Hanthala Makes it to the Sistine chapel
My third painting photographed by my co-worker.
Hanthala is the cartoon character in the middle. Hanthala is the signature of famous Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali's and over time became an iconic symbol of Palestinian struggle and defiance. Hanthala is a 10 year old refugee boy with ragged clothes, bare feet and his back is always to the audience.
My husband thinks that the painting is retarded because most people in Canada don't know who Hanthala is and most people in the middle east don't care about Michaelangelo and therefore very few people will get what the painting is about.
While painting, I had a discussion with my kids about Michaelangelo and my son jumped up and down in excitement "Michaelangelo is my favorite ninja turtle" was declared with adoration.
I tried to explain a little about who Michaelangelo was and they nodded in agreement as if they were listening. When I finished, my seven year old daughter asked me if next time I could paint something by Danatelo because he is her favorite Ninja turtle.
I just shake my head
Hanthala is the cartoon character in the middle. Hanthala is the signature of famous Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali's and over time became an iconic symbol of Palestinian struggle and defiance. Hanthala is a 10 year old refugee boy with ragged clothes, bare feet and his back is always to the audience.
My husband thinks that the painting is retarded because most people in Canada don't know who Hanthala is and most people in the middle east don't care about Michaelangelo and therefore very few people will get what the painting is about.
While painting, I had a discussion with my kids about Michaelangelo and my son jumped up and down in excitement "Michaelangelo is my favorite ninja turtle" was declared with adoration.
I tried to explain a little about who Michaelangelo was and they nodded in agreement as if they were listening. When I finished, my seven year old daughter asked me if next time I could paint something by Danatelo because he is her favorite Ninja turtle.
I just shake my head
There is a way between voice and presence where information flows.
In disciplined silence it opens.
With wandering talk it closes. .... Rumi
12:09 PMI think the painting is fantastic, and I TOTALLY get it! Granted I'm not from Canada or the Middle East.
Keep up the good work.
8:56 AM
can i shoot you now, because you obviously have no more good stories to tell.
11:10 AM
Dear Ihath,
1) I can't wait to see your painting of a Palestinian Ninja Turtle! Your kids are on to something -- maybe something big.
2) Good thing you didn't paint the Prophet Mohammed. But you painted Allah! Is that allowed?
3) I wonder if Hanthala will ever get out of his hole. If the land belongs to Allah, then Allah can give it to whoever, whenever. Hating the Zionist Entity and supporting Saddam and electing Hamas seems like a path to nowhere. He should stop repeating behavior/choices that Allah obviously has not blessed.
4) Will we see a painting of Iraq?
Later...
3:42 AM
Sigh. I had a political critique to make but I'll with-hold it seeing as Anonymous 11.10 has already made one. Shame, I thought mine was better. Still, there's only so much a sensitive artist can take so in that light I will keep my political observation to myself and instead make a technical one - have you thought about attending a life drawing class? Yes - the type with un-clothed bodies and medical skeletons BUT if an artist is adept in describing the human form, it means the artist need not fall back on, ahem, cartoons. Alternatively, you could try painting your husband, or children, if you can get them to sit still long enough. Hands and feet might be a good start if you are challenged for time, not as daunting as fitting in a full body portrait before dinner anyway, plus, you can draw your own if there's no willing volunteers around. You did a good job of god's hand (very feminine!) but still, the women's toes seem conveniently hidden by her clothing...
2:41 PM
lol @ your kids
sadly I still think of the TMNT when I hear those names
xD
-javier
2:45 PM
forgot to add:
loved this paiting the most until now
-javier
8:21 PM
Javier, that is the weakest critique I have ever heard or read. "I liked this painting". What did you like about it? "Until now"... a fickle opinion is far from a constructive one.
I don't know, maybe ihath is trying to prove she was right and that neither herself or Emily Carr can paint. Or, maybe she has begun to realise that anyone can paint. She does have a good sense of composition, and is undoubtably a colourist, but yes, I would tend to agree that abstracting the human form is best done if you can draw it accurately first. I think she should keep painting, and do some more looking at human the form, seeing as they feature in her works so often.
