Suzanne’s New Normal NewsLetter
Our 1st lecture will be on the wondrous William Blake. He was deeply inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Commedia. We’ll be spending some delicious hours looking at his visual thoughts on the great work. Later in the series we’ll consider The Pre Raphaelites’ ideas about it.
Last night, ruminating, I decided that my life would not have unfolded as it did without the Divine Comedy, so I’ve found 2 videos explaining what it is…other than life changing! The 1st video is short, but very good in its way, and the second is longer (obviously) and filled with Oxbridge blue stockings and lisping, Italianate young men (students at Oxford & Cambridge often aspire to a traditional college lisp-seriously). Delightful! It’s like being back in Cambridge.
Dante both troubled and enlightened my life for the first time when I was about 14. I was in Miss McKay’s special World Lit class. Miss McKay was a wonder. We read large excerpts from the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso (Later, in Italy, I read large parts of them in the original Tuscan). She encouraged us to question, as did Mr Dante. Every little 14yr old girl in my class, after having rolled up their school uniform, passed around the lip gloss, and stood as Miss entered the room, sat down and questioned why the heck that nice Mr Virgil couldn’t go to heaven???
The story of my life. So many questions……
Life! Thank goodness we are still part of it. This is a sad moment for many people in our wonderful world. Let’s hope, and work towards, making things better for those hardest hit by these outrageous fortunes.
My fantastic new course "Revolutionaries, Mystics & Reactionaries: Art in 19th century England", is shaping up. Yesterday, I sent my group 2 videos about the Congress of Vienna that I found quite informative, and entertaining. This is a period I love, filled with paintings that changed the way we look at the world.
I’m now sorting through various videos about The Crimean War, The Boer Wars, The Zulu Wars, The Opium Wars, The Boxer Rebellion, The Peninsular War, including vids on Waterloo, Trafalgar etc…. None of these videos is required viewing, all are simply, as we say, FYI. I’m trying to keep them short, though some are about 27 minutes, many are less, one is 3 minutes long. England was a pugnacious little country, and her history is reflected in her art.
The course is still open to new adherents, and will be accepting participants for 4 more weeks. We already have an excellent group; smart, amusing, interested. Just send me an email stating your desire to register. I’ll send you all of the videos, plus other bits of course info, once I receive your etransfer. My email address is: suzannetevlin1@gmail.com
Revolutionaries, Mystics & Reactionaries:
Art in 19th century England
The reign of a tiny young queen and her Teutonic, and intensely cultivated new husband, would add grist to the mill of British contradiction; longing for, yet dreading, change of any kind.
The Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood will play an important part in the middle of our series as we spend a few days concentrating on several of their more influential, but quite reactionary heroes.; Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Holman Hunt, Ford Madox Brown, Burne-Jones, William Morris, and the very unusual John Ruskin, who went quite mad; everyone loves The Pre Raphaelites. Finally, we’ll have a quick look at Alma-Tadema, and Aubrey Beardsley, finishing up with a most interesting trio, precursors of our own world of ex-pat international artists; James Tissot, James Abbott MacNeill Whistler, and John Singer Sargent.
I'll post a week by week itinerary soon.
December 30, 2023
"Atalanta, and The Calydonian Boar",I'll explain the rather bizarre story.
The Atalanta
myth is a bit of a mystery. She has 2 “back stories”. The story I prefer
involves her being left on the mountain, as a newborn, by an irritated king/father
who wanted a son. A mother bear, mourning her recently lost twin cubs, found
her, suckled her, and decided to care for her. (The word on the street is that
Artemis/Diana took on the spirit of the bear, which is why Atalanta became a
huntress dedicated to A/D.)
During her time in the forest 2 centaurs attempted to rape her, so she killed them. Some say her future love Meleager killed them…don’t know. (This is an episode that would be very difficult to paint. I’ll probably give it a miss.)
Atalanta was the only female to join the Argonauts. She was involved with Jason and the Golden Fleece, the golden apples, and the episode I’m starting with, The Hunt for The Calydonian Boar.
The Calydonian Boar was set loose on Calydonia by A/D because the local king had forgotten to pay homage to her during the annual rites of spring.
The Calydonian Boar was an enormous monster with spike like fur, and lightening breath – not a house pet! During the hunt Atalanta stopped it with her bow and arrow, whilst Meleager finished it off with his javelin. Meleager offered Atlanta the Boar’s hide or head (depends on the version). Many other hunters were jealous because a woman had been allowed to join the hunt and decided to killed Meleager, or Meleager was killed by his mother, who was also the mother of the 2 centaurs, according to one story.
