Another new painting!

One of my favorite pieces I have done recently.

The Frozen North, 2012 22" X 32" oil on canvas

This painting is being exhibited at the Dzian Gallery in Worcester, MA.  If you are nearby I hope to see you there this Friday, April 13th between 6 and 9pm.  For more information, please call or write the gallery at info@dzian.net or 508.831.1106.

The Dream

   The Dream, 2012 30" x 56" oil on canvas

Recently I have embarked on a series of paintings that explore ideas of scale and gigantism. I find the questions that arise in creating the images to be interesting and more complex than might be imagined.  Giants have shown up in mythology, folklore and modern literature as either quite bad beings or as "gentle giants". Same goes for small beings, although to a lesser extent. Either way they are generally depicted as being different.  We also use the term giant to refer to creatures that excel in some way.  Issac Newton stated that he "....stood on the shoulders of giants" as he developed his theories.  Pictorially I realized that when combining different sized bears I was not always sure whether I was depicting normal sized bears with dwarf sized bears or normal sized bears with giant bears. This aspect I have decided to exploit so that we, as viewers are also unsure.  The painting above depicts a bear apparently waking up but I leave it to the viewer to decide who is having the dream.


I am curious what you might think of this painting as I am considering making this one available as a print?  Please let me know your thoughts.

New Hero Paintings Preview!

I recently completed the following paintings and they are on display at Chloe Fine Arts in San Francisco.

The Hero series of paintings I am embarking on represents quite a departure for me, as I am eliminating the natural landscape background in favor of a much more austere look.  They are all quite large paintings, with the Bonobo at about life-size!  I am about to post these to my website.  I wonder what you think of them?

 

 Hero #4 Lepus  2011   42" X 60" Oil on Canvas

 

 Hero #6 Ursus  2011   72" X 48" Oil on Canvas

 Hero #5 Pan  2011   72" X 48" Oil on Canvas

The Enchantment in Maui!

 

The Enchantment, 2011 Oil on canvas 58" X 40"

I shall be appearing on Maui next week at Lahaina Galleries in downtown Lahaina and in Wailea.  We will be presenting a brand new original painting and previewing the upcoming publication of a new limited edition print of the same piece, The Enchantment (see above).  Here are the details for the shows:

May 25th, Wednesday in Wailea

6:30 - 9:30 PM - (808) 874-8583

and

May 27th, Friday in Lahaina

6:30 - 9:30 PM - (808) 661-6284

If you are "on island" I would love to see you at one of these events.  This is one of the best paintings I have ever done and I cannot wait to show it! 

Website Update!

 I really want to share my updated website with you! 

We have expanded the Image Galleries to include most of the paintings I have ever done, so you can now see a complete catalog of the work. Other parts of the site have been updated too, including the Available Originals page where you can view paintings that are currently available for sale.  Also, the limited editions have been updated in the Fine Art Prints section, together with the stories behind the images, which will provide special insight into my work process. 
This is a good place to start:  http://www.robertbissell.com/robert-bissell-galleries/index.html

A New Fine Art Print

 The Decision by Robert Bissell,  18" X 30"  Limited Edition of 75

Today, I am releasing a new Limited Edition print called The Decision.  This is a new print featuring rabbits and represents a follow-up to a very successful image called The Dilemma, which has been sold out for some time.  All the prints in this Limited Edition Fine Print have been personally embellished by me to give the print brighter highlights and enhanced brushwork that make it indistinguishable from the original. This print is available in one size only, 18" x 30" and the edition is strictly limited to only 75.  Here is my description of how this image came about:

As a youngster I was always concerned that decisions were being made for me without my involvement. Any sensitive, yet proud rabbit knows these decisions could mean the difference between darkness and light. Either way, until the decision was made there was trepidation about what was going on amongst the elders.  In this painting the youngster might be headed for the storm, but we're not certain that he hasn't been called back to go in the opposite direction and off to that clear blue and beautiful horizon.

— Robert Bissell,  May 2011

Lake Tahoe this weekend!

 

The Gate, Oil on canvas 

To all those who will be in South Lake Tahoe this weekend, I will be appearing at The Marcus Ashley Gallery in South Lake Tahoe, Saturday 1pm to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 2pm.  Come on by and say hello!  Details here.

