Exposed

This painting may or may not be titled "Exposed." I am somewhat undecided. Either way, it is finished: 14" x 11" Oil on Linen Panel.

Red Pepper

I am working on painting this red pepper from life on a little 5" x 7" canvas panel. I am following a technique favored by an e-friend of mine, Richard Murdock, who creates stunning little still life paintings (among other works.) He starts off with 'dead color,' and slowly adds depth with each layer. Here is my dead color layer:


This is after my second session, where I have started to shift the hue and value of the pepper to create form: (Never mind the napkin, please!)


I am enjoying the process very much! It is very much different from the way I have been painting, where I start with the values and then adjust the color. Updates to follow.

Life Drawing

I had the pleasure of drawing two heads from life yesterday; this is the better of the two. The subject is my 8 year old son, Shannon. It is very difficult to draw him because, as you can imagine, he doesn't sit still. Even more challenging is the fact that he cycles through various facial expressions as his mind wanders, which I find completely hilarious. When I start to chuckle, it makes Shannon laugh, and we both wind up laughing so much that we can't speak. This can make it very difficult to draw!

Gasp! Painting Update

The painting is progressing well and I am pleased thus far. Now I just need to come up with a clever title before it is finished!

The presentation last week at H&R Block went well, and it was a pleasure to meet new people and share ideas.

Speaking Engagement and Sketch

14" x 11"

Above it an oil sketch, just started last night. I took the picture with a flash, so the lights don't show the full range of values and there is some glare, but you can still see where I am going with it. I always want to just add color to the light areas, and leave the shadows in this sketchy manner, but something inside takes over every time and I wind up painting over every inch of the canvas.

Tomorrow I am to give a presentation at the H&R Block World Headquarters downtown. I have a slideshow prepared, and I will talk about my ideas on art and realism as well as share my work and how I create it. I hope to meet lots of new people and have a good time!

MyArtSpace Blog

I was recently interviewed by Brian Sherwin of MyArtSpace.com. Check out the blog here!

While you are at it, take a look at the interview with Mark Ryden. I enjoy his work a lot, and am happy to occupy this virtual space with him.

Danette, Revisited

I just completed the above pastel of my friend, Danette (see my previous post, Danette, Unveiled.) I am toying with the idea of cropping this into a square. While not overt, I have intended the light and composition in this painting to be symbolic. More on that later. (Anyone care to guess in the meantime?) For now, a detail image:

Holiday Show at Pi and Art Fair

These are a couple pictures from the First Friday opening at Pi Gallery. It is the "Back to the Future" 2006 retrospective show, and I have 6 pieces placed throughout the gallery. There was also a Preview Party on Thursday, but it was snowed-out. Another party has been scheduled for Friday the 8th, 6-9 pm, to make up for the missed one. Stop by if you can!



Saturday was the Lawrence Art Guild's Holiday Art Fair at the Lawrence Arts Center. I would have brought more pieces with me, but I thought I would only have six linear feet to hang in! The exhibitor next to me was unable to make it, which gave me a little more room to spread out, and allowed me to sit and chat with a neighbor in the empty corner.

I also got my very first ticket this weekend. I was flying at a screaming 0MPH; that's right, I got a ticket for backing into a parking space. What can I say, I just wanted to unload onto the sidewalk instead of into the street!

Eve Ashamed, Upcoming Events

"Eve Ashamed"
30" x 20"
Oil on Canvas

Above is another new painting. This will be included in Pi Gallery's retrospective show, Back to the Future, in December. Following is a list of events to look out for next week!

Back to the Future - Pi Gallery Retrospective
Happy Hour Preview: November 30, 6-9 pm
First Friday Opening: December 1, 6-9 pm

Lawrence Art Guild's Holiday Art Fair - Lawrence Art Center
Saturday December 2, 10 am - 6 pm

The Pitch - Art Capsule Review

I've received some good press concerning my show at Pi Gallery. The following is a review published earlier this month.

The Pitch -– Art Capsule Reviews
Published November 9, 2006

Lacey Lewis: Repression and Revelation

Lacey Lewis eschews fancy aesthetic theories for flesh-and-blood humanity and symbolism that doesn'’t require a philosophical middleman. The female body is Lewis'’ favorite subject matter, and this exhibition collects several of her oil paintings and monochromes, most of which stand on their own as perceptive character studies of individual women (the most striking being "“Judith With the Head of Holofernes"”). Lewis'’ figures deal as much with the outer form of the person as with her subjective inner life. For the viewer, her work becomes something like a mirror. Through Nov. 25 at the Pi Gallery, 419 E. 18^th St.

