Renaissance Man Art Show Paintings

'Jose Rizal'

Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 24 inches.

by Sherie Sloane

'Maria Clara'

Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 24 inches.

by Sherie Sloane

'Sisa'

Acrylic on canvas. 18 x 24 inches.

by Sherie Sloane

Here are the three paintings I made for the Renaissance Man Art Show.  Click on the title links to learn more about the stories behind these paintings.

For those of you who were not able to attend the Opening Reception of our Renaissance Man Art Exhibit in Daley Center last Monday, the show will run until August 24.  So stop by and see all twelve paintings in this one of a kind historic collection.  Photos don't do justice to the details and textures of the artworks.

If you do stop by, let me know how your visit went.  Enjoy the show!

Philippine Renaissance Man in Chicago

Rizal: Beyond The Stinky Fish!
32" x 40"| Oil on Canvas| Fabie de Silva

The Duality of Rizal
26" x 52" Diptych| Oil on canvas| Bueno Silva

This year, we're celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of the Philippine's National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.  And if you'll happen to be in Chicago on August 15 to 24, stop by at the Daley Center to view The Philippine Renaissance Man: Jose Rizal Art Exhibit.  Twelve new paintings on canvas and paper depicting the life, works and inspiration of Rizal will be presented.

I'm honored to be part one of the seven Filipino-American artists in this show.  Renowned Chicago-based artists Fabie de Silva and Bueno Silva will once again show their masters' touches in this one of a kind show.  

Opening Reception will be on August 15 at 4:00 pm at the East Lobby of Daley Civic Center, Chicago. Admission is free.  

Hope you can come, we'd love to see you there. 

P.S. I'll be posting some photos of my paintings for soon, so stay tuned.

Learn To Paint in One Hour - For Free

Learn to Paint

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Map

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Tropical Fruits by Sherie Sloane

Actual Workshop Painting

Is learning a new trade or skill in one of your to-do-list this summer?  Here's your chance to check that off from your list.  Learn how to paint in watercolor in an hour, all for free.  Materials are provided.  All you have to do is make time.  It's only an hour, and best it's on a weekend.  

Who knew you can be an artist in less than the time you commute from work to home or from running errands.  But for three years, sixty students went home feeling accomplished and happy to declare they're officially an 'artist' after attending my annual summer painting workshop.  Best proof is hanging their finished paintings on their walls for everyone to admire.

So what are you waiting for?  Mark your calendar this Sunday, June 12 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. You have a date with me!  A painting date that is.  Bring the kids, your spouse, friends, in laws or co workers. Post workshop, go around the museum to experience the Passport to the World event shows and activities.  

Thanks to our gracious sponsors Strathmore Artist Papers for providing the watercolor papers for our students and Dick Blick Chicago.

See you there!  Be there at least half an hour early, seats fill up fast.  Bring extra brushes and pencils too.  

Click the icon above to RSVP.

Happy New Year!

'Fireworks'

Photo by Sherie Sloane

A day and a half are what's left of 2009. As the new year gets underway, we'll see fireworks and tunes of 'Auld Lang Syne' will be heard. New Year's celebration is the oldest of all holidays, dating back to 4000 years ago. But did you know that New Year's Day wasn't always celebrated on January 1st?

It used to be late March, which is the beginning of Spring. A logical time to start a year since it's the season of rebirth and blossoming. It was only in 153 B.C. when the Roman Senate declared January 1 as the beginning of a 'new year'.

Different countries celebrate New Year's with their own traditions. Some traditions I fondly remember while growing up are:

• Lighting up fireworks to drive away bad spirits and bad luck. The louder it is, the better.
• Jumping as high as you can soon as midnight strikes, to grow taller.
• Wearing polka-dotted outfits for prosperity.
• The house must be well-lit to invite good luck in every corner.
• And of course, lots and lots of food. You should have twelve kinds of round fruits for luck.

I'm looking forward to share some of these traditions to our own kids when they're old enough. I'll have to make them understand though that practicing these traditions won't guarantee them a better life. But cheerful traditions and positive outlook are sure ways to jumpstart a year wih lots of hope and excitement.

I wish to thank all of you for another year of shared stories and memories. May you and your family have a wonderful and Blessed New Year.

Downpour

'Docked'

Fine Art Photograph by Sherie Sloane. (C) 2009

Has it really been over two months since my last post? If you've been following my blog, I apologize for the stretch of time I missed you.

So, what happened in the past months? You must be wondering. I was compelled to 'dock' and refuel myself, just like that 'tugboat' I photographed in Fort Walton, Florida. It was a much needed time to pause, reflect and plan. You know the old adage, "When it rains, it pours"? That's exactly what transpired in my life and in the lives of the people I love and care.

First, there was the happy news of another pregnancy. We can't believe our little man who just turned two will soon become a big brother. Then, there were the sad news from families back home. Last month, our beloved uncle passed away. He was that 'one' uncle we call our second dad. When dad passed away ten years ago, he took it to heart to look over us, providing the fatherly love we missed.

'Typhoon Ketsana'

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Two days after, typhoon Ketsana hit Manila and nearby towns in the Philippines, my home country. My sister's house, and most of their belongings were soaked in water seven feet high for days. Thankfully, she was working the day the typhoon hit. My mom was stranded in another town and wasn't able to get home for almost two days. My other sister was in her class when the water started rising outside their university. Thankfully, she was able to reach home safely.

But most were not as fortunate as my family. The highest rainfall in history, heavy flooding and landslides claimed hundreds of lives. Tears were streaming from my eyes watching the news. I knew a lot of friends in the most affected areas. The images of kids separated from parents and stranded in their schools were heartbreaking. I couldn't fathom what it must have been like for those families. Their loved ones, everything they owned and worked hard for, all gone in an instant.