New Print Release

Today, I am releasing a new Limited Edition print called Metamorphosis.  This is the first time I have released an elephant image and except for the small works size all the prints have been hand-enhanced by me before leaving the studio.  You can view and purchase this print at any of our participating galleries.

Metamorphosis, 2011

Nowhere is the mother and child bond so evident as it is with elephant society. From the time they are born, young elephants are nurtured and cared for by the mother, aunts and grandmothers until they are several years old. The idea of a young elephant maturing into an adult and separating from his family is behind this painting. I wanted him moving towards the bright eastern sun at mid-morning, a time when things become clear and present in the world.

—Robert Bissell

Happy Holidays!

The Guardian, 1998  52" X 52" Oil on canvas 

I was just looking at some photos of the winter weather back in England and thinking about how many people are getting ready for the holidays and the New Year. Shown above is one of the first paintings I completed in 1998.  I don't know where this painting is now but I hope whoever has it is enjoying the idea that ice bears are looking after our mountains and all the inclement weather during wintertime!

Happy Holidays 

 to everyone,

Old and New

Young Bull 60" X 80" Pastel and chalk on paper

This piece was completed a few years ago and hangs in the home of some good friends of mine.  I was recently visiting and was pleasantly surprised by the affinity I had for the work.  The work is done in pastel on a very large piece of paper, about 60" X 80" in size— so no small undertaking.  Pastel or chalk is a wonderful medium to work in as it can be manipulated in countless ways and the color mixing can occur right on the paper which can produce spontaneous results and (usually) good surprises.  So I am now inspired to do another piece in this medium and also try this piece in oil.  I will keep you updated on the progress.

This Saturday

If you are in the Bay Area...come and see my newest painting, together with a lot of great artists at:

 Chloe Fine Arts Gallery 1st Anniversary Gala Celebration

Preview is this Saturday, December 4th from 6pm to 9pm at 645 Beach Street, San Francisco (I will be there). Validated parking underneath the gallery.  Call 415-749-1000 for more information.  

Go here to register/RSVP for this event.

Back to work

I am very happy to say that I am now back in the work flow after taking some time off and moving the studio to Berkeley.  We are in a beautiful, new space in West Berkeley, close to the Bay and the freeway. A converted food factory, the building houses a number of artists and the new studio space is big enough to allow me to work on multiple pieces at once, with plenty of room for display space.  If you would like to visit the studio, please send a note via the website or to info@robertbissell.com.

Here is the first painting to come out of the new studio.  Hero #2 is going to Chloe Fine Arts in San Francisco for the:

Chloe Fine Arts Gallery 1st Anniversary Gala Celebration

Preview is this Saturday, December 4th from 6pm to 9pm at 645 Beach Street, San Francisco (I will be there). Validated parking underneath the gallery.  Call 415-749-1000 for more information.  

Go here to register/RSVP for this event.

Hero #2 , 2010 Oil on canvas 60" X 72"

Our Fall Newsletter

What follows is an abbreviated version of the Fall copy of our quarterly Studio Newsletter.  If you would like to sign up to receive the full version automatically via e-mail, you can go here to subscribe.     Time for Rest and Change Busy Summer Ends, New Work, New Studio After an extremely busy summer in the studio, I've been taking some time on the Mendocino coast, planning new projects and looking for a larger studio space, in addition to finishing up The Kingdom. I'll be moving to the new studio in Berkeley, CA this month and visitors are encouraged.   A big thank you to all who came out for the events and shows this summer, and to the many of you who saw my work at Lahaina Galleries in Hawaii. I am particularly excited about the direction the work seems to be going - Hero, shown below is a good example.  As promised, all of my recently finished paintings are on the website on our new  Available Originals page. Check it out, you can click on them for a beautiful enlargement that shows lots of detail.

