I’m a Canadian visual artist. Born in Sibiu, Romania, about 51 years ago (53 now, and still counting…).
I’ve started my visual artist “career” as an art high school student, in Sibiu (the most happy 4 years of my life!) . I also studied photography for one year with one of Romania’s best art photographer, Gheorghe Lazaroiu, EFIAP. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be among the 5-6 students admitted every year at one of the 3 Art Universities in the communist Romania… I studied, instead, History (and some Art History, of course) and English at the Sibiu University. Nobody could force me to stop sketching during the most boring classes and I did a few paintings too… usually presents for my mother’s anniversary (her being the one who always encouraged me to follow my artistic vocation). The usual followed: family, work (teaching for 8-9 years in different village schools), etc.
After the 1989 revolution (I took part as a photographer) I ‘ve started a new career as a journalist and photo journalist.
Children grew up and for them as well as for myself we decided to immigrate to Canada. Almost 12 years ago. Here, in Québec, since it was hard for me to find work, I’ve started – well, you can say, I RE-STARTED- my visual artist career. In fact, that was my secret wish, the most intense one and everything in my life, until then, was ment to bring me there – well, HRE. I’ve studied at the Sherbrooke University and completed a Certificate in Visual Art, working also as a factory worker. It was hard but I did it.
Since April 2002 I’m a full time visual artist. I earn my living teaching “artistic expression” in a private institution and I draw, I paint… I do some writing too, but that`s a secret right now… My portfolio had over 2300 (some 2550 now) reproductions (drawings and paintings, mostly; I did not considered my photographs…) and my intention is – health and time permitting – to post the best of them here, in chronological order… Or whatever… Since I’m not a native English speaker I beg you (but not in my knees…) to be indulgent with my many mistakes… Or, at least, amuse yourself a bit…
22 responses so far ↓
cantueso // 29/09/2007 at 02:01 |
There will be very very few people who believe that this was not written by yourself, because the mistakes are all tell-tale, funny
and one too many to be corrected and also amusing.
ivdanu // 29/09/2007 at 08:09 |
OH, now I get what Gene said about the writing in the 3rd person! And I didn’t want to HIDE that I was the author of this one too… I’m glad that, at least, the mistakes are tell-tale and amusing…
No way I’m gone change that!( first thing, I’m not able and second, well, what the heck! Van Gogh did plenty of mistakes himself and I was an English Teacher so long ago that it doesn’t count any more!
Still, if you see a very BIG mistake (a non-amusing one!) PLEASE give me a sign, will you?! Finally, just as Vincent said “we make our painting to talk for us”; I know that Goethe also said something in the order of ” Make images, artist, don’t talk!” I’ll do that…
cantueso // 29/09/2007 at 21:48 |
If this is your new avatar, that is wonderful.
I saw you got a rejection slip from those people. Did you see that they said they were not taking any new artists? Also, if they charge you 29 dollars a month,- just to have you listed there, they do not have to sell very many paintings to make it worth their while.
Now this self portrait is nice and looks more probable. As you know. “the Truth”, in these matters, does not exist , because the object depends on the eyes of the beholder. So, for instance, I thought it would be near impossible to paint your own eyes because you cannot see them as meaning anything. I thought that would be the reason why your former avatar looked so silly.
Anonymous // 30/09/2007 at 09:50 |
Thanks for the information, no, I didn’t took notice about that… Anywhy, I had my doubts (some good artists but most of them too profit oriented and too damn “realistical” (local color, local everything!)
Glad you like better my avatar (it’s a self portrait kind of imitating a zen portrait); in reality, I’m a lot meeker (that’s the word?), not so angrymeanish…
I’ll post for you the other self portrait on the blogspot blog, tomorow… if I don’t forget… You’ll see it better (maybe not so silly, after all… no offence taken, amused…)
ivdanu // 30/09/2007 at 10:26 |
I’ve changed the presentation, A & G! Hope for the better… 29 09 07
cantueso // 03/10/2007 at 14:58 |
Later I remembered that on your other avatar (that red self portrait) you looked at yourself trying to see above your glasses, which is why you looked so dumb. Do you know what I mean? I guess you needed your glasses to paint, but did not want them to look at yourself in the mirror, and, since you could not take them off each time you wanted to look, you tried to look above the rim. Uff, that was hard to explain.
ivdanu // 03/10/2007 at 21:04 |
I get you point, A! and it’s true, I look kind of dumb in it (another proof that appeareances are tricky and untrue, eh?)
I will write soon a post, on Danu’s small world connected to this… Follow it if you have 5 minutes…
John // 20/02/2008 at 15:33 |
Hello. Sorry I couldn’t find another way to contact you on your blog so I had to use this comment field. The reason I’m writing is because I work for an online art magazine focused on drawing and painting and we would like to publish 1 one of your pieces in our March issue. Can you get back to me at john@antidull.com at your earliest convenience and let me know if you’re interested.
Thanks
ivdanu // 20/02/2008 at 18:43 |
I will do that, John.
bibomedia // 01/03/2008 at 04:52 |
erinruffin // 01/03/2008 at 17:18 |
really enjoy your blog.
best,
Erin
ivdanu // 01/03/2008 at 17:56 |
Thanks, Erin! You are too kind…
ovidiu stanomir // 28/03/2008 at 02:29 |
DaNu_le, succes in tot si in toate !
lbtowers // 11/11/2008 at 11:20 |
I love your work, and the story of your life Ion. I would like to see some of your photographs too.
Lisa
ivdanu // 11/11/2008 at 12:01 |
Same here (even if I don’t know much about the story of you life)… From time to time, I’ve showed some (see also on my not-so-active other blog at:
http://iondanu.wordpress.com/
and thanks, lisa!
I // 30/01/2009 at 15:56 |
out of sight, out of mind?
I wish you go0d luck…
Jean-François Côté // 09/06/2009 at 17:19 |
Bonjour,
le comité organisateur du Festiv’Art 2009 en est à terminer, nous apprécions beaucoup votre travail et vous invitons à vous inscrire pour le Festiv’Art. Quelques sites sont encore disponibles.
Cordialement!
Au plaisir de vous recevoir à Frelighsburg.
http://www.festivart.org
Jean-François Côté, coordonateur
Nouvelle Adresse:
201-46, rue principale
Frelighsburg (Québec) J0J 1C0
Courriel: jf_cote@citenet.net
Site internet: http://www.festivart.org
Téléphone : 450-298-5558
balm // 31/07/2009 at 11:50 |
Ion, I have been following your blog for a while now and enjoy not only your work, but your thoughts about them. I wanted to let you know about a show that our arts group balm is putting together. i realize it might be a stretch because you are in Canada, but here is the info page non-the-less. Feel free to post or let others know. I didn’t realize you had a twitter, but i will have my twitter accounts follow you. HavaStudios, balmorg and darinwhite. I hope all is well! http://balmorg.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/callforentrieswhiteshow/
ivdanu // 01/08/2009 at 02:39 |
Thanks, BALM! It,s good to know you are not alone out there… I`ll try to do the same… Right now, I kind of try to clarify my thoughts after a flu or something… Thanks, again!
Octavian Repede // 06/08/2009 at 08:52 |
Buna ziua,
Ma numesc Octavian Repede, jurnalist de profesie si realizator amator de film documentar. Va scriu din Sibiu, unde anul asta se implinesc 20 de ani de la evenimentele din 1989. Impreuna cu cativa prieteni ziaristi incercam sa realizam un film documentar destinat expres revolutiei din 1989 din Sibiu. Am inteles din cautarile mele ca dvs. ati detine fotografii, unele inedite de la evenimentele din 1989. Am putea face cumva sa luam legatura (tavi_repede@yahoo.com) si sa obtinem si noi acele fotografii? Filmul pe care incercam sa-l realizam este un demers pur obiectiv si dezintersat de io stiu anumite interese fata de cineva sau pt. a ascunde ceva. Deci sa nu ne suspectati de anumite intentii de acest gen. Vrem doar sa pastram memoria acelor zile deosebite pentru Sibiu.
Va multumesc si sper sa putem lua legatura cumva.
ivdanu // 06/08/2009 at 11:43 |
Buna, Octavian. Te voi contacta, curand, pe email.
Bye for now, Danu
chwyatt // 04/11/2009 at 22:17 |
I love your work. Your love for Picasso is beautiful. I also am an artist. Your charcoal depictions challenge me to be great. I welcome you to visit my blog: Straightgospelnochaser.