“Rich colors draw me in, patterns guide me through, and flat, poetic shapes allow me to rest.” — Susan Melrath
It is just these rich colors and flat, poetic shapes that drew me in to Susan Melrath’s work. Susan takes complex forms like flowers, architecture and figures and condenses them to their most basic shapes.
Crimson Kiss, acrylic on canvas, 36×36
By doing so, the viewer becomes more drawn in by the emotionality brought to the surface through her use of vibrant color applied to the forms, rather than by the subjects themselves.
Cafe, acrylic on paper, 11×19 framed
Though I love ALL of Susan’s work, it is her Garden series that speaks something to my soul. Perhaps it is how I am amazed by the flora to be found here in the Northwest. ( Wildflowers!! )
Out of the Blue, acrylic on paper, 22×22 framed
She takes what could be a mundane subject and with the use of pattern and color creates something extraordinary. It’s a little bit Pop-Art, a little bit Fauvist, kind of Cubist without the hard edges ( Cone-ist? ).The flowers seem to be underwater, floating in a happy haze of pattern. Or maybe it’s drizzly rain? We ARE in the Northwest..Sometimes it seems that we are seeing the flower’s shadow, rather than the plant itself, looking through the shadow to the play of patterns and light beyond. Which makes the work groovily mysterious.
Moonflower, acrylic on canvas, 24×24
Susan created a floral series called “Bloom” for a recent Art & Sustainability show at the Sightline Institute in Seattle, integrating technology and traditional painting, posting a mobile tag by each painting providing more insight and information about each work of art. You can see the progress of one of these works and hear Susan speaking about the work here. And because I always personally find these things to be so much darn fun, here’s a time-lapse video of Susan completing a painting. What’s up next for Susan after her technology driven show? Unplugged, artwork created during a one-week period in which artists went without TV, internet, social media and texting. Because great art is always about finding balance.
Be sure to check out Susan Melrath’s website to see more of her work and learn more about the artist.
She has been a source of fascination, scandal and intrigue for over a century.
Madame X, 1884
John Singer Sargent’s masterpiece, Madame X, while initially a source of pain and frustration to the artist, proved to be his most recognizable and memorable work. The portrait’s subject, Virginie Amelie Avegno Gautreau, was a Paris socialite renown for her beauty and though it is a remarkably beautiful work to contemporary audiences, at the time of its Paris salon debut, the portrait was greatly criticized by critics, the public and Gautreau’s family ( her mother was outraged ).
The characteristics that appeal to our modern eyes are some of the same characteristics by which it was condemned upon its debut. The elegant lines of her simple black dress create a decidedly contemporary feel to Madame Gautreau’s ensemble, but this would be years before Coco Chanel’s “little black dress” would become ubiquitous with timeless fashion. The expanse of almost translucent white skin may not seem provocative to our 21st century eyes, to show such a sweep of bare skin, especially the beautifully turned neck and decolletage would have been quite provocative in 1884. Though artists had long been painting nudes of mythical and fictional figures, showcasing the body of a real person in such a seductive way would have been scandalous. ( Even if said person was infamous for her infidelities.. ).
Madame X, detail
The most scandalous component of all though may be her dress strap. The strap as pictured above laying rightfully upon her shoulder is not how Sargent originally painted it. In looking at his sketches for the portrait, it would seem that her strap had a tendency to slip off her shoulder..
Sketches for Madame X
So, painting the truth in beauty, Sargent originally depicted the strap as having fallen casually from Gautreau’s shoulder.
Madame X, recreated as may have originally been painted
This detail caused such a backlash, that when Sargent picked the painting up after the Salon showing, he took it back to the studio and repainted the strap well stationed upon her shoulder. Despite the outrage the painting incited when it was first shown, Sargent would eventually come to realize the importance of the portrait, describing it in a letter to the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art as “..the best thing I have ever done”. He would sell it to the museum in 1916 and it is there that I saw it in person in 2007 during the “Americans in Paris” exhibition. Photographs online do not do this painting justice in any way. In person, it is commanding in scale, mesmerizing in presence and breathtaking in beauty.
Artists have long held a fascination for horses. Some of the earliest cave drawings were filled with equine imagery. Modern artists are no different. Today’s faves feature artists with a penchant for ponies. Enjoy!
