LOVE is what you make of it!

The National Museum of Women in the Arts

Hey Loves!

This entry is dedicated to my creative ancestral mentor "in my head" Frida Kahlo.  I ABSOLUTELY LOVE her work!  I was for EXCITED when I got the opportunity to view her painting at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

Artist:  Frida Kahlo

I thought that I would never see any of her paintings in person, let alone in the United States.  I literally had to hold back tears looking at her painting.  Knowing that her artwork has so much history, and that she put her soul in every painting is moving.  It was as if a little piece of Frida's spirit was in the room.  Every painting of hers has such historical and emotional significance.  Nothing she painted was of mindless importance.


I remember the day that I was introduced to Frida.  An art instructor looked at my work while I was studying at Interlochen Arts Camp in high school.  She told me that my work reminded me of Frida Kahlo, and that I should see the movie Frida starring Salma Hayack.  If you haven't seen this movie then you DEFINITELY SHOULD!

I wonder what her husband Diego Rivera, and the other men in her life thought about her work lol! A man being the muse of a woman's emotional pain can be either flattering or scary! In the dating seen today do you think this would chase a man off, or leave them wanting more?  What do you think? 

Being an artist whose work is inspired by the love and pain like Frida, when I look at her work I get it, and it's moving. 

Artist: Petah Coyne

I also enjoyed the other women artist work at The National Museum of Women in the Arts.  I was extremely proud to be in this museum filled with works by women artists.  Here are a few pieces that I ENJOYED!!!  

Artist: Alice Neel

Artist: Chakaia Booker

 Chakaia Booker has beautiful installations outside of the museum.

Artist: Chakaia Booker

 (Zoomed in area of image above)

Artist: Mary Cassatt

Love,

Clarissa Horton
www.clarissahorton.com

Praying with President Obama

National Cathedral

BONJOUR LOVES & HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!


Isn't the architecture of the National Cathedral absolutely STUNNING!!!?  Well I think it is, and I was amazed at its beauty when I first saw it.  I LOVE anything that's artistically yummy, even cathedrals and great architecture!  It was here that the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. gave his last Sunday sermon on March 31, 1968 just a few days before being assassinated.  His memorial service was held here as well.

(Link to Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech held at the National Cathedral: "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution")

Photo by: Clarissa Horton

I wanted to share with you some more pictures from my trip to D.C.  On January 22nd, 2013 I was blessed with the opportunity to not only serve my country, but to worship and pray with our President and Vice President at the 57th Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service.  This was such a moving experience for me.  The prayer service was absolutely beautiful.  I loved the fact that religious leaders of different faiths was under one roof representing their religion.  Unity, peace, and respect is what we need in our country and the world today.

Photo by: Clarissa Horton

The sermon was inspiring.  I loved many points that the preacher made:

• "Obama has the ability to cast a vision and inspire people." (MY FAVORITE LOL!)
• "God raises people who are humble."
• "To be a leader invites criticism."

Being someone who used to sing in a choir in high school I enjoyed the beautiful harmonies of the youth choirs that sang in the service.  I was AMAZED at their voices and vocal control.  The Washington Performing Arts Society Children of the Gospel Choir MOVED me!  When they sang "Way over in Beulah Lan' Even Me" I could have cried.


But beyond the Service I LOVED being around people both young and old fired up to dedicate their time to service our country.  Until next time...


Love,

Clarissa Horton
www.clarissahorton.com

Remembering our beautiful President's 2013 Inauguration Ceremony

BONJOUR LOOOOVES!!!


It's been a LOOOONG time since I've blogged, but I figured why not start again because I have SOOOOOO much to share with you all!



 One week from today I had a blessed opportunity to experience our historical President Barack Obama get sworn in for a second time at his Inauguration Ceremony.  My Mother, a couple of friends from Georgia, and I stood right outside of the White House with thousands of other proud Americans listening, watching, and FREEZING PROUDLY to support our President!

Photo by: Clarissa Horton

It was so cold in Washington, D.C. that I literally had to wear 3 layers of tops and bottoms just to stay 90% warm, and while looking FABULOUS TO BOOT! What a challenge!

Photo by: Clarissa Horton

Experiencing our President getting sworn into office live on M.L.K. Day with family and friends meant that the New Year was definitely starting off right.  To the front of us we could see the White House with a crowd of people sitting on top of its balcony, and to the right of us was a huge jumbotron allowing us to view the Ceremonial up close and personal.

Photo by: Clarissa Horton

The Bidens and the First Family was looking SHARP, Kelly Clarkston sang beautifully, and our President's speech was FIERCE!  I missed Beyonce because after the President's speech my crew and I headed over to the Inaugural Parade to try to see our First Lady and President walk the streets.  

   

Love,

Clarissa Horton
www.clarissahorton.com

Artist talking about Artists

Interview of Actor Dennis Hopper, On Art

It is very interesting seeing other well know artists, such as late actor Dennis Hopper speak about their art collection and their love for fine art. Unless a person has grown up around fine arts I find it hard for them to understand what fine art is or why it's important. When I speak about art to most random people it's unfortunate that they only think of performance art. Fine art is everywhere yet it gets little notice. This is why I love hearing those of influence or other famed artists speak about it.

www.clarissahorton.com

"Moonlight Anastasia"

 Moonlight Anastasia

This is a film that I made by hand on 16mm film. When I say "by hand" I mean that I did this without the use of a camera.  The techniques that I used to create this film is something that was new to me.  I used a variety of different elements, such as bleaching, scratching, painting, collage, etc.  This project was time consuming because I had to make precise marks by hand in each individual frame.  It takes 24 frames to make a second, so image how tedious that was.  The theme of this this film is one dealing with childhood memories.   Unlike my normal process that I use when I paint, most of the images that you see were not preplanned, but instead I made them based on instincts, energy, and color.  Enjoy!

A picture of the 16mm film that I used to

make this film.

www.clarissahorton.com

Studio Interview on "Unveiling Secrets"

I'm being interviewed about my thesis series "Unveiling Secrets." 

 

 

www.clarissahorton.com

From WHITE, TO BLACK, TO WHITE AGAIN...

Clarissa Horton

Red Lipstick, 2011

Charcoal, pastel, ink on paper, 18x24 in.

This is a photograph of a drawing that I did during a 30 minute figure drawing session at Studio Clout.  I really enjoyed going to this open studio because I haven't done much hard core drawing like that since I was a sophomore in college.  It feels good knowing that I still "got it" ;0).  I do draw from time to time, but not with charcoal.  Instead I have been doing small drawings with pen and pencils in my sketch book.

Its been a long time since I've seen a posing naked body, other than myself, lol.

As I was drawing I began having sense memory about how to make certain marks and use certain materials.  It was fun triggering that part of my brain again.  I always hated drawing classes in school, so me having fun drawing says a lot, lol.

I like to draw as if I'm painting.  I like the reduction process where I'm adding and taking away drawing mediums onto the surface of the paper.  When working with large sheets of paper I like my drawing process to go from white, to black, and then to white again.
I enjoy making high energy marks and to draw with my eraser, which aids in giving me beautiful energetic marks. 

I wish I had more time to work on this one particular pose a little longer.

www.clarissahorton.com