Supercharged painting Summer session week of August 8

A poetic sense of place.

John Marin's "Grey Sea" is a good example of that concept.

Try making a painting that conjures a place that you feel connected to. From your past or present, abstract or figurative.

Marin was a mid-20th century painter who often worked in New England.

There is currently a show at the Portland Museum of Art called "John Marin: Modernism at Mid-century" that runs until October 10.

See you next week..john.

Supercharged painting Summer session week of August 1

Ai Weiwei at Asia Society.
I love a creative and fresh way to make an image and this Chinese artist, just released from jail in Beijing for his political blogs and tweets has a fresh perspective on Western culture.
There a review of him and his work by Roberta Smith in the Weekend Arts section of the New York Times today(Friday, July 29). When I see a piece like his "Profile of Marcel Duchamp" which consists of a bent coathanger and sunflower seeds I am delighted and inspired to clear my mind, strip down and seek a fresh new vision with every painting or drawing I attempt. See you next week, don't forget to signup for the next session which starts on Wednesday. john.

supercharged Painting Summer session week of july 25

Lucian Freud is dead at 88.
Raw and real Freud's work repositioned figuration. On this last week of this session, try a portrait or self-portrait in an honest warts and all style...also consider taking the next session that starts the first week of August 8 and goes until the 29th of August. Keep your work moving and vital this Summer! See you next week. john.

Supercharged painting summer session July 18 and 20

The sweet joys of Summer!

These two Matisse paintings are a perfect inspiration for the best time of year. The

paler one on the left was painted in 1909 and was considered by the artist to be one of his most exceptional works; a luminous and pure work of high-art and is hanging in New York at MOMA. The second was painted in 1910 for a Russian collector and is viseral with bolder color and a brilliant and earthy energy; it is hanging in the Hermitage in Russia. Which do you prefer? My favorite Matisse is a dead-heat between his "Violinist at a Window" and his spare and minimal "View of Notre Dame",both from 1913, i believe. But these two are such great high-summer ideas! Try a painting that connects with the spirit of July, the sky, a high grassy hill and the eternal now. See you next week. john.

John Murray Summer classes July 6, 11 and 13

Just got back from Provincetown.

Saw an excellent show at the Fine Art Work Center Gallery, which included Ken Morgan, (above left) and Robert Beauchamp (right) among others, also heard Marie Howe read her superb Narrative/Language poetry one night at the Work Center. Biked and swam in the Sun and ate some good food under the Moon. Mary, Sandy and i had a good short vacation. Thank you for joining my Summer Supercharged Painting session, Let's start by attempting a "Joy of The Sun and Dark of the Moon" painting, any size and any media to get the classes flowing. See next week, john.

John Murray classes week of June 13, 2011

All Classes end of term has arrived, please bring to class any work you want critqued. See you next week. john.

John Murray classes week of June 6, 2011

End of term for deCordova Supercharged painting class. Bring any work you want for a critque, it's been a short but powerful class for me. If you have a chance go on line and take a look at Robert Smithson's piece "Spiral Jetty".
Newart Center classes: Last 2 weeks, please continue with any work you are doing and bring in any paintings you want critqued. The student/faculty show looks very strong this year.
If you have a chance thank Kathleen Smith, the curator, for her creative installation work. See you next week. john.