Richard Serra at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

When I took an around the country driving trip with my wife Randy Rolfe last summer, we planned to visit about a dozen art museums. We ended up visiting even more art museums on our 25 day, 9000 mile trip through 22 states, plus 6 other museums, a zoo, 11 national parks, several national monuments, and many other sights.

The first art museum we visited was not one I planned to visit because I'd never even heard of it. We were heading for the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth TX on the afternoon of July 18, 2008 and had just parked the car in the Kimbell parking lot when I saw an enormous sculpture across the street. We went to investigate and found Richard Serra's 67 feet 10 inch high cor-ten steel sculpture titled Vortex and made in 2002. The base is a little over 20 feet wide, and one can walk inside. It was sitting in front of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth which I didn't know about. Here are 3 photos I took of it, two of them from inside. And here's a link to the Vortex page on museum's website. http://www.themodern.org/f_html/serra2.html#top

Then we went inside the museum and found a great collection of contemporary art nicely displayed in a stunning building. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth certainly deserves more press then it gets.

You can view images of some of my 3-D paintings on my website at www.jayrolfe.com/.

Painting "Princess Pocahontas and John Rolfe"

Artist Jay Rolfe is painting his new Pop Art 3-D painting on shaped stretched canvas titled "Princess Pocahontas and John Rolfe." This version is 8 feet tall. As you may know, Princess Pocahontas married John Rolfe shortly after she was baptized as a Christian, an important step for her to be acceptable as a bride for the gentleman colonist John Rolfe, on April 5, 1614.

Jay Rolfe also just completed a new website for his very accomplished and very talented wife Randy Rolfe. You can see it at www.randyrolfe.com/.

This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's signature style, his innovative Pop Art 3-D paintings, many on shaped stretched canvas, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Thanksgiving Day

Today, like every other day, artist Jay Rolfe is grateful for all the blessings in his life, including that he is an artist. Today marks our national holiday of gratitude, of giving thanks, our Thanksgiving Day, a day when we all give thanks on the same day. My wonderful wife Randy Rolfe has prepared a feast for our extended family, and I'm very grateful for that and for her and her support in everything I do.

Today's video is of preparing for our Thanksgiving celebration.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his Hyper Representational 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create an Uplifting Conversation Piece.

Barnes Foundation

This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's unique artistic idea, his 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Yesterday artist Jay Rolfe and his wife Randy Rolfe went to an opening reception for artist Alan Soffer and others. Alan had some strong abstract work there, as did a number of others. I enjoyed the exhibit and our time with Alan Soffer and his wife artist Libbie Soffer.

Today's photo is another from The Barnes Foundation. It's one of 16 paintings by Amedeo Modigliani in the collection. It is titled "Reclining Nude From The Back."

Barnes Foundation

Over a month ago, artist Jay Rolfe bought tickets to tour The Barnes Foundation today with his wife Randy Rolfe and fellow artist Matt King. The long anticipated day arrived. It is a glorious day, sunny and crisp. The Barnes is spectacular. It has the world's largest collection of paintings by Renoir (181), Cezanne (69), and Matisse (59). It also has 46 works by Picasso and works by many other impressionist and modern artists, as well as old masters. As always I loved it. We all did.

Today's photo is one of the few images on the Barnes website - photos are not permitted inside the gallery - Henri Matisse's "The Joy Of Life." It's a large painting, very colorful, fun, and joyous. The second photo is of the three of us mugging it up in front of the museum.

This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's unique artistic idea, his 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

220th Constitution Day - Freedom For Artists (And Everybody Else Too)

"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

You probably recognize the Preamble to the Constitution. Today's a fine fall day, blue sky, bright sun, and cool, about 40 degrees when we went for our morning walk. It's the kind of day I imagine it was 220 years ago when the United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787. It replaced the Articles of Confederation - that didn't work very well - which were adopted after the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution is an incredibly important document for artists, lovers of freedom, and indeed all citizens, residents, and guests in these United States. It guarantees our freedoms from government interference.