-–Santiago Ramos

Inside the Governor's Conference Room

Wednesday I took a trip out to Topeka and took a tour of the Kansas Statehouse. The people there were kind enough to arrange for me to sneak in to Governor Sebelius's private conference room between meetings so that I could take a quick picture of the room with my pastel hanging in. I was pleased, as were my parents and grandmother.

Little Painting on ABS

Here is a little almost completed oil painting on ABS. This is the first time I have painted on ABS, as I got the 12" x 9" sample from Doug Higden who will have a Paint on ABS website for the sale of panels up soon. So far I am really enjoying the smooth surface!

First Friday Opening at Pi

Last Friday was the opening of my show at Pi Gallery, Repression and Revelation. The lighting was beautiful, there was a good turnout for the show, and a good time was had by all. Following are some pics from the opening, starting with one of me with Pi Gallery owner, Jody Wilkins.

Repression and Revelation: Show at Pi

Repression and Revelation
Pi Art Gallery, Kansas City, MO
November 3rd - November 25th 2006
Opening Reception: November 3rd, 6-9pm

Over the weekend I delivered several paintings and some drawings to Pi Gallery for my November solo show. One main wall features the series 'Repression and Revelation,' and other walls feature various figurative works. Above is a sneak peek at the main wall. (The city scene in the corner is actually a painting by Jane Pronko, who exhibited for October. It was a great show!)

H&R Block

Last Friday I set up my display at the new H&R Block World Headquarters. Saturday was a 'Block Party Safari' celebration for the employees and their families, which I was invited to attend. There were bands, food, face painting, and even a small petting zoo. Following are some pictures of the panels; yes, I often make silly faces in photographs.

Details on Governor's Invitational

I have acquired more information about my piece in the capitol building. Eleven paintings were chosen from the MidAmerica Pastel Society's Juried Exhibition at the South Wind Gallery in Topeka to hang in Governor Kathleen Sebelius's private conference room at the Kansas Statehouse. Among them was my pastel, "Cris."


Needless to say, I am completely honored and excited! I hope to make another trip out to Topeka soon for a historical tour and to see where the painting is hanging.

Lots of Things Happening!

Wow, have I got a lot on my plate right now! I just picked up one of my pastels from the MAPS Juried Exhibition in Topeka; the other was chosen to hang in the capitol building. I don't have many details on this, but will post them A.S.A.P. This Thursday I will deliver portraits to hang in the lobby of the new H&R Block World Headquarters, and will attend the "Block Party" celebration next Saturday.

Of course, the big news in my show Repression and Revelation opening November 3rd at Pi Gallery in the Crossroads Arts District! I have been working diligently to finish the series and everything is going well. Here are a couple from the series; more can be seen on my website.

Trip to Manhattan!

Manhattan, KS, that is. This blog is way late, but what can I say? It has been a busy time for me. I took the road trip on September 2nd primarily to visit the Strecker-Nelson Gallery. This is the farthest west I have ever been, and the road there was, well, rather flat.


The overall quality of the work at the Strecker-Nelson is really impressive; their Person to Person figurative show is what really caught my eye and propelled me to contact them about representation. I am pleased to announce that the gallery and I are building a relationship together, and I am scheduled to show in one of their rooms in August and September of 2007!


On the way back, I stopped in Topeka. The first stop was South Wind Gallery where I have two pastels on display with the MidAmerica Pastel Society 2006 Juried Art Exhibition. I had a pleasant conversation with Gary, a charming man who runs the shop. The gallery is beautiful, and the exhibition was full of impressive pieces.



The second stop in Topeka was my good friend Terry's chocolate shop: Hazel Hill Chocolate Traditions. I got to catch up with a friend I had not seen in a while, get a behind-the-scenes tour, and sample a delicious cappuccino truffle. Mmmm, a yummy end to an exciting day.

Art Fairs, et cetera

I have been too busy to blog! Last weekend was Art Westport, and though it could have been worse, it was a soggy, dreary weekend. If you missed me there, feel free to stop by the UnPlaza Art Fair Spetember 16th and 17th!

• UnPlaza Art Fair
  

I have been working diligently on my series for the opening in November. The third painting was finished some time ago, the fourth is almost complete, and I am nearly ready to start the fifth. The show will be titled "Repression and Revelation," and an opening reception will be held on November 3rd.

(I was planning to insert an image here, but the image uploader doesn't seem to be working at the moment. I will try again later.)

Pi Gallery

Last Saturday I had a meeting with the art director at Pi Gallery. The paintings "Repose" and "Cris With a Purple Drape" are currently on display at the gallery, and a solo show is planned for November 2006. The focus of the show will be my new series involving the box, the third of which is about to be completed.

• Pi Gallery Website