New Aura Painting Series - CRUX (신영)

For someone who has many gigs under her belt such as myself, meeting a band that is acting friendly and nice to fans is always an awesome experience. During one of my last weekends in Korea I was invited by CRUX's drummer, 신영, to go and see the band playing live at a small local metal club. Not only their live performance was a pleasure to watch, in particular because if felt really intimate (not many people were there but the band give it all anyway), but it was the friendliness of the band after the show ended that made the show really memorable.

Photo by Simaris SJ (시마)

In return for the kind invitation and, most important, for making me feel rather welcome on the night, I wanted to express my thanks through my painting (since they seem to like what I do...I find always overwhelming when people I do not know seem to like my work).
The first aura portrait is of CRUX's drummer, 신영, the person who kindly sent me the invitation and really made me discover the band.

Photo by Simaris SJ (시마)

From the very first moment I met 신영 in person is kind nature and protective energy reminded me so much of that of a mighty fire that keeps people safe and warm in the middle of the night. However, as the fire can burn you if you get too near, so this powerful aura gives the powerful vibes of protection and threatening at the same time. It was not easy for me to find in internet an image similar to the vision that I had (which was more of a fire in the midst of the forest) but I think that these still might well represent the same feeling of comfort and peacefulness, as well as destructive power, I had in mind when painting.

For this piece I primarily used a lot of bright gold and red tones but I also added a glittering coat to mimic the reflection of the flames. I truly hope this painting conveys the warmth as well as the power of CRUX's drummer, that of a fire in a cold winter night.

CRUX (신영)
~ The mighty fire in the winter night ~

New aura painting and Korean adventures

Finally I am back blogging after such a long silence, busy with my teaching, travelling UK-South Korea back and forth and planning future art projects. No matter how often I go, it is always a pleasure to spend time in Seoul and surroundings, catching up with old friends, meeting new acquaintances, visit amazing art places...all that whilst eating a copious amount of delicious food (as only Koreans can do) and going to metal gigs or dance shows on a daily basis.

During my staying I had the pleasure to visit once again Jankura Art Space and his owner Mike Stewart during some of the art academy drawing sessions. Next time I am going back to the Korean capital, I will definitely try to organise once again another Aura Painting Workshop or an Italian Art Lecture there! Mike, wait for me!!!

And usually, I left Korea with a lot of art commissions as well as a bag full of promises to curious friends to create their bespoke aura portraits. The first one I did upon my return to the UK was a portrait of one of my dearest Korean friends, Rina 'Mighty Myo'. Fore the last year Rina not only has always been there for me but has also introduced me to many Korean metal bands, tattoo artists, and also very friendly concert-goers, which made my Korean staying more pleasurable. Her personality as well as her aura is definitely a burst of energy and I truly hope my painting did justice to her vitality. 

Rina ' Mighty Myo' - The wind at dawn

~ 재미 있는시간을 같이 보내줘서 고마워요 ~

The second portrait is of another old friend of mine, Jung Eil Huh, perhaps one of the first metal friends I met at a gig in Korea and definitely one of those people who really lives and breathe what Heavy Metal is all about. His aura somehow really matches his passion for metal with its purple and dark colours, like a moonless night (a little prince of darkness!)

Jung Eil Huh - The Moonless Night
~ 메탈 아자아자 화이팅~

Painting Emotions and Spiritual Energy Workshop in Seoul

Long overdue blog updates on the workshop I taught back in August 2014 at Jankura Art Space, Seoul.
It is always a pleasure to teach at Jankura and every time I go back to Seoul I am always looking forward to this opportunity. My previous Aura-focused workshop at Jankura back in April was well attended and positively received, so this time I wanted to do something similar yet different. As a result, I thought to explore further the theme of  'Perception of emotions' more than focusing on reading spiritual energy.

Because of this much broader approach, all of the attendees appeared to be even more engaged this time, (even though the workshop was taught in English and not everyone was fluent in it), mostly because everyone felt somehow familiar with the topic of feeling and expressing emotions. Through bespoke tutor-led exercises, during the workshop all the students were able to enhance their perception of emotions and use these to produce something artistic. 

