Selfie, Women Artists Mentors, and travel

Top Hat selfie

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar panel

I try to paint a self portrait from time to time.  It gives me a chance to paint from life and I get to wear some of my wonderful hats!  This time as I was painting it reminded me a funny story...

I belong to a mentoring group.  Women, Artists, Mentors...we refer to ourselves as WAM.  Debra Kierce, Helen Beacham, Carrie Roets Waller and Kim Minichiello are the members.  We work towards helping each other by advising, encouraging, cheering, commiserating, informing, and mutually admiring each others work with a genuine feeling of love and affection.  We have been fortunate to be able to travel together from time to time.  Our first meeting was a show in Charleston...we were all able to attend except for Carrie who was living in Japan.  I hated to see her left out so I decided to take a page from "flat Stanley,s" playbook and printed out a picture of Carrie that I mounted on a stick...so we could include her in all the group photos. 

A few years ago Flat Stanley was all over the internet.  Classes would send a cartoon character to friends and relatives to see how far and traveled he could get.  It was quite a phenomenon.  I decided it was a great way to include Carrie in our show!   I often have these ideas and they are not always met with enthusiasm...so you can imagine my delight when my fellow WAM members embraced the idea and it has become part of what we do when we travel.  We have pictures of each of our faces and we bring them along whenever two or more of us meet.  It is a fun way to keep everyone included.  We started calling them flatheads.  You can see my four flatheads that grace my studio...my WAM members are always with me.  

Funny story...we recently had a show at a wonderful museum in Miles City Montana.  Waterworks art Museum, coincidentally WAM also, hosted us.  Deb and I were able to attend so we dutifully brought along the other three flatheads.  As we were recounting the story of the flatheads to those in Montana we were quickly told that there is an Indian tribe nearby that are known as the Flatheads!  Who Knew????   We certainly did not want to offend and so refrained from using the name for our cutouts.  

Our next WAM adventure will be to Montreal to see Helen's hometown!  There will be sightseeing, sketching and we will get to meet Helen's sister.  No flatheads will be necessary as all of us are able to make the trip.  

Top Hat

Top Hat

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar Panel

Why, yes, I do have a leather top hat!  My obsession with hats started after cataract surgery.  I had to protect my eyes from the glare of the sun...so I started wearing hats.  I started with baseball caps and moved on to bowlers, fedoras and now the sky is the limit!  I just love this leather top hat.  I found the green tinted glasses at an antique fair.  I am always looking for interesting props to add to my collection.  I love having model dress up for painting sessions and photo shoots.  This painting is the first of a series of self portrait featuring my hats!

Maria Bennett Hock - Self portrait

Maria February 2016

11 x 14

Oil on Raymar Panel

When I am between projects I usually paint a self portrait.  I do it because I am the model that is most available to me any time I need one, it is good practice, and it gives me time to think about my next project.  As I am just finishing a large double portrait that has been very time consuming and am getting ready to start another series I decided a self portrait was in order.  So today I set about trying to find my likeness once again.  When I post my self portraits, as I often do on FB (though I don't post all of them ) I am met with specific criticisms.  I am often told I don't look like what I portray.   Of course a good critique is always welcome.  :)  My only response is that I paint what I see...what I feel and what my abilities allow me to paint.  I am doing the best I can.  With that said...here is my latest self portrait.  

Maria Bennett Hock - self portrait

Maria - February 2014

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar Panel

My version of the selfie takes a bit longer than the nano-second it takes to click a camera on a phone.  I have been wanting to work from life more and find that I am usually the only one here...so I paint self-portraits.  I have difficulty seeing myself and my canvas without wearing my glasses...so all my self portraits have my glasses slipped down my nose a bit.  

I think it was important for me to do this self portrait because my last one was so angst-filled!  I needed to do an "I'm OK" self portrait.  

Now I can concentrate on getting some paintings done...now that I am all warmed up!  

Work in Progress (WIP) Me

WIP  Me

16 x 20

Oil in Raymar Panel

I paint a lot of self portraits.  The main reason is because I always available and I like to paint from life.   I am always working on myself...my artwork and my life.  I am always looking to improve.  When Jerry's Artarama announced their self portrait contest I had just completed this piece.  I decided to enter.  

Me

Me

12 x 16

Oil on Raymar Panel

Often when I am overwhelmed and have too much to do I take a respite and do something I don't need to do...something that has nothing to do with the project at hand...something just for me.  That is where I am right now.  I decided to finish this self portrait.  Really????...when I have so much to do...what am I thinking???  My reasoning is it gives me time to step back from my life and put things in perspective.  My paintings for my upcoming featured artist show are all done..they are all ready...but I still have this sense of urgency to do something.  I have been going full tilt for so long that I needed to keep busy.  So here I am...

Now I am going to relax...wait for the paint to dry and get ready to hang the show.

Reception starts at 6pm on June 8th at the Workhouse Arts Center located in Lorton Virginia...

Six at Sixty Number Six

6 @ 60 # 6

Oil on Board

This is it!  The final portrait in my series and the beginning of my next adventure in life.  I bet you are thinking I will be announcing a new red convertible, or a shiny diamond ring, or some other extravagant gift....but no...not this year.  What I have come to realize in my 60 years of life is that the intangible is what is most important.  I have a wonderful life, a loving husband and family, my health, wonderful friends and the ability to pursue my love of painting.  Of course I told bruce I could appreciate all that while driving a new red convertible...I do look good in red...but alas...no car...I am so glad I married such a wise man.  

And just in case you think Bruce is NOT a wise man...we will be visiting Tiffany's tomorrow...Yes, he is a wise man.

Six at Sixty Series Number Five

6 @ 60 # 5

4 x 4

I have entered my birthday month and my 6 @ 60 series is nearing the end...here is number 5.  I found out that if you look up you really don’t have wrinkles...it shortens your nose so you appear younger, no jowls...it is like magic!   I think I will be looking up for many, many more portraits.  No presents yet...The pressure is on Bruce...I wonder if he knows that...hahaha...note to Bruce...READ MY BLOG!!!

Six at Sixty Number Four

6 @ 60 # 4

4 x 4 oil on board

I continue with my series 6 @ 60, posting a self portrait every few days until I post the final one on my 60th birthday.  This is number four.  Still working on getting a present for every portrait but Bruce is not buying it...literally.  We went to the mall and I had the opportunity to select something but nothing seems significant enough for such a milestone birthday.  I tried to steer Bruce towards a car dealership but to no avail...I shall persevere...