It was a bitter reminder of what matters most - life itself. As we said our prayers from our comfy home here in Chicago, we realized even more how immensely blessed we are. We have each other and the meaning of 'modest living' has now become 'abundance'. The help we sent seemed meager compared to the magnitude of the disaster poeple there have experienced.

'My Boys'

Beasley Park Beach, Ft. Walton, Florida

I was plagued with those sad images for days. It didn't help that my morning sickness was reaching its height too, all these on top of raising our very active tooddler. Going to my studio to paint and create felt like a chore.

My husband who's been working so hard thought it will do us all good to take a little breather. We flew to the charming old town of Fort Walton, Florida to celebrate our son's birthday. He loved the sand and we all love the sugarsand beaches there. The quiet town was the perfect place for us to rest and reflect.

Watching my boys build their sand castle, I felt the first kick from the baby inside me. Perhaps telling me, 'Mom, it's time to put the worries away for now. The rains back home will soon stop and God will wipe their tears one at a time.'

Passport to the World

This weekend, bring the family to the Chicago Children's Museum for days of creative and fun-filled events.  

Travel eleven thousand miles to the Philippines in Southeast Asia and explore the country's colorful sights, sounds and arts.

Take the kids and kids-at-heart on Sunday, June 14 from 1:00-2:00 pm for an interactive, hands-on painting workshop and demo by yours truly.  

Your Passport is waiting.  See you there!

Eighty-Eighth

Tuesday Traffic at the Dan Ryan

It was Tuesday morning at ten yesterday.  Everyone is fed and little man is already showing signs he wants to go 'nap-nap'.  Great!  My art bag packed, sample paintings wrapped, car loaded. Power bars and water bottle, checked!  Grandma is all set to take over the fort while I go and head over to a very important 'meeting'.  

I know what you're thinking.  What a relief it will be to have some adult time.  Not too fast.  That day, I was scheduled to meet 25 kindergarten and over sixty first graders for two and a half hours at Beidler Elementary School in West Chicago.  I'll be teaching them art. 

You got it right.  I'll be away from our little man to be with eight dozens more.  We live in the south end.  To get there, I have to drive fifty minutes if there's no traffic which will be a miracle. Perhaps in I-80, but definitely not at the Dan Ryan expressway.   

After an hour of radio tuning, yawning, singing, stretching (while stuck on traffic), I finally made it to the school.  Knowing my luck, parking will be far from the entrance.  Ka-ching! I was right.  Two large paintings, one easel, two bags, what else?  All in all, I already have more than forty pounds to carry.  At least, none are wiggling around like my little man.  

Why won't I just drive close to the entrance, unload my stuff, then park?  Good idea, right.  Not really.  School's parking only accommodates twenty vehicles, the rest have to park at the busy Walnut Street.  I was lucky to have found one.  Either I drive up close and lose my spot or risk lugging all my stuff twice the distance going back.

Where's hubby when I need him?  Far in Indiana working hard to bring home theturkey bacon (that's a metaphor).  All sweat paid off when I saw the eager little faces waiting for me.  In less than three hours, I basked in the glory of being a celebrity to children five to seven year-old. We got busy with our hands, papers, scissors and paints.

Me, with two dozen happy little artists.

( Didn't got a chance to snap a photo of the sixty eager first graders.)

What did I got in return?  A little back-ache, smiles to last for weeks, dozen hugs and over a handful of soon-to-be famous quotes I'll treasure forever.

"What's your name?  That is something."

"Where did you came from? That is very very far."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Are you an artist?"

"I'm an artist too, I think."

"Your hair sparkles."

"Wow!"

"A chorus of Wooowwww!! (again)."

"You know everything."

"You smell good."

"You smell like flowers."

Your eyes are beautiful.  They look like mine.

"My flowers look like leaves."

"Can you take me home with you?"

"Thank you for giving us powers." 

(I think he means, 'for teaching us to make flowers'.  On second thought, maybe he really meant what he said.)

"Do you live around here?  I want to play with you everyday."

"Can I hug you?"

"Me too, can I hug you?"

"Hi, I'm waiting here to give you a hug."

(from the eighty-eighth kid waiting in line)

Who knows, maybe one of them will someday become the President of the United States, or the next Da Vinci.  Or become the first man to discover the new ninth planet (in replacement to Pluto).  I'll look back and say, I knew that kid.

He gave me a hug when he was five.

Sampaguita Garland

Paper Flower Lei by Morning Artist

Sampaguita is a species of jasmine, native to southern Asia.  

This evergreen vine with strong-scented buds is also the national flower of the Philippines. The flowers are strung into leis, commonly offered to welcome guests or adornment in religious altars.  

On Tuesday, I'll be teaching kindergarten students in Chicago how to make their own Sampaguita leis from papers and ribbon.  This is in celebration of the Asian culture awareness week.  

It's very easy to make.  Here's how (Kids should be assisted by adults, especially on cutting.)

1. To make each flower:

- Cut three different size circles from regular printer paper (small, medium, large).  Largest about 2 inches in diameter. 

- Cut holes in the middle.  

- Glue together all three pieces on top of each other.

- Fold and crumple, and form into a flower bud.

2 . To make the leaves:

- Cut out two leaf shapes from green paper.  

- Draw the leaf veins with black pen (colored pencil for kids).

- Cut holes in one end.

3.  Stringing and forming the leis:

- Measure and cut right length of yarn and ribbon

- Tie first knot, about an inch from end ribbon (this is to prevent the leaves and flowers from falling.

- String two leaves, then one flower.

- Tie a knot after the first set of flower and leaf are strung.

- Repeat above steps, until all flowers and leaves are strung.

Tie the two ends of the ribbon together to finish.  

Enjoy your new lei!