The Lisa

This is "The Lisa."  I loved painting the fabric.  The Lisa is a big painting, 2 meters wide.  You can see the painting in progress in the second picture (that's me, taking a coffee break), and some details of the painting in the close-up images below that.  The painting is done by palette knife.  This may be my favorite painting of the year.

Rothko counts to three

Rothko Counts to Three
Oil and gypsum on linen
30x24 cm (14x11 inches)

Yellow screen

Oil on linen
50x40 cm

I have a backlog of paintings to post!  (Detail of the painting, below.)

Green Lines I

Oil on linen
120x100 cm. (About 4 by 3 feet)



Another big painting with a theme of woven green lines (brushstrokes.) 

Blue field

Oil on linen
120x100 cm. (About 4 by 3 feet)




Another big abstract painting. Influences include Mark Rothko and Kresimir Niksic.  

Blue fields

Blue fields
Oil on linen
50 x 40 cm (23 x 18 inches)

Blue Fields is a playful artwork about color and texture.

Open House Saturday December 11

Green Layers 2;
Gypsum and Oil on panel;
About 20 by 19 inches;

Saturday, December 11 · 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Location: Atelier Erik R. Hagen
Parkweg 9A

Join me as I prepare for new artwork in 2011.  Out with the old inventory to make room for the new

Blue

Oil on linen
100x120 cm. (About 3 by 4 feet)


Blue was painted outdoors a few months ago: I have a backlog of paintings to post to this site! 

Invitation to a gallery opening, November 7

Sunday, November 7 · 3:00pm - 6:00pm

The Gallery Upstairs

Herenstraat 18B

Rijswijk, Netherlands

As you can see, I've been busy working on this gigantic painting, and getting ready for an opening in November.  Please come, and share this invite with your friends!  If you are in the states, hopefully someday the show will swing through your hometown.  For my Dutch friends, I hope to see you there.

The name of the Exhibit is "Exploring Beauty." Women from Europe and America share stories of self-love and body image in a photo and painting exhibition, beginning 7 November, at The Gallery Upstairs in Rijswijk. The exhibition will be opened by the Mayor of Rijswijk, Burgemeester Ineke van der Wel at 3:00, and there will be live music (soprano Liat Alkan Heymann and her colleague Silvia da Silva will sing a capella). The exhibit is a part of the national Kunstweek, 6-16 November 2010.  There will be selections from the Antwerp show as well as new images. You'll also see some familiar faces who volunteered for the project.

The exhibit runs from November 6 through 25, and is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00, and on Saturdays from noon until 4:00. For further information, please visit www.exploringbeauty.org. Also feel free to pass along this invite. See you there, Erik

Red Head, Green Eye, Purple Hat

92x62 cm (about 3 by 2 feet)

Oil on Canvas

I've painted this canvas over and over; you can see the many layers in it.  I finished this painting about a month ago, in  time for the open studio.  Keep tuned, there will be another open studio in December!

North Sea, stormy winter morning

Oil on canvas
80 x 60 cm

This painting was done in the studio, and is based on a smaller oil painting sketch done out in the cold, windy, and rainy winter morning.  In the original setting, the temperature was a little above freezing,  the wind was about 50 or so mph, and the rain and sand blew off the beach into my eyes and pallet.  You can still feel the sand in the original painting.  Sometimes, it really is more pleasant to paint indoors.

Green and red fields

This is a bigger painting, about 70 by 90 centimeters.

Thanks to all who came out to the open atelier on Saturday!

Olive Grove and hills, Tuscany mid July

This is a larger painting, about 2 by 3 feet (70 x 90 cm). It is inspired by my painting trip to Italy last year and was made in my studio. It is based on photographs and from oil paintings made in the field.

Green and yellow fields

Green and Yellow fields, Oil and gypsum on linen.  120x100 cm. (About 4 by 3 feet)

Mark Rothko made big, simple paintings, usually two rectangles floating in a field of color.  While this piece does not directly refer to Rothko's paintings, I consider it to be inspired by his work.  Rothko has given me the conceptual freedom, almost a sort of permission, to explore texture and color in oil paint. If he can get away with painting big rectangles, then I am allowed to paint anything.  Regardless of whether my spouse likes the finished result.

The following is an excerpt from my website: 

My abstract paintings are an exploration of the oil paint as material, and are informed by my study of ceramics. Every action leaves a mark on the canvas, as with clay. I enjoy making these physical painting, especially the big ones. I usually work on them while they lie flat on the ground. I built up the canvas with layers of paint using brushes and pallete knives, and take away paint using different sized scrapers, pallete knives, rags, and anything that comes to hand. When you look closely, you can see the layers upon layers of paint and can begin seeing which layers were placed first. Geologists, skilled at deciphering the sequence of geologic events in a cross sectional map of folded strata and fault lines, seem to enjoy these paintings.

Orchard near San Gimignano in July, Mid-day

This is a larger painting, about 2 by 3 feet (70 x 90 cm).  It is inspired by my painting trip to Italy last year and was made in my studio.  It  is based on photographs and from oil paintings made in the field.

