Monday, October 6, 2014

Studying Modigliani

The Magical Journals have traveled the full circle.

Here is the last journal that I will do (until next time).
It belongs to Priti Lisa and went off in the mail to her today.
Her artist is Amedeo Modigliani, and as I thought,
he was not easy! But every one of the artists chosen 
were or are masters of their techniques, 
so how could they not be difficult to emulate?!

This is a photo transfer of a portrait of Modigliani.
He was a handsome man with very regular features,
so other than the part of his hair being on the wrong side, 
I don't think it's too obvious that the picture is reversed.
I like this quote, although it could be interpreted 
as being rather self indulgent. But maybe a lot of artists'
self indulgence allows them to do their best work.


Who was Modigliani speaking of when he said this?
Was it Jeanne Hébuterne, his lover and mother of his child?
Or the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova who influenced the course of his art? 
Anna outlived him by many years and died an old woman.
Jeanne Hébuterne, pregnant with their second child,
stepped out of a fifth floor window a day after the death 
of Modigliani from tuberculosis at the age of 35. 
Jeanne was only 20 years old and died along with her unborn child.


Lisa's book is square (or almost square?). I don't know why I chose to
use the full length of the folded pages, except that Modigliani's
figures are always elongated, especially the faces.
Somehow it seemed like the thing to do.

I hate it when I make stupid mistakes.
I'm so irritated that the words,
"Never stop dreaming" are facing the wrong way.
They should have faced the same way as the quote
under the portrait since they are partially visible
when the pages are folded.

The fact that the pages were all unbound this time
has thrown me off again. Maybe I have some
syndrome like dyslexia that doesn't allow me to 
visualize how the pages will appear in a bound book.
I'm always putting the fold on the wrong side.
Or something like these flipped letters.
I hope Lisa can make the best of it when she binds the book!

I'm so looking forward to seeing my own journal,
filled with art in the style of José Manuel Merello.
Blog post coming on that, for sure!
Signature

8 comments:

  1. Maggie, somehow, with each of the artists, you never lose your essence.
    These paintings are beautiful and soulful and seemingly simple
    (although I know they are not, lol)
    I just love the angel {and her short skirt) and the quote...
    and the next...what a perfect chair! the 3D aspect is always a challenge for me,
    and the quote, like the balloon is floating upwards, just as I imagine dreams do.
    100% perfect! Thank you so much for all of the Magpie Art you have gifted
    me with over the years...these pages however are my favorites!
    ♥ ♥ ♥

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maggie,
    I just love the angel and the serious face... reminded me so of the artist and more so of Lisa's art. You have managed to conquer every artist with your own beautiful style. Brilliant idea for the transfer photo and I so admire your printing, another thing that both you and Lisa do so well. As far as the quote placement, I am a bit challenged myself, I think the artist mind borders on abnormal anyway! :) It all looks perfect to me!
    XO

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just a question here, I saw the Mermaid Circus on your side bar? Are going? I would practically give my right arm (well, the left one..so I could still do art) , to go. ... maybe late, better than never?
    We'll see. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love that you used full length pages for your art. It is perfect for Modigliani's elongated style. This art is beautiful as always. What a joy it has been for me to share art with you this way. Fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Gemma!
      I obviously don't refresh my blog page often enough, I just saw your comment this morning. I really enjoyed this swap. It was cool that I got to see everyone's pages in Priti's journal!

      Delete
  5. Thank you both, Priti and Kim! I'm such a big fan of both of your work!

    Priti, I hope you love your whole journal when you receive it ~ I think you will!

    Kim, I'm tending to agree with you about artists and abnormal minds! Speaking from my own experience...lol. I sent you an email about Mermaid Circus...hope I had the right address.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ha Maggie - I have to confess that one of the pages I did for Tammy was upside down! I was planning on feathers coming UP from the ground, but now they are falling DOWN from the ceiling!! I was called to use full length for Modigliani too. Love what you did - especially that elegant lady in the chair. I felt so saddened when I did my work on Modigliani and read his tragic story. What a waste of talent. Poor Jeanne, she must have been totally heartbroken. If only she had had someone to turn to for help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lisa!
      I'm glad I'm not the only one who was challenged by the loose pages :-)
      I feel so sorry for Jeanne also. I know her parents were totally against her relationship with Modigliani and were very unsupportive. I can't imagine how cold they must have been considering there were grandchildren involved. They refused to take the surviving granddaughter, and she went to live with Modigliani's sister, I believe. Poor her, too :-(
      One of the best things about this year's journal swap was the opportunity to learn about each artist. I really enjoyed their stories even though some were sad.

      Delete

I always love to hear what you have to say! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!