Starry Night over the Rhone

This is another of my favorite paintings. Even though it is not a famous painting it is clearly recognizable to the public as the work of Vincent Van Gogh. Obviously not as famous as his "The Starry Night" which was painted in Saint. Rémy. This one is from Arles, just down the street from his yellow house. I really like a lot of Vincent's night scenes, he seems to capture the air. I can feel the breeze on my face and I get a glimpse of the wonder that he felt when he painted. Vincent is in my mind one of the most intriguing artists because he clearly loved to paint, he had to paint. While many artists try to impress us one way or another, Vincent just painted what he loved, and that was the act of being alive.

Another reason I like this one is because everybody knows "The Starry Night" but this one is far less known and so I feel as though it belongs to me. My own personal treasure.

Thanks Vincent.

Roy Lichtenstein - Drowning Girl

My painting for today is "Drowning Girl" by Roy Lichtenstein. It was made in 1963, with oil and polymer paint on canvas. He had used DC Comics' "Run for Love!" for the source for this image. I like the overall feel of the painting, since blue is usually thought of as a calming color and this is clearly a woman in need of help. I also like how this painting has the really harsh blacks and thick lines, created with Benday Dots (Created manually). These were similar to the effects of pointilism because of the usage of little dots of color. This helps the harsh message of the woman saying she'd risk anything rather that ask for help from "Brad".

Brigada Ramona Parra

My favorite artwork today is made by the Chilean Squad named Brigada Ramona Parra or BRP. I do not know the name of these piece of art because all of these artists work is created in murals and were usually untitled.These piece of art along with the others ones made by BRP were done in famous places and they all consisted in iconographic symbols such as the fist, the star,the birds and the working class.
This art was created as an opposition to the dictatorship that Pinochet commanded in Chile.What i most like about this pieces of art is the simplistic view that the art contains but at the same time it presents a deep message of hope and fight.Another thing i enjoy about this painting is the representation of Victor Jara, a former musician known for being a martyr who opposed Pinochet dictatorship and when up being tortured and assassinate by Pinochet's army.

Audrey Flack

This painting was done by Audrey Flack, it is called "Marilyn (Vanitas)". This was an oil painting. Her being a realism painter, took images to create an image that looked almost like a photograph or portrait. I love how real it does look. It has so many fine details. I also love the repetition throughout the painting. With the repetition of the face, and the colors, this really allows the eye to move around the painting. I could only wish to paint this well. Everything looks like you could just pick it off of the page, almost making you look twice to make sure that this is a painting and not a photograph. The realism of this work makes me enjoy looking at and trying to find something new everytime.

Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2

This painting is "Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2" by Marcel Duchamp. He was part of the Dadaist era and was part of the Armory Show in New York back in the early 1900's. I love the multitude of colors in this painting, and most people would be confused as what the stuff is behind the figure at the front, almost down the stairs. In fact, that is a time lapse of the nude walking down the stairway. My favorite part about this painting is how you can see the "hip" throughout the stairwell, but the rest is a bit fuzzy. Also, the idea of the mechanical motion of the nude, with it's harsh edges and sharp points, coming down the stairs, when it's flesh toned to show human flesh is just creative.

I actually recreated this painting on a hamper for my High School's art auction. But, alas, my piece is now sitting in my room at home. Haha.

Caipira Picando Fumo

My favorite painting for today is Caipira Picando Fumo by Almeida Junior.This painting was made in 1893 and now resides in Pinacoteca do Estado de Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This painting is one of my favorites because it portrays the harsh life of farmers or Caipiras in Brazil.It also gives a sense of harsh life through using light colors but making them seem like the paint is dark.
This painting also depicts the poverty that was existent in Brazil in the 19th century through amazing realism. The realism is this paintings acts as a contradiction to the abstract movements occurring around the beginning of the 20th century.

Starry Night

"Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh.
This piece of artwork is one of my favorites. I love the movement the brush strokes, colors, and shapes play in the sky. The swirling clouds and bursts of stars keep my eyes moving around the painting, examining every detail. The small town beneath the sky creates a mystery and makes me think about what this town holds. My eyes automatically go to the large, creepy, tall object in black. It is bold and beautiful. The dark, flowing lines add a bold statement next to the colorful swirling sky. This painting makes me stop and look at every detail. It was so beautifully created.

Banksy

The art piece that I choose today is by Banksy, an anonymous British Graffiti artist.His art movement is often associated as one of anti-totalitarianism, communism, anarchism,anti- war, pacifism, atheism and anti-fascism.
Banksy is a renowned street art artist that has a distinct stenciling technique. A book entitled Wall and Piece contains the most notorious works of this artist.
I choose this stencil that is presented in the front cover of Wall and Piece because it presents great controversy. Banksy depicts a revolutionist, a figure that usually is seen throwing stones or cocktail Molotov, but in this piece Banksy portrays the man throwing flowers. This piece has a deep meaning of anti-war and pacifism and it promotes world peace.It can also be seen as an opposition against media, which usually shows violence and scandalous acts in war instead of the good actions that people do in wars.

