Christopher Marlowe wrote about “the face that launched a thousand ships“. Faces, full of expression and personality are often the most difficult subject for an artist to render. I know, I went through three semesters of figure drawing purposefully not showing the model’s face, because as adept as I was at the figure, I just couldn’t get the hang of drawing faces. Perhaps that’s why I am so drawn to the work of artists whose faces are so beautifully rendered and expressive. Today’s round-up includes a few of my current faves:
Buck by Aaron Smith, oil on panel, 28×24Tart by Greg Hart, charcoal, gouache, gesso, collage and acrylic on paper, 22×30Marley Shelton by Keinyo White, oil on canvas, 48×48Matutinal by Nick Lepard, oil on canvas, 54×66
Get in some face time with these extraordinary artists by visiting their websites, linked below.
It’s no secret that here in the Pacific Northwest, we love our coffee. Caffiing up is taken very seriously around these parts. Our coffee house experiences are not limited to the ubiquitous Starbucks. The most wonderful, interesting coffee joints are the independent shops, where they might roast their own beans onsite ( these are the places my hubby prefers ), the baristas are extremely knowledgeable and are generally a whole heckuvalotta fun. So I was very excited that Seattle artist Marsha Glaziere has created a series of works inspired by the coffee houses of Puget Sound. She’s put 13 of the series into a 2012 calendar, here’s a peek at the cover art:
Cover of Eclectic Coffee Houses of Puget Sound, a calendar featuring artwork by Marsha Glaziere
The calendar is a prelude to her upcoming book, eclectic COFFEE spots in Puget Sound, a “table coffee book”. ( Get it? 🙂 ) An excerpt from the book’s introduction gives us a peek into the driving force behind this new series:
“It is very hard, if not impossible, to live in the Pacific Northwest, specifically the Puget Sound region, and not become seduced by, and ultimately become part of, the pervasive coffee culture thatthrives in this part of the country—come rain or shine.
In our increasingly-fast-paced world of electronics, hyperactivity, and constant change, gathering with friends, even coffeehouse strangers, perhaps fulfills our deep-seated desire for community. Whether we engage in conversation or focus on a book, our computer or on the artwork exhibited, being anchored in the company of others may be as satisfying as a cup of coffee itself.”
Joe Bar in Capitol Hill ( January )
As a lover of both independent coffee houses and Starbucks ( what can I say, I’m a sucker for their diabetic-coma inducing drinks ), I was so excited to see that Marsha had chosen to document these places that will surely be remembered as an important part of life and culture in the 21st century.
Diva Espresso in West Seattle ( June )
Marsha’s artistic style fits so well with her subject, the sketchy, seemingly fleeting movement of her lines, her use of negative space and primarily light washes of color provide a spontaneity and lightheartedness that seems perfect for capturing these modern day salons.
Espresso Vivace in Capitol Hill, Seattle ( September )The Woods Coffee in Boulevard Park, Bellingham ( December )
This calendar is ideal for the art and/or coffee lover on your gift list! You can see all thirteen calendar images and place your order here. While you’re there, be sure to wander around the rest of Marsha’s website to see more of this artist’s incredible work. And buy a calendar! You’ll be checking someone off your shopping list AND supporting an artist. Win-win!
Featured image is Starbucks, The Original at Pike Place Market ( March ). All images are via the artist or her website.
There seems to be a pervasive thought in the art world that in order for work to be “serious”, it must be dark, introspective, moody. And while I do enjoy some deep cynicism and social commentary as much as the next art lover, there is some work that I love simply for its joyfulness and frivolity. Enter New Orleans artist Ally Burguieres.
Elephant With Blue Banklet, oil and acrylic on canvas, 24×18
Ally’s work is filled with the characteristic joie de vivre of the famous city she calls home. Full of festive color, riotous movement and fanciful motifs, these are paintings that dance and sing.
