The shows are officially up and hanging

Life over the last month has been hectic, but now I’m past it and able to appreciate the results.

The show “Paper, Rock, Scissors” is up at its three locations and I am proud to have been a part.

You can visit the shows on your own time if you’re interested during business hours at the three locations previously mentioned in an earlier blog. Basically, Winthrop University, The loading dock Gallery on Main street in Rock Hill, and At Charlotte Country day school on the corner of Fairview and Carmel road in Charlotte.

Thank you to everyone who supported me in this. Thanks to Cara for letting me borrow your suv so frequently, Thanks to mom and dad for the van that day, And thank you to Mrs. Shinn for the chocolate covered fruit! I really appreciate everything!

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read these blogs too!
Have a great day!
Stephen

Put up a show yesterday evening

The best show I will be a part of this semester is going to have an opening on Friday November 20th, 2009 at the Charlotte country day school’s gallery. The opening will include refreshments and will take place from 3:30pm until 5:30pm. Keep rush hour in mind if you plan on coming towards the later part of the day. Maybe you could plan some time at the mall (south park is only a couple miles down the road or less) until rush hour passes.

Charlotte Country day school’s address is below:
1440 Carmel Rd
Charlotte, NC 28226
(704) 943-4500

The other MFA students will be exhibiting a variety of works in both paint and sculpture of many kinds. I am proud to be a part of such a great group of artists. It would be an honor to see any of you there.

Thank you!
Stephen

New progress. A new mission.

So I finished… so I think I finished my two pieces I started for graduate school. I’ll go ahead and post the on my flickr for you to look at (www.flickr.com/people/stephenlursen/).

The first I have already talked about. It is called "Flesh and Spirit". You can read about it in a previous blog.

The second painting,"Flight Through the Door" has changed dramatically today after hours of painting. I am changing the title to "A Violent Escape". I repainted it and now it is more violent and dark. The reason it references an escape or a door previously, is because there is a door that the orange goes through to get out of the painting. THe door has actually been painted over with smoke and dust that was stirred up in the commotion of the battle to bet through it… To get out and escape the event in the painting itself.

I was given the idea to pick the most significant parts of each painting and do multiple pieces that are smaller, just focusing on how I can best paint that one part of the piece. That’s my next mission.
Have any thoughts on my paintings? I would love to hear them.
Thanks,
Stephen

Getting everything organized for the shows this month

Trying to post the ad on my blog is way too difficult for me…

I’m wondering what I’m missing. I’m sure I’ll get it.

… well 15 minutes has passed and I haven’t been able to post it visually. It is a .pdf file so maybe that’s why.

The blog below references 1/3 rd of our show at the bottom half of the article.

http://www.galleryup.com/blog/

info below:
Loading Dock Gallery @ Rock Hill. November 12th to Dec. 7th, 2009. Opening reception Nov. 12, 6pm. (refreshments)
Charlotte Country Day School @ Charlotte. Nov. 13 – Dec. 13, 2009. Opening reception Nov. 20, 3:30pm (refreshments)
McLaurin 3rd floor student gallery (at Winthrop University in Rock Hill). Nov. 23 – Dec. 7, 2009. Opening Reception Nov. 23, 6:30pm (refreshments)

"Flesh and Spirit"

I would like to first introduce you to my flickr page. you can search for me by name or just go to www.flickr.com/photos/Stephenlursen.

I have been working on many projects this fall, and have only been able to finish one piece.
My first finished piece is called "Flesh and Spirit". It is an oil on acrylic on canvas painting 8 feet tall by 4 feet wide. It is a metaphor for the struggle between flesh and spirit within me. Months passed as I painted layer upon layer and actually changed much myself. The struggle within me could nearly always be simplified into these two sides. The Flesh is symbolized by the lower area, the flesh colored abstracted heart. I tried to paint it in a way that looked as if blood were being pumped through the veins. Spirit is symbolized by the water washing down upon the flesh and overcoming it. The flesh isn’t taking it lying down, it fights back with volcanic eruptions of passion and emotion. But as the Spirit continues to wash away the weaknesses of flesh, only the good will eventually be left. a flesh that is unrecognizable will be left and that is a good thing. The glowing light in the background symbolizes the source of “light”, the source of life, knowledge, understanding… Yes to clarify I am talking about Jesus Christ through His Word in the Bible. Yeah, maybe sounds old, maybe “been there heard that”, but in my life, I can’t live without Him.

It has been a while

I am excited to be back and writing.

This semester at Winthrop has been a tough one so far, but I am enjoying it and trying to get as much out of it as I can. I have been working on numerous pieces so far.

I will be photographing them tomorrow and posting the pictures tomorrow evening.
The first is 8′ wide by 4′ tall, the second is the same in dimension, I have been working on my starbucks commission which is 8 ‘ by 3.5′ still pretty large for me. I also have a commission for a client in Lake Wylie that is 4′ tall by 3′ wide. I painted today at church before and after the services and am going to layer more and more on but probably give this piece to my Fiancee.
I have so much going on, and I am so thankful.

I can’t wait to post all the images here for you to see.
Thank you for reading and hope to talk to you soon!
Stephen Lursen