BLOG Karen L French - KAREN L FRENCH

Georgiana Houghton - London College of Psychic Studies

4/30/2016

The London College of Psychic Studies has an excellent collection of Georgiana Houghton paintings. This Victorian medium, like Hilma af Klint, who I have mentioned in earlier posts, is just one undead rival to Kandinsky's place as the first abstract artist in the West.

An exhibition of her spirit drawings, such as the one on the right called 'Glory be to God' is on display this summer at The Courtauld Institute in London 16 June - 11 September, 2016.

Mind Body Spirit Festival London 2016 - book signing

4/30/2016

Yesterday I had a very enjoyable day at the London MBS Festival - Wellbeing. Firstly, I signed all the copies of both my books on the Watkins Publishing stand, coinciding with a purchase by a Russian reader. Then I wandered around catching up with friends, fans and regulars on the MBS events circuits, such as Equinox Astrology. Enjoyed a delicious meal from In Spiral and generally soaked up the atmosphere. Very tempted to go again on Monday....

Seeds of Ideas - latest painting completed

4/17/2016

Just finished Seeds of Ideas! (thin canvas 76 x 50.5cm, acrylic) Representing the way ideas pop into our awareness then bubble, jostle and blend together in novel and unpredictable ways.

Phi Ratio - a colouring book by Raphael Araujo needing funding

4/17/2016

Oh my goodness! An adult colouring book with a difference by Venezuelan illustrator and architect Rafael Araujo that he hopes will reconnect people who colour in his images with nature. For over 40 years he's been drawing the illustrations by hand at an old drafting table using a pencil, compass, ruler and protractor. Now he is doing a Kickstarter funding campaign to complete this mammoth project.

Squiggle the Book - free e-book

4/17/2016

As of this spring I have started contributing ideas and information to Kevin Thomson's e-book Squiggle the Book. It is FREE to view. Squiggle the Book is a long-term passion of Kevin's that he and I will be building up over some time so feel free to have a look regularly. It is his personal musings on the life and purpose of the humble squiggle in relation to geometric shapes.

Join me, Kevin Thomson and best selling co-author Karen L French in our collaboration on - SQUIGGLE: The Fourth In The 'Basic Shapes' Trilogy - A homage (and update) to Italian Designer and Innovator Bruno Munari's trilogy - Square Circle Triangle. It's in draft form now. FREE on issuu to share. And we welcome input!

We're still developing it and adding and bits are missing of the A to Z....iggy Stardust. You, your brand, your ideas truly welcome. The first ever definitive quide to the most exciting 'Basic Shape' of all - that literally is also the building block of life: Well we think so anyway. Blog and book out now.
June 21 2016 LINKED IN

Wilma af Klint - mystic artist of the 19th C

4/12/2016

Today I discovered the Swedish artist Wilma af Klint (1862 - 1944) and was thrilled by her beautiful abstract art of sacred geometry. She produced nearly 1200 pieces and insisted they were not put on public view until at least 20 years after her passing. Interestingly, many of her abstract compositions pre-date Kandinsky.

Throughout her abstract work is a genuine desire to understand and reveal the spiritual through her painting.

Many of her paintings were like 'diagrams' and represent complex spiritual ideas. Essentially they are like Yantras, or 'thought-forms', and are representations of abstract concepts.

I went to see her exhibition on the 27th April and it was outstanding! It has inspired me to do LARGE pieces. Not sure how or where yet...

The Serpentine Galleries in London is holding an exhibition of her art right now from 3rd March - 15th May 2016.

Resting - a work in progress

4/11/2016

20th February 2017

It has surprised me that it is nearly a year since I last worked on Resting. No so that it is because I have had a rest from painting and writing and was otherwise occupied.

Subtle wings have made an appearance after all and this is my current focus of attention. His face needs work too!

20th April 2016

Here is Resting (to the right) after adding some vibrant blues to the background. I am working on the body tones next....

11th April 2016

Resting is a painting in progress and I thought it would be interesting to show you how it evolves.

It's began as a 30 minute acrylic painting sketch at a life class. The model was daubed in white body paint to make him appear to be a stone statue, which made him quite ghostly.

Golden wings are planned but we shall see...

Bruno Munari - Triangle, Circle, Square - brilliant book

4/9/2016

Thank you Kevin Thomson (author of several books on internal and other marketing, such as 'The Company Culture Cookbook') for recommending Bruno Munari's fabulous book, 'Square Circle Triangle' by Princeton Press. Lost for words as to how much I am enjoying reading it.

Bruno Munari was an Italian artist, designer and inventor. A key figure in the modernist movement.

Experimenting with mixed media

4/6/2016

I have discovered Pebeo mixed media, such as foil and all sorts of other goodies! As well as using these on some of my new pieces of art I am revisiting one or two my older paintings that I feel were not 'finished'.

An example of green foil is in this central detail from Communicate With Passion.

With Due Consideration

4/6/2016

Pondering on thoughts before responding with a strong sense of personal identity, physically and spiritually. The figure is ageless, masculine, active and intense energetically. Looking directly at the viewer, unwaveringly. A stick, or staff, gives stability and strength as well as making a connection to the ground. A response to this piece can indicate that you either need to ‘lighten up’, or pause more to give more consideration to the consequences of your thoughts, words and actions.

With Due Consideration is my latest painting - acrylic on canvas. It is in a NEW gallery on my website called Figures. I have decided to do far more art incorporating the human form for a number of reasons. Firstly, the human form is interesting and challenging to draw and paint. It keeps your skills honed. Secondly, the human figure has so many attributes that are ideal for expressing the symbolism of sacred geometry, colours and spiritual messages.

Gateway to the Heavens
A glorious work that fires the imagination and helps us appreciate the truth of our reality.
NEXUS magazine

Do you realise you actually shape your destiny and shapes influence your destiny. If you want to understand how this works ask Karen to give a talk about it or read her excellent book. You may have hated even the mention of geometry at school, but Karen's simple and illustrated explanations will give you a real insight into this fascinating topic.
Jo Pelle, NSFH

The Hidden Geometry of Life
The harmony in our world and the cosmos is awe-inspiring, and is brilliantly portrayed here in images and words which reveal the connection between art, geometry, science, consciousness and spirituality.... An illuminating book indeed!
NEXUS magazine

The attentive audience was enthralled by Karen's introduction to the principals of this truly multi-dimensional topic ... The energy in the room, by the end of the evening, was well and truly charged!
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