Christ of Saint John of the Cross

This painting made by Salvador Dali in 1951 is one of my favorites.Located in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scottland this painting portrays Jesus Christ on the cross in a dark sky floating over water, where a fishermen is next to a boat.This painting's design is based on a drawing of the Spanish friar Saint John of the Cross, made in the 16 century.
This piece of art is one of my favorites due to the complexity and the unsual point of view in which Jesus Christ is presented.It also gives a feeling that God is looking over the fishermen and that God himself is submerged in darkness, in order to protect the fishermen from all darkness and evil. The message is one of God's pain and hope in humankind, symbolized by the protection of the fishermen.Also, the realism in this painting is intricated by the surrealist artwork that made Dali famous.

My favorite painting (for today)

Vassily Kandinsky, or Wassily Kandinsky's Improvisation 31, "Sea Battle"

I love this painting because it is loaded with movement and wonderful color. What I like most is the fact that every time I see it, I see something new and different. If you want to see it in person, you will have to travel to the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Fortunately they usually have a bench to sit on so you can spend some time with it. Usually I look at art very quickly, this one makes me stop and stare. You can buy me this one.

http://www.joshuaellingson.com


Joshua Ellingson
This illustrator is doing a lot of interesting things in the here now, and his portraiture of Godzilla is spot on. I don't know how he got the guy to stand still for him, but I'm sure it was worth the blaze of fire I'm sure left all of Tokyo in ruins. Who doesn't like monsters, this guy really knows his line work and makes awesome designs.

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus was awesome because she photographed people who lived unconventional lives. This photo, taken in the early 70's, is of a group of people with Down's Syndrome. I heard that she found it interesting to photograph them because she could not control the image in front of her as she could with other models. I really want to learn more about her.

Saturn Devouring His Son

Francisco de Goya was a Spanish painter and printmaker regarded as the last of the Old masters and the first of the moderns. My favorite work from him is "Saturn devouring his son" painted between 1819 and 1823 in the walls of his house. This painting belongs to Goya's series of The Black Paintings and it depicts the Greek myth of Cronus, who feared his son to overthrow him and therefore ate him once he was born. This artwork was conceived when Goya's mentality was one of concerned of his own mortality and the artist was increasingly embittered by the civil strife occurring in Spain.This work was one of six that decorated his dining room. After Goya's death, the work was transferred to a canvas and nowadays,it is in exhibition in the Museo Del Prado in Madrid.

Chuck Close

I have always been a fan of the way Chuck Close makes use of grids in order to create abstract designs. He also uses a variety of colors. It is interesting the way the grid distorts and changes the face, but still allows you to see the whole face.

-Tara Petty

Texture Resources

For all you photo manipulators, 3d modelers out there, and even some of you digital painters, a new image gallery has just popped up that lets you download royalty free high resolution images. I am going to point out that it is specifically stated in the license agreement that you CAN NOT stockpile images... which means no going there to create a personal huge image library.

the site can be found here

Here is what every stylish professor needs.

Welcome to a new semester

Wennie Roast at College Camp on Thursday, September 3rd. 6 till whenever. We will meet at the computer art lab Fine Arts 321 at 5:45 to shuttle people to the camp. Bring something to roast over the fire. Tell all the computer art and art majors you know about it.

Interesting Use of Text

Just thought some of you graphic designers might be amused by these text-based ads.

Suggestions for Spawning Inspiration

Hey all. I've been wondering for a while if anyone else seems to get "artist's block" or if it's just me. What types of things do you do to get yourself through it? I'm especially looking for some of you "professionals" to reply to this since I can only imagine that it's pretty important in your line of work that you stay inspired.

Thanks in advance!

-Maureen

A Project Proposal

A Project Proposal

 

For those of you that have no special plans for this Summer, like saving the planet or curing cancer, here is an alternative idea.

 

The Neverwurzorwillbies

A Modern Ancient Civilization

 

I would like to embark on a team project this Summer to create/recreate the modern/ancient lost or never found civilization of the Neverwurzorwillbies. This culture never existed nor will it, but I don’t want to let that stop us from finding and documenting all of the facts about them. If you are interested in helping in this project, please read on.

 

The Neverwurzorwillbies:

They are or were an ancient modern tribe/civilization that left us many clues about their existence but no concrete information about much of anything. We have no idea of where they came from or why they disappeared.

 

The Project:

We will create all of the archeological evidence of this culture, including the artifacts, maps, religion(s), customs, habitat etc.

 

We will “discover”* the objects that they left and interpret their meaning to enable us to get an understanding of their culture. These objects will give us the needed clues to piece together a culture that has, until now, gone totally unnoticed.

 

For this project we will need:

Dreamers

Story Tellers

3D modelers

Photoshop Gods

Artists of all kinds

Cartographers

Linguists

Rune readers

Nuclear Physicists

Liars (no politicians please, we do have some standards)

Geologists

Cosmologists and Cosmotologists (practically the same thing)

Anthropologists

Archeologists

Web Designers

Psychologists and probably a psychotherapist or two

And of course, one Woodchuck

 

If you or anyone you know or anyone you think you know is interested, please have them contact me, I am considering this as either a giant independent study project or actually as a class.

 

 

* “discover” may include photoshop compositing, 3D modeling, or other means of outright fabricating a document of fact that may not in fact be so factual.