The Dream of an artist

I've put up an IndieGOGO campaign in an attempt to fund my education.
Please check it out.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/break-through-art--2/x/11654917#/story

also feel free to check out my site; There are paintings there which have already been sold or are being sold at Abend Gallery.
http://kathiucia.com/

my facebook;
https://www.facebook.com/kathiucia.dias

my instagram;
https://instagram.com/kathiuciadias/

I've composed a reward system.  Here is the artwork available;

-If the artwork is unframed you may choose to have it framed prior to shipping with extra charge.
-If you would like to discuss an alternate option for a donation feel free to contact me.
Thanks!

$50-Tiny Painting (little secrets collection)
Tiny painting; 3x1.75 painting or tiny commission or 5"x8" drawing

 3"x1.75"  (or so) original paintings.  framed and unframed.

3"x5" Zorn copy

$100-original sketch
(these are examples, not for sale)

$300-Small Plein Air Painting; 7"x5"

sargent copy, 'Capri girl', 8”x4”, oils unframed

sargent  copy, 'head of capri girl',  6”x4”, oils unframed

schmid copy, 6”x4”, oils, unframed

Fechin copy/wife, 5”x7”, unframed

Fechin copy/wife/bl, 6”x8”, unframed

some examples of my plein air;

Some painting studies.

vegas study     5”x7”, oils, unframed

-little paint study with final painting to the right (large version available for sale @Abend Gallery, called 'Carmignano')

$500-Small-Med Painting; 

tuscany study, 6”x12”x oils, unframed 

chatsworth study  8”x10”, oils unframed

Repin copy ; Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin, 8”x10”, oils unframed

Repin copy; 'Portrait of V.V.Stasov',  9”x12”, oils, unframed

red, 10x8, oils, framed

blue, 10x8”, oils, framed

white, 12”x12”, oils, framed

green pot,  8”x12”, oils, framed

boots,  9x11.5 oils, framed

self portrait front,  8”x10”, oils, unframed

black and white sm quickstudy collection; 8”x10”, unframed

portrait with chain bw  9”x12, unframed

upside down -10”x16”, oils, framed

cast study,  14"x11", oils, framed

Model bw,  11”x14”, oils, unframed

portrait drawing-  18”x12”, pen n ink, framed

male back bw copy;  9”x12” oils, unframed

bouguereau bw copy,  9x12” , oils, unframed

drawingof girl w/ glasses  15”x8”, pen n ink, framed

drawing of woman with hat  18”x12”, pen n ink, framed

$1000-Med Painting;

Persephones box,  28”x14”, oils framed

Room in Tuscany, 12x16, oils unframed

Brullov copy,  20”x10”, oils, unframed

 $1,500-

Atwater -, 36”x12”, oils framed

chatsworth, 20”x16”, oils, unframed

Portrait with earrings, 16”x12”, oils, framed

Thousand Oaks-16”x20”, oils, unframed

Reseda, 20"x16", oils, framed

Redondo Beach- 16”x20”, oils framed

$2,000

France 30”x15”, oils, framed

Molino, IT-  30”x15”, oils, unframed

Repin Copy, 'Portrait of Baroness Varvara Ivanova Hildenbrandt', 36”x14”, oils, unframed

Los Angeles 24”x18”, oils, framed

$5,000-LG 

Arizona, 30”x40” oils, framed

$10,000-Lifesize painting or commission. 

Malibu, 72”32”, oils, framed

$25,000- a large multiperson commission, to completed after graduation (2 years)

$50,000-really large commission painting to be completed post graduation. (2 years)

The Battle Ground; Self Taught vs an Institute.

In an institute, there is the camaraderie.  In a class, you can learn a great deal from your peers as well as the teachers themselves.  A class environment allows a group to provide encouragement, critiques and debate philosophy, art, history and beyond.  As a niche evolves, the shared experiences build the foundation for not only further artistic exploration, but the friendships needed to provide each other support down the road. 

Conversely, fill in the blank.  In a self taught course an individual is more likely to implement a chaotic strategy to their education, re-inventing the wheel on a daily basis.  You don’t even need a wheel… what are you doing inventing one… we have sub particle transport systems. Furthermore there may be great gaps in the knowledge of fundamental principles that prevent steady artistic growth.  Developing a successful curriculum takes experience and knowledge of what leads to the desired outcome. Time practicing a concept is also necessary till it becomes second nature.  In a full time program, you're spared the pain staking task of location scouting and availability and are instead provided with all the resources necessary allowing the student to focus on the task at hand.  It’s a big deal.

Finally, teach me.  With a successful curriculum in place, an educator is ever present, guiding the way through difficult terrain,  providing solutions to missteps, and planning strategies to further attain educational goals. Swords not included.

I’m going to take a moment to say… Harry Potter wouldn’t have made it very far without an education… I know there are many of you HP fans out there.  It would have been a very different story.   The president wouldn't be where he is either.  WIthout education, our choices become limited and our successes fewer. 

new direction

Plan D is underway.
Havent given up yet.

Meanwhile, here are some modeling photos.  Photo credit; Brittany McGinley.

low battery

I received the invite from Russia and can't go.
I no longer have any of my legal documents and officially can't afford it.  Prior to the burglary however I could have pursued an academic education.

That said, i have come to the decision that it is a better idea for me to stick around l.a. for my potential art education.  There are fantastic teachers here and I found some great friends.  I am grateful.