Your critic :)
8:27 PM
Yes, I meant "human - the form". As opposed to "human - the political animal". Seriously. Try it - really. Then combine it with your ideas.
Your critic :)
9:17 AM
emigre,
You are missing the point. I am trying to prove that I can't paint. Taking classes would improve my technique and foil my hard attempts at painting badly.
10:13 AM
Dear Ihath,
What is the difference between a Palestinian Ninja Turtle and an Iraqi Ninja Turtle?
You should probably ask your children before you paint one, I think. Unless it's too late and you've already started.
I bet you're letting them help you paint, aren't you?
Later...
6:00 AM
I know. But perhaps you are missing mine - anyone can paint! Truly, I would not make these suggestions if I did not think you weren't enjoying this - honestly, take a life drawing class if you have time. I mean it.
I could provoke you with reverse psychology - but I was never a fan for igniting latent artistic talent by cruelity.
6:09 AM
"foil my hard attempts at painting badly."
That's very good advice for beginning to paint well. I see you have no fear of the canvas. A budding natural, I would say.
Your critic again :)
9:36 AM
Emigre,
I have a confession to make. Seeing how much I have been enjoying painting I also thought about taking classes this summer when I will have a bit of free time. This is before you mentioned it. But i don't know what to take. I was never fond of nude figures or nude statues and I don't think it is something I will ever paint. I also never want to paint the classic bowl of fruits or a vase with flowers ... how boring. Perhaps I will find a "Painting with acrylics for dummies class". I would like to learn about differnt effects you can make with the brush, like how to paint clouds in the sky or how to paint hair so that it looks flowing and more convincing .... etc.
7:45 AM
I know the whole life drawing nude thing can be off-putting for some (like it's something only Michael Angelos are supposed to do) but after a while a body is just all shapes and lines. The still life classes that I remember were more cross sectioned capsicums and fish-heads then bowls of fruit. They'd probably be a good pick to ease yourself in.
I'm about to make a highly un-orthodox suggestion which I don't think has ever been tried before in "arts instruction" and probably would horrify the arts world. Do you have photoshop? This is just a thought and you may or may not want to try it - take some photos you like and try out the photoshop filter options for paint on them (wetbrush, drybrush, watercolour etc). Then next time you look at real people (clothed or whatever) imagine you are looking at them through the filter option, squint up your eyes and imagine what you see dissolving into brushstrokes. Granted, photoshop is computer generated, but seeing the before and after of unfiltered and filtered might give you some ideas about how people and things are built up from blotches of colour. And it is a completely new and untried before self-teaching method (as far as I know).
But a real class would probably be more valuable. Most people do the hobby ones for fun so it's not that daunting (full of people who can't paint either, but have become quite good at it...)
8:00 PM
Ihath,
I love reading what you have to say, and even though I, an Israeli, have a different point of veiw, I respect yours and listen to it judgement-free. I have always had arab-Israeli friends and can speak arabic quite well. I enjoy Celebrating our similarities, which outnumber our differences. I am looking forward to seeing the play.
maasalaam uchti
5:00 PM
Keep painting. Folk Art is a legitimate and respected art form,and your second work could hang in many folk art galleries without being self conscious.
As for Emily Carr, one either 'gets it' or one doesn't. You should be aware of the fact her work was very shocking to the Victorian sensibilities of the people of her time, sort of like rude graffiti art painted on a fine old building would be today.
How would you interpret "Scorned as timber, beloved of the sky" (a Carr title)as an image?
5:00 PM
Keep painting. Folk Art is a legitimate and respected art form,and your second work could hang in many folk art galleries without being self conscious.
As for Emily Carr, one either 'gets it' or one doesn't. You should be aware of the fact her work was very shocking to the Victorian sensibilities of the people of her time, sort of like rude graffiti art painted on a fine old building would be today.
How would you interpret "Scorned as timber, beloved of the sky" (a Carr title)as an image?
7:31 AM
I think that it is a work of pure brilance.
10:20 PM
I see the point you are making and I do like your painting. Others on here are judging you because you added Hanthala, the icon for the Palestinian struggle. This childlike behavior is everywhere you go, so ignore it, you did a great job!
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