New Horizons

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Hoi An, Vietnam_2013

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013 _Nikon D200

I finally started to give my first steps on self learning woodcut printmaking. I did couple of linocuts that did got me really excited as a start of the process despite of not very fancy results. Slowly I plan to make my way in this great and ancient medium that promises a lot, specially because it gives me the chance of using multiple disciplines I have learned through my life. That, added to some other personal en philosophical reason that I won't go into detail now, are the reason why I decided to start with this image.

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At home drawing from a photograph I took.

© Flavio Martín Morante_2014 _Iphone 4S

The very first drawing I am going to pass into wood is of a fisherman I photographed last year in the old town of Hoi An in Vietnam. I took that picture really early in the morning during my morning walks, somewhere around 6am. Not knowing I was going to full under the spell of woodcut printing, I still knew when I took the photograph that I wanted to do something with beyond the photographic image. 

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Hoi An fisherman drawing almost completed.

© Flavio Martín Morante_2014 _Iphone 4S

So I hope to turn it into a good woodcut print since the drawing itself has turned the way I have envisioned.

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Drawing on top of my selfmade carving table and the tools ready to start a new experience.

© Flavio Martín Morante_2014 _Iphone 4S

More to come as this winter promises to give me the needed time to dedicate myself to create a good portfolio while I keep learning more.

Thinking on Hopper

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© Flavio Martín Morante_2014 _Iphone 4S

I started to matt and frame the three photographs that will be making their way to New York for the "Small Matters of Great Importance" at the Edward Hopper House Art Center.

I am still feeling the "this is a dream" type of thing. I cannot wait until December when I hope to make it there. 

Maybe this time.

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Kenosha_Wisconsin

© Flavio Martín Morante_2014 _Iphone 4S

I have not sat to paint in almost a year I think, due to lack of time, motivation or other things that have priority, but mainly because I have not felt to find the right image. Yesterday as we took another Sunday road trip, this time for what proved to be a great visit to the Civil War Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin, I stood in front of this view and snapped this photo knowing that it has everything I'd like to see on one of my canvas, reason why I was really happy that despite not knowing yet when, I still can see that I will be painting soon.

Cheers to that! 

Open the GATES!

Tonight do not miss another great documentary for the PORTfolio series.

This time I will be presenting a film about the work of Christo and Jean Claude and a work of art that took 25 to see the light.

Movie is free and starts at 6pm. Discussion will follow and books are available on the subject matter.

And the Music Plays!

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Fredonia_Wisconsin

© Flavio Martín Morante_2014 _Iphone 4S set to square format.

One of my favorite photographers and a great master Josef Sudek did pass away 38 years ago exactly; the same day I was born. I have read that one of the things he is known to often say was "and the music plays, the music plays" as a general way to refer to life. 

Yesterday as I took this picture one day before my birthday date I thought of him, in his saying and the fact that 38 years have passed, in which I have heard many sad and happy songs, and thinking that the best songs yet are the ones I still have not heard, the ones that keep me going, looking, discovering and appreciating that not matter what, the music plays, the music plays.

Cheers!

Take Me to the River, Take Me to... New York!

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Untitled (Rock River, Horicon, Wisconsin)

4in x 5in  Ilford FP4 Plus (film negative). Ilford Paper RC IV Multigrade (contact print). 

Pinhole camera f231_© Flavio Martín Morante_2012

I don't think I can express with words the excitement I have been feeling during the last 24 hours, after receiving news that 3 photographs from my pinhole body of work (one of them above) have been selected this year (*) to be part of the show "Small Matters of Great Importance" at the Edward Hopper House Art Center, in Nyack, New York. (*I am listed with my first name as Flavio Morante)

This place, which is the actual house where Edward Hopper was born and raised, is nowadays an Art Center, dedicated to his work as well as the work of people influenced by him. To me, being Hopper one of my two favorite american painters (together with Andrew Wyeth), being able to have my photographs hanging on the walls of his house is a really strong emotion.

Anyway... I am really happy about this. The show will open in October 26th and will go to January 4th. Dawn and I hope to make it there.

Cheers!!!!!

PS_ I am really grateful to Sue Cibulka for having shared this place with me.

Now You See Me...

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Port Washington_Wisconsin

© Flavio Martín Morante_2014 _Iphone 4S set to square format.

Now you don't.

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Port Washington_Wisconsin

© Flavio Martín Morante_2014 _Iphone 4S set to square format.

Lake Michigan playing some awesome games this afternoon. Way better than David Copperfield. :)

New Show on a Great Place

I am happy to share that for the second time, I have been invited by Nichole Kloss of Java Dock Cafe of Port Washington to share my work, this time "MARINAS_Short Tales by the Harbor" .

The show starts tomorrow and runs until October 14th, when I will be taking the pieces down to "Art Upstairs" Gallery at the Marshall Building in Milwaukee.

This will be a fast moving fall.

Hope you can make it.