Thursday 8 January 2009

Thank you Hani!



This is a post I have been meaning to make for a while to thank my regular commentator Hani for her wonderful gift to me of this beautiful painting. Hani came on my Masterclass at the British Library last September and sent the portrait through as a thank you for helping her with her business. I was hoping to have had it framed by now but Christmas took over...

You can view Hani's art at her website which is soon to be re-vamped.

It's wonderful to have so many talented and kind people in my life!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

You got to click on the picture and see it large! The thumbnail looks nothing like the real thing.

I think Hani has captured Rachel perfectly for the times we are in.

At first i thought it looked more like a caricature with a rather worried looking Rachel, maybe set in victorian times or something.

But then i got to thinking it is absolutely right for these times.

I see Rachel as a leader
I see Rachel as someone who cares
I see Rachel as someone with battle scars
I see Rachel as noble
I see someone of the 21st century
I see a lion (the hair is like a mane)
I see wide eyed and ready for the challenges ahead
I see integrity
I see female
I see wealth
I see mother
I see humility
I see vulnerability

Is there no end to your talent Hani.

Now i understand what art is all about.

brilliant!

Anonymous said...

ps, I also think there is a lot of the woman artist in this painting.

If it could have had one more characteristic.

It would be

Sexy....ness. Like her photo.

But then a man would have had to of painted that!

hani said...

Rachel and Stephen,
Thank you for your kind comments, I really appreciate them. The website is coming along, but in the meantime if anyone would like to see more paintings, I will be showing some new still- life paintings, later this month, at the Sofra Restaurant in Covent Garden, owned by Chef Huseyin Ozer, who was introduced to me by Rachel and Dlog. Once again,thank you both.

Rachel Elnaugh said...

Hani

Thanks for the better photo - that does it far more justice!

I totally agree with you Stephen, when I first saw the work in progress I said to Hani I felt it made me depressed (a lot of blue) but now I have it in my home and have lived with it for a while, I realise it has a wonderful depth and a spirituality to it.

Paintings do contain a lot of energy...

When I was about 17 I fell in love with Rothko; his room at the Tate Modern with the huge black and burgundy paintings on all 4 walls is incredibly powerful, you can feel the intensity of the energy of the paintings.

It was only later reading about the man in an article covering the recent Rothko exhibition that I realised he suffered from depression and eventually committed suicide in c1971.

That dark, haunted energy was what I could feel from just being near his work.

By contrast Hani your painting has lots of warmth and compassion. You have a great talent.

Anonymous said...

precious

Anonymous said...

Ah but did you see the Rothko pictures the right way up?

I may be wrong but didn't he get commissioned to produce them for some restaurant and they refused them because they thought them too dark?

I love the room too. You need to stay in there a while, preferably with no one else in the room. The low lighting just adds to the effect. There is a malevolent power about them.

Fab.

C

Rachel Elnaugh said...

I can see I am going to have to hire the Rothko room at the Tate for the first meeting of Rachel's Blog commentators...

What a networking opportunity! You anonymice would all have to arrive with a bag over your head though :-)

R

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Great idea Rachel, but think I would have to wear a bag over my head also to save any embarrassment, not really educated enough, well not educated at all really, to appreciate fully the Arts,(although I did go to Cambridge............ but that was to see some relatives of the wife)
I do love Architecture and the Arts though!!

Anonymous said...

DLOG

Get yourself down there and have a look. Its nothing about education. Just sit on the bench in the middle of the room for about 15mins and trust me you'll get it too.

C

Anonymous said...

Rachel

I only wear a bag over my head in private...!

C

Anonymous said...

C, I understand that bit, I love architecture and the like, in fact one of my favourite places is Athens, with it's Parthenon, Acropolis. It is a wonderful city where Ancient meets Modern, from wherever you are in Athens, the Acropolis is visible. even the train station at Syntagma Square is a museum.
It is just the educational discussion side of things, if you know what I mean?

Of course there is much beautiful Architecture here in this Country, I mean have you ever been for tour of Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street? such opulence and beauty.

dlog

Anonymous said...

"I only wear a bag over my head in private...!" oi, oi C, you dark horse you.

dlog

Anonymous said...

DLOG

When I worked in the city we used to hire Guild's buildings for offsite meetings. Some of those places are amazing. The Worshipful Company of Armourers is full of amazing stuff dating back to the tudors and beyond.

C

Anonymous said...

But can one get access/tours of the Guild Buildings?

dlog

Anonymous said...

I think some of them are open to the public on some days. Worth having a look if you get the chance.

C

Anonymous said...

C, perhaps I will when I get a chance!

Likewise if you get a chance why don't you take a visit to Freemasons Hall, it is well worth it, bear in mind though that it is a good idea to ring first just to make sure the main temple is not being used, because if it is you will obviously not be allowed in, to the temple, although there are no secrets!!

dlog

Anonymous said...

I used to work for Hiscox in Leadenhall where the owner Robert Hiscox has installed a coffee shop come art gallery on the ground floor.

I'm not sure but i believe it is open to visitors if you are ever passing by. www.hiscox.com


best

Anonymous said...

Thanks for that Stephen, I had a look, the actual web address is; www.hiscoxartprojects.com

When I actually get some spare time, LOL, I think I will start going to these Galleries, always nice to have company though, particuarly if you go with someone that also appreciates the Arts and Culture.

Also ther are some lovely paintings at Guildhall.

Funny old git I am really, well, perhaps not old, heehee!!

dlog