Today is a great day to read, or reread as I am doing, the Constitution. The National Constitution Center two blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia is a great resource. http://www.constitutioncenter.org/ You can read the full text of the Constitution at http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explore/TheU.S.Constitution/index.shtml. You can print out a copy at http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explore/TheU.S.Constitution/PrinttheConstitution.shtml.

You can also read the text of the Constitution and/or print out a copy from the National Archives website at http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_transcript.html. You can also download a high resolution copy of the actual handwritten document from the National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/charters_downloads.html.

Artist Jay Rolfe has a copy of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence which he bought at Independence National Park and had framed. These documents always hang in my home to remind me of my rights and the rights of all citizens and the limitations on governmental power.

This is the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's unique artistic idea, his 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Inspiring Views

Jay Rolfe and Randy Rolfe went for their morning walk, today at the Stroud Preserve a mile from our home. It was a glorious morning and it is always beautiful there. Here's a bucolic and inspiring photo I took.

That's the latest step of Jay Rolfe on his journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's unique 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

3DSSC painting completed today ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Jay Rolfe completed another 3DSSC painting today! What a long process it is. This one is slightly smaller than usual, only 6 feet high instead of 8 feet high. It's still big and impressive. Hopefully I can post a photo of it tomorrow. Meanwhile, it looks like "Tan Lines" on Jay Rolfe's website, www.3dssc.com.

I worked hard painting Saturday, Monday, and today, Tuesday, to finish this painting. I did take off Mother's Day, as we had a visit from our son, daughter-in-law, and two and a half month old grandson. Then we went to Lambertville NJ for the afternoon and had a great time, before visiting Randy's mother and going out to dinner. Phew. A busy day.

I'm taking the rest of the evening off, as it is our monthly anniversary (we were married on March 15, the Ides of March, and we celebrate out love and commitment every 15th).

That's today's step on the journey of Jay Rolfe From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso.

Annie Leibovitz Exhibit in San Diego ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

You can see some expressions of Jay Rolfe's unique artistic idea on his website at www.3dssc.com.

Jay Rolfe went to the Annie Leibovitz exhibit, "A Photographer's Life, 1990-2005," at the San Diego Museum of Art last Saturday. It was a beautiful day following lots of rain on Friday. My daughter and I started out with automotive art at 7:00 am at the Cars & Coffee Show in Irving CA. Lamborghini Diablo, Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari F430 coupe and spider, Ferrari 355's, Ferrari 308's, Porsche GT3, Ford GT's, classic American fins. Lots of beautiful rolling sculptures. Perhaps the most amazing was the Ferrari F2003-GA Formula 1 race car. It's one of the ones that won Ferrari's 5th straight Constructor's Championship and that Michael Schumacher used to win his 6th Driver's title. Then off to San Diego.

San Diego's museums (aside from the Museum of Contemporary Art) and zoo are all in Balboa Park right next to each other. There was a beautiful Botanical Garden like a small Longwood Gardens. The Timken Museum of Art was a surprise because I hadn't heard of it and it had a good collection of European paintings and Russian icons. There were nice portraits by Veneto, Hals, Maes, Rubens (www.timkenmuseum.org/1-dutch-rubens.html), David, Largillierre, and Copley. The Rembrandt portrait didn't seem up to his usual standard. We saw nice landscapes by Bruegel The Elder, Van Ruisdael, Boucher, Lorrain, Corot, Fragonard, and Innes. I was impressed by religious paintings by Veronese, Christus, and De Witte (www.timkenmuseum.org/1-dutch-witte.html). The gold on the Russian icons, both panels and alterpieces, was dazzling. Here's a link to its website. www.timkenmuseum.org And I've copied the Rubens portrait here on the left.

We finally got to the Leibovitz exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art. It was huge and well-attended and included celebrity portraits as well as intimate family snaps and a few landscapes. It closed Sunday, so we just made it. I liked many of the portraits, especially Mick Jagger, Cindy Crawford, Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Brad Pitt. Here's a link to some info. www.sdmart.org/exhibition-annie-leibovitz.html The 3 photos on the right are from the exhibit.