In the interest of full disclosure, I think there is something you should know. I love Audrey Hepburn. Adore her. Want to be her when I grow up. Her style, her intelligence, her philosophy of living and her legendary kindness all inspire me. So it will come as no surprise to you that I actually gasped with glee when I saw stumbled upon these paintings by Sarah Ashley Longshore.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness
War and Peace AudreyAudrey with Monarch Butterflies
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people
Audrey with a Cherry on the Top
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry
A Moment Between Moments
For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone
As you grow older, you will understand you have two hands
One for helping yourself
And the other for helping others
Audrey Underwater with Lilies
— Audrey Hepburn
Visit Sarah Ashley Longshore’s website to see more of her work and learn more about the artist. Her work is carried by New Orleans gallery, Gallery Orange, they have fabulous taste in artists, check them out!
Do you have a certain outfit you wear when you need a pick-me-up? Or maybe there is a particular piece of music that always gets your blood pumpin’ and instantly uplifts your mood? The work of Henri Matisse does the same for me.
Sorrows of the King
From his beginnings as a Fauvist, Matisse was never afraid of exploring expression through color.
Open Window
And like his friend and rival, Pablo Picasso, Matisse loved painting figures and still lifes, but it is the way he paints interiors that get me. Maybe it is my love of interior design or the fact that I too, went through a “let’s paint pictures of fun & pretty rooms” phase. Whatever the cause, Matisse gets the joy of painting rooms full of life and color and I dig it in a big way.
Dance(I) by Matisse, 1909
It is that brilliance of color and exuberance of design that draws me to his work. As the artist himself said, “With color, one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft”.
Les Codomas for Jazz, 1944
If that be the case, I am under the spell of Matisse’s color and hope to never be awakened.
Check out more of Matisse’s work at the MOMA website.
Sunday is Father’s Day. Geographically, I am farther away from my dad than I have ever been in my entire life. We are blessed, in this age of technology, to still be able to keep up with each other every day even though we are miles apart. If you’re on the blog’s Facebook page, you’ve seen my dad around. He reads and “likes” everything I post. He has always been that kind of father– supportive no matter what I’m doing, even if it isn’t exactly his cup of tea. Today, in honor of my dad, I’m posting my favorite pieces of art that remind me of him, his interests and the things he loves. This one’s just for you, Dad!
The Late Show by Russ WilsonWhitewall by Leslie PetersonCorner Station by Stephen Parker1957 Chevy by Craig Pursley
Happy Father’s day to my dad & all the other Artsy Fathers!
Last night, as my hubby was catching up on my blog posts ( he reads them all, even if he has to sit and catch up on a week’s worth at a time, such a good hubby! ), over his shoulder I re-read my In Search Of post from last week and man, what a whiney little whiner! To save you all from more self-pity-filled posts from me, sweet George took me on a day trip to Astoria, OR on Saturday, in the hopes of helping me feel a bit more connected to the 3-dimensional art world. You know, the one that doesn’t live inside my laptop.
Astoria, Oregon
Despite the gray day, my spirits were sunny. Astoria’s main claim to fame is the movie, The Goonies, which was filmed here way back in 1985 ( yes, we made a children of the 80’s pilgrimage to The Goonies House ). But movie history isn’t the only draw to Astoria. Its downtown area is super charming, filled with a mix of restaurants, coffee houses, shops and YES, some very interesting and diverse galleries.
Our first stop was Lightbox Photographic, a wonderful little gallery dedicated to the photographic arts. Their current show, Plastic Fantastic II, features images created using plastic toy cameras. Absolutely beautiful, emotion-filled images. Be sure to check out their website to see images created their member photographers.
Inside Lightbox Photographic
Astoria was definitely starting out with a bang! We continued our walking tour of downtown, stopping for coffee and treats along the way. Right across from the Astoria Coffeehouse, was Lunar Boy Gallery, whose quirky-look caught my eye. And LunarBoy definitely brought the quirk. June 7th was Astoria’s Official Goonies Day, so Lunar Boy was exhibiting a special show of Goonies-related work. Fun!
This Is Our Time Now! Goonies Show at Lunar BoyLandscapes by Nicholas Knapton at Lunar Boy
After lots of cool art & laughs at Lunar Boy, we perused a few bookstores & other shops ( it can’t be ALL about me ) before finding RiverSea Gallery. This contemporary gallery features a wide variety of work by artists from the Northwest and beyond. I was thrilled to find that their current show, The Fabled Landscape, featured the work of Marla Baggetta.