Atalanta later fell in love with another man, had carnal knowledge of him and then was turned into a lion for breaking her vow of celibacy to A/D.
This summer has been so productive for me as a
Tomorrow at 9am I have my annual cancer check in with my
Dear Art Friends,
Very close to being done.
Well, here is the 1st glimpse of my 3rd “Loves of The Gods” painting. I’m half thinking of calling it “Known gang of irritable Canada Geese heroically save Leda from an aggressive swan who claimed to be the god of thunder.” More a newspaper headline, than painting title, I guess.
I thought I’d post this 1st image now because some amusing aspects in process are showing up that could entertain the layperson.
Normally I start with the main, or central image, which is how I compose the piece, as well as block it in. But as I started the preliminary colour field painting, the darned paint kept dripping. This means that eventually the main section, if I work on it 1st, will have to be repainted, and one could lose the painterly spontaneity that is so lovely in a work this size.
It's dripping because, a) the canvas is large, 48” X 48”, and I’m the only human in the mix, so I must reach across. (Dealing with gods is always a problem) and b) over the past several months I’ve developed a growing difficulty with my right bicep. According to YouTube doctors I have either bicep tendonitis (which I’m going with) or something called a ruptured bicep. Well, I can still move and use my arm, so it’s not really a problem except when doing housework (;-))) like none, okay?) or reaching across a 48” canvas with a brush full of loose paint.
(This is a shortened version of my LinkedIn post.)
Dear Art Friends,
Well, I started the 2nd work in "The Loves of the Gods" series
I'll put the finishing touches on Europa over the next week or so,
Starting a new series is always a risk, but I feel this one will go like wildfire.
Enjoy this wonderful weather.
August 2, 2023
REVISED FEBRUARY 26, 2023
Now that the pandemic has finally abated, I will again be offering custom designed art history lectures for your private art group, at your own Toronto venue. Be sure to view my lengthy list of courses available, on The Tevlin Atelier website.
Also, as many of you already know, paintings, and art works, on canvas or birch cradle, posted on other websites that include shipping in the price, are approximately 50percent of the stated price if you purchase, and pick it up from my Toronto studio. Works on paper are considerably lower as well.
1st edition
October 15, 2022
Dear Art Friends,
Well, how was your pandemic? I hope you have all weathered it in good health. I also hope that you haven’t lost anyone due to Covid.
I have been very lucky. My pandemic was artistically productive. I created a series of oversized canvases entitled “Messengers During A Time of Pestilence”. There are three of these oil on canvas works, and they are all 6ft X 5ft. You can see them on my website, TheTevlinAtelier.blogspot.com
In March I had breast cancer surgery, followed by radiation therapy. That is now all done and dusted. The result of this brush with mortality was a series of 8 paintings called “The Topic of Cancer”. Cancer is truly a never-ending topic as I’m sure you know.
Why did I feel the need to paint the story of my encounter with the Big C? I suppose because, though I consider myself intelligent, educated, and well informed, I was constantly surprised at what was going to happen to me next “as a cancer patient”. In a way, I imagine, it also helped me feel more in control. Each step along the journey includes a text describing the medical intervention, and my thoughts about it. Luck was with me all the way; great surgeon, great doctors, great nurses, and tech types, and through it all I was busy painting. I can’t tell you how lucky I was to be able to paint, rather than close down. I would block the image of myself in quickly and get all the ideas down on one canvas before going on to the next. You can view these works on my website or at my upcoming open house.
Suzannetevlin1@gmail.com
STUDIO VISITS
It is always possible to visit the studio. Just email me with a request.
Everyone is welcome. Prices from $20 for very small works to $1500 for small paintings and drawings make ideal gifts. Please email to let me know when you are coming. It is possible to visit the studio during the week, or on most weekends, by appointment. In this group, the top painting "Sun Bolts: Chalk Cliffs", is $3800 - from a series of 7. The other 2 works, "Old Crows" - from a series of 8, and "Boy with A Broken Arm" are $1200.
suzannetevlin1@gmail.com
Most of my medium to large sized work falls between $5,000.00, and $15,000.00. Larger works may be viewed if you advise me in advance. Some large works are easy to access, but in a studio crowded with visitors I do need advance notice. You can see all of my larger work on my website.
Also, as many of you already know,
paintings, and art works, on canvas or birch cradle, posted on other
websites that include shipping in the price, are approximately 50percent
of the stated price if you purchase, and pick it up from my Toronto
studio. Works on paper are considerably lower as well.
