Chapter One: The Romance

I have recently been refining the narrative threads that weave through my current series of paintings about pirates Anne Bonny and Calico Jack.

Specifically, I have decided that the title of the series of thirteen paintings I am in the process of creating is 'Chapter One: The Romance.' The working title prior to this had simply been 'Anne Bonny,' which didn't seem complete or complex enough to me.

Of course, this title implies more chapters to come, each anchored in a personal contemporary archetype and played by myself. The series of four chapters will work together to create a metaphorical life cycle. The overarching title of all four parts is simply 'Perfection.'

For now, in Chapter One: The Romance, I am focusing on the love affair between Calico Jack and Anne Bonny: devotion, fierce love and the unity of their combined power is the subject matter at hand.

Romeo and Juliet

This year, 2011, is the year of Anne Bonny and Calico Jack. Yet even as I embark upon the making of the ten paintings that will comprise this series, I am thinking ahead to new possibilities for bodies of work.

I have always wanted to do a project around Romeo and Juliet, and as research and inspiration, have been rewatching Baz Luhrman's film over the past few days. Here are a few of the images I love from his vision of Shakespeare's tragic love story.

a work in progress: However Far Away I Will Always Love You

58 x 40", made using Pitt brush-tipped pens.

Want to share a few work-in-progress shots, taken using the camera on my phone. I'll re-photo the piece with a better camera when finished for my site ..

Really enjoying making this one. The title comes from the Cure's Lovesong.

new website content, and a new focus

It has been a long time since I've updated this blog. Almost a year. In that time, I suffered through a creative void .. life got in the way, I guess. An end to a very important relationship made me lose sight of my love of painting for a while.

But. I'm back. And I promise to add thoughts, ideas and inspiration to this blog in the coming months.

First off, I spent the day updating my website, adding words to describe images, and some new work as well. Please check it out: http://anniesimpson.com.

Secondly, I am determined to bring a new focus and energy to my creative practice, and I'll write about that here. I've started working through Jackie Battenfield's book 'The Artist's Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love,' and I'm hoping it has the same inspirational effect 'The Artist's Way' did ..

More to come.
AS

studio visit with Sina Najafi

I have a studio visit this Wednesday, March 10, with Sina Najafi, founder and editor of Cabinet magazine. He is visiting Austin as part of the Arthouse Visiting Lecturer Series and Studio Visit Program. He will also be lecturing on Thursday evening at 7pm at the George Washington Carver Museum.

I will take notes and perhaps post some of his thoughts on my work here.

2010 Hunting Art Prize press release

Officially released on February 4, 2010:
http://www.huntingartprize.com/news/press-release32.html

2010 Hunting Art Prize

I found out today that I'm moving on to the Jury II for the 2010 Hunting Art Prize competition: http://www.huntingartprize.com

The piece I submitted was Sarah (above), oil on canvas, 19 x 29", 2007.