My Plutonian Paintings

[RockFish]

Hi Peeps,

I'm bored and feeling sad that I have no space right now for painting, and not a lot of time for it either, so, just to get the feeling that *something* is happening in this front, I'm posting my blog with my paintings for anyone interested in weird artwork. :)

http://www.flyingharlequin.blogspot.com/

My chart is in my signature, for the ones interested in the aspects that brought those paintings about. I have Pluto in Libra, Libra Midheaven, Venus sextiles MH too... I reckon I've got some real plutonian characters popping out of my mind. :D

Anyways, have fun. Any suggestions on how to handle art in my life will be deeply appreciated, since I'm desperate to keep going but have a cranky Virgo Saturn working against it. :mad:

[piercethevale]

...I dig the Harlequin and the MacBeth paintings...very good.
...got a touch of Picassos' early style to it.
A little bit of Modliani and maybe a hint of Klimnt too.
...With Uranus transiting your 3rd house presently maybe it's that you are looking for a change from the way you've been communicating. As your Mercury is in the 14th degree of Capricorn which has as it's Sabian Symbol thus: [from Rudhyars' book] "AN ANCIENT BAS-RELIEF CARVED IN GRANITE REMAINS A WITNESS TO A LONG FORGOTTEN CULTURE"...What an interesting symbol to have for your natal Mercury what with you being an artist...Could be you might like to do some sculpture at this time...in fact I notice a few degrees of the Zodiac in areas of influence in your chart that symbolically deal with preserving, recollecting, displaying the best of the old...that sort of thing...that may somehow indicate what is seated in your subconscious as per the underlying theme of what you are attempting to communicate....
...for example; your I.C., the HOW of your spiritual blueprint symbolically illustrated by the chart axis, is in the 10th degree of Aries, the Sabian Symbol for which is: "A TEACHER GIVES NEW SYMBOLIC FORMS TO TRADITIONAL IMAGES"...see what I'm getting at here?
...I majored in fine art, and my father was an excellent artist and made some $ and some degree of fame from it...I was always told by the better instructors that I had to 'Stay Busy"...even on those days you don't even want to pick up a pencil and doodle, make yourself do something with your art...They all felt that 'creativity' was like some sort of muscle that should be exercised daily...and I know a number of better musicians who adhere to the same sort of philosophy....
...I suggest stay busy, but stay hungry...My brother once said "Why do you think your're always hearing the term 'Starving Artist'? It's because it's from destituteness [or 'Stavation'] that artistic genius springs from. You never hear of a 'Fat and Happy' artist do you?"...what my brother said made sense to me and still does today!

[RockFish]

I dig the Harlequin and the MacBeth paintings...very good.
...got a touch of Picassos' early style to it.
A little bit of Modliani and maybe a hint of Klimnt too.

Well, you made my day, thanks a lot! Early Picasso period has some of my all time favorite paintings....

Love Klimt too. Egon Schiele was another one I always loved as well...

I wish I had more space, I like really big panels, Macbeth's a big painting, taller than myself.


As your Mercury is in the 14th degree of Capricorn which has as it's Sabian Symbol thus: [from Rudhyars' book] "AN ANCIENT BAS-RELIEF CARVED IN GRANITE REMAINS A WITNESS TO A LONG FORGOTTEN CULTURE"...What an interesting symbol to have for your natal Mercury what with you being an artist
Heh! I'm impressed as well. Actually, VERY impressed.
Most of the paintings I really work on, the paintings I really think through and take time to "build", are full of reliefs and clumps of material. They are never flat. The Harlequin has the skeleton hand in high relief, and the scar on his face was actually carved in the cardboard surface, so it's bas-relief, and Macbeth's armour is high relief too. Unfortunately, it can't be seen in these lousy photographs I took.