Bamboo Pond, acrylic on canvas, 60×48
Each work is brimming with energy, like little canvas hummingbirds. Your eye flits from one delight to another. What can I say, they make me smile. And while I love work that makes me think deep thoughts, sometimes, I just want to grin with joy. Any designers or art consultants reading, her work would be fantastic in healthcare settings ( pediatrics, especially! ), restaurants or homes with a whimsical flair. *hint hint*
Fishbowl, oil and acrylic on canvas, 24×18Cats in a Boat, acrylic on canvas 24×18
Did Ally’s work make you smile, too? If it did, mosey on over to her website and have a grand ol’ time. If you’re in NOLA, be sure to stop by her gallery at 736 Royal Street. She’ll also be showing at C’est La Vie, a new French bistro on Magazine Street all through December. AND you’ll be able to see her work in a National Geographic IMAX feature, “Hidden Worlds” coming to an IMAX theater near you in 2012!
Oh and Ally is also having a print sale for the holidays! Her paper prints are BUY TWO GET ONE FREE for the holiday season. You could knock out three gifts, lickety-split!
Today’s Artsy Forager post on Escape Into Life features one of my favorite artists, Steve Williams. Check out his feature and peruse around the EIL site, lots of fabulous goodies to be had!
It seems to be human nature to look for meaning in everything. We agonize over the meaning of baby names before choosing monikers for our offspring, we overanalyze other people’s words to find out what they really meant, we take silly quizzes that tell us what our favorite color says about who we are. And of course, we look for meaning and subtext in artwork. Guilty, as charged, officer. What is the artist trying to say? What message is being conveyed? In the case of Geoff Mitchell, it is a case of what the artist is striving not to communicate.
Mayonaisse, mixed media on panel, 20×20
The artist, whose show, Entries of a Diary Thief, opens at Florida Mining in Jacksonville, FL next Friday, creates work driven by the sense of “pareidolia, a psychological misperception involving a vague or obscure stimulus being perceived as something distinct and significant”. ( quote via Florida Mining )
Trinket, mixed media on six panels, 24×36 overall
In other words, our tendency to create meaning where there is none. The artist describes his use of representational imagery as being done “in a free associative and purely intuitive manner. I mix and layer images together in a way that is reminiscent of an abstract painter layering color.” ( via Florida Mining ) So any “meaning” inferred by the viewer is not intended by the artist himself, but instead by the viewers personal association with the imagery therein.
Zipper, mixed media on panel, 20×20
So, with that being said, I leave you to draw your own conclusions about Mitchell’s work. His sense of color, composition and design are undeniable, which is what makes the unrelated imagery so compelling and visually arresting.
Derby, mixed media on panel, 12×18Drop, mixed media on panel, 20×20
Please visit Geoff Mitchell’s website to see more of his work online. If you’re in North Florida, don’t miss his show opening December 9, 2011 at Florida Mining.
Featured image is Topaz, mixed media on panel, 60×20. All images are via the artist’s website.
It’s the holiday season and that means lots of table time. With family, with friends or even alone, rejuvenating from time with family and friends.. haha! Today’s round-up features a few artists who show us that the capturing of those seemingly mundane moments can lead to the creation of magical images.
An Apple a Day by Liana Bennett, oil, 6×6Lio de Faldas by Ann Chamberlin, oil on canvas, 24×24My Father at Katz's by Max Ferguson, oil on canvas, 20×16 ( via Gallery Henoch )Chelsea Square by Burton Silverman, oil on linen, 56×40 ( via Gallery Henoch )
Camisoles and combat boots.. cayenne and chocolate.. some things just don’t seem like they would go together. Take, for example, the work of Mary Chomenko Hinckley. This is an artist who enjoys finding the harmony in the disparate.
Golden Winged Warbler in Ellipse Field, digital pigment print on silver rag, 28×21, 40×30 or 52×40
Like pairing the detailed natural images of ordinary birds against mod-style backgrounds whose colors may echo or complement those of the bird, but the contemporary patterns give these ol’ birds a new spin.
Belted Kingfisher, Unique Variant 3/5 Digital Pigment Print and Colored Pencil on German Paper, 28×21
In her work, the artist is exposing the relationship between objects that seem completely unrelated. By juxtaposing these seemingly incongruent objects, she finds harmony in the new relationship. Plus, I think they give these guys the cheeky little personalities they deserve. Birds are fun, what can I say?
Red Bellied Woodpecker in Ellipse Field, digital pigment print on silver rag, 28×21, 40×30 or 52×40Gannet in Ellipse Field, digital pigment print on silver rag, 28×21, 40×30 or 52×40
To see more of Mary Chomenko Hinckley’s fine feathered friends and her other work, please visit her website.