Artist, Marla Baggetta
Since my days of specifying art for the corporate & healthcare industries, I’ve been a fan of Baggetta, her landscapes bring that perfect combination of happy color and peace, perfect especially for healthcare. Her work is even more lush and gorgeous in it’s original state than her reproductions even begin to show. I was in awe.
Artist, Marla BaggettaArtist, Marla Baggetta
Though seeing Baggetta’s original work was a highlight for me, RiverSea had many other artists whose work caught my eye. Like…
Maple wood sculpture by Michael HampelEncaustics by Paula BlackwellFigurative work by Shannon RichardsonWonderful urban landscapes by Brin Levinson
George had his favorites, too– like the work of abstract mixed-media artist, Charles Schweigert ( told you he was loving abstracts now! ) and kooky sculptures by Pamela Mummy.
Namikaze by Charles SchweigertA Lot on His Mind by Pamela Mummy
Our little day trip to Astoria was just what the art doctor ordered. I was able to peruse some lovely, unique galleries and found some really interesting artists to share with you. We even spotted a couple of empty storefronts that would make great galleries.. you know, just in case.
My hubby is a very intelligent and creative person in his own way– the stories he concocts and “sketches” he comes up with are Saturday Night Live-worthy and he reads books like A People’s History of the United States for fun. But when we started dating, he was definitely an art-world novice. Questions like, “But what exactly is wrong with Thomas Kinkade?” made my head want to explode. But maybe the biggest struggle was trying to explain what I loved so much about abstract painting and why no, honey, a 3rd grader could NOT have done that.
George checking out Rauschenberg
Part of what I love about George is how much he appreciates my creative side and artsiness. Makes me more interesting than the average-gal, I suppose. And, like all lovey-dovey types, I wanted to be able to share that part of myself with him. We went to art festivals, galleries and openings, all in pursuit of awakening his mind to a world of art he may have never experienced before. He became a fan of Christina Foard, following the opening of her Williams-Cornelius show, admiring her use of color and texture.
Moonlight Solitude by Christina Foard
We also discovered that he doesn’t always care for abstract expressionist-type work, i.e., seemingly random slashes of paint across a canvas, which will more than likely elicit a shoulder-shrug and a “eh” from him. He does, however, appreciate light and texture, as he surprised me by totally digging these pieces we saw recently in a gallery in Hood River, Oregon.
Artist: Barry MackArtist: Barry Mack
Surprisingly, his tastes have emerged as running a bit more deep & avant-garde than mine.. where I get drawn in by beautiful color, texture and form, what may draw him to a particular work is the narrative of the story it is telling. For instance, he was very interested in investigating the details of the Rauschenberg prints we saw in Tulsa. He also tends to lean more toward multi-media work, such as this kind of creepy haunted-house-like part sculpture-part installation at the Denver Art Museum held his interest far longer than it held mine.
Installation at the Denver Art Museum
But what really keeps me on my toes is how inquisitive he is about what he is seeing– the process, the motivation, background story, etc. He asks questions that I don’t always have the answers to, which results in us making discoveries together. ( Who could ask for better? ) It is that inquisitive & curious nature that I think finally led him to the realization of just what it is about abstract art that makes it so interesting and provocative.
Admiring the work of Hilary Williams
As we were leaving the art gallery at The Pines in Hood River, George said to me, “I think I understand why you like abstract art so much. When you see another realistic painting of a tree or landscape, it’s usually just another painting of a tree. But abstract art draws you in, makes you think.” YES! Here’s to more discoveries with you, my love.
Though our time in the cities we visited on our cross-country tour was short, we managed to hit a couple of wonderful, yet very different museums along the way. In Tulsa, we spent a few hours exploring the Philbrook Museum of Art.
Front facade of the Philbrook Museum of Art
My Jacksonville readers will be familiar with the Cummer Museum of Art in Jax. The Philbrook is, to me, like the Cummer on steroids. Like the Cummer, the Philbrook was once a private residence, which was donated to the city of Tulsa by its owners, oilman Waite Phillips and his wife Genevieve. Once we entered the museum doors, we found ourselves in a gorgeous, domed center hall, light streaming through the oculus in the center of the dome.