...Could be you might like to do some sculpture at this time...
I tried some of it some years ago, but I think my real interest is to mix color and volume, to create a mixture of solidity (bones and other structures are always relieved in the paintings) and something ethereal.


in fact I notice a few degrees of the Zodiac in areas of influence in your chart that symbolically deal with preserving, recollecting, displaying the best of the old...that sort of thing...that may somehow indicate what is seated in your subconscious as per the underlying theme of what you are attempting to communicate....
I never thought about it this way, but a certain part of me has always been a bit of a traditionalist. Someone once told me that I should try and use modern technology, but I need the paint, the volume, I don't tolerate dealing with computer printings, they all seem a bit destitute of life when I deal with them..............

So, in a sense, I'm old fashioned. I'll explore this idea, it's an interesting input you bring. Could you tell me which degrees you see in the chart that have this old-fashioned quality?

There was a time I dealt with restoration of old oil paintings. Funny huh? I didn't remain in that field, but it may be pointing to something.

We will see, that's a new and exciting point of view there. :)


I majored in fine art, and my father was an excellent artist and made some $ and some degree of fame from it


Really? Are you active in the art field?

Maybe I know your father's work. If you feel comfortable about it, Pm me and tell me who he is. If you don't, I understand it. :)

I was always told by the better instructors that I had to 'Stay Busy"...even on those days you don't even want to pick up a pencil and doodle, make yourself do something with your art...They all felt that 'creativity' was like some sort of muscle that should be exercised daily...and I know a number of better musicians who adhere to the same sort of philosophy....
Yes, I think you're right. I know I'm not really dedicating myself enough.

Altho I don't think I'm the only one to blame.... I really don't like the "art world" as it is in my country. At some point I realized I would have to work with something else to make a living, or paint what I didn't want to please the consumers.... I chose the first option, and don't regret it. Sometimes I have no time and no drive to paint, because work can be really consumming, but I think I would end up hating painting if I turned it into a "job".

Anyways, I'm still struggling with this conflict. Must be part of my karma.:rolleyes:

...I suggest stay busy, but stay hungery...My brother once said "Why do you think your're always hearing the term 'Starving Artist'? It's because it's from destituteness [or 'Stavation'] that artistic genius springs from. You never hear of a 'Fat and Happy' artist do you?"...what my brother said made sense to me and still does today!
Hehe, interesting idea. I agree. Being comfortable can be uninspiring, altho I gotta tell you that painting in the kitchen is a bit of a downer too.:D

I'm craving for a bit of comfort, at least a decent room with a door to close and work......................... This year I might move to another city, work with something different than what I do to make a living, and maybe I'll be able to have a decent place and some time on my own to paint.


I really loved your input! Thanks a lot, it really helped me. :)

[piercethevale]

...If you've never seen it I would love to suggest the movie "The Horses Mouth" with Alec Guiness. I saw it in 1969 when I was 16 and it made such an impression on me...about an artist whom was always looking for 'Bigger Canvases' to execute on...AND THOSE FEET! [you'll have to see the movie to understand that!]
...I thoroughly recommend it to all aspiring artists.
My father [deceased] is Tony Mastry. He has a few portraits in a couple of small museums...had a number of commissions in his life but couldn't pursue it as a full time occupation...he was a veritable master of colour.

[RockFish]

I'm starving.

I'm so starving i can't paint, i have no energy.

Not every artist need to be starving. Eat!

I like the "Wine painting". Keep it up!:)
/JJ
Thank you! It's another one with a lousy photograph, I had to take the picture at night with a horrible camera, in the flat of a friend....... The flat didn't have any decent light, it was complicated...

I'm thinking of reforming the entire blog, taking photographs all over again. :rolleyes:

Now, about the starving artist............ I think I will take the middle path. :D

Not too starving (we must have the energy to raise the brush), not too obese and content to have something to say.


That's a loaded 5th house you have there, Jenna. Loads of fun and creativity, but also seriously intent and dedicated in capricorn! Ice cool. ;)

[RockFish]

If you've never seen it I would love to suggest the movie "The Horses Mouth" with Alec Guiness. I saw it in 1969 when I was 16 and it made such an impression on me...about an artist whom was always looking for 'Bigger Canvases' to execute on...AND THOSE FEET! [you'll have to see the movie to understand that!]
...I thoroughly recommend it to all aspiring artists.

