Live Event Painting Examples and other News

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Portrait of Nina Simone

 


Mississippi Goddam’: Portrait of Nina Simone, 2005, 38″ x 57″, mixed media on canvas

 

This portrait is inspired by Simone’s powerful song of the same name, Mississippi Goddam’.

The song Mississippi Goddam was written by Simone in response to the violence against blacks in the civil rights era, including the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (the four girls killed are shown on the left of the painting) and the killing of civil rights worker Medgar Evers (shown in the top right of the painting), both crimes referred to in the song. I have also included in this painting imagery showing hostile onlookers during civil rights marches, plus textures that have the lyrics of the song and the musical notation.

It has been displayed on stage a number of times when jazz singer Kim Nalley has sung the Nina Simone songbook, including at the Herbst Theatre and the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, both as part of SFJAZZ; at Kim’s former club, Jazz at Pearl’s, San Francisco; at The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko, San Francisco; and at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. Here are some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little dancing with Kim during one number!

 






The painting at The Herbst Theater, San Francisco, where Kim performed the Nina Simone songbook for SFJAZZ 2022.

 

This photo shows Kim singing Nina Simone in front of my portrait of Simone at Kim’s former club in North Beach, Jazz at Pearl’s, in 2008.

 

The song’s lyrics are:

The name of this tune is Mississippi Goddam
And I mean every word of it

Alabama’s gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

Alabama’s gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

Can’t you see it
Can’t you feel it
It’s all in the air
I can’t stand the pressure much longer
Somebody say a prayer

Alabama’s gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

This is a show tune
But the show hasn’t been written for it, yet

Hound dogs on my trail
School children sitting in jail
Black cat cross my path
I think every day’s gonna be my last

Lord have mercy on this land of mine
We all gonna get it in due time
I don’t belong here
I don’t belong there
I’ve even stopped believing in prayer

Don’t tell me
I tell you
Me and my people just about due
I’ve been there so I know
They keep on saying ‘Go slow!’

But that’s just the trouble
‘Do it slow’
Washing the windows
‘Do it slow’
Picking the cotton
‘Do it slow’
You’re just plain rotten
‘Do it slow’
You’re too damn lazy
‘Do it slow’
The thinking’s crazy
‘Do it slow’
Where am I going
What am I doing
I don’t know
I don’t know

Just try to do your very best
Stand up be counted with all the rest
For everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

I made you thought I was kiddin’

Picket lines
School boy cots
They try to say it’s a communist plot
All I want is equality
For my sister my brother my people and me

Yes you lied to me all these years
You told me to wash and clean my ears
And talk real fine just like a lady
And you’d stop calling me Sister Sadie

Oh but this whole country is full of lies
You’re all gonna die and die like flies
I don’t trust you any more
You keep on saying ‘Go slow!’
‘Go slow!’

But that’s just the trouble
‘Do it slow’
Desegregation
‘Do it slow’
Mass participation
‘Do it slow’
Reunification
‘Do it slow’
Do things gradually
‘Do it slow’
But bring more tragedy
‘Do it slow’
Why don’t you see it
Why don’t you feel it
I don’t know
I don’t know

You don’t have to live next to me
Just give me my equality
Everybody knows about Mississippi
Everybody knows about Alabama
Everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

Written by Nina Simone • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

Please visit my Prints page for information on fine art reproductions of this painting, Mississippi Goddam’: Portrait of Nina Simone. Please note that since this is a mixed media painting with a combination of digital painting (pigment ink printed onto fine art canvas) and a variety of traditional media (including acrylic paint and inks), any reproduction may look slightly different from the original.

Another painting I made that was inspired by the music of Nina Simone was this one, Feeling Good:

 


Feeling Good, 2006, 38″ x 57″, mixed media on canvas

 

This painting, Feeling Good, is based on a moment in a dance that Myrna performed to the haunting song of the same name by Nina Simone. Simone’s face appears woven into the fabric of the painting, as do the words and musical score to “Feeling Good” (reproduced below).

This painting, along with the portrait of Simone shown above, were featured in The Nina Simone Experience art exhibit at Space Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, April 2010.

Words to “Feeling Good”. By Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse

Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Reeds driftin’ on by you know how I feel

(refrain:)
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom in the tree you know how I feel

(refrain)

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don’t you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That’s what I mean

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel

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Painting a VIP Fiesta at SFMOMA

This painting was created live at a VIP Fiesta reception hosted by the company Appgate at SFMOMA.

Framed canvas fine art prints of this, and other artworks by me, are available – for more information please visit my Prints page.

