Brian Andrews' Hominid

Art Appreciation

There are three things I am afraid of: x-rays, spiders and women. Contemporary artist Brian Andrews blends all three of them into this creepy yet captivating short video titled Hominid.

You can see more of his great works HERE.





Sources: http://www.brianandrews.org/; http://streetanatomy.com/; http://www.expression.edu/blog/faculty-focus-brian-andrews/





 

Gil Cohen

Art Appreciation

When I was young, I use to play with miniature war planes and toy soldiers. I'd imagine a conflict between the browns and the greens, which would then erupt to an air war. After one side would win (usually the greens), I'd sometimes lay on my back, stare at my toy war plane, and get lost in thought.

I recently came across some paintings by Gil Cohen, an American artist and illustrator known for his depiction of historical events in aviation.

Cohen's paintings tells stories of past wars and gives the viewer a sense of involvement and appreciation.

Check out an excellent three part interview with Cohen by MensPulpMags.com HERE.




We Guide to Strike (2006) via wallyswar



Almost Home (2008) via majordickwinters



The Wrights at Huffman Prairie (2003) via menspulpmags

Sources: http://www.aviationarthangar.com/gilcohen.html; http://www.aviationartcentral.com/artists/artist_bio.asp?Item1=Cohen,%20Gil; http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/Gil-Cohen-Aviation-Artist.html; http://www.airartnw.com/cohen.htm; http://www.menspulpmags.com/2011/01/interview-with-artist-gil-cohen-part-1.html


 

Sergio Martínez Cifuentes

Art Appreciation

Chilean-born artist, Sergio Martínez Cifuentes, who currently resides in Madrid, is known for his descriptive and realistic oil with acrylic paintings of landscapes and nudes.

His portraits of ballerinas in intimate settings are absolutely stunning. You can see more of his work HERE.

Backlighting I (2004) via artelista 

Intimate moment II (2007) via realismoenlapintura

Golden hair (2006) via conchigliadivenere

Tips (2009) via artelista

Sources: http://wwwsergiomartinezcom.artelista.com/en/; http://www.sergiomartinez.com/; http://ggalleryslo.blogspot.com/2012/01/sergio-martinez-cifuentes.html#!/2012/01/sergio-martinez-cifuentes.html; http://designyoutrust.com/2012/03/paintings-by-sergio-martinez-cifuentes/; http://marialaterza.blogspot.com/2011/05/sergio-martinez-cifuentes-santiago.html; http://realismoenlapintura.com/2011/02/20/sergio-martinez/

There once was a king...

c. 2012

Tears For Fears - Break it Down Again

Music Appreciation

The English New Wave band, Tears for Fears, formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith.
The band's fourth album, sans Curt Smith, Elemental, was released on June 7, 1993--Curt Smith had left Tears for Fears soon after The Seeds of Love in 1991.

The first release single from Elemental was Break it Down Again, which became an international hit and reached top 25 in several U.S. Billboard charts.

I was in my early teens when I purchased the compilation album, Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92). I was about 17 years old when I purcahsed Elemental. Yes, I was the weird kid in high school who liked new wave music.

Allow me to provide some background. I lived in my own little world of music. I loved all types. I would escape to my room and turn the radio on and listen to alternative, new wave, rock, anything that sounded pleasing. I also found myself writing poetry and lyrics. I wrote about life and love. 

Lyrics such as "It's my own design, it's my own remorse, help me to decide, help me make the most of freedom and of pleasure, nothing ever last forever." or "I spy tears in their eyes, They look to the skies for some kind of divine intervention, Food goes to waste, so nice to eat, so nice to taste..." was captivating to me as a teen.

So, it's no doubt Roland Orzabel's intellectual lyrics in Elemental was welcoming to me with lyrics such as "'no sleep for dreaming' says the architects of life, Big bouncing babies, bread and butter can I have a slice, They make no mention of the beauty of decay, Blue, yellow, pink umbrella save it for a rainy day."

Source: Wikipedia

Leonid Frechkop

Art Appreciation

I must confess, I am an aesthete. I appreciate art. If I were rich and owned a gallery, there are many artists I would love to exhibit. Leonid Frechkop would be one of those artists.

The Russian born artist's work encompassed both neo-realism and nouvelle objectivite style. He is known for female nudes.

Portrait of Wife via priceofart



Fillette au nud bleu (XX) via iamachild



Au Coiffure (1928) via conchigliadivenere

Three Nudes via conchigliadivenere

Sources: http://www.papillongallery.com/sold/leonid_frechkop.html; http://www.vincentlecuyer.com/catalogues/catalogue-2006/227-leonid-frechkop.html; http://priceofart.blogspot.com/2008/11/leonid-frechkop-portrait-of-his-wife.html




 

Jon De Martin

Art Appreciation

American contemporary realist artist, Jon De Martin, is known for figurative, landscape, and still life art. Born in 1955 in Wilmington, Delaware, De Martin is also recognized for using the grisaille technique, a painting method that uses monochromic shades of grey.

You can see more of his work on his website, HERE.

Magic Hour (2010) via johnpence

The Spike Puller (2001) via americangallery

American Dream, Bridgeport (2008) via americangallery

Ad Tendere, Ad Astra via grandcentralacademy

Venice (2011) via catherinelarose

Sources: http://www.jondemartin.net/; http://www.gageacademy.org/artists/?page=instructors&i_id=130; http://www.johnpence.com/; http://grandcentralacademy.blogspot.com/2012/04/jon-demartin-solo-show-at-john-pence.html



 

Update: Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

Music Appreciation

Dead or Alive was a British new wave band from Liverpool, England, best known for the androgynous lead singer, Pete Burns. They are also most recognized for thier song, You Spin Me Round (Like a Record), which reached U.S. Billboards twice in 1985 and 2003.

When I was a kid, I remember thinking Pete Burns was girl who resembled one of my elementary school teacher. What's even more disturbing is that I thought my school teacher was pretty.

Before Pandora, iPods, or CDs, there were records. One could purchase an LP (Long Play) or a 45", which usually contained singles. To play the old vinyl records, one needed a record player. I had a small portable one, which my mom used to play her records as she exercised. This was one that I remember hearing over and over and over again.

Pete Burns, who was born on August 5, 1959, passed away on October 23, 2016 following a sudden cardiac arrest.

Source: Wikipedia

Kent Williams

Art Appreciation

Kent Williams is an American contemporary figurative artist known for his neo-expressionistic work. The vivid colors and the use of light in his paintings allows the viewer to draw a narrative.

You can find more of his work HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Mother and Daughter (2009) via dailyartfixx

Trace Double-Portrait (2005) via lesdiagonalesdutemps

Devon's Back (2008) via artnet

Sources: http://www.dailyartfixx.com/2011/01/25/kent-williams-painting/; http://comicblog.septagonstudios.com/kent-williams-a-dynamic-contemporary-artist/; http://www.lesdiagonalesdutemps.com/article-kent-williams-76705157.html; http://kentwilliams.blogspot.com/; http://www.kentwilliams.com; http://painthouse.wordpress.com/; Wikipedia