Painting live at Sofitel’s “Revealed” exhibition, curated by Picasso’s grandson

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” -Pablo Picasso


 

CHICAGO -Spectators at events are always enthralled to observe as each stroke I paint onto a canvas goes on one after the other finally culminating to reveal a finished piece of art. Watching the process of art take shape seems to help them truly appreciate the creativity and effort that it takes to create it.

It is an honor to help others to learn about the process of art and capture a moment in time by painting an event.

I was given a very special honor of being a live artist at  “Revealed,” a traveling exhibit, that featured photographs of famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali and others, many in the process of creating their own masterpieces.

Curated by Pablo Picasso’s grandson, Olivier Widmaier Picasso, the exhibit of 30 photos, was held at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower hotel with it’s sleek French-inspired decor, modern art, architecture and design providing the perfect backdrop. The hotel was one of five stops throughout U.S and Canada the exhibit traveled to.

I was moved and inspired looking around at the pictures in the exhibit which gave people a very personal glimpse in to the lives of legendary artists creating their art, at their workspaces, with friends or just simply living their lives.

One photograph from 1957 shows Pablo Picasso polishing off eating a piece of sole. The fish bone would later be used by him to create a clay sculpture.

A photograph from 1964 is of Chagall painting Mozart’s Angel. Next to him on a table is a vase of wildflowers. He is said to have always placed wildflowers next to his paintings in hopes that his creations could measure up to the beauty found in nature.

Salvador Dali can be seen in another photograph sitting in an animal exhibit at the Paris Zoo.

The excitement of seeing these photographs was only deepened by the other events in the room. Artistic painted looking appetizers were displayed playfully with some hors d’oeuvres in cones hung from trees. Chefs and kitchen staff could also be scene making their own art with edible ingredients.

Some people sipped champagne among large vases of roses and basked in the beautiful glow of candles and trees of lights.

I captured it all on my canvas as people came by and watched in wonder. One woman asked me if I could paint at her castle in Monaco.

It seemed almost surreal that I was painting a live scene of people soaking in the pictures of some of the greatest artists of the twentieth century also creating the process of their art.

The event again reiterated to me that my live event painting is not just about giving people a finished keepsake, but about the process it takes to get there. A process, that hopefully through this exhibit and through my own events, will help others to appreciate art for years to come.

Au revoir,

HiD

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Picasso

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