Featured image is Pileated Woodpecker in Ellipse Field, digital pigment print on silver rag, 28×21, 40×30 or 52×40. All images are via the artist’s website.
The world today is so noisy. Between traffic and the techonologies we just can’t live without, we are constantly inundated with white noise. But there are still certain feelings of complete and utter peace that come upon us in the simplest of moments. It is these moments, in which we are free from the world, that artist Eric Zener captures in his paintings.
Cocoon, oil on canvas, 54×66
That feeling of floating ( literally ) and muffled splashes heard underwater.. like being suspended in time. Or doing the Deadman’s Float. One of my favorite ways to relax in the water, even while other folks are splashing around me. It feels like being in a bubble.
How to Disappear Completely, oil on canvas, 48×38
How about that suspended in time sensation during a high leap into the water? There is only you and the sky.. and the person holding your hand, if you’re lucky.
LOVE, oil on canvas, 14×11
Zener’s collection of work also captures the most precious of respites– slumber. Oh sleep! How sweet it is to rest and dream and awake renewed.
Somewhere Else, oil on canvas, 48×38Carriage, oil on canvas, 66×54
Hmmm.. think it might be time for a little nap. Not sure why I’m so sleepy all of a sudden! 😉 While I catch some z’s, why don’t you take a look at Eric Zener’s website? Lots of beautiful work to be found.
Featured image is Not Here, oil on canvas, 56×46. All images are via the artist’s website.
This Fall, the leaves in Oregon have been full of riotous color, bursting forth in celebration of the last days of sunshine and warmth. But to find happy energy in the long, grey days of winter, one only need look as far as Dutch painter Guus Kemp’s work.
Just Beautiful, oil on canvas, 36×48
Thick bursts of glossy paint almost leap of the canvas, like fireworks in the sky. This is an artist using the properties of paint– its colors, texture and sheen to bring joy to the viewer. The works elicit emotion, excitement and energy.
Red Man, oil on canvas, 48×60
A Dutch-born artist, now a resident of Houston, Kemp began working with oils in 2008, opening up a whole new means of expression. According to the artist, “My paintings are a reflection of who I am . . . an extrovert who takes life by the horns!”
Female Tornado, oil on canvas, 48×60
Indeed, these large scale, intensely hued works are no shrinking violets. These are pieces that demand your attention. And once they get it, you can’t help but be happy and energized.
Riot of Parrots, oil on canvas, 48×60
To be enlivened by more of Guus’s work, please take a peek at his website. Thank you to Gallery Orange for introducing me to this artist, if you’re in New Orleans, be sure to check them out!
Featured image is Carpe Diem, oil on canvas, 48×48. All images are via the artist’s website.
To take a simple, singular subject and explore all its possibilities can be a challenge for any artist. But it is an exercise in observation, composition and creativity that results in heightened awareness and the elevation of a simple idea into sophisticated conceptualism. Santa Fe artist Erin Cone takes a simple female figure in a red dress and using a keen eye for design and composition, transforms it over and over into visually striking and emotionally compelling work.
Discourse 1, acrylic, 21×21
Her use of negative space and positioning of the figure so that the face is obstructed allows the viewer to wonder who this woman is, what is her story? She seems to be searching or waiting.. but for what or whom?
Etiquette, acrylic, 48×60
The artist’s use of hard edged squares in her compositions creates an almost jarring, interesting tension between the linear quality of the squares vs. the soft, supple shapes of the female form and dress.
Assemblage, acrylic, 60×60Adieu, acrylic, 56×44
Erin’s work seems to be a study in quiet contemplation. The stillness of form, tranquility of space and design, the reposed manner, all lead the viewer into a sense of calm, but the use of the red dress leads us to believe that perhaps there is a storm brewing just below the surface..
Repartee 1, acrylic, 21×21
To see more of Erin Cone’s work, please visit her website. Be sure to check it out and see her other series, just as wonderful as the red dresses! I found Erin through the amazing Lanoue Fine Art in Boston.
Featured image is Debutante, acrylic, 72×48. All images are via the artist’s website.
