r a y m o n d d i f l e y | p a i n t i n g s

first off…a big thank you to all that came and supported me during the open studios weekend. had some great reactions and discussions about the new work. i am planning some “mini” open studios at my own space in the upcoming months. first one is planned for mid-december as a holiday studio show. check back soon!

just a quick blog to update all with what’s coming around the corner…

in the next few weeks i’ll be working on two commission pieces for a new client. one is 38 x 56 x 2.5 inches and the other is 24 x 12 x 2 inches. the larger one is going to be in my orange hues, with some structural feel with the white and dark brown/orange colors i use (similar to “compassionate industrialist”, which is on the site). the other one will focus in on my blue hues with the contrast of textural white. i plan on showing the evolution and process of the “commission piece” here as i go.

also, i’ll be preparing for a meeting with city art gallery in the mission on november 10. this is an opportunity for me to show them some of my paintings and discuss joining their coop gallery. it’s a great opportunity and looking forward to it! will keep you posted.

kandinsky retro just opened at the guggenheim.
nyc trip may need to happen before jan. 13. kandinsky is one of my top 5 favorite artists.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/arts/design/18kandinsky.html

i’ve been working late hours all week to finish up work, matte unframed/framed work and mount over 30 new 4 inch box paintings…and yes, am starting to feel rundown a little, but one more day/night to keep pushing!  my pops comes in this afternoon, so i’ll have a much needed an extra pair of hands and will try to hit the hay before midnight.  here’s a quick picture of two of the new 4 inch box paintings:  hope to see you this weekend…don’t forget that you can follow me on twitter now.  twitter.com/raymond_difley

here is a peek at some of the paintings that i’ll be showing at open studios this year…hope you enjoy!

this first painting is about midway through. i feel like it was coming together here. in the second image of this painting, the depth of the brown hues are richer and intense.

this next one had a few missteps forward and back before i was really feeling like it was coming together. it could be finished, but am still sitting on it. i do like what could be the final direction it has taken. this might be the one i hang at somarts for the open studios group show.

last sneak peek for you all…there always seems to be one that appears to go perfectly, almost too easy from start to finish without the struggle. this one was like that…i always wonder if these are truly finished, as isn’t the struggle part of the process?! and why can’t all be like this??

well my summer of being off of teaching comes to a close, as i report august 24th…as it winds down i always try and cram too much into the last couple days.  it really becomes a crazy flurry to get to museum shows that i procrastinated about seeing all summer!

so, on thursday it was the sfmoma/jewish contemporary museum visits.  didn’t want to miss the o’keefe and ansel adams exhibit.  i really enjoyed most for just the opportunity to see both artists side by side…the museum also was showing the exhibit, richard avedon |  photographs 1946-2004  (large scale photos).  here are two that i was particularly drawn to.  you can read more about the avedon exhibit at the link below…

http://www.sfmoma.org/exhibitions/384

the eyes here on jasper johns just completely drew me in, but creeped me out the same…had know idea he was such a dark individual!

more on the sfmoma visit:

here are a couple of clyfford still’s early paintings that are with his large scale abstracts…always admired his work and great to see some ones that don’t resemble what he’s known for.  still trying to see the connection…

here’s a quote from stills himself that i’ve added to my quotes board: “i paint only myself, not nature.” for those of you who know me and my connection to jackson pollock (this quote is completely opposite to how pollock saw himself).

just loved this piece, it really kept drawing me in!  it’s in the 5th floor, inside from the sculpture garden…a detailed picture of this is below. link will give you more details about mehretu’s work. #mce_temp_url#

i think this is enough for one blog;)…more to come on sfmoma/jewish contemporary (and more) in my last days of summer part 2…

in case you missed it!  here you can see some of my small box paintings display…new ones will be available at open studios this year.  

http://raymonddifley.com/2009/08/new-paintings/