Culture Pop

Posted on by Thor

On November 8th, I exhibited a sketch at the Maitland Art Center (231 W. Packwood Avenue, Maitland FL.) Devin Dominguez had the unique idea of exhibiting art on clothes lines in the museum’s courtyard. Since there was no charge to the artists, I submitted a sketch for the evening. My sketch was on the right hand clothesline in that inverted pyramid stand.

The evening included music, poetry from Maitland Poets and Writers, and food from Gator County BBQ Food Truck and of course cocktails. The Art and History Museum’s Main Galleries will were open for guests to enjoy A Day in the Life of the Research Studio and shop at the Museum Store. Terry stopped out, excited to hear local author Naomi Butterfield read. Inside the Art Center, there was an exhibit by the first artist in residence in 56 years,  Josette Urso from Brooklyn New York. This is the first formal,
nationally competitive Residency program at the Art and History Center since
Smith’s fellowship program, which was funded by Mary Curtis Bok from
1938 through 1957. Several of Josette’s pen and ink drawings were absolutely stunning. I should have bought one. All the sketches and drawings were done around the Maitland Museum property, having the Mayan motifs. Other work was more abstract. It was a really good exhibition.

We ran in to a former colleague of Terry’s who was exhibiting several photos of horses. The plan was to stay until the event closed and then take the sketch home that night, but after watching several readings, Terry wanted to go out to get some dinner. We ended up getting some fast food. I picked up my art a week later.

Plein Air Paint Day with Josette Urso

Posted on by Thor

The Maitland Art and History Center‘s new Artist-In-Residence Josette Urso, from Brooklyn New York, began her
residency on April 28. Her residency continued through June 2. The
program honors the legacy of founder J. André Smith, and the 75th
anniversary of the Research Studio’s (now the Art and History
Museums of Maitland) first Bok Fellow. This is the first formal,
nationally competitive Residency program at the Art and History Center since
Smith’s fellowship program, which was funded by Mary Curtis Bok from
1938 through 1957. During her tenure, Urso will work
in her studio and paint plein air, affording visitors an opportunity to
see her create throughout campus.

On Saturday, May 11th, from 10 AM to 1 PM, Josette Urso held an official Plein Air Paint Day at the Maitland Art Center (231 W Packwood Ave, Maitland, FL). Painters from around Central Florida were encouraged to come and create alongside Urso. She showed us the tools and techniques she uses to create her widely-collected paintings. This program was FREE and the public was encouraged to attend.

Josette showed us a color wheel and explained how a limited palette could unify a painting. She had some empty slide casings which she said could help a beginner to see a composition. She said in a workshop she taught in Taiwan, several students taped the slide casings to the brim of their baseball caps.  She explained the importance of thumbnail drawings and she demonstrated a thumbnail sketch using as few lines as possible. We then went off to do our own thumbnails. I excitedly sketched the fifteen or so students around me as they sketched architectural details or foliage. I knew artist Chere Force and Lynn Whipple. I checked out other artists progress and then returned to my own work.

The next step took me outside my comfort zone. We had to pick a thumbnail sketch, and work it  up as a larger painting without using line. My primary issue seemed to be that my brush was to small to put down satisfying bold blocks of color. I found that my two color studies were done before the class was over so I couldn’t resist putting in a few sensual lines afterwards. It was a fun workshop and I’m thinking I might work faster with my daily sketches by focusing on large washes first. The issue I’ve had is that the pens I use die the second they touch water. If I can find a good fountain pen, that might solve that problem. An even bolder decision would be to give up the pen all together. Time and daily experimentation will tell.

Josette Urso

Posted on by Thor

Josette Urso is a Brooklyn based artist who has been invited to come down for a residency at the Maitland Art Center.  Her residency runs from April 28 through June 2nd. This residency program has been resurrected after about a 30 year hiatus. lt was part of J. Andre Smith‘s vision to bring accomplished artists to Florida where they could recharge their creative batteries. Past artists of national prominence,  who were residents here included Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford, Doris Lee, Boris Margo and Teng Chiu.

Josette offered a presentation of her work in the Germaine Marvel Building on the Maitland Art Center Campus. I was one of the first people to arrive. I had been in contact with Josette because I hoped to sketch her at work and learn about her process. This talk was a perfect way to truly meet the artist. She talks with passion and excitement about her art which is accomplished and branches in multiple directions. What was most exciting was that her work has a sense of play as she experiments in various mediums.

Some of the earliest work was collage arranged in circles. Intricate images inhabited tiny squares within the over all design. They were like Madella’s or kaleidoscopes with vibrant color. She collects UPC codes and these linear patterns adorned one of the circular motifs. The image she was working on was huge and she ran out of UPC codes. Most people go to their neighbors perhaps for a cup of sugar but she turned to her neighbors for codes.

When she showed her Urban drawings, I was inspired. One sketch was of a Bushwick building rooftop with a flock of pigeons moving as a dark mass above the building. She thought the pigeons would always be there but the coup was closed down. The drawing was done with a child’s pen she had purchased in Taiwan. The ink is beginning to fade along with the inspiring memory of the flock. She would visit other artist’s studios and sketch the amazing views.

Her paintings border on the abstract yet are grounded in direct observation. She likes to get lost in the process moving around the page and is surprised when it all lines up. One action always leads to another. Her paintings pose questions not offering just answers. Different tools inspire different images. An ink sketch can’t be erased yet an oil painting can be kept in a constant state of flux. Here in Maitland she is working plein air getting her inspirations from the gardens around the museum. She admitted that the Florida sun had tapped her energy. Someone needs to bring this woman a big straw wide brimmed hat.

On Saturday, May 11, from 10 AM to 1 PM,the Art and History Museum will hold an official Plein Air Paint Day with Josette Urso. Painters from around Central Florida are encouraged to come and create alongside Urso. Guests will discover the tools and techniques Urso uses to create her widely-collected paintings, as they enjoy the beauty of the A&H’s Maitland Art Center campus. This program is FREE and the public is encouraged to attend.