After that we went to Coronado Island beach and Hotel. Then we went back to Newport Beach for dinner with my lovely wife. Later, my wife Randy and I went to a dance party. It was a long and fun day!

That's the next step on the journey of Jay Rolfe From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso.

"Yellow Brick Road" ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Yes, Jay Rolfe is working on another "Yellow Brick Road" painting. I painted part of the mortar between the yellow bricks today, all in one direction. I'll do the other direction in a few days. Here's a photo of progress so far.

I also painted more of the swirling universe and some stars on the smaller "Black Hole" painting. I still have to find a title for it, and I'll probably name it after one of the many named black holes in the universe.

I spent 4 1/2 hours painting this afternoon. So this evening I'll take off and spend it with my fantastic wife Randy Rolfe (http://www.randyrolfe.com/).

That's today's step on the journey of Jay Rolfe From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You can see some expressions of my unique artistic idea on my website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Jay Rolfe: Stretching canvas ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Today was another beautiful day. We have a couple of crocuses blooming by our mailbox! On our walk this morning we noticed that some neighbors even had daffodils blooming.

I went out and bought supplies for more paintings, and then cut and stretched canvas. Tonight I plan to take off and relax with my wife Randy Rolfe (http://www.randyrolfe.com/).

This is today's step on the journey of Jay Rolfe From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You can see some expressions of my unique artistic idea on my website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Jay Rolfe: More painting ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Don't you just love the future Jay Rolfe's projecting for himself? I do!

On Thursday I took a step to solve part of my limited working space problem. I bought and assembled a set of shelves which I use as a drying rack to move wet paintings out of the way of other projects. It's working out well.

I painted a lot on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Friday night my wife Randy Rolfe (http://www.randyrolfe.com/) and I had dinner in Philadelphia at The Oceanaire Restaurant with a business associate of Randy's from out of town. We had fun. Then, for the first time in decades, I suffered from food poisoning. I had a rough middle of the night and Saturday morning. Then we visited out month old grandchild and our son and daughter-in-law. Then off to ballroom dancing, which we've done for more than a decade, with friends.

Sunday, yesterday, I painted before and after going to the open studio event of my fellow artist and friend Antonio Puri (http://www.antoniopuri.com/). We had fun seeing some new work and a lot of artist friends.

This is the next step on the journey of Jay Rolfe From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You can see some expressions of my unique artistic idea on my website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Jay Rolfe: Celebration ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Don't you just love the future Jay Rolfe's projecting for himself? I do!

I spent yesterday gathering materials and ideas.

Today is a day of celebration for me and my wife, Randy Rolfe (http://www.randyrolfe.com/), as it is our wedding anniversary. As is our practice on every anniversary, we take the day off from our usual activities and celebrate. Today we are going to the Franklin Institute to see the King Tut exhibit, and to Le Bec Fin as we usually do on our anniversary.

This is today's step on the journey of Jay Rolfe From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You can see some expressions of my unique artistic idea on my website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Jay Rolfe: More no coincidences ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Don't you just love the future Jay Rolfe is projecting for himself? I do!

This is another example of "there are no coincidences" from my artistic life. I wrote in my post on Feb 16, 2007 of the influence one of Ellsworth Kelly's paintings had on me. It freed me to create my unique artistic idea of Three Dimensional Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings (3DSSC). As you might imagine, there are some technical difficulties in stretching canvas on shaped stretcher frames. In May last year I got the idea of trying to talk about some of those issues with Ellsworth Kelly who had been doing shaped canvases for over 50 years.

I got the feeling on a Thursday last June that I it was about time I went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I'm a member and I go a number of times a year, and I hadn't visited in several months. It was time for me to go to the 20th Century and Contemporary wing and feel the beauty and peace I get when I soak in the paintings of Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Duchamp, Newman, Kelly, Pollock, and others. Also the Brancusi sculptures. I always look forward to going.