Center hall at the PhilbrookPhilbrook oculus
Just walking the halls of this Renaissance style villa, built in 1927 and designed by architect Edward Buehler Delk for the Phillips as “a place where there two children could entertain friends” ( Imagine the sleepovers you could have! ), is a pleasure in itself.
Corridor at the Philbrook
The museum houses a varied and extensive permanent collection of art, ranging from African & Asian collections, Native American art to Italian Renaissance and a surprising and delightful modern collection.
Bougereau at the Philbrook, a favorite artist of the Frenz’sLovely little Picasso at the PhilbrookFabulous modern design collection at the Philbrook
While the museum collections are enjoyable, it is the museum grounds that really steal the show. Though we visited on a gray and rainy day, it didn’t stop us from exploring the extensive gardens behind the museum. The original formal gardens extend from the rear colonnade of the museum down to the tempietto. Let’s take a little walking tour..
Rear collonade at the PhilbrookView from the colonnade down to the tempiettoWonderful stepped fountainBeautiful, naturalistic water featureNo formal garden is complete without a koi pond!View from the tempietto back toward the museumYours truly in the tempietto ( wouldn’t this be a romantic spot to pop the question? )Contemporary sculpture walk beyond the formal gardens
Let’s switch gears now, fast-forward through another 12 hour day on the road and pay a little visit to Denver. While in the mile-high city, we spent some time downtown including a tour through the Denver Art Museum. While the Philbrook is classically ornate, the DAM’s Hamilton Building, where we spent our time, is splendidly contemporary. Designed by Daniel Lubeskind, the structure represents the Rocky Mountain peaks surrounding Denver.
Denver Art Museum
We started at the top and worked our way down, discovering lots of fun & interesting contemporary work along the way.
Noguchi sculpture and Motherwell painting **Sidenote: Motherwell was born in Aberdeen, WA, the town where we are living for the summer.Ceramics at DAM
Did you notice in the pictures above how the walls are slanted? The angled walls created a very interesting visual space, especially in the 4th floor gallery where they were prominent. They were a bit disconcerting when walking down the main stairs, though!
Artist: Mark Tansey
We were all fascinated by the piece above, by Mark Tansey. Another highlight was the Fox Games installation by Sandy Skoglund. I first saw Skoglund’s work in Jacksonville and am always fascinated by the environments she creates.
Fox Games by Sandy Skoglund
And there was just something about “Minotaur with Brushstrokes” that appealed to us. What can I say, we like work that makes us smile.
Minotaur With Brushstrokes by Richard Patterson
Speaking of making us smile, George & I also loved the piece below, although I’m sad to report that I don’t recall the name of the artist. But it reminded me of spring in the Northwest.
Kicking myself for not writing down the title & artist for this piece! Anyone have any clues?
The museum also boasts an impressive Western American Art Collection, as well as African, American Indian, Oceanic, Pre-Columbian and Spanish Colonial Collections. We toured through the current special exhibition, Cities of Splendor: A Journey Through Renaissance Italy, but alas, no photography allowed in the exhibit, so you’ll have to check out the DAM website for a taste. As you can see, our art experiences on this trip were widely varied and we are looking forward to more such experiences here in the Northwest.
A polarizing persona in the art world, Jackson Pollock, called “Jack the Dripper” by some, figured largely in the Abstract Expressionist movement in America. His work is such of the “love it” or “hate it” variety and it can often strike a chord with those who least expect it.
Untitled, No. 3 by Jackson Pollock
I remember taking a basic Art Appreciation class early on in college, with a good friend from high school. Said friend was very conservative in most aspects and usually preferred the more realistic artwork we studied– but she loved Pollock’s work. There was just something about it that she responded to.
Untitled, No. 8 by Jackson Pollock
Pollock’s process, referred to as “action painting”, involved several aspects that were innovative at the time– Pollock laid his canvases unstretched out on the floor, instead of stretched on an easel, utilizing household paints instead of more traditional oils and instead of brushing the paint on, dipped whatever was on hand into the paint and then slashed & dripped it onto the canvas.
Green Silver by Jackson Pollock
I remember being intrigued by Pollock and his work, but it wasn’t until I saw one of his pieces up close & personal, in an Abstract Expressionist exhibition at the Cummer Museum in Jacksonville, that I truly became a fan. Seeing the monumental scale of the work, the depth of the paint and being able to recognize that yes, there truly was a method to his madness in all those drips and splatters, sealed the deal for me.
