Why the Odyssey?

As with my vintage snapshots and classic films I love old stuff. This series of work just happens to be a whole lot older! I love being connected to the past. There is something about it that delights and inspires me infinitely. Finding bits and pieces of another time which I get to reassemble with bits and pieces of my own time to recreate a reality of my own imagination, my own making. My reality, my fantasy. It is an interaction, a co-creation.

Odysseus and The Sirens, Attic Red Figure, ca 500 - 480 B.C

Ancient writings open a door into my imagination. Ancient writing has a cadence that is different than today’s way of expressing oneself. It is simple and rich. The details are succinct and non-superfluous. Ancient stories are the foundation of all our other stories. It is part of our cultural, psychological heritage.

The Iliad and The Odyssey are one of the major cultural building blocks of western society. The character and incidents in it have been borrowed from and built upon ever since. It is one of the original Hero stories. Odysseus is the classic trickster hero. Its elements are reflected in almost every story you will read or watch.

Polyphemus & Odysseus' Escape on the Ram, Athenian Red Figure
ca 5th B.C.

About The Odyssey

Aristotle, in his work “Poetics“ reduces the Epic poem to 3 sentences: 

“...The story of The Odyssey can be stated briefly. A certain man is absent from home for many years; he is jealously watched by Poseidon, and left desolate. Meanwhile his home is in a wretched plight—suitors are wasting his substance and plotting against his son. At length, tempest-tossed, he himself arrives; he makes certain persons acquainted with him; he attacks the suitors with his own hand, and is himself preserved while he destroys them. This is the essence of the plot; the rest is episode.”

This is the bare bones of The Odyssey. But I’d have to say that the “episode” of it is the part that delights. He confronts monsters and gods, foreign people with strange abilities, drama, romance, heartbreak, daring feats, deceptions, politics, comedy, this story has got a bit of everything.

The Odyssey was written down almost 3000 years ago. It is a long story and it may seem sort of daunting to imagine reading it if you haven’t attempted. It isn’t exactly an easy read. You have to put yourself into a certain mindset, enjoy the poetry and appreciate the way our sensibilities have changed over the millennia. But the more you read ancient literature the easier it gets. It is the sequel to The Iliad, which is an equally long and influential poem about the Trojan War. It is also a beautiful book, but the Odyssey is actually easier to get. So if you are thinking about reading Homer, you may want to start with The Odyssey.

I found a wonderful primer about Greek mythology in general and about The Odyssey in particular on a terrific website called The Art of Manliness. 

Achilles and Patroclus, Attic Red Figure, ca 500 B.C

My New Series Based on The Odyssey

Penelope, The Matchless Queen of Cunning.

For those of you who have been following my work for a while know that my art has gone through a lot of changes lately. I have developed a new style and a new technique. I've integrated collage and expanded my expression and repertoire of subject matter. I produced, among other things, an entire show based solely on classic film noir.
Now I have found my art has evolved again. Inspired by an invitation from my friend Myra Clark to participate in a show at Gallery 114, I decided to take a big leap and produce a show based on Homer's The Odyssey.

Three original sketches of Mentor and Telemachus.

As always, as I progress in this series I will be posting my work in progress, including sketches and mock-ups. These are some images tracking the progress of a scene where Telemachus, Odysseus' son, prays to Athena. She appears to him in the form of Mentor. Although he appears to be a normal being, Telemachus swiftly realizes he is not who he seems, but that it is Athena speaking to him and guiding him.

Larger, more complete drawing of Mentor and Telemachus.

Tiny collage sketch of Mentor and Telemachus.

"Shades of Noir" at RiverSea Gallery

"The Blueprint Remains" 36”x48”

I am once again proud to be the featured artist at RiverSea Gallery. The show opening is October 8th, from 5:00-8:00pm. The featured show exhibit will be hung in the main room through the month of October (but remember my work is always available at RiverSea!)

For this exhibit I have created a body of work based on images from classic film noir. 

Each piece is created using a multi-step process: 

First I procure the source image from a film. Sometimes I find images from the internet, but more often I capture a screen shot with my camera directly from my TV screen as I play the movie. 

This image is from the famous movie "The Killers"

From this image I create several drawings. 

 

Then I make a small collage based on the drawing. The collage’s tiny size makes it necessary for me to simplify and abstract the shapes in the image. I pay careful attention to simplifying shapes, color relationships, and the interaction of darks and lights. I sometimes start on a dark brown ground, which further helps me to edit out unnecessary details and distill the image to its essential parts.

"The Blueprint Remains Miniature" 4.5"x6"

 I then create a large piece based on the small collage. 

RiverSea Gallery is located in beautiful Astoria, Oregon on the northern coast that features great painting, sculpture, craft and jewelry. 

(503)325-1270

1160 Commercial Street, Astoria, Oregon

Open Monday-Friday 11:00-5:50

Sunday 11:00-4:00

Show Opening: October 8th, 5:00-8:00pm

Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Show Closing Reception!

"The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Art Show", features 28 artists who created artworks based on Grimm's Fairy Tales. I made a mixed media work of art based on Cinderella. As the exhibit draws to a close, we have decided to have a closing reception.

