Messy Desk= sign of.....

In this case my messy work space/studio is a sign that I've been busy! Been working on getting some of my stuff for sale on Etsy.com soon. I have six new pieces just completed and got a new scanner that I've been putting to use.

Mixed Media Illustration

"Imagined"
Mixed Media, 9x12

I've been wanting to do something with a bunch beautiful vintage postcards from Cuba that I have. For this piece, I tried an image transfer of the pretty lady with gel medium, and completed the rest with pen and watercolor. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Watercolor portrait

"Brady at 3"
Gouache on paper, 9x12

This is a portrait of my darling son when he was about three.

Icon Series: Frida Kahlo

"The Virgin Enthroned"
Acrylic on canvas, 30x30
by Alisa Proctor

This is a very personal piece, full of symbolism reflecting my life experience. Several years ago I became critically ill as the result of a hospital based infection I acquired while giving birth. I spent nearly three months in the hospital (ICU) and was on life support for three weeks....and was not expected to survive. This painting deals with the issues of life/death, hospitalization, my love for my son, and of my survival. The snake (referencing an asclepian staph) represents both "medicine", as well as danger/death. The bird of paradise, butterfly, barbed wire, heavy confining robe, cracked columns, cactus, ocean, and little bull mask symbolize parts of my physical/emotional experience. It's true that art can be cathartic and healing.

Icon Series: Frida as Icon

"Icon (Frida y Mono)"
Acrylic and gold leaf on panel, 20x24
by Alisa Proctor

Icon Series: Oprah

Blessing the Flock (Oprah),
after Master of St. Veronica
Acrylic and gold leaf on board, 18x24
by Alisa Proctor

Without question, Oprah wields enormous influence. She has many admirers, disciples, and sycophants, and has built an empire of unbelievable proportions. Her endorsements create instant best-sellers, spin-off celebrities, and major trends. The cult of Oprah touches almost every corner of our culture. In the final analyis, what can we say about her - Saint? Goddess? Demi-god? God-complex? Icon? You decide.

(click on image to enlarge)

Icon Series: Frida Kahlo as the Virgin of Guadalupe

"Senora Nuestra Fridalupe (with Diego)"
Acrylic on Canvas, 34x52
by Alisa Proctor

Frida Kahlo has become a bit of an icon, and her popularity in Mexico may well rival that of the Virgin of Guadalupe. I've run with that concept and created a visual mash-up. In place of the traditional cherub I've painted Diego Rivera, Frida's husband and famed muralist. Until Frida's rise in popularity in recent years, he was probably Mexico's most famous artist. These days, she may well outshine him. That begs the question: is "cherub" Diego holding up Fridalupe, or riding her coat-tails? And of course, I've included Frida's pet monkeys!

(click on image to enlarge)

Icon Series: Frida Kahlo as ex voto

“The Three-Handed Virgin (Frida y Jesus el Mono)"
Acrylic and gold leaf on board, 24 x 36”
by Alisa Proctor

Traditionally, the “Three Handed Virgin” icon is considered the first ex-voto in the Christian faith. Ex-votos are devotional paintings (or other objects) that are created to celebrate a miraculous event, or objects used as an offering of gratitude for the fulfillment of a vow. The Three Handed Virgin icon originated during the iconoclast period when an eighth-century saint had his hand cut off as a punishment. The saint prayed for healing and promised to continue his struggle for the cult of icons if his hand was healed. He was miraculously healed, and hung a silver hand on the icon of the Virgin. In time, the third hand began to be painted into icons as if appearing naturally from the folds of Mary’s gown.

Mexican painter Frida Kahlo has become an icon of sorts (especially in Mexico), known for her accentuated uni-brow and pet monkeys. In this painting I have portrayed her as the Virgin along with one of Frida’s ubiquitous monkeys (whom I have dubbed “Jesus” - Spanish pronunciation). Frida’s work often had a slightly macabre or surreal feel, and it seemed right to paint her with a miraculous third hand. It also seemed appropriate to depict Frida as an ex-voto icon because she painted a number of ex-voto style works (such as “My Birth”), in which she focused on the pain and tragedy that filled her life.

Murals

fine art on canvas

more murals