Dali Museum is fantastic

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com


The newly renovated Dali Museum in Saint Petersburg, Florida is fantastic! I went there last week with my parents, Dietrich and Helen Schaefer.

The museum houses 96 of Salvador Dali's original oil paintings, collected by the Morse family.
I enjoyed seeing how Dali's work changed over his lifetime, especially neat to see his early work in tight realism, Cubism, Impressionism and Dadaism, and how it all culminated into his mature work with Surrealism. He was very interested in science and Christianity- which showed up especially in his later work. His wife, Gala, appeared on many of his canvases. 

Some of my favorite paintings in the exhibit were The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory, Daddy Longlegs of the Evening--Hope!, and Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man all of which include his signature plastic amorphic shapes. His use of color, masterful edges, "hidden" detail and imagination were so breathtaking.

We took an audio tour- it was very engaging. I think for me what was so neat about this particular museum was how Dali's paintings, the museum atmosphere, architecture, and even the interactive gardens created a total enveloping experience.

The Dali Art Museum building itself is a masterpiece in sculpure- the architect Yann Weymouth was so inspired by Dali's use of morphing forms- which inspired the Enigma- the cloudlike shape composed of triangular glass pushing out of the building's edge contrasting with the building's angular lines. I learned that the thousands of huge panes of glass in the Enigma are each unique in size and had to be barcoded to keep track of them during construction.

The grounds and garden were peppered with rocks imported from Dali's hometown in Spain- one can see those same rock types in so many of his paintings. It is neat to see the painting and real rocks all together in one setting.

Check it out!!

Price Increase 2011- Thanks for Another Successful Year!

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

Thank You!!

I am excited to announce a price increase effective March 1, 2011. All sizes of all my paintings (commission or standard work), regardless of location will be 40% higher than current prices.  This is in response to another successful year... Thirty four (34) paintings sold in 2010, which is a personal record. Thank you so much for your support!

Please note this price increase will be effective March 1st, 2011 for original paintings only, no change to signed greeting cards.

I really appreciate your support!!! Thank you so much for another successful year!!

Dena

New Corn Series painting: "Hot Tub"

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

"Hot Tub" Oil on Canvas 30"x40" copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

It's a sultry summer early evening, the sun will set in a few hours... snuggled in the hot tub, he whispers in her ear. My newest painting- "Hot Tub". 
I started on this painting in September, at the end of sweet corn season. The couple reclines in my pasta kettle- I had to stuff a towel in the bottom to keep them from sliding in the water while I painted.

Artist Interview

by Dena Tollefson

Thank you to Mary Zeran for the very nice interview she did about my art and processes! Click here to see it in her blog http://maryzeran.blogspot.com/2010/12/dena-tollefson-artist-conversation.html

Have a great day!

"Covenant" Acrylic on Canvas 30"x24" copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

New Gallery: Grand Opening of The Avenue Art Gallery and Photography Studio in Urbandale Iowa

by Dena Tollefson

Had a great time at the Grand Opening of The Avenue Art Gallery and Photography Studio yesterday. Thankfully the snow that hit northern Iowa stayed away.  I did a painting demonstration of my unique Daubism technique. Gallerist Jill Kelley has a beautiful gallery in a wonderful location. Artist friends Nina Vetrova Robinson and Paul Monska are also represented at the gallery. I am so delighted my sorority sister Janelle Jacobs Siders was able to attend!


Dena Tollefson Painting demonstration- this is the first layer of oil paint over an acrylic underpainting.



Gallerist Jill Kelley at the Grand Opening



New Corn Series Painting: "The Seduction of Sampson"

by Dena Tollefson
http://www.denatollefson.com/

Here is my latest Corn Series painting: "The Seduction of Sampson"

"The Seduction of Sampson" 30"x40" Oil on Canvas copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

It's dark, warm and damp in the field... There Sampson waits amongst the tall, ragged grasses, awaiting Delilah. In one quick moment, Sampson's lock of shorn hair dangles precariously, representing his loss of strength after Delilah, disguised as butter, makes her move.

Mindy Eilers named that Painting

by Dena Tollefson

Thank you so much to Mary, Janelle, Nina, Troutbirder, Paul, Tammy, Mindy & Celia for the great painting name suggestions here, by email, and on Facebook! It was hard to narrow it down.

Mindy Eilers has has come up with the perfect name- "Covenant". It really captures the essence.

Thank you again for everyone's fantastic suggestions!
Have a great evening
Dena

"Covenant" 30" x 24" Acrylic on Canvas copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson

Help me name this painting!

by Dena Tollefson

Untitled copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson 30"x24"acrylic on canvas

Please help me name this painting! I just finished this abstract and need the right title.   I am excited to hear your ideas! I'll be checking here and on my Facebook page Dena Tollefson Art to see what you come up with... Please put your name ideas in the comment section below.

Take care
Dena

Sneak Peek: U of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Tollefson Abstracts Exhibit

by Dena Tollefson

Here's a sneak peek of one of my 12 paintings in the upcoming University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic's Gallery One exhibit, sponsored by Project Art.

"The Last Week" 28 x 22 Acrylic on Canvas copyright 2009 Dena Tollefson

The painting above is entitled "The Last Week".  This painting is about the last week of Jesus' life and his disciple Peter's decision of whether he would acknowledge Christ of deny following him. On the left corner of the painting is the jail, Golgotha with the 3 crosses in on the right. The fractured bird crowing in the center reflects his final decision and eventual regret for his betrayal. This painting is one of two studies in blue.

This exhibit runs Oct 18, 2010 until Jan 21, 2011 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics 200 Hawkins Drive 8023 John Colloton Pavilion Iowa. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact John Hansen, Visual Arts Coordinator Phone 319 353 6417. Visit the Project Art website http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/projectart 

I hope you can make it to the exhibit!

New Corn Series painting: Marie Antoinette: "Let Them Eat Corn"

by Dena Tollefson

Here is my latest Corn Series painting - and a step-by-step of what it looked like in process. This blog posting is a continuation of my June 15, 2010 post entitled Painting Demonstration: Corn at the Window: Marie Antoinette (Let Them Eat Corn).


Underpainting  for "Marie Antoinette: Let Them Eat Corn" copyright 2010  Dena Tollefson Oil on Canvas 40"x30"

I had set this painting aside until August to concentrate on a commissioned painting. Got a great ear of corn from Knights's farm, put the spotlight on in the studio, and got to work. Here's the photo of the next step with the fields started and the kernels developing...

Painting in Process at my easel "Marie Antoinette: Let Them Eat Corn" copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson Oil on Canvas 40"x30"

The final steps to complete this corn painting were to restate the light around Marie and the window, and add details of the stalks of corn up closest to the window. I reglazed the distant sky at the horizon with a combination of titantium white and a bit of cad yellow. Also worked on the reflected light hitting the kernels on Marie's side opposite the window. I added cad orange highlights in her corn silk hair. Below is the completed painting.


Completed painting: "Marie Antoinette: Let Them Eat Corn" copyright 2010 Dena Tollefson Oil on Canvas 40"x30"