Interpretations of Electric Prisms

After Sonia Delaunay, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

Here is my own attempt at creating the same frenetic rhythm of Sonia Delaunay's Electric Prisms. Once I started, I didn't want to stop. It was so much fun making this and choosing colors. Thankfully, I have a nice selection of pastels, so the colors were almost unlimited. 

Sonia in Rio, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

In this watercolor, I thought of the mosaic sidewalks in Rio and I combined that with the energy of Electric Prisms. I like to think of Sonia being inspired by Rio and coming up with a sketch like this.

Muted Energy, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

Is it possible to recreate the energy of Electric Prisms using only graphite and terracotta pencil? I thought only of shape. How can a shape have an energetic rhythm without the use of color? This is what I came up with. I looked carefully at the shapes Sonia Delaunay used in her painting and mimicked those with the hope that it would feel energetic. I think it works, though it's a much more muted version.

Interpretations of Niki de Saint Phalle

Buried Forms, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

I concentrated on creating works that had a lot of white, contrast, and organic shapes. The basic elements of the work of  Niki de Saint Phalle are here as well as some additions from the inspirations I found this week.

Orchid Forms, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

Here are the orchids from the Natural Wonders post. I promised to try making a painting (this is pastel, actually) based on those beautiful spotted orchids. The petals are simplified and made into forms, but I kept the coloring and loose symmetry.

Glass Snake, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

This snake could be a copy of one of Niki de Saint Phalle's sketches for her perfume bottle. I really love that perfume bottle. Wouldn't this design make a beautiful stained glass window?

Hollow Form, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

I had to do something more sculptural. Niki de Saint Phalle did so many sculptures of Nana. This watercolor is a simple form that looks sculptural.

A Maze Lava, copyright Gio Leung, 2013

A work by the amazing Gio. My 3.5 year old son taped a piece of paper to a table, masked lines on it and colored in the empty spaces with oil pastels. This was after looking at some Niki de Saint Phalle works in the book Niki de Saint Phalle.

Interpretations of The Rose

Socotra Flower, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

I tried to mimic the atmosphere of The Rose in these paintings and drawings. They are inspired by Jay DeFeo's remarkable painting and the other images and subjects I've explored this week. The drawing above is all about Socotra Island. I imagine the plants needing to change and evolve in unusual ways in order to survive. 

See if you can figure out what images or feelings inspired which paintings/ drawings.

Radiations, copyright Nina Leung, 2013

Segmented Sections, Copyright Nina Leung, 2013

Striated Home, Copyright Nina Leung, 2013