Tag: Painting Process

The Neon White Hat by Borbay, Jean-Baptiste Greuze’s Re-Mastered

Twenty-four years ago, I found myself wandering the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. There, I encountered many magnificent works from the usual suspects… Picasso, Stuart Davis, Pollock, El Greco — by all accounts, a nice little Saturday.

As I dove deeper into the collection, I stumbled upon “The White Hat” by Jean-Baptiste Greuze. This work stopped me dead in my tracks. The painting itself was magnificent. The brush strokes, the tonality, the chiaroscuro. Her gaze is both seductive and haunting. Painted around 1780, history maintains this figure was a figment of the artist’s imagination… an invented woman. I reject this notion. She struck me as real. Visceral.

Free-flowing, revealing outfits were en vogue in the late 1700’s… yes, and still — there is a staggering vulnerability on display. A salacious Mona Lisa of sorts. And so, 24 years later, White Hat found her way to my easel in first Minnesota, then Idaho, and became Re-Mastered.

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Daniels Place — The Majestic Teton River

Daniels Place Teton River Painting by Borbay

During my commute to and from Borbay Studios & Gallery, I often promise to — “get out there and capture Teton Valley’s beauty.”

With my eldest daughter Coraline home-schooling, I found that very moment. As for the location? A generous offer from my good friends Andy and Lisa Daniels presented itself. They allowed us to set-up and paint their breathtaking view of the Teton River.

And so, I set out to challenge myself to create a 40″X48″ painting from life, crafted with a palette knife and loads of Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint.

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Spring Time Guggenheim, #16 of 20

Spring at the Guggenheim Painting by Borbay

For the 16th work in my 20-Year-Guggenheim Series, I re-visited to the streets of New York to paint on 5th Avenue.

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Pink Dogwood, Hole #2 at The Masters

It began with Amen Corner… last year, I went back to one… this year, I painted the second green at Augusta National. Typically, I begin during the first tee shot, and sign when the final putt drops. This year, I had the great fortune of playing a Member Guest during The Masters… and so, I was forced to finish post-tournament.

Virgo mentality — forgive me!

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Neon Marilyn Painting by Borbay

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“Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.” — Andrew Warhola, aka, Andy Warhol.

This is my favorite Warhol quote. His mission to put a Warhol in every home, coupled with his desire for luxury proved a recipe for timeless success.

Having Marilyn at our dinner table for nearly 20 years — it was a must-add to my Re-Mastered series. And friend — Marilyn was begging for neon.

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Neon Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting by Borbay ala Vermeer

Neon Girl with a Pearl Earring painting by Borbay

Up next in my Re-Mastered series — ‘Neon Girl with a Pearl Earring’, modeled after Vermeer’s 1665 masterpiece. Following Neon Guernica, I was considering ‘Starry Night’ — but our November trip to Europe inspired a new direction.

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A Portrait of Raymond Carnes

So often, the phone rings… and I wince. Unknown caller. Spam risk.

Not this time. The caller ID read “Trevor”. I was more than delighted to pick up for my friend, portrait subject and New York Islanders legend. Trevor was calling to introduce me to his close friend, Ray Carnes, Co-Founder of Recteq — purveyor of the best damn grills on the planet. We struck up a conversation… a chat that marked the beginning of this 30″X30″ collage-painting portrait.

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Neon Guernica Painting by Borbay

Continuing my Re-Mastered series… which began with “American Gothic” — then took flight with “Mona Lisa” — please allow me to introduce — “Neon Guernica”.

Picasso’s master work measures 11 by 29 feet — which is significantly larger than my two, 36″X40″ panel, neon iteration. Here is a closer look at the left side.

And now the right. Without further adieu, let’s dive into the history of Picasso’s Guernica, why I chose to paint a neon version — and the recent good news for art lovers visiting the The Reina Sofía Museum.

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Julius Erving, aka, Dr. J Collage Painting by Borbay

To lead a professional sports league is rare. To lead two is unprecedented… that is, until Julius Erving, a.k.a. “Dr. J” — towered above, first, the ABA… then the NBA. The ABA was an amalgamation of historic risk-taking owners, managers, players, announcers, and colorful personalities. And so, this painting not only showcases an incredible athlete and human; it celebrates the entire American Basketball Association, which brought the world of basketball tri-colored balls and a dunking revolution.

My collector, friend and sometimes mentor, Robert Oringer and yours truly took our time to carefully curate this celebratory 48″X60″ collage painting.

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Neon Mona Lisa

A recent commission of Grant Wood’s ‘American Gothic‘ inspired a new series… “Re-Mastered” — a fresh look at historic masterpieces. And so, I decided to bring a slice of the Louvre to Borbay Studios & Gallery… with ‘Neon Mona Lisa’.

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