My Portrait Project 4

I am still working my way through an old set of World Book Encyclopedias, drawing historical figures, as time allows. This is my fourth post on this project. See previous posts here, here and here.

John Marin
American Watercolorist

Franz Liszt
Hungarian Composer

American Filmmaker, Wes Anderson

Portrait of Joseph P. Oznot
He was a fictitious student created by 3 Princeton students in 1963, to see if they could get him accepted by the Princeton Admissions Office. He was.

For Princeton Alumni Weekly, Marianne Nelson, AD

Ion Heliade Radulescu
Romanian Writer and Politician after a painting by Misu Popp

Recent Abstract Paintings

Here's are a selection of paintings from the big wall in my studio that I did late last year to the first couple of months of this year.  All of my new paintings as well as additional information are available on my fine art site: /http://www.halmayforth.com/new-work-products-sqsp-test/

Yellow Kid - acrylic on canvas - 30"H x 43"W

Spaghetti Western - acrylic on canvas - 23"H x 41"W

Yellow Kid - acrylic on canvas - 22"H x 44"W

Hot Spot - acrylic on canvas - 20"H x 39"W

La Luce - acrylic on canvas - 30"H x 47"W

Ice Palace - acrylic on canvas - 22'H x 44"W

Biophilia

Biophilia is a term coined by the great sociobiologist, E.O. Wilson in his 1984 book, Biophilia . In that book, Wilson hypothesised that humans possess and innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. In the last several years, there has been a renewed interest this concept, particularly in respect to interior design. Here is a selection of nature inspired abstract compositions designed to bring the outside in. To see more of this work, please visit the Biophilia section of my recently redesigned site: click here.

Abstract Plant Forms 3

Abstract Plant Forms 5

Seed Mandala 2

Abstract Pandt Forms 8

Abstract Grass Forms 5

Pine Needles 2

Abstract Plant Forms 4

Abstract Plant Forms 8

Word Drawings - Summer 2017

Here are several of the many word drawings that I did over the summer, chronicling what was on my mind. I found a quantity of Arches 90 lb hot press in my flat files, cut a bunch of sheets into 8.5 by 11 sizes and went at it.

Frisky Noxema 6/12/17

Liplock Ecosystem 6/24/17

Bean Pot Head 7/31/17

Hot Season Riptide 7/24/17

Vodka Breath 7/3/17

My Portrait Project 3

Here's another installment of my portrait project. As some of you may know, I have been working my way through an old set of World Book Encyclopedias that was bestowed on the Mayforth kids by our parents in the early 60's, drawing the portraits of the famous and infamous. As a history buff, it has been great to learn about these characters as well as getting familiar with their physiognomy. How many can you recognize? You can see previous posts about that project here and here.

James Forrestal - the first Secretary of Defense - appointed by Truman

Juliea Clifford Lathrop - American social reformer - director of US Children's Bureau -
 first woman to head a federal bureau

Mackinlay Kantor - American journalist, novelist and screenwriter
won Pulizer Prize for Fiction for his novel, Andersonville

John "Cactus Jack" Garner - Democratic politician and lawyer from Texas
32nd Vice President of the US

Charles Fairbanks - American politician from Indiana
26th Vice President of the US

Rudyard Kipling - English journalist, short story writer, poet and novelist

Harvey Firestone - American businessman - founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company

Manchester's Neighborhood Stores

This past semester I have been teaching an illustration course and a history of illustration course at the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester, NH. Since I am in town on Tuesdays and Thursdays and have an hour and forty minutes lunch, I decided to explore Manchester on foot, taking lengthy walks during my lunch break. Each day I would follow my nose and see what I could see. At some point it dawned on me that I was coming across quite a few pretty cool neighborhood stores and maybe I should chronicle them with my smart phone. So I started seeking them out. These stores are in some of the funkier neighborhoods and their clientele seems to be folks that for some reason are unable to get to the outskirts of town, where the large supermarkets are.

Sketchbook Word Drawings - Jan-Feb 2017

Here's a new batch sketchbook word drawings.  I have been doing these as the mood strikes me.The words are free associated. I only use a dictionary for spelling, because I ain't that great a speller.

Lava Dome 2-15-17

Smartass - 1-6-17

Ginky 1-9-17

Schnizzle 1-31-17

Turd Muffin 2-1-17

Chemical Godiva 2-7-17