The workshop concluded with students describing their paintings to the rest of the class, in an art critic-esque way, and why the emotions were painted as such. With my surprise even those less artistically gifted were able to create remarkable artworks and in the end left the workshop rather satisfied with their little masterpieces!!

Once again I would like to express my thanks to Mike Stewart, owner of Jankura, for inviting me at his art academy and, most important, for giving me this wonderful opportunity. 

~ See you all again soon! ~

New and last painting of the Midian series: MIDIAN (정아)

Finally the last painting part of the series dedicated to the Korean band Midian  is now completed!!! The latest portrait belong to the only female member in the band, second guitar, 신정아. In a still primarily male-dominated environment such as the Heavy Metal scene (this particularly in Korea where, from my experience, women into Heavy Metal and Rock seem to be almost as rare as diamonds...) being the only female member of a band means working much harder then the rest and always having to prove yourself.

신정아's energy is definitely a really strong and somehow a dark one yet it retains the sensitivity and kindness of femininity. Inspiration for the piece comes from a field of wild flowers basking in the moonlight. The picture in my mind was actually that of dark red or purple flowers but as I know nothing about flowers it was really difficult to find a suitable image in internet. I hope the one I found still gives the same feeling, as it is really similar to the vision I had in my mind before starting to paint. This piece is actually extra sparkling and the purple is really vivid: I did try to represent on canvas the effect of the moonlight reflecting on the delicate flower petals.

Midian (정아)
Wild flowers basking in the moonlight

New Painting: MIDIAN (보현)

Here it comes the penultimate aura painting for the Korean band MIDIAN, the portrait of their lead guitarists, 김보현.

Inspiration for the piece comes from the image of the somehow fairytale picturesque landscape such as that of a waterfall or a stream with ivy and musk growing along its banks (a bit on the line of those Arthurian landscapes visible in Lord of the Ring's Elven cities). I tried to convey in the painting the purity and strength of both running water and nature combined and give the feeling of something in continuous movement, which reminds me exactly of 김보현's energy.

MIDIAN (보현)

The powerful waterfall

New aura painting: MIDIAN (태호)

Here it comes the third aura portrait part of the series for the Korean band MIDIAN! This time is the aura and energy's inspired painting of the drummer and leader of the band, Kim Taeho.

Drummers are those musicians who stay almost completely hidden by their instrument and are not as visible as those who perform right at the front stage and can easily interact with fans during live shows. Taeho is not only a strong and charismatic leader but also a very dedicated musician whose passion for music (and Midian) is undoubtedly so strong it really touches the heart of whoever get to know him.

Inspiration from the piece came from the extraordinarily warmth of the glow of the red autumn leaves visible in Korea. The latter season is in fact the favourite of many Koreans mostly because of the wonderful tints that surface in the natural landscape during the period. (For those who have never been to Korea in that season I would really recommend a visit!)

MIDIAN (태호)

The glow of autumn leaves

Successful aura painting delivery across the world!

One of the biggest pleasure for an artist is without a doubt the opportunity to witness a satisfied commissioner (or the person for whom the painting was commissioned) receiving the desired painting and to see their happy face the first time they can hold the artwork in their hands.

During my recent visit to Seoul it was an absolutely delight to meet once again Craig Grillanda, one of the professional boxers for whom I was asked to create the Boxing Club Aura Series, and, most importantly, to pass the original painting directly to him in person. Here it is a photo of the occasion!

Boxer Craig Grillanda with  his very own aura portrait

Craig also helped me to deliver the aura portrait of his fellow colleague in the boxing ring, professional boxer Taek Min Kim, whom unfortunately I was unable to meet during my last trip to Korea. As a way to express his thanks and contentment Taek Min kindly sent me a few snapshots of him happily holding the painting. In the one uploaded here I love the boxing ring appearing in the background as it somehow add a touch of authenticity to the whole Boxing Club Aura Series!

Boxer Taek Min Kim  his portrai