The Kingdom Epic Painting Two Years in the Making To see the whole work, click here. Below you can read the story and see details of the image. A panoramic piece in the style of The Perfect World, it incorporates a series of vignettes of bear paintings I've done over the years including favorites like The Embrace, The Learner, The Exchange and The Aviators, among others.    The original is 24"x120" and is available through Lahaina Galleries. A limited edition print will be available on November 8, 2010. It is sized at 14.5"x72".       The work was in development for nearly two years. After numerous sketches and many changes it was painted over a two month period in late summer 2010. The intention was to create a heroic painting that presented many narratives within a larger context.     The intention was to create a heroic painting that presented many narratives within a larger context.  As in The Lord of The Rings we see our heroes embarking on a series of journeys by individuals and groups that all essentially advance a much larger endeavor. This epic structure, along with the symbols and motifs in Tolkein's story were much of the inspiration in developing The Kingdom.       A great river of life extends across the painting, uniting the participants as it flows toward the setting sun.  Majestic trees such as Giant Sequoia, Redwood and Bristlecone Pine provide anchor points along the many paths where the story unfolds. The title describes not so much a physical place but a realm where we all, as Kings and Queens reside and in which our adventures are part of the great journey called life. To see the whole work, click here.

Other Things to Share New Galleries in Tahoe and Aspen & News from Pomegranate I am so pleased to announce two new members of our family of fine art galleries. My work is now available in Aspen, CO through Royal Street Fine Art ; and in South Lake Tahoe through Marcus Ashley Gallery. I'll be at Marcus Ashley March 5th and 6th for an event and I'm very much looking forward to it.   Holiday gift giving is just around the corner.  Pomegranate Communications Bissell collection has a number of affordable gift options including The Embrace Jigsaw, and The Kiss Kids Jigsaw Puzzle.  You can find them here.     The 2010 Bears By Bissell Calendar has sold out. Sadly, there will not be a 2011 Bear calendar.  But for those of you rabbit fans who've been asking - there will be a 2012 Rabbits By Bissell Calendar available from Pomegranate. We'll make sure to let you know when it's available.   And the always popular Bissell Notecard  collection now has two new cards - Overlook and Observers - from the 2010 calendar.   If you haven't already, don't forget to sign up on the  Facebook Fan Page. News will be posted there regularly, so become a fan and stay up to date between newsletters.   As always, take care and please drop us a note through the Connect page on robertbissell.com.   My very best regards, Robert

The Vision

The Vision, 2010  Oil on Canvas, 28"  X 24"

Here is a newly completed painting titled The Vision.  Actually this is similar to a painting that I did several years ago but I was never able to get a good photograph of it and I rather want to include the image in my new book (yes....we are working on one, but don't ask me when it will be coming out as I think it is a ways off).  This painting is smaller than the first and will be available soon, somewhere ...probably Lahaina Galleries.

Would you give me your opinion please?

I recently sold this painting titled Hero at a private gallery function.  It went very quickly (within 30 mins) to a wonderful couple from Texas.  There is an idea to make a limited edition print of it. I am not so sure as it is quite different than anything we have done previously, with its abstracted background.  The painting was very large, 48" X 72" and if we do a print it also would have to be fairly large in order to show the scale of the elephant.  So do you think this would be a good print or would you prefer a print of Metamorphosis, shown below?

The Kingdom-complete

Here is the painting, The Kingdom, complete.  I know some of you were able to piece the previous images together, so you will have a bigger image.  Unfortunately, because the painting is such a long panoramic, it is hard to show much detail here.  If anyone wants a good, detailed, image file go to my image gallery here and you can view it and download the bigger image.  (You can also access some images of older work from some of the albums posted at this site)

The Kingdom— Part 4

Here is the final image in the long painting, The Kingdom, which I am releasing this week.  If you are interested in purchasing this piece, it is available through Lahaina Galleries at 800.228.2006 or through your art consultant.

The Kingdom— Part 3

Here is the third part of The Kingdom, featuring Giant Sequoia and some more bears.  Tomorrow I will post the final part of this new painting.

The Kingdom— Part 2

There will actually be only four images of the whole painting.  Here is today's, the second, which attaches to yesterday's image.  Perhaps by now you have recognized some of the vignettes as being taken from previous paintings.  Here you see The Bathers and The Exchange featured.

The Kingdom — Part 1

I am now finishing The Kingdom, a 2ft X 10ft painting, depicting bears in a landscape.  As this is a long, narrow painting, it is often observed by "reading" it, like a Chinese scroll painting.  In this case walking from left to right.  Over the next four days I will publish a new section each day until it is complete.  If you want to print it out each day, by day five you will be able to put the entire painting together.  It has five parts total.  Here is the first part, which starts at the left-hand side: