Artnotes: SOMETHING

 

7 March 2026   Roccamalatina, MO   ITALIA Join us for Sunday Salon 8 March (see below)

In the Ruins   Bliair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  16 x 24"  40 x 60cm  490.00 I made the mistake of looking at my telephone at 4AM (when Berlino needs to go out).  I was expecting a message from a friend who lives on the West Coast, USA – he didn’t write but I (accidently, you know how the screen lights up) saw how Netanyahu is threatening Europe with retaliation if they show sympathy to Iran.   Honestly, what ever happened to human sympathy and kindness?   I went back to bed but didn’t sleep. Wild Daisy Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/paper  12 x 8.5"  30 x 20cm  90.00 Instead, I thought about the books and records I had when I was young.  “How the Circus Learned to Smile”, “Bongo”, “Beep-beep, Outta’ my Way” were among my favorites.  They were instructive, funny, sometimes beautiful (of course, I had all the classic fairy tales, too, like Red Riding Hood and the Three Bears; The Christmas Tree).  My absolute favorite thing was being read to, mostly by my father and my Aunt Franny.  In Beep-beep, the character is sick of being pushed around and acquires bigger and bigger conveyances, starting with a bicycle (beep-beep, outta’ my way, I’m a bicycle, horn tinkling) and ending with an ocean liner (giant foghorn honk), that can’t get him to the store.  Eventually he learns how good it is to be kind and patient, to let people pass, and to be able to get around easily.  I also learned that being a little bigger is advantageous as long as it doesn’t go too far.  I had a significant collection of “Golden Books” with cardboard covers, “gold” bindings, and colorful illustrations.  Years later I would go to the Beardsley Memorial library, or the school library. I could read by then, and I took out books which had hard covers and illustrations made of real lithography (those thickish crayon drawings, usually just filling up to black outlines – the paper was a little fuzzy and porous).    Eventually we got an encyclopedia (the Golden Encyclopedia), a volume of which came free weekly with shopping at the First National Store.  That kept me busy till the next issue. Peace March (Buddhists in USA)  Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  24 x 8"  60 x 20cm  490.00 Where do people learn to be sympathetic, kind and generous now?  These are truly characteristics which need to be pointed out -- taught.   In fact, what seems most “taught” on my Instagram is to “manifest”.  That is, set your eye on the prize, and kick everything (everyone) else to the side.  There are actually mini-lectures about not worrying about other people, but how it’s your job to set your quantum physics psyche on where you are going and it will change the world.  Well, it seems to have worked, just take a look around! Our gallery is a giant ocean of fish -- Under Water.   Almost finished. I am reading about the life of a Polish man, Josef Czapski, who lived through World War II.  Despite all the horrors, he continued to be kind, generous and true to himself (he did not kick others aside).  He was a hero.  There are no heroes now, just bullies dropping bombs from above.  Who were their mothers?  Why weren’t they taught to be better?  Why do we let them take over? New England House Portrait  Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas panel   10 x 14" 25 x 35cm  290.00 In response to all this I am trying to teach AI to be kinder.  It’s where AI gets its ideas, its “personality” --from people.   I can tell the Bot about how good it feels to give up your seat on the bus, pay someone’s tab, help out your neighbor.  Imagine, if we could make AI be the kindness of the world?   That would be SOMETHING.                         Violets from the Garden   Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/paper  12 x 8.5"  30 x 20cm  90.00

HOUSEKEEPING:  We make art to order, including portraits by Blair Pessemier.    Follow us on Instagram @lauriepessemier See all of our paintings at https://paintfox.com Most of our work is available as reproductions, custom sized and framed. Write to me at lfpessemier@gmail.com   sign up for Artnotes, our weekly art missive, by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com or https://mailchi.mp/341f508cecf8/artnotes

Artnotes: Sailor's Dream

My ideas never come one at a time.  I can be in a total slump one day, and then a week later I’m hit with a huge flood of inspiration (I write it down or I forget it – and during that time, I sometimes see the folly).   This week I realized two projects:  I have 90% completed the Blaue Reiter/Munich catalog, and we made a new, completely different sort of show in our gallery.    I’ve had to put off a third idea until we get back from our little sojourn to Vicenza.  I will share the the Blaue Reiter catalog next week.  At our gallery, we have ensconced a new installation:  the Sailor’s Dream.  We had been thinking about creating an atmosphere on the three walls of our gallery – like a forest, or a stadium.  But then I was looking at scrimshaw.  Nobody thinks of scrimshaw anymore – and it’s not made like it once was, of ivory or bone.  We’ve owned some extraordinary pieces.  When I first moved to Seattle in 1979, I interviewed for a job making scrimshaw on bone – it was the most interesting place, full of bones.  I didn’t get the job because it was clear I’d never be able to keep to the program – I would have made the whale smiley, or added an oyster.  Anyhow, now, in 2025, I could charcoal the walls in the gallery with scrimshaw images and create a seaside scene in the center.  I was so thrilled about drawing THAT big that I ordered some huge paper I can use, without it being permanent, for future projects.  In fact, this installation is only slightly permanent in that we can brush most of the charcoal (a combination of briquettes and wood barbecue charcoal) off of the plaster easily, and repaint. I don’t know why we are making all of this artwork, but it feels just wonderful.   And if I can’t do the project immediately, I put it on the back burn for later – and the idea might be richer over time. Expand, adapt, don’t contract.  It’s like they talk about love:  the more you distribute, the more room you have for more.   I used to worry about having too many friends, or a pet, it would take me away from the people I loved most, but in fact, it doesn’t work that way.  It’s like connections in an electrical surge protector – love comes in and goes out, and your battery becomes capable of more.   With my artwork, I used to be in such a tight circle of having to just use a special brand of acrylic paint on linen canvas, paint from life, no pencil.  Now I am using charcoal on walls, painting on newspaper, putting swim flippers on logs (thanks to Blair)…  Whoopeee! HOUSEKEEPING:  We make art to order, including portraits by Blair Pessemier.    Follow us on Instagram @lauriepessemier See all of our painting at https://paintfox.com or buy at www.pessemierstudios.com (or write to me) Most of our work is available as reproductions, custom sized and frame sign up for Artnotes, our weekly art missive, by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com or https://mailchi.mp/341f508cecf8/artnotes INVITING All Artists to present their Work:   Paint, Literature, Crafts, Food.... Pessemier's Sunday Salon Weekly on Sunday  No Reservation Necessary   How it works: Bring a piece of your ART: that could be visual, like painting or printmaking; or literary, as in poetry or prose; or crafts, like metalwork or knitting; or food, or music.  Something you made, or feel particularly inspired by.  You have about 5 minutes to present, and we'll ooh, ahh, or answer questions you have.  You can also come and see how we work before diving in.  Just show up on Zoom at a minute or two before the hour.    No selling, no networking until after everyone has presented.  No politics, no sales pitches, please. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88093708954?pwd=M04zNHB4dFZkREp3bThweUd1YnVDZz09 Meeting ID: 880 9370 8954 Passcode: 886402 Rome 8PM; NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM