Monthly Archives: September 2010
Melissa Ayr Painting a Baby Grand Piano
Melissa Ayr working on the finishing touches of a baby grand piano as her latest work of art.
See a sneak peak Video of Melissa Ayr’s hands on process
Bob Rosenthal of the Piano Gallery in Dallas delivers the Baby Grand Piano.
Breaking it Down
Melissa Ayr – Baby Grand Piano – Disassemblage
Protecting the Parts.
Melissa Ayr Contemporary Abstract Artist sanding down a Baby Grand Piano in her Ayr Art Studio
Sanding done
Sanding complete now ready for Primer.
Hours of preparations to get the Piano ready.
Piano is now taking shape and composition.
This Piano is my canvas.
Half way done…
Piano
Melissa Ayr – Featured on Woman Anew
Melissa Ayr is interviewed by Ania Zegan, co-founder and CEO of the Woman Anew Internet TV Network and host of “Ordinary Women Extraordinary Lives”show.
Woman Anew focuses on key issues that impact women and their families including: relationship, family, business and career, education, building and maintaining financial security, situational awareness, health and well-being, politics, social values, legal issues, and daily routines.
View the Video of Melissa Ayr:
Melissa Ayr – Interview with Kellie Frazier
Getting to know contemporary abstract artist Melissa Ayr.
Hear the Interview.
Original Ayr Painting “Be Ruinart” Going to Art Basel Miami
Contemporary Abstract Artist Melissa Ayr has been selected as one of ten artists in the United States to be represented at Art Basel in Miami by Ruinart Champagne, a brand of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey. Melissa Ayr and Ruinart champagne share the same fundamental values of authenticity, openness, refinement and quality. Ruinart sponsored the opening night of the “Ayr Art Transformation Tour”, a national solo art exhibition featuring new and existing works of art created by Melissa Ayr. Featured at the Dallas exhibition was a special toast of Ruinart Champagne to unveil the new painting by Melissa Ayr titled “Be Ruinart.”
Melissa Ayr Unveils "Be Ruinart"
Melissa Ayr is a colorful contemporary abstract painter whose work incorporates high energy, fluidity, growth, and life. Melissa Ayr’s art has hung in the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and her art resides in homes of high profile collectors. Earlier this year, Melissa was featured with a solo exhibition “Ocean Drive” as part the Celebrity Super Bowl Charity Bash in Miami Beach. Last year, Melissa was featured as the only American Artist at the 2009 World Wilderness Congress with her ground breaking “Wild Thing” painting that raised awareness and funding for the Wild Foundation and Jane Goodall.
The night the piece was unveiled Ms. Ayr shared thoughts about “Be Ruinart”. “I was asked to create my interpretation of what Ruinart champagne would look like as a contemporary art piece. I was given a bottle to enjoy and sit alone with my thoughts.” “The name Ruinart was something that caught my eye; ‘art’ being in the name of the champagne itself. How could this champagne, art and the excitement built up within be combined and conveyed on a canvas?” Ms. Ayr stated that as she opened the bottle, the Champagne cork popped and champagne spilled out. Melissa took this into the studio and used paint tubes spilling out of the bottle onto the canvas to convey an explosion of art.
Ms. Ayr was inspired to use paint tubes in “Be Ruinart” because of a story about Picasso. While living in Lake Tahoe, Ms. Ayr had an opportunity to work with DA Russo, a student of Pablo Picasso. He would speak of his time living with Picasso in France when he was a young boy. According to DA Russo, Picasso was known for keeping the left over tubes of oil paints his students discarded. He had a box near the door of the class where the students would dispose of them. When the box was filled Picasso would snip off the ends of the tubes, butterfly the tubes and then use the remainder of the paint that was left inside for his own art.
“Be Ruinart” is a 3-dimensional multi media painting on hand stretched linen. Melissa states, “In the painting, I have included over 40 opened tubes of paint I used myself and have butterflied open. I have also included my own pallet, a pallet knife, a sable paint brush, a pencil sharper, oil paint medium, a bottle of Ruinart champagne, the Ruinart cork and wrapper, small speaks of clear plastic, and my signature monarch butterfly. If you look closely you will find a Dragon, a symbol of creativity. “
“Be Ruinart” is a Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey commission with a mission. “Be Ruinart” will be represented at Art Basel Miami in December 2010 and then auctioned off in New York in January 2011. The painting will benefit the Museum of Arts & Design in New York with 100% of the proceeds donated to the Museum for their education programs.
To find out more about the “Ayr Art Transformation Tour” and artist Melissa Ayr visit http://www.melissaayr.com.
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About Artist Melissa Ayr:
Melissa Ayr’s mission is simple; create with passion, open the World’s mind to creativity and become the highest valued female artist of our time. Melissa offers high end fine art using hand crafted custom made canvas, the finest quality paint and artist talent to make every original painting unique. Melissa sells original abstract paintings in oil, acrylic and mixed media and keeps her indelible oath to grow her brand, maintain value and hold true to the trust that many collectors have placed in her. http://www.melissaayr.com
About Ruinart:
Champagne Ruinart is the oldest French Champagne company, established in 1729. It is a very high-quality Champagne, and has recently been re-introduced to the U.S market. It is owned now by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey, the world leader in luxury items. http://www.ruinart.com :: http://www.lvmh.com
Liverpool Biennial
Melissa Ayr has received professional accreditation from the Liverpool Biennial. The 6th International Liverpool Biennial is “Touched”.
“Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s largest as well as one of the most exciting contemporary visual arts events, and with 960,000 visits in 2008, it is one of the best attended in the world.”
Thanks Biennial team
Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s largest as well as one of the most exciting contemporary visual arts events, and with 960,000 visits in 2008, it is one of the best attended in the world.
LVMH – Ruinart Champagne selects Melissa Ayr for Art Basel
Recently, Melissa Ayr was approached and selected for an original artwork for Champagne Ruinart.
Ruinart Champagne
Champagne Ruinart is the oldest French Champagne company, established in 1729. It is a very high-quality Champagne, and has recently been re-introduced to the U.S market. It is owned now by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey group, the world leader in luxury items.
LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton
Ruinart’s team has created a public relations campaign around Contemporary Art. Ten artists have been selected from New York, Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Santa Fe to create ten specially-commissioned art pieces. Each artist will have his own creation presented, individually, by a Ruinart party in the artist’s respective city.
The presentation of Melissa’s piece concerning this event will happen during the Ayr Art Transformation Tour at the Piano Gallery on August 21st, 2010.
During Art Basel/Miami Beach in December 2010, Champagne Ruinart and Whitewall magazine will create a ”pop-up gallery/champagne gallery” to present the 10 pieces together to the public. An auction will also be organized for the sale of those pieces, and 100 % of the proceeds will be donated to the Education programs of the Museum of Art & Design in New York.
Ayr Art Transformation Tour Dallas
Ayr Art Transformation Tour – Dallas
Featuring Artist Melissa Ayr, Benefiting the Book Bank Foundation
Social – Join us for an evening of Fine Art, Live Performance and Giving.
Featuring: Contemporary Abstract Artist Melissa Ayr & Concert Pianist Elida Dakoli
Benefiting: The Book Bank Foundation: Promoting Literacy to Eradicate Homelessness
National Tour Kickoff Exhibition:
Piano Gallery
13520 Inwood Road
Dallas, TX 75244
Date: Saturday August 21st, 2010
Time: 6-9pm
Sponsored by Ruinart Champagne, Chopin Vodka, The Piano Gallery & Central Market
“Monarch”
“Monarch”
Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
48″ x 96″ x 3″
“Monarch” is the latest painting produced by prolific abstract artist Melissa Ayr. Monarch represents the transition from somber funk to joyous exuberance. Melissa Ayr has always been inspired by Pablo Picasso and originally worked to produce an homage to Picasso with this large eight foot canvas. Underneath the many layers of paint on this painting is a sketch of Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ done in purple soft chalk pastel. The spirit of Picasso was present.
While inspired by Picasso, Melissa’s mood was more focused on the free flowing energy of the music she heard in her studio. During the painting of this piece Melissa was listening to Black Eye Peas and was dancing to “Imma Be” at her peak of inspiration. Her painting transformed from ‘Guernica’ to ‘Monarch’ and drove forward an extension of Melissa’s unique colorful style.
This painting employs several techniques and media. While keeping true to painting with her body, she also uncovered a new method to produce powerful poignant splatters across the divide of the canvas frame. This piece is a true multimedia journey as Melissa worked Oil, Acrylic, Latex, Gloss, and Soft Chalk Pastel into the custom made hand stretched natural cotton duct canvas.
This piece was created during the months of March and April of 2010 in Melissa’s studio, as well as, plein air. While outside a butterfly flew by and landed on the canvas, which inspired the name ‘Monarch’.
“Bee Bop”
“Bee Bop”
Original Oil Painting on Canvas
72″x60″x1½”
“Bee Bop” was created in two phases. The background was created first. Then many months later Melissa came back to this painting to finish it. Melissa used her hands to create the background and the overlay was painted with a brush using broad strokes. The painting is done in oil on cotton duct canvas. It took over 9 months to create this painting. This painting represents joy at the present moment. The title “Bee Bop” represents the happy bouncing movement that was coursing through the artist listening to Jazz music. This painting is gallery wrapped and was created in the year 2009. This painting was featured at Melissa’s exhibition Pure Creativity at the Goodrich Gallery in Dallas near the Heart of the Arts District.
“Water Garden”
“Water Garden”
“Water Garden”
Original Oil Painting on Canvas
60″x48″x1½”
“Water Garden” is a heavy textured original oil on canvas. This painting took over 9 months to create. The artist used her hands to put down the texture over the cotton duct canvas. This painting was formerly known as “Inferno” and was hung in the Galerie Blu’u inside the Montbleu Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe. “Inferno” was inspired by the Angora Fires around Lake Tahoe in 2007. “Inferno” was painted outside as ash and soot fell over it and is embedded in the painting. “Water Garden” was inspired by the impressionist painter Monet and is considered a transitional piece for Melissa’s career as an artist.
Detail View
“Pink Whip”
“Pink Whip”
Acrylic Painting on Canvas
48 x 36 x 1½
“Pink Whip” was created in 2009 and was the inspiration that led Melissa into creating “Wild Thing”. This artwork was responsible for transitioning the cloud-like color blends Melissa had been focused on into a Jackson Pollock driven creative free for all. Melissa maintains a robust presence of the color pink whilst orange and yellow tease the canvas with complementary style. This artwork was recently sold to one of Dallas’ premiere art collectors.