Here are some photos from the event:

With thanks to the fabulous Appgate team and staff at SFMOMA.

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“Key to Success” – Virtual Wellness Break Painting

This painting was created live during a 15 minute virtual “Wellness Break” for an online conference. I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app and shared the entire process with the over 400 event guests in attendance of my session. The artwork theme concept was “Key to Success”.

A small sampling of the enthusiastic and appreciative guest comments included: “This is such a wonderful and soothing session.” “Thank you for giving us this relaxing view into your artistic process. Wonderful and perfect break!” “Thanks for sharing, this is awesome!” “Thank you!! Wow!” “Love it! need this!” “Amazing, thank you! Beautiful!” “WOW! Amazing! Thanks for sharing:)” “So enjoyable!” “Wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing your gifts with us!”

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Lauren


Lauren, 2021
Created from life using iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app
8″ x 10″ Inkjet pigment print on photo paper, framed and with AR overlay

This portrait of British Airways Flight Attendant Lauren was drawn from life en-route from San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR), and was selected to be included in the juried group art show titled “Face to Face” at the Arc Gallery, San Francisco.

EXHIBITION: until June 11, 2022
LOCATION: Arc Gallery & Studios, 1246 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
The Arc Gallery is open with social-distancing 1-6PM PST on Wednesdays & Thursdays and 12-3PM PST on Saturdays
​​Arc Gallery requires all visitors and staff to wear face masks, regardless of vaccination status, during gallery hours and in-person events.
​Disposable masks will be available to all visitors, as needed.

I will be participating in a virtual Artist Talk associated with this exhibition. Details:
“FACE TO FACE” ON-LINE ARTISTS TALK #2
on Wednesday, May 25th, 6-7 PM PST
with Alexandra Beaumont, Penny Cagney, Naomi Stein Cooper, Merrilyn Duzy, David Enriquez,
Lucy Julia Hale, Michael Kesselman, Beverly Patterson, Paul Ransohoff, Jeremy Sutton, & Josh Wright
​register in advance at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcof-qqrTgrGdROJzYPIoix6ypQayjFq0q6
Hope to see you there!

As I mention in the caption at the top of this page, this artwork is extended with an augmented reality (AR) video overlay. The AR video shows the creative process and some photos on board the plane of the subject with her portrait. To view the AR video please point your smart phone camera at the QR code shown below. This will take you to a page with Apple App Store and Google Play Store links to download the free Augmented Reality (AR) app called Artivive. Once you have installed Artivive on your mobile device, open the app and point it at the artwork (with your volume turned up:-).
 

 

The AR being demonstrated at the opening reception of the exhibition (videography by Peggy)
 
The actual replay video that I programmed to be seen in the AR overlay mapped to the artwork
 


Lauren with her portrait


Lauren and I with her portrait


As you can see from my portrait, Lauren kept her mask on throughout the drawing process. This portrait reflects the times. The mask was in itself a statement of the strange era we were all living through, when there were still quite a few COVID-related rules, restrictions and protocols in place for flying internationally. The plane was mostly empty and there were strict rules about keeping a mask on throughout the flight except when eating and drinking. We were all relating to each other through eye contact and body language and just had to imagine the smiles hidden behind the masks.

I thought of this portrait when I saw the original Call for Artists from the Arc Gallery for “Face to Face”:

“After a couple years of coping with the pandemic and the isolation that many have experienced, we have come to value face to face interactions with others. And many of us have encountered coming face to face with our own selves.”

“Being “face to face” can simply mean looking at someone in close proximity. But upon further investigation, “face to face” can be interpreted in many ways. The physical act of seeing someone face to face can mean seeing them in the flesh or via a screen. It can be looking at an individual or seeing a multitude of people in many different locations via video-conferencing. The intent of this action may be to derive agreement, to be in direct opposition with someone, or to express intimacy or desire. The desire for face to face encounters may come from separation of family and isolation. One can be face to face with another human being, with oneself, an animal or an object such as a portrait. Sometimes the action is one-way, such as the male gaze that objectifies the female. Arc Gallery encourages you to submit works within these wide interpretations of this theme.”

“Art is coming face to face with yourself.” – Jackson Pollock


Preparing the print of Lauren for this show.

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Tangled Bank Studios
10th Anniversary Celebration
Bethesda, MD

This painting was created live at the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the Tangled Bank Studios, a production company that is part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and is dedicated to crafting compelling, immersive films about science and scientists. The artwork memorializes the storytelling journey of the company shared at this event, and includes visual references to many of their films. The positive, uplifting message to be conveyed in the artwork was one of encouraging conservation; offering a beacon of hope; focus on the future of the planet; shining a light; inspiring people to take action; and connecting with hearts and minds.