The next morning, Friday, June 23, 2006, I had a strong sense that I should go to the Museum that morning. After a leisurely breakfast with my wife Randy Rolfe (http://www.randyrolfe.com/) we chatted for a while. Suddenly I felt a strong urge to leave for the Museum. I said to Randy, "Excuse me. I'm sorry, but I have a very strong urge to go to the Museum now. I don't know what's going on, but I think I should go. Can we finish this later?" Of course she agreed and I left.

When I arrived at the Museum I picked up the daily events list and glanced at it. I noticed that there was an ongoing special exhibit of Ellsworth Kelly paintings done in Paris and New York in the late 1940's and early 1950's in two galleries. What a coincidence for Jay Rolfe who wanted to meet Ellsworth Kelly and talk about shaped canvases! I guess I hadn't read my member newsletter carefully enough, because I wasn't aware of it. Anyway, I headed for it, stopping at the Impressionist galleries on the way to see some of my favorite paintings.

I finally got to the Kelly galleries was admiring the Kelly paintings, including one of his first shaped canvases, when I realized that Ellsworth Kelly and Museum Director Anne d'Harnoncourt were in the same gallery! I'm kind of shy, but I did work up the courage to speak to Mr. Kelly. He was very gracious, friendly, and engaging. I told him of the influence his "Blue Green Curve" (1972) had on me, and he told me about his first shaped painting. Anne d'Harnoncourt was also quite gracious. They were only in the gallery for a few minutes, and I was there at the exact right time. Coincidence? I don't think so.

That was another step on the journey of Jay Rolfe From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You can see some expressions of my unique artistic idea on my website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Jay Rolfe: Peter Max exhibition ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Don't you just love the future Jay Rolfe is projecting for himself? I do!

Last night I went to the opening reception for Peter Max at the Wentworth Gallery in King of Prussia PA. My wife Randy Rolfe (http://www.randyrolfe.com/) and I were planning dinner and a movie with another couple. When I learned on Wednesday (see my blog for Wed. 2/21) of the Peter Max exhibit, I wanted to go. I contacted the other couple and told them I wanted to still go to dinner but go to the Peter Max exhibit instead of the movie. The wife knew of Peter Max as a girlfriend of hers has an original Max painting. Her husband wasn't familiar. Since her husband is a car buff (drives a fast Lotus Esprit) and is a former accomplished amateur racer, she told him Peter Max was to art as Mario Andretti to car racing. He was on board immediately. Our local paper, the Daily Local News, referred to Max as "World famous artist Peter Max."

Peter was very gracious with everyone. Those who bought paintings got not only their painting, but at no extra charge a personalized drawing with their name and his signature on the back, a large book about Peter Max autographed and personalized, and a photo with Peter taken by his own photographer.

I love Max' brilliant, clear colors and great shapes. I still like the "Cosmic Runner" from the '60's. Also the hearts (no mystery there, see my "Two Hearts Together" which I made - see a video of me making it http://www.3dssc.com/index.html - just before Valentine's Day last year, http://www.3dssc.com/hearts_p.htm), the island scenes, and the large vase of flowers in a huge size which was my personal favorite! My friend's favorite was the only painting without the bright colors, the "Winter" of the Four Seasons which was in blue and green pastels. Randy Rolfe's favorite was the island scene, "Better World." All beautiful paintings! I congratulated Peter Max on a great show, and I'm sure he knew it was.

That's the latest step on my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You can see some expressions of my unique artistic idea on my website at www.3dssc.com.

Jay Rolfe: Art Forum ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Don't you just love the future Jay Rolfe is projecting for himself? I do!

Last night, Thursday Feb 22, I went with my lovely and supportive wife Randy Rolfe (http://www.randyrolfe.com/) to the first of a monthly series of discussions by artists called Art Forum at The Arts Scene, the successor to the Holland Art House, in West Chester PA, run by contemporary art lover Ben Gall. http://www.theartsscene.org/ There's great food and drink at the Menta Cafe inside The Arts Scene, cheerfully dispensed by the "Dutch Masters," what I call the ladies who run it who are originally from Holland, and one of whom paints copies of Vermeer paintings. There were about a dozen artists with widely varying styles, as well as other guests, and we had a lively discussion. I now wish I'd thought to note the names of all the artists so I could credit them all. Jeff Schaller (http://www.pinkcowstudio.com/), Laura Barton (http://www.laurabarton.com/), and Antonio Puri (http://antoniopuri.com/) are the ones I knew or was familiar with. I really wish I had gotten info from the others. If you check out the websites of these three, you'll see how different they all are. I'm looking forward to next month.