The subject matter is unique to me, plus I utilized many different techniques all on this single piece, including collage, collage with tracing paper, charcoal drawing, and paint. I dare say, it is sort of a tour de force of my new artistic direction! Here is a chance for you to see the piece in person before it is taken down.
Closing reception: Friday, May 27th, 6pm.
Portland'5 Centers for the Arts, 1111 SW Broadway

This is a detail of "Cinderella Complex" that utilizes collage, collage with painted transparent tracing paper, charcoal drawing, acrylic paint and scratching with a razor blade.

This is a detail that uses thick applications of charcoal, which is then scratched away with a razor blade to articulate and draw the mice. The leaves are collaged painted paper, and the dress is collaged painted tracing paper over drawn and collage. You can see her legs through the skirt. 

Springtime Shows!

It seems appropriate that spring is the time where I commence upon a new phase of my art career with a new body of work. I am showing in two new exhibits, very different from one another, but equally exciting. "The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Art Show" and at Lane Gallery in NW Portland.

"Cinderella Complex" 40"x20"

The first is "The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Art Show", a juried exhibition of artworks based on Grimm's Fairy Tales. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to make a unique work of art, slightly off the subject matter I have been focused on for a number of years, yet a subject that I felt inspired and impassioned by. This piece of art is based entirely on my imagination, using only a few pieces of photo images as references. 

The image is made from combining charcoal drawing, acrylic paint, and paper collage, including painted tracing paper to depict the diaphanous skirt of her dress. Through the filmy material, you can see the outline of her legs and one shoe. Heavy charcoal drawing is used in the lower part of the painting to not only depict the mice, but to represent the charcoal cinders that are the source of her name.

A statement will be displayed along side during the show:

"Cinderella is about to take control of her destiny by transforming herself into a Princess worthy of a better life. But although the transformation may appear complete (by the looks of her clean, glamorous appearance) underneath that veneer she is still rooted in her harder, grittier past (ashes in on her dirty, bare foot, surrounded by nocturnal mice). Though her difficult past may be seen as an inescapable wound, it also bears the foundation of her strength and determination" 

Opening reception, April 7th, 5-8pm. Exhibit dates, April 7th through May 31st.

Portland'5 Centers for the Arts, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR

Threshold

 Over the past two years (or is it three?) I have moved twice, helped build our current home and gotten married. Once I settled down into my new life I had to examine my life and my art through new eyes. I have been experimenting with new ways of doing my art, going back to basics by taking art classes, and trying to reinvigorate my craft. Now I feel I am ready to commence upon a new chapter in my art.

One of the major changes that have occurred is that got married, and made the decision to adopt my husband's name of Sapp. So I have made the move to add that name to my artist identity, making it Leslie Peterson Sapp. 

I have taken a huge leap of faith, and it feels as though I am finally coming in for a landing!

In many ways, the place I have landed is very much like were I was before. I am still doing images filled with people from the past. But I have expanded, become more adventurous and expressive. My subject matter and source material has widened. If you would like to read more about my current thoughts about my work, read the column just to your right under "About My Painting" and "My Technique".

Meanwhile, here are a few of my newest pieces.

" Big Brass Bed" 18"x24" Collage, charcoal on panel.

"Big Brass Bed" is almost completely collage. It is based on a film still from "The Killers"

"Big 500 10" 7"x8" Collage, charcoal, acrylic on panel.

This is a small piece I made for The Big 500 show on December 12th at The People's Art of Portland. I collaged old newspaper down and painted on top. It is based on a screenshot I took of "The Killers".

"Blue Dahlia" 24"x18" Collage, acrylic, charcoal on panel.

"Blue Dahlia" is a somewhat humorous portrait of my husband and I, based on a movie poster from the classic film. 

"Boy on a Settee" 40"x48" Acrylic, collage, charcoal on panel

This image is based on a snapshot. I did a very small version of this a few years ago. I always felt I didn't quite express what attracted me to the photograph. This time I took many liberties with it, and distorted the space to create more feeling and movement.  

"Boxer" 30"x40" Acrylic, collage, charcoal, pastel on panel.

This is based on a screenshot I took of the movie "The Killers". I feel it depicts in dramatic fashion the special sort of pressure men are subjected to. 

New Possibilities

After being able to take classes with Mark Andres over the winter and spring, I have been able to return to my work with fresh eyes and honed skills. One of the things that I was encouraged to do in my classes was to create preparatory sketches for my paintings by making collages. By doing this I was able to simplify the shapes and work out color and compositional questions. Here are a few examples of the collages I made followed by the finished painting.

Collage Sketch for Qualms 10"x7"

"Qualms" Acrylic on panel. 16"x11.25"

Collage Sketch for Those Were Pearls That Were Her Eyes 8"x7.75"

"Those Were Pearls That Were Her Eyes" Acrylic on canvas. 66"x60"

Collage Sketch for Commission 9"x9"

Commission. Acrylic on panel. 12"x12"

Collage Sketch for Commission 6"x8"

Commission. Acrylic on panel. 27"x36"

When I showed some of my collage work at my last exhibit at In Bocca al Lupo Fine Art in September, the response was so positive that I have decided to put more work into the collages and produce some as finished, salable pieces of art. Here is an example of my latest work in progress: 

Collage Study. Painted paper on board. 20"x10"