Thanks for the indication, gonna check it out. It is on Youtube!

My father [deceased] is Tony Mastry. He has a few portraits in a couple of small museums...had a number of commissions in his life but couldn't pursue it as a full time occupation...he was a veritable master of colour.
Thank you very much. I'll google right now. :)

[piercethevale]

...it's on YouTube?...It took me over 30 years to find a copy of the movie and see it again for a second time. I found that it had been re-released on DVD and is also digitally re-mastered...and amazing restoration.
Alec Guiness is a real gem in this movie. It's my very favorite movie.
r.e. my father Tony, if you 'Google' him you're pretty likely to only find the music he did back in the 50s' and 60s' with his brother Al. Together they were the Altones.
He never made a cent from all that work and effort despite having issued some 7 singles [45s']. They opened for Aretha Franklin back in 1959 in L.A. [or it may have been 1960]...the website coloradio.com is the more informative site.
I do have a picture or two of his in my computer...I'll see if I can't post one.
Notable personages among collectors of his art were Grace Kelly and Dan Blocker [Hoss, from the TV show Bonanza]...he did portraits of them both.

[piercethevale]

Hey all of you. I couldn't find anything about the movie "The Horses Mouth" on youtube...but I did find out that it will be aired on TCM [Turner Classic Movies] this Thursday, April 2 @ 9:30 am...amazing timing!'
I petitioned TCM some years ago to try and acquire the rights to this movie as I haven't heard of it being aired since I saw it on a New Years Eve in 1969 in Los Angeles, maybe I got through to them.
I urge all to see this gem...Alec Guiness gives a timeless performance!

[RockFish]

Hi Pierce!

Here's the link to The Horse's Mouth Part I:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLGRlUmigUs


The other parts can be found within the same user's video collection.;)

[piercethevale]

Thanks Rockfish. I clicked on the link to check and you are oh so right. Wonderful. Although the print quality is not as good as the digitally re-mastered DVD I bought a few years ago.
As I loaned out my copy last summer and haven't seen it since, so I couldn't help but want to watch a bit of it again...two hours later I had watched it all...I find the movie so infectious.
Alec Guinness made a number of comedies in England during the 1950s'. If anyone has seen the Tom Hanks movie "The Lady Killers" that came out a few years ago but has not seen the original starring Alec Guinness you are really missing a treat. Tom Hanks did a good re-production of the original...but something was lost in translation, so to speak.

[hermetic]

Hey :)

just took a look and have to say I really like your works, and probably how it's such a shame you don't do more/or as a profession in arts.
But had to comment on something you wrote


Yes, I think you're right. I know I'm not really dedicating myself enough.

Altho I don't think I'm the only one to blame.... I really don't like the "art world" as it is in my country. At some point I realized I would have to work with something else to make a living, or paint what I didn't want to please the consumers.... I chose the first option, and don't regret it. Sometimes I have no time and no drive to paint, because work can be really consumming, but I think I would end up hating painting if I turned it into a "job".

Anyways, I'm still struggling with this conflict. Must be part of my karma.


I do not think it's your karma ;) it's very common theme in artworld.
I have also graduated fine arts and have been struggling a lot with all you write about here. First, if I consider it profession, I might develop sort of aversion. Check, been there. Then, being 'trendy' in any was, never interested me, same as you write in your blog. Made me turn my back even to some things I might adopt into my style otherwise, just because...
Painting by orders, I could never do that. Painting someone else's wishes just to ear money, no way. I would rather wash dishes somewhere, but keep painting clean, intact and all mine.
I hate when I get the following sentence from people 'I want a painting of...., you know how to paint, I don't - so why don't you paint it for me'
most people don't get the essence of arts, they like the painting to match their new furniture. No, thanks.
And that's when it gets tough. I do some random jobs here and there but am mostly supported by my family.
I suppose rare are those artists who manage to live from their works, and it's not always proportionate to the amount of talent and hard work. From what I've seen, plain luck& connections play the role.
Rest of us... starve I guess

and looking at your chart, Taurus on 5th house cusp and Venus on MC, while you may call your painting Plutonian, sure they are darkish, but they all posess lots of order and harmony, in shapes and coloring, dark beauty in which I see lots of firmness, saturnian feel, like all the shapes are constructed over sharp hard rocks.
Plutonian I would call the art of Francis Bacon, his is very dark but also deconstructing, chaotic. Your works are at core of calm and refined aestetics, ruled by Venus as I see ;)