That's the latest step on Jay Rolfe's journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You can see some expressions of my unique artistic idea on my website at http://www.3dssc.com/.

Jay Rolfe: "Power of the Universe (Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey)" ... my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Don't you just love the future Jay Rolfe is projecting for himself? I do!

For those of you who read my last post and clicked on the link, you may have noticed my painting called "Power of the Universe (Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey)." Arthur C. Clarke wrote the book 2001: A Space Odyssey and Stanley Kubrick made the movie from it.
In 2010: The Year We Make Contact, the movie based on Clarke's book 2010: Odyssey Two, the proportions of the monolith are revealed. They are, one squared by two squared by three squared. So I was able to create a correctly proportioned monolith in three dimensions that is 8 feet tall. It's also glossy like the monolith in the movies.

I think that sci-fi aficionados would love it. Perhaps Arthur C. Clarke would like to have it. Or maybe Tom Hanks, although I'm not sure he's into sci-fi. You can see my huge three dimensional painting "Power of the Universe (Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey)" on my website at www.3dssc.com by clicking on the Universe tab and then on the name or photo of "Power of the Universe."

I create huge paintings of things that stand for something in our culture. Many of my paintings are things that I've related to since I was a child. I think this one was suggested to me by my wife Randy Rolfe. Other paintings are just fun. Some, like my Adam and Eve series, are the type of subject that many serious artists undertake.

"Power of the Universe (Monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey)" by Jay Rolfe is another expression of my unique artistic idea on my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso.

Jay Rolfe: First Step ... From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso

Ellsworth Kelly had a great influence on my art. Not only do I like his clear bright colors, I like the simple or minimalist design of his canvases. But what influenced me most was the shape of his canvases.

I went to a number of museums years ago. Somehow I developed the attitude that I'd seen that, been there, done that. I've totally changed my idea about that. Now I go several times a year to my favorite museums and feel energized and alive in the presence of my favorite paintings. Anyway, I hadn't seen an Ellsworth Kelly shaped canvas in many years.

October 13, 2003, was one of those days that changed my life. I was in Los Angeles with my wife Randy Rolfe visiting our daughter. She took us to the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (LA MOCA). It was quite a day. We parked the car and walked past the brand new, Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall. Its titanium skin gleamed in the bright sunlight. It was dramatic and beautiful, and scheduled to open the next day.

Inside LA MOCA we saw an exhibit of Frank Gehry architectural models. It was amazing. Then we looked at the contemporary paintings. We were enjoying paintings by Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Morris Louis, James Rosenquist, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Kline, and others.

When we entered one gallery, I got very excited. My wife and daughter thought there was something wrong with me. I felt like I was about to jump out of my skin. It was an Ellsworth Kelly shaped canvas that grabbed my attention. Not one of his basically rectangular canvases with a curved side, but a very dramatic triangle on its side like an arrowhead. I was thinking, "I don't have to paint rectangles! Jay, you don't have to paint rectangles!" My wife and daughter didn't understand why I was so excited, but they knew that all artists are a little nuts so it was okay. Here's a photo of my and my wife standing next to that painting which is called Blue Green Curve.

Ellsworth Kelly's Blue Green Curve was painted in 1972. For an image in LA MOCA's permanent collection, click on this link. http://www.moca.org/museum/pc_artwork_detail.php?acsnum=85.57&keywords=Ellsworth%20Kelly&

That was the first step to my unique artistic idea on my journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You can see the results of Jay Rolfe’s unique artistic idea at www.3dssc.com.

By the way, don’t you just love the future Jay Rolfe is projecting for himself? I do!