Departing Friends

2011-10-27T02:40:00.000-05:00

As the International Art Meet in Kolkata winds down, each artist is catching their departure flight. They have disappeared one by one over the last two days. It is sad to see them go. I am already missing all of my new friends already. Some have already reached home. I still have another day in Kolkata to soak in the sites, but it will definitely not be the same experience without the other artists. I will miss them all until we meet again!

Painting Honey Badgers for Diwali

2011-10-27T01:20:00.002-05:00

Diwali is upon us and the sculpture streets in Kolkata are crammed full of all sorts of artistic creations that will eventually wind up in the Ganges river. Diwali is the festival of lights where Kali Ma kills the bad demons and then goes wild and is put under control by her husband laying down in front of her. When she steps on her husband, she realizes her mistake and sticks out her tongue. He husband's pet cobra is on hand, and the honey badger is eating the demons blood. (at least that is the way my buddy, "Short-round" has explained it to me.) Ha!

Picking Faces Out of the Crowd

2011-10-27T01:20:00.001-05:00

Everywhere our artist crew goes in Calcutta there is a crowd. The kids especially love recognizing us from the posters scattered around the city, picking each out by the poster images of ourselves. What a fun game!

Boom and Bust - Diwali

2011-10-27T01:20:00.000-05:00

Fireworks are going off every few minutes tonight. It seems like its just the neighborhood kids making noise in advance of the Diwali celebration. Been there, done that. Almost feels like a war zone. The booms are getting louder. Might be hard to sleep tonight. They apparently like the kind of firework that creates the biggest boom. Personally I was more attracted to the Cobra shaped fireworks that just hiss and wiggle, but maybe I'm just showing my age. it's a lot like the third of July tonight, but being in a foreign city, it makes me a little nervous to get out. I'm definitely going to be out to see the lights for the big show tomorrow though!

Happy Diwali!

2011-10-27T01:19:00.000-05:00

It's 6:00 am in Kolkata and the jungle drums have begun! The sound is vaguely reminiscent of band practice on fall mornings before football games back home. I'm pretty sure they don't start this early at home though! The festival has officially begun and I plan to take in as much of the chaos as possible. This morning I am out for a walk with my friend Arub, a local photographer who is showing me the cool places to see. It's going to be a colorful day in the city of Joy!

Painting skeletons

2011-10-27T01:18:00.000-05:00

You would assume these were for Halloween if you grew up in my neighborhood, but in Calcutta they are also part if the Diwali festival of lights. I'm not sure exactly what role they play, but they sure looked cool in this setting!

Mother Teresa's Sisters

2011-10-24T09:41:00.000-05:00

One amazing event follows the next! I wandered into a gathering of Sisters from Mother House...as in Mother Teresa! Kolkata is holds just one surprise after another for the wandering watercolorist!

Artistic Diplomacy

2011-10-24T09:04:00.000-05:00

The American is always singled out. At the conclusion of the UN conference, I was asked to be photographed with the Russian Consul. Of course I asked him where he kept the vodka, :)

Rescued by friends

2011-10-24T08:28:00.000-05:00

Well, it's truly a meeting of the United Nations now! My artist friends attending the International Art Meet Kolkata came looking for me and stumbled into the same debacle. There are so many of us, they asked us to introduce ourselves. Artists from Egypt, Malaysia, Kenya and Lithuania have joined me and me as official delegates from our countries for the United Nations Day round table. If only the world's nations could bond as we artists have, peace would prevail on earth!

7 billion people

2011-10-24T08:01:00.000-05:00

At this UN meeting they are speaking about the 7 billionth person on planet earth, who will be born any day now. Two billion people live on less than $2 a day. Fortunately they are also addressing climate change and armed conflicts.

