Chess the Game of Life

As 2013 came to a close I’d like to reflect on some highlights of this past year as well as low points. I was traveling a lot this year with gallery and museum shows. It was great to meet so many different people in cities around the United States. This year also offered more opportunities for me in the realm of teaching. I started a new teaching job at Creighton Prep, which has been incredible. I have been bringing in some traditional Atelier techniques with my students as well as some modern technical approaches. The results have been impressive to see. I also created a lot of new personal art as well as book and movie concept artwork.

I have attached a new drawing I did with charcoal and white chalk on paper. The piece is called “The knight has come”. I have attached the work in process and the final piece. I created it for my son who is an avid chess player. I have always found that chess is a mirror of life, rich in metaphors for the human experience. As the famous chess player Garry Kasparov said “When we regularly challenge ourselves with something new - even something not obviously related to our immediate goals - we build cognitive and emotional "muscles" that makes us more effective in every way.” In chess you predict what your opponent is going to do and each and every move has a consequence and meaning in the overall game. The same can be said in life.

The low point of the year was losing my teaching colleague, artist, and friend Wanda Ewing. Wanda was an incredible artist and teacher. She was filled to the brim with life and love for all things artistic. I gave a few art history lectures to her classes at UNO over the years and exhibited work with her in group shows at different galleries. When Wanda smiled the whole room lit up. She was and still is an inspiration and will be missed.

I wish all of you a Happy New Year and I thank all of you who have supported my artwork. 2014 is going to be another huge year for exhibitions, teaching, and lectures. So look for more updates soon.

Thanks

Caniglia  

'God Bless Us Every One' - Artwork

I hope you have enjoyed these posts and the behind the scenes process of how I create and imagine ideas for books and my personal work.  

Charles Dickens, ‘A Christmas Carol’ will always hold a special place in my heart since I first read the story as a little boy. The book did scare me but it always made me appreciate the simple things that life gives us. 

I will have more updates and news on upcoming shows and books. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, Great Holiday, and a Happy New Year!

In the words of Tiny Tim…    ‘God bless us every one!’ 

Caniglia

A Christmas Carol-Artwork

A Christmas Carol has gripped the public imagination since it was first published in 1843, and it is now as much a part of Christmas as plum pudding or as mistletoe. Here are some more of my sketches of the Cratchit family preparing for their Christmas dinner and family gathering.

I hope you enjoy these simple sketches and that they serve as a timely reminder of the simple pleasures that seem to have been lost sight of in the seasonal scrum of shoppers now days. This time of year I have always felt is an annual invitation to the pleasures of nostalgia and families coming together.

Caniglia 

Scrooge-Artwork

Here are some of my concept sketches and paintings for Scrooge. Dickens has created a character that is both hated and loved in Scrooge. Scrooge was abandoned and left alone by his father as a boy. A father who did not want him. He was spiteful and mean. His sister Fan was his best friend who cared and looked out for him. Fan who was the best thing in his life died giving birth and once again he was left isolated. His wealth grew and his heart sank and turned black and polluted as the London sky.

Scrooge, who was unaware that Bob Cratchit had a crippled son, asked the spirit if Tiny Tim would live, and becomes upset when he hears that the boy will die. The spirit angrily throws his earlier words back at him...

“If man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked can’t until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die?”

By emphasizing “What” and “Where” here, Dickens reinforces that idea that Tim represents all of the poor and needy. Scrooge does regret saying this, and one of the first things he does when he recovers is send Bob Cratchit a turkey—probably thinking about how Tim will be eating it.

In the end, Scrooge becomes a “second father” to the boy, loving him like the son he never had and basically becoming a beloved member of the Cratchit family. Thus Scrooge goes through transformation, reformation, reclamation and finds Christmas and redemption in his heart.

Tiny Tim Portrait-Artwork

Here is one of my concept sketches and my finished oil portrait for Tiny Tim in Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’. Tim represents all the children living in poverty in the “surplus population” that Scrooge refuses to help and everyone ignores.  Tim is the one person who Scrooge feels pity and sorrow for and represents the reform that could save his own destiny.

Tim was the youngest son of Bob Cratchit. He is portrayed as a very frail boy who uses a crutch and leg irons to walk since he suffers from a severe illness. As I had mentioned before Mr. Cratchit could not afford treatment for his son since Scrooge underpays him. 

In my sketch and portrait of Tim, I portrayed him as the pure-hearted, caring boy that symbolizes Dickens idea of hope and innocents.

Hope you enjoy the artwork.

Caniglia

Tiny Tim's Death-Artwork

Here is my concept sketch and my finished oil painting for the portrayal of ‘Tiny Tim’s Death’ in Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’. Tim was the young son of Bob Cratchit. He is portrayed as a very frail boy who uses a crutch and leg irons to walk since he suffers from a severe illness. Mr. Cratchit can’t afford treatment for his son since Scrooge underpays him.

When Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by The Ghost of Christmas Present he is shown just how ill the boy really is, and that he will die unless he receives treatment. When visited by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Scrooge sees that Tiny Tim has died. This, and several other visions, ultimately led Scrooge to reform his ways.

In this painting I tried to capture the moment, when Bob Cratchit has returned home and gone upstairs to pray at Tim’s bedside. Tiny Tim has succumbed to his illness. Dickens writes, “He left the room, and went up stairs into the room above, which was lighted cheerfully, and hung with Christmas. There was a chair set close beside the child, and there were signs of some one having been there, lately. Poor Bob sat down in it, and when he had thought a little and composed himself, he kissed the little face. He was reconciled to what had happened, and went down again quite happy.”

The scene is one of the darkest points of Dickens story. In my painting I portrayed Tim’s spirit emitting light as a symbol of hope and redemption.

‘Ghost of Christmas Future’-Artwork

Here is my concept sketch and my finished oil painting for the ‘Ghost of Christmas Future’ in Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Be shows Scrooge his own lonely death. It does not show him what he desires to see. Scrooge wants reassurance that the decision he makes to change the present course of his life will change his future. Such reassurance cannot be given to him. Scrooge has lost his way and hurt those who loved him. This final ghost leads Scrooge to question his own existence. As Dickens writes in the passage…

“The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand ...  Scrooge ask…"Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point," said Scrooge, "answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that will be, or are they shadows of things that may be, only?"

Hope you enjoy the artwork.

Caniglia