In losing my entire life savings i've realized that perhaps i should have spent the money i worked so hard to earn more... because now it's all gone.  All my hard work, investment and time and dream, Gone.  It's time for me to live a more sustainable life. I'm going to change some things to steady up.

When all that glitters gets gone

I woke up this morning to move my car and find my life savings, personal and legal documents, and jewelry stolen.  

These items were In my car because I move too much and the place I'm currently residing has no locks.  Every time I tried to lock up, the lock was compromised providing no indoor security, there were also frequent visits from strangers.

I was going to touch base on this weeks blog on the subject of financing education.  To keep it short since I have a lot to deal with right now, no matter how many friends you have in the system you will not receive an education if you cannot pay for it.  Which, really, is appropriate.  We do not live off favors, it's always an exchange.  If something seems too convenient and easy, look behind the curtain, there is an alternate motive lingering there and the likelyhood is that you won't like it.  

Jungle boogie

I followed up with Repin regarding my visa/invite.  The lady responsible looked into it and found that the guy responsible for sending it out never sent it out.  So we're giving it another go. I heard back from her on Monday.  (Yesterday).

Plan B is well underway.  I've built a lot in Los angles in terms of means to survival and relationships. I've set myself some other exciting goals so life will not feel as though it's on a standstill.  I'm still pursuing full time education with a big question mark of how to fund it. One step at a time.  Meanwhile, I'm creating and working.  Post photos soon, Internet and comp are still issues.

That's all folks.

Waiting game

I still have not heard from Russia with the invite.  I'm searching for plan b. Plan c involves me moving to Hawaii and spending the rest of my days stealing piña coladas.

 Receiving the invite and attaining the visa is only the first part of a very arduous goal, the second part is seeking funding.  I cant seize studying the language though, All be it in a slow, self taught, haphazardous way.

I've started and am continuing on a new series of paintings called 'the cutter'.  I'm also getting acquainted with the beauty of delegating. No man, I cannot master everything, yes I need everything well done.  Ok, I'll pay you. Yes, I'll do some research to make sure you're not ripping me off.  Would you like some popcorn?

Also worth noting but fairly irrelevant to art; California has free medical clinics.  The service I've encountered is quality, and although they cannot provide the same health benefits someone with health insurance can, they are there. I am delving further into the system of health insurance and believe I can be provided for with limited benefits.  Kaiser has a program which it rotates its doctors from their regular rounds at paid medical facilities to the free ones.  Thanks to them.  Also, although we haven't been able to diagnose exactly what occurred with my arm (there is some speculation), it has been regaining its mobility and strength slowly but surely.  Good job body at doing your job.

And, and event in the U.S. Worth mentioning, congrats to the gay/lesbian community for attaining equal marriage rights in the u.s.  Your relationship can now be a three some with the govt as well. :)

Excuse the irregularity on the posts, I still don't have a computer or the Internet.  It happens, I think the world will survive, also, for whatever reason the blog won't let me post photos via iPad.  When I get to a comp I'll post some.  Meanwhile, да сведаня.

What is left is right what is right is damaged.

I've had the good fortune this week to meet with a collector and we had a wonderful dinner and exchanged our thoughts on many topics. By the end of the night she purchased a painting of mine.  I'm very fortunate to truly enjoy the company of the collectors I've gotten to meet, they feel like friends who happen to like the work I do.  Anyhow, I'm going to touch base upon one of the topics discussed which is the subject matter of what I enjoy painting and my current process. 

I love painting my landscapes and still lives, however, those are not my forte so I don't publicize them much.  The body of my work evolves people.  My obsessions range from topic to topic and my fascination with key individuals in selected fields inspire me to create. One of my ongoing interests has been dancers.  I've drawn them a good deal but I cannot create a body of work based solely on observation. I'm big on knowing and experiencing the world someone comes from, I love my research and I think the production of a work of art is a lot richer for it.  It's fun for me.  You get to know your subject beyond presentation and get to feel for their story; battles, wins, loses, psychological and physical quirks.  It's an appreciation for the human experience.  Also, the more I gain the acquaintance of and respect an individual the harder I work at making the work better and pushing myself to the max.  You feel as though you have to do it justice and I can't do that unless I push myself to do the best job I'm capable of .   In the end, the painting really takes on a life of its own.  

In a world where our existence is based so much upon the fabricated, experiencing something genuine and capturing it in art is a slice of truth.  I need that honesty in what I create.

I'll now attempt to tackle the tornado which took place this week. 

I still have not received my Russian visa.  I've stopped studying the language for the most part because of my partial loss in faith that I'll actually have the opportunity to study abroad and because of the enormous amount of stuff I have to I get done.  

This weeks task was finishing 4 paintings for an upcoming gallery show.   This was a hard for many reasons; i've moved twice, i've modeled,  and i've been dealing with a myriad of injuries, my leg, so I couldn't run and let out stress/energy for over a week, and mid week  my right arm went partially numb... And stayed that way.  Meaning... Mobility was not easy as it became swollen and felt like I was lifting a horse every time I moved it.  While this sounds impressive the fact that it was an empty tea cup takes my gold medal away.  I had to paint with my left hand. The emotional arm is regaining strength but is not yet at 100.  Big lazy.

 My computer also called it quits on life.  I guess this means that humans may outlive machines... But we all know that's not gonna happen.  When machines manufacture machines I doubt they are going to make it out of jello (unless it's synthesized jello).  Bugs eat that stuff.

'From Brasil',
'Do Brasil' -portuguese
20"x16"
oil on panel