Piercethevale, funny how you mention Sabian simbol of Mercury as important for an artist. I find mine really confusing in meaning


13-14 deg Libra - In The Heat Of The Noon Hour A Man Takes A Siesta


Thanks a lot for the pm from the other day, btw :)

[piercethevale]

Piercethevale, funny how you mention Sabian simbol of Mercury as important for an artist. I find mine really confusing in meaning....posted by Hermetic.

Hermetic.Why would Mercury be "Funny" if taken into the consideration for an Artist? I mean, isn't Art a form of communication?
Maybe I wouldn't place as much emphasis on Mercury as I would on Venus...but I would certainly place it very close in importance...
I can understand the confusion that the Sabians at times create when attempting to understand the given symbol in the context of the Planet, Arabic Part, etc....but it can be done
For example. My Mercury is in the 28th degree of Aries, the Sabian Symbol for which is [from Rudhyars book]: "A LARGE AUDIENCE CONFRONTS THE PERFORMER WHO DISAPPOINTED ITS' EXPECTATIONS"...well, you can imagine how that makes me feel. Especially considering the material I am presenting in the book I wrote.
I have had many a symbolic sign...sychronistic occurence that seems to indicate divine guidance...[or something akin] in my life.
I have had a great number of these sort of experiences these last 6 or 7 years.
So much so that, one evening, I was pondering this very symbol that I have for my natal Mercury and how I should take it...how I should mentally cope with it if I was to attempt to write the book that I did write.
As I had just gotten some Chinese food and took it back to my pad, I challenged God [or if you prefer 'Providence'] to then give me a sign in the fortune of the cookie I was about to open...the fortune cookie read [and I'm not making this up as I still have the slip of paper to prove it] "You create your own stage and your audience is waiting"...
There are 360 Sabian Symbols...the one you have for your Part of Fortune could be another mans' Part of Catastrophe...This is a fledgling practice...we need to nurse it somewhat..and the best way to do that is exactly what we are doing now...that is, sharing our experiences...it will take many analysis to get to a final conclusion on alot of what's going on with the symbols...but that they are authentic and do work I no longer doubt...
Maybe you could start a thread on Mercury in the 14th degree of Libra and see how many others in this forum share that and procede from there.
Rudhyar does give the keyword RELAXATION for the 14th degree of Libra...which he also defined as possibly a need or an outlet from the pressures of life.
In your case, hermetic, this may indicate that by communicating you find communicating the sort of release or relaxation that you need.
As painting is sometimes regarded as a form of relaxation therapy it may be that that is what you should consider your artistic endeavors to be.

[RockFish]

just took a look and have to say I really like your works, and probably how it's such a shame you don't do more/or as a profession in arts.

Thank you hermetic.

This kind of response is what makes me want to go on.

You guys really encouraged me. It's time to get really serious or give up altogether. And I don't think the second option is really an option...

I'll organize my life around this, going to look for a new place to live, maybe going to change cities, we'll see. :rolleyes:


I hate when I get the following sentence from people 'I want a painting of...., you know how to paint, I don't - so why don't you paint it for me'

I know. I used to get that a lot, before I started my real work, my "ugly, depressing" work. :p After that, people don't tell me that anymore. I think they realized I don't know "how to paint". :p

I didn't get offended by that, they just don't know what they are asking. The problem is, these people don't understand what self-expression is about, so they just assume you are an image-producer, nothing else.

I remember there was a time an "art-dealer" hired me to paint airplanes. Apparently, this theme is very dear to a certain kind of customer, and it sells well........................ I don't recall ever feeling more miserable. It is no better than doing any other kind of work, actually it is worse, because then you have no passion for painting anything else.