As explained in the Tangled Bank Studios FAQ page, the “tangled bank” reference in their name is taken from the poetic final paragraph of the later editions of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species: “It is interesting to contemplate a tangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different from each other, and dependent upon each other in so complex a manner, have all been produced by laws acting around us. These laws, taken in the largest sense, being Growth with reproduction; Inheritance which is almost implied by reproduction; Variability from the indirect and direct action of the conditions of life, and from use and disuse; a Ratio of Increase so high as to lead to a Struggle for Life, and as a consequence to Natural Selection, entailing Divergence of Character and the Extinction of less improved forms. Thus, from the war of nature, from famine and death, the most exalted object which we are capable of conceiving, namely, the production of the higher animals, directly follows. There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone circling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved.” You’ll see the first line of this quote from Darwin visually referenced in the artwork (under the bridge on the left). The FAQ page explains that this paragraph refers to “how all life forms are inextricably bound to each other in a way that can seem chaotic but, in fact, is guided by natural laws. Understanding these laws and making sense of the chaos are the heart of scientific discovery and, we think, a great adventure. Our aspiration is to bring viewers along on this adventure and to make it as real, immediate, and meaningful as it is for the scientists themselves.”

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Featured Artist
TEDxBerkeley 2022

I was invited to live paint the entire day of wonderful, inspiring and fascinating presentations and performances at the TEDxBerkeley 2022: Kaleidoscope in the Zellerbach Auditorium of the UC Berkeley campus on April 9th, 2022. See the TEDxBerkeley YouTube channel to see video of all the presentations and performances.

I created a single painting throughout the day using the latest iPad Pro 12.9 with Apple Pencil 2 and the Procreate app. All presenters received a framed print of their portrait afterwards.


Drawing Shamini Jain


Portrait of Shamini


With Shamini (on my right) and Rnee (on my left) and a print of my painting of Shamini

Thanks and congratulations to the fabulous TEDxBerkeley team (including all the amazing volunteers) on a great event! Thanks also to all the Zellerbach Hall and UC Berkeley staff who helped.

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Virtual Rose Garden
Collaborative Mural Art Activity for Online Conference


  
This virtual rose garden was created using over 50 contributions from attendees of an online conference. The contributions were added to an online gallery (shown below) over a period of five days during which I added them to the virtual mural each day, sharing progress with the client.

The conference brought together a complete community — patients and their family members; researchers; care-givers; and therapeutics, medicine and health solution providers — connected with caring for those with very rare diseases. They were all invited to contribute to the virtual rose garden. The theme of the rose garden was chosen because the charity that was being supported during this conference was To Cure a Rose Foundation.


  


  
The writing you see in the online gallery shown above are answers to the question “Why do you care about Rare” that each contributor was asked to include with their visual contribution. The gallery itself, with these comments, was a very beautiful and moving testament to the bravery and love in this special community.

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Danny Armstrong

Danny Armstrong – Trombonist
San Francisco 2015
Acrylic and paper on canvas
23″ x 36″

This mixed media painting was created from life. It depicts my friend trombonist Danny Armstrong. I asked Danny for some sheet music he used and he gave me his original pencil arrangement for I Got The Feelin’ (performed by James Brown) that Danny performed with Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. I asked him if it was ok to really use his originals and he said absolutely, as long as I made him a copy!

You can see his musical notation in these close up shots:






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Painting a Year-End Celebration at the Ballpark

This painting was created live at a year end celebration at the Oracle Park in San Francisco. I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app to paint with. As you can see on the video and in the photos below I shared the entire process with the event guests by displaying my digital canvas on a large LED display.

Framed canvas fine art prints of this, and other artworks by me, are available – for more information please visit my Prints page.

While I was painting this scene a couple of guests came up to me and said “you should NFT this!” Well, I decided to take their advice and make this my “Genesis”,ie first, NFT (NFT = Non Fungible Token, a term explained in this Forbes magazine article), my very first tokenized artwork, and I am offering the digital file for sale on the OpenSea platform. Click here to visit the OpenSea NFT listing.

The collage portrait of baseball legend Willie Mays that you see next to me in the photos above is a painting I created in 2005 when, through his God son Barry Bonds, I had the pleasure to visit Willie Mays in his home and he kindly let me tell his life in this collage using memorabilia he had on his walls. With thanks to Eddie and his team, to Peggy for documentation (pics and vids) and to all the wonderful staff at Oracle Park.