Whoops! Stumbled into a meeting of the UN at the Russian Consulate

2011-10-24T07:56:00.000-05:00

H.E. Vladimir V Lazarev, consul general of the Russian Federation in Kolkata and the Indian UN Chairman, Sitaram Sharma are sitting across the table from me at a UN meeting at the Russian Consuiate that I'm not even supposed to be at! My face and language barrier got me accidentally escorted in as a UN delegate! I was supposed to meet my group for an event, probably next door, but now that I am seated here, I can't find a way to gracefully exit!

Mob scene

2011-10-24T05:23:00.000-05:00

We stopped in a neighborhood in Kolkata close to Mother Theresa's home. Instantly we were surrounded by 50 or more people. We had to retreat to the car just for a tiny bit of personal space. It didn't feel dangerous, but the horde of curious locals was just too anxious to touch and look us over. We continued to make friends from inside the car.
Definitely an experience none of us will soon forget.

Dhanterras celebration

2011-10-24T02:13:00.000-05:00

The day before the day before Diwali, (the festival of lights), is the Dhanterras celebration where if you buy something gold or silver then good luck will he coming to your household soon. Honey, would you like a necklace? :)

Temples

2011-10-23T06:02:00.000-05:00

I love the architecture of these old temples! The modern world has done away with lavish architectural detail in favor of cleaner lines and cost savings. Personally, i find most modern buildings boring. I'm waiting in line to get into this place now and can hardly wait!

Colors of the World

2011-10-22T23:13:00.000-05:00

The Times of India had a nice article on us yesterday. I am part of the three-headed man in the background, obviously photo-bombing' a typical "fake like you are painting" pose that some newspaper photographers think look perfectly natural. :)

Indian Art Supply store

2011-10-20T22:22:00.000-05:00

Trying to find art supplies in Kolkata is an adventure in itself. We ran across an crammed little shop that had everything we needed though. All of the artists from the International Art Meet were so captivated by the various offerings that it took hours to get them all out of the store. I'm certain we'll be going back soon though. It was just too much fun. We are like kids in a candy store!

IMG_4991

Painting with the children of Calcutta

2011-10-19T22:32:00.000-05:00

Today all of the international artists worked with school children in Calcutta. I haven't signed that many autographs since my event in China a few years ago. The other artists are amazing and so much fun getting to know. I love the Lithuanians....who keep me up late at night, the Egyptians...who always have a huge smile, the beautiful artists from Denmark and Sweden...who are quick witted and funny, the Italian...who wears the coolest shoes, the Tunisians...who sing to each other, the Kenyan...who has a laugh that is infectious, the Argentinian....who is too much fun! and the Indians....who have been such amazing hosts! All are forming amazing friendships and connections.

Just for me!?

2011-10-19T21:37:00.001-05:00

Tonight's event was a complete surprise and I pretty much felt it was
just for the crazy American watercolorist. :) We went to a Doors
tribute concert that totally rocked! We danced and sang until we were
completely soaked. (Pretty tropical in Kolkata still). I was even given the guitarist's pick at the
end....probably for being the only American who knew how to scream at
just the right times when you are at a Doors concert. I felt like I
was a teenager all over again! :)

The Victoria Memorial

2011-10-19T19:23:00.006-05:00

Today we were driven up to the Victoria Memorial. It is normally
closed to only foot traffic, but our hosts got special permission because
they wanted us to feel like Queen Elizabeth as she approached her
Kolkata palace. There was an exhibition of watercolors there that was
quite impressive, as were the normal exhibits. What a treat! I love
museum hopping!

The five-star treatment

2011-10-19T19:23:00.005-05:00

After Museum hopping all morning, we were treated to a private club
where we were pampered like royalty, played like children and feasted
like kings! It was a sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle we have
come to know on the streets of Kolkata. We played ping-pong, badminton
and learned a new game called Carrum. Afterwards we were fed the most
incredible lunch I have ever had. The chef was as good as any I have
ever experienced.

The India National Museum

2011-10-19T19:23:00.002-05:00

Very much like the Museum of Natural History in NY, the India National
Museum was filled with treasures from all over India. There were
ancient sculptures, fossilized elephants and a great display of all
the animals of India. I was particularly fond of the Cobra! :)