This happened to me with literature. I was an avid reader, and now I work with translations. I stopped reading stuff just for fun or pleasure, completely. Everything I read now is for my work, I don't read anything else because, at the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is read. I almost got to this point with painting as well.


most people don't get the essence of arts, they like the painting to match their new furniture.
Haha, painters are all the same. I always tell my husband that people want paintings to match their curtains.


I suppose rare are those artists who manage to live from their works, and it's not always proportionate to the amount of talent and hard work. From what I've seen, plain luck& connections play the role.

BIG SIGH. Yeah, totally. I still didn't wrap my mind around someone like Damien Hirst for example, and all the craze about him.

In some way, it is sad for us that the most valued artist of our period is a butcher.

and looking at your chart, Taurus on 5th house cusp and Venus on MC, while you may call your painting Plutonian, sure they are darkish, but they all posess lots of order and harmony, in shapes and coloring, dark beauty in which I see lots of firmness, saturnian feel, like all the shapes are constructed over sharp hard rocks.

A great description! Actually, I see all aspects of my chart in my paintings, the tons of Capricorn and Saturn give the work a solid aspect, something immovable, I suppose. Venus brings color and balance, Pluto, the darkness, Jupiter, the big size, LMAO!

You're very in tune with the astrological influence over artwork.

There was a time I wanted to write an article about artists, their charts, their artwork and their transits. Turned out it was an incredibly heavy research to be made, for which I didn't have the time, but I will certainly do it one day. I wanted to stablish some connections between charts and the symbolism in certain paintings, like Picasso's Guernica (and all the Taurus in Picasso's work), some Salvador Dali's work as well, maybe Munch, Gauguin...

I guess this project will have to wait till I change jobs. :)


Plutonian I would call the art of Francis Bacon, his is very dark but also deconstructing, chaotic. Your works are at core of calm and refined aestetics, ruled by Venus as I see ;)
Thanks, I love Francis Bacon and people often talk about him when I show them my paintings. But yeah, he's definitely more disturbing and obscure.

Great conversation about art, peeps, I was in need of something like that as well. :)

[RockFish]

This conversation is really stimulating! So much that I changed avatar and signature. ;)

Thanks peeps! You rock!

[natasa812]

Dear RockFish,
I am speechless...

You are VERY talented, your pictures are expressive and articulated.

I admire your work, as a true Sagittarian I will be bluntly honest as always, I will never put them on the wall since everything I have on my walls is color, more color, a castle, nature, abstract art with lot of red and tirquoise...
There is some kind of sadness in your pictures (or at least I see it) and deeper message and as being Sagittariously travelely superficial, pictures I put on my walls are representing me perfectly...nature and more nature, castle near sea as a destination and more destination in nature and one country house (with more nature, threes and flowers...)

Don`t forget that your work is excelent and that I admire it! Keep painting...

[RockFish]

Dear RockFish,
I am speechless...

You are VERY talented, your pictures are expressive and articulated.


Thank you Nat! I'm very happy that my fellow translator and linguist liked them. :):):):)


I admire your work, as a true Sagittarian I will be bluntly honest as always, I will never put them on the wall since everything I have on my walls is color, more color, a castle, nature, abstract art with lot of red and tirquoise...


No problem, I understand. To be honest, I don't have any of them hanging on my walls either, LMAO! I don't know, they are not meant to adornate, so I didn't find the place for them yet. I think I might when I have a big house, big enough to have a room just for them, or, even better, a dungeon! :rolleyes:


Don`t forget that your work is excelent and that I admire it! Keep painting...

Thanks dear, I really appreciate your honest input, it's great when one can be honest and kind at the same time, that's a real talent.;)

[reallypisces]

Wow. Absolutely no need to say you're talented.;) I really like your style, especially the facial expressions.

[RockFish]

Thank you so much, Pisces, I'm very happy that you resonate with the paintings. :biggrin:
And thanks for digging this thread out after all this time, hahah.