What does a "real" cancer cell look like?

Acrylic on Canvas painting by Angela Canada Hopkins

"Are they "real" cancer cells?"  This is the most frequently asked question by viewers of my paintings.  The quick answer is, no, they are not realistic medical illustrations.  They are, for the most part, conceptual where the idea and content are central.

The cells are invisible underneath the surface and almost don't seem real.  If you've had cancer or been affected by it I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  You feel the effects of it but you never stop to ask, what is it?  In fact you want to run if someone even mentions the "C" word.

It took me many years before I was ready to ask questions.  After researching cancer and studying photographs I wanted to replace my memory and thoughts with something positive.  I wanted to make it "real" in my artistic way.  The colorful and beautiful cell paintings are my way of taking control and overcoming everything negative to do with the terrible disease.

If you'd like to know what a "real" cancer cell looks like, you'd need a scanning electron microscope, or visit these sites to see photographs:

Environmental Graffiti
Science Photo Library
National Cancer Institute

Armstrong Decides to Stop Fighting the Charges

Photo from the Livestrong Facebook Page

On August 23, Lance Armstrong issued a statement.  Here's an excerpt of the statement, "Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances. I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in underserved communities..." Read more on the Livestrong Blog: http://blog.livestrong.org/

I don't know if he did or did not use performance enhancing drugs and I won't be speculating.  What is more important, in my opinion, is all the good he has done.  

The Lance Armstrong Foundations mission is to inspire and empower people affected by cancer.  They help people focus on living well.

I have a similar mission even though, of course, it's just lil' me.  I see hope through the ugly despair of cancer.  I believe I can offer those affected by cancer a different perspective through art.  

Let's focus on a cancer free future and move on.  Onward and upward.

http://www.livestrong.org/

A New Painting in the Cell Series

Cell No.22, Acrylic on Canvas

Where do ideas come from?

The diversity of nature from microcosm to macrocosm can be a vast source of inspiration.  It has been a source of inspiration for scholars, scientists, and artists throughout time.

Biomimicry is a new term I just learned.  It can simply be described as copying nature.  But it's more than just copying, it is the scientific practice of studying systems and elements in nature to come up with new man made inventions inspired by nature.

Video of nature used as inspiration by biologists and engineers at UC Berkeley.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnBkbaFsZOY&feature=player_embedded&noredirect=1

Art Student Finished Painting

My student finished the first painting she has ever painted!  She did an excellent job!!!  I'm not sure if you can see it, it's probably too small, but the photo she referenced is in the background above the painting.

Anna with her finished painting (acrylic on canvas)

A Photograph for Inspiration

Photographer: Jeremy Russell

An Art Lesson on How to Paint

Acrylic on Canvas

I've been giving art lessons to a lady who wants to learn how to paint "abstracts with feeling" in 3 or 4 lessons. A tall challenge for the amount of time. It's taken me 10 plus years to figure out I really love to paint the human body abstractly...and I'm still learning.

Her Experiment With Texture

The first couple of meetings we explored the elements of art like line, form, color, repetition, balance, movement, proportions, etc. For the third class (today) she decided she'd like to paint a female form instead of what she originally thought. We used a picture and the grid system to lay the proportions correctly on the canvas. She only had enough time to put the wash (a watery application of paint) on the canvas. This is such a hard but good lesson for beginning painters. I've found that beginners think the first brush marks are the last. Most people don't realize how much working and re-working goes into creating.

She has done a really awesome job...especially for her first painting. I'll post her progress after she gets done working next time.

Abstract painting and technical painting are worlds apart. I won't get off on this tangent now. It's a separate topic for a future post.