Jasper Johns

Art Appreciation

Americans will be celebrating Independence Day this week, and what better way to celebrate the American spirit than with a portrait of Old Glory.

Flag (1960-66) via Wikipedia

This encaustic painting, which was painted in 1954, is by influential contemporary American artist , Jasper Johns. The idea to paint this iconic image came to him in a dream.

Johns, who was born on May 15, 1930 in Augusta, Georgia, primarily worked in painting and printmaking, and is also known for his close relationship with Robert Rauschenberg.

You can read more about the artist HERE.


Sources: Miles, Frank J., "Partners in Love & Art," LstyleGstyle Magazine, September / October 2012, Page 27; http://www.jasper-johns.org/index.jsp; http://artsnapper.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/jasper-johns-birthday/

John Neil Rodger

Art Appreciation

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, I'm an aesthete who appreciates most types of art.

My personal favorite mediums are oil pastels and ink, and I appreciate impressionism and realism and don't care much for cubism. I enjoy looking at paintings that are realistic or have a somewhat "dream-like" feelings.

I came across John Neil Rodger, a South African-born artist, while researching realism art. Like other realistic artists, his work, which are primarily of farm animals and the female form, captured my attention.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Onagadori Rooster via eldibujante 

 

Appaloosa Stallion via catherinelarose 

Reclining Nude II via conchigliadivenere 

Similar Artists:
Sergey Marshennikov
Spartaco Lombardo



Sources: http://neilrodger.co.za/?m=1; http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/john-neil-rodger-1941-south-african/; http://filipinofestival.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/john-neil-rodger-south-africa/; http://iamachild.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/john-neil-rodger-1941-south-african/; http://eldibujante.com/?tag=john-neil-rodger; http://catherinelarose.blogspot.com/2012/10/neil-rodger.html; http://www.vgallery.co.za/2000article26/vzine.htm


 

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

Music Appreciation

I remember watching the music video to Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer when I was about ten years old.

At that age, the music video was captivating with its stop motion animation of trains, paper airplanes, bumper cars, and dancing oven-ready chickens. For its time, the music video was not only innovative but cool and fun.

But what's the song's meaning?

I've tried to look it up and get an idea of its meaning. Many commenters on Songmeanings.net think its a song with many sexual innuendos. A few think Peter Gabriel was singing about the music industry--nothing new to musical artists (see my previous posts on other artists HERE and HERE).

Songfacts.com quotes Peter Gabriel regarding the song, "Sometimes sex can break through barriers when other forms of communications are not working too well."

So, while my parents sheltered me from Rate R movies, I was filling my head with sexual innuendos and lyrics of phallic symbols. This explains a lot, now.





Sources: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/13038/; http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=773; Wikipedia

Jennifer Balkan

Art Appreciation

Recently, I came across an article about Jennifer Balkan, a local Austin artist, in Tribeza magazine. After reading the article, I google searched her and her work, and not only became fascinated with her artwork but also her educational background before she became a full time artist.

Balkan studied behavior neuroscience at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. As described by Tribeza author, Raechel Kelley, Balkan "integrate[s] psychological and sociological concepts in her pieces."

You can see more of her narrative oil paintings on her website HERE.

Lucky 1 (2010) via womenpaintingwomen

When I grow up (2010) via blackvanilla2012



Mes reflexions d'un autre monde (2012) via terrystricklandart

O Fortuna (2006) via generousart

Sources: http://jenniferbalkan.net/; http://www.tribeza.com/magazine_content/jennifer-balkan; http://artstormer.com/2011/08/19/master-of-disguise-paintings-by-jennifer-balkan/; http://terrystricklandart.blogspot.com/; http://vimeo.com/29856047; http://www.southwestart.com/articles-interviews/emerging-artists/jennifer_balkan
 

Jean Pucelle

Art Appreciation

Parisian Gothic manuscript illuminator, Jean Pucelle, is known for the illuminated prayer book called The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux. The book was created for Jeanne d'Evreux, the third wife of King Charles IV of France.

The illustrations are done in grey tones or "grisailles" and "with touches of blue, red and yellow."





Sextam: Crucifixion/Adoration of the Magi via luciolicinio

Tierce: Christ Carrying the Cross/Annunciation to the Shepherds via luciolicinio

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Pucelle; http://luciolicinio.blogspot.com/2012/06/jean-pucelle.html; http://french-painters.blogspot.com/2012/08/jean-pucelle.html; http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/54.1.2

Sergey Marshennikov

Art Appreciation

If I were wealthy enough to afford a painting, I'd purchase one by Sergey Marshennikov.

Born in 1971 in Ufa, Russia (eighteen hours east of Moscow), Marshennikov is known for his realistic portraits of nude women. His photograph-like paintings not only captures the subject but also the setting, flawlessly.

My personal favorite has be the one of titled Arabian Relaxation, where a woman sits on a bed of sheets smoking a hookah.

You can see more of Marshennikov's beautiful work on his blog HERE.




Blue Roses (2012) via catherinelarose

Arabian Relaxation via conchigliadivenere

No. 109 (2007) via tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica

Sources: http://serge-marshennikov.tumblr.com/;http://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2012_08_01_archive.html; http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/sergey-marshennikov-1971-russian/;
http://danceswithcolors.blogspot.com/2012/06/dwc-nu-artist-sergei-marshennikov.html; http://maherartgallery.blogspot.com/2012/01/serge-marshennikov.html; http://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Sergey-Marshennikov/74694790D846B7C5; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALANgT06Tpg; http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/2012/11/inspiration-serge-marshennikov.html; http://catherinelarose.blogspot.com/2012/01/serge-marshennikov.html