I've recently posted some of my available inventory in an online gallery, see http://www.yessy.com/erikrhagen/ 

Tatiana, portrait in oil

 I've been working on this portrait for a few months.  I just finished last week, when Tatiana came to the studio for a sitting so that I could work a little bit more on her face.  It is my biggest painting to date.  The challenge was in getting the texture and feel of difficult materials like fur, hair, silk, jewels, flowers, fabric, etc.   

This painting was made to recognize the contribution of Tatiana to the Exploring Beauty project.  She is shown here next to the painting, where it hung at the exhibition in Antwerp.  Tatiana was the first model for the project, and so I wanted to recognize her courage for stepping forward.  The painting was made in secret and was a complete surprise!  

Below is Tatiana's interview, which was exhibited with the portrait at the exhibition:

I think all my life shows on my face.  And I’m very proud of that.  Pictures attract me when I see soul; I guess what the woman did with her life.  Was she happy in life?  You can see it on a face immediately.  I’m more satisfied with myself at 56, because I’m more beautiful than when I was younger.  I have life behind me.  Youth is the gift of nature, but age is the work of art. 

I’m proud to be in this project, not only to show worth, but also to show women they will be more proud and free after the exhibition, not upset about wrinkles on the face.  Together, as a group of women, I believe we can make a difference.  

God gave me body, but it was really tough work to preserve myself to this age!  So far I’ve lived a happy life, and I’m very happy and healthy.  What is very important is that, yes, I’m in love!  That’s what I wish every woman, to love and to be in love.  Because it is like some special glow. That’s what beauty is, when a woman glows.  

I was the first model and it makes me happy!  Maybe I show women not to be afraid, to go for it.  If you don’t try, you don’t live.  In Russia there is a saying: “If you don’t take a risk you will never drink champagne.”  So together we will go to Antwerp and drink champagne! 

Otwin portrait

This is a quick sketch in charcoal, about 20 minutes or so.  I really enjoy working with this model, he has such strong  features.  Fortunately, since I am the model coordinator, I get to choose the models.

Otwin

Two more sketches at the IAC. Great model.

30 minute sketch

I like this longer drawing from the same night.

a series of five minute sketches

These figures represent three five-minute sketches. As usual, I find that the best and freshest drawings are those done very quickly.

It's best not to be too attached to the drawing, or you will be afraid of wrecking it by going too far. Paradoxically, that fear can also ruin a drawing. If you are too timid, the drawing shows it.

Djoa

The first drawing is a quick sketch done at the International Art Club of The Hague, perhaps 15 or 20 minutes.   The second drawing is a more finished drawing of about 30 minutes.

These should have been posted last week, as last week's 'work of the week,' but I didn't have time to post the image.  I'm madly preparing for the opening in Antwerp in just a few weeks time, May 29. I am working on a large painting for the opening in Antwerp, also a portrait. I will share this portrait withy you here on May 29, to coincide with the opening and the official unveiling of the portrait.  I can't wait to share it with you all!

Li, charcoal sketches

The setting: the International Art Club The Hague, life portrait drawing class. My friend Li was the model for the day.  (The advantage of being the coordinator for the class is that I get to pick the models.)

I labored over the first two drawings of 25 minutes each. Then, we did a quick ten minute sketch, the first image shown here.  I didn't have time to overthink it. For me, the result somehow captures something of the character of the model, the warmth of the spring day, and the setting of  a sleepy, too-warm classroom.

The second drawing is one of the more finished 25 minute drawings.  The hair, which was transformed from a boring wallpaper into something more alive and interesting is entirely to the credit of my portrait mentor, Pien Hazenburg.

Portrait in charcoal

We had a great model at the IAC. Her face has such character! This is about a 20 minute pose or so.

Tina

This week's model at the International Art Club of The Hague was loads of fun. Drawing in charcoal from life is one of life's great pleasures. This is a sketch of about 20 minutes.

Li

I couldn't choose which of these two images to use for the work of the week. The second captures Li's likeness well, but the first has a richness in depth that comes from the 3/4 profile and the variation in tone. But the first is subtle, and does more with less.

Portraits are going well this week. Charcoal is a wonderful medium.

Tanya, portrait in black and white for the Beauty Project

The last weeks have been very busy. I am getting ready for the Beauty Project show in Antwerp on May 29. I am taking photos of volunteer models, working on the book, doing interviews, and trying to get it all together in order to self publish the book in time for the opening. The media coverage has been great, with numerous event calendars picking up the show. There is a radio interview this week or next, and a feature magazine article about the project coming up in (A)Way magazine, published out of Belgium. The name of the book will be Exploring Beauty: we are who we are, and here find the beauty that lies therein. The website is www.exploringbeauty.org.

This picture of Tanya is amazing. I think it shows an amazing confidence. Her belief in the mission of the project comes through in this photo. Keep checking the website to see more models and their interviews.

Charcoal sketch, Il Sun

 

This was a very quick sketch, 15 minutes. Sometimes, the quicker the better.

Portrait sketch in charcoal, from a live model at the International Art Club

 

This was a about a 20 minute sketch. I enjoyed making it, and felt good about how it captured the model's likeness.