Tool - Sober

Music Appreciation

In 1993, alternative metal band, Tool, released Sober. The music video, which was filmed using stop-motion animation, was released the same year.

This is probably the only music video that I can remember from when I was young being scared sh*tless. I remember watching this and going to bed praying for God to make me forget the images and sound. Ironically, since the song has strong religious overtones, with lyrics such as "Mother Mary won't you whisper, something but what's past and done."

Perhaps the scariest part of the music video is watching what looked like intestines moving along a pipe that is uncovered by the protagonist.

Viewer discretion advised.

Alex Russell Flint

Art Appreciation

Great-grandson of artist Sir William Russell Flint, Alex Russell Flint is known for his realistic oil paintings of beautiful women in intimate settings in a juxtaposition manner. As one art enthusiast describes, "[Flint] places the female models in a slightly worn and aged looking room...the rugged setting almost works as a contradition -- beautifying the model in a subtle manner."

You can see more of his work HERE.

Hungover, Sunday Morning via pomodoroebasilico

Alone Now via artodyssey1

Olivia Sitting via artodyssey1

Sources: http://alexrussellflint.com/Home; http://www.emptykingdom.com/featured/alex-russell-flint/
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2013/08/alex-russell-flint.html; http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/alex-russell-flint; http://thehorseboxgallery.com/artists/alex-russell-flint/; http://weareselecters.com/2013/05/Alex-Russell-Flint/; http://www.tinyowlproductions.com/alex-russell-flint/; http://supersonicelectronic.com/post/34654516672/alex-russell-flint-paintings-by-alex-russell; http://www.panterandhall.com/Alex-Russell-Flint-Artist-Page.aspx; http://pomodoroebasilico.blogspot.com/2013/01/alex-russell-flint.html; http://chasseurmagazine.com/2013/05/29/the-art-of-alex-russell-flint/#; http://www.reubencolleyfinearts.co.uk/assets/uploaded/downloads/Alex_Russell_Flint_'Les_femmes_et_l'ancienne_ecole'_preview.pdf

Sir William Russell Flint

Art Appreciation

Sir William Russell Flint was a Scottish artist and illustrator known for his watercolor paintings of women. He was born on April 4, 1880 in Edinburgh and died of leukemia on December 27, 1969.

The interested thing about Sir William Russell Flint is that he illustrated Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales (1912) and was knighted in 1947.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Nicolette via mydelineatedlife

The Passing of Arthur (1910) via polarbearstale

Models for Olympians via art-magique

Sources: http://www.sirwilliamrussellflintprints.co.uk/; http://www.britishpathe.com/video/an-artist-aka-sir-william-russell-flint-ra/query/wildcard; http://www.artnet.com/artists/william%20russell-flint/; http://art-magique.blogspot.com/2011/08/sir-william-russell-flint.html; http://my-museum-of-art.blogspot.com/2010/09/sir-william-russell-flint-odyssey-of.html; http://polarbearstale.blogspot.com/2012/03/le-morte-darthur_28.html; http://catherinelarose.blogspot.com/2012/09/william-russell-flint-1880-1969.html; http://mydelineatedlife.blogspot.com/2010/08/nicolette.html; Wikipedia

Nine Inch Nails - Dead Souls

Music Appreciation

I remember waiting for an hour to get into the Movies 8 theater in McAllen to watch The Crow, a movie based on the James O'Barr comic book about a rock musician who comes back to life to avenge his murder. Although many may have gone to watch this dark and goth movie for the action, my friends and I went to watch that scene where Brandon Lee was accidentally killed.

I could comfortably say that the movie merged and boosted both goth and grunge subcultures when both were beginning to wane, and in its haze, Trent Reznor emerged.

The industrial sound of Nine Inch Nails captivated a large audience in the early 90's. So it was no surprise that NIN's dark ambient sound of its cover of Joy Division's Dead Souls was included in The Crow Soundtrack.

Source: Wikipedia 

Peter Max

Art Appreciation

If I had money, I'd love to buy and own a Peter Max.

To be honest, I learned about Peter Max while on a cruise. Don't get me wrong, I recognized his paintings and illustrations, but I just didn't know the artist behind the art.

As introduced to me by the Carnival Cruise Dream art director, Peter Max was born in Berlin, Germany, lived in China, Israel, and Paris before settling in New York City. He is most recognized for the use of psychedelic shapes and color palettes in his paintings and illustrations during the late 60s and 70s.

He helped raise funds for Lady Liberty's restoration with his "Statue of Liberty" series. He was the official artist for the 1994 World Cup. His work has also been on a Boeing 777 and now on a cruise ship.

A couple of iconic paintings were on display at the cruise ship's art gallery which included the Umbrella Man and Flag with Hearts.

The art director also told a wonderful story of how Peter Max met his wife, Mary Max. After seeing her with friends on the sidewalk, he rushed to show her a drawing stating, "I've been drawing you all my life." Indeed, Mary Max does show some resemblance to the beautiful woman in his drawings.

You can read more of the iconic artist HERE.

Flag with Hearts, Royal Street, New Orleans

Liberty Head via illustrationart

Taylor Swift via chsartiv

Sources: Wikipedia; http://www.petermax.com/; http://www.artnet.com/artists/peter-max/; http://youtu.be/punS9XAjMJ8; http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/2013/06/pop-artist-peter-maxs-inspiration/; http://bio.parkwestgallery.com/artists/Peter-Max; http://www.americanfineartgallery.com/artists/max/max_bio.html; http://petermax.tumblr.com/; http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/ats/events/peter-max-s-patriotic-explorations-in-time-for-july-fourth/article_9eb5f887-7668-572f-bd24-dbac04700ab5.html; http://savannahnow.com/accent/2012-04-23/artist-peter-max-visit-hilton-head-and-meet-public#.UhH7q5JOOSo; http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/September-2012/Front-Row-Q-A-Peter-Max/; http://parkwestgallery.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/how-artist-peter-max-met-his-muse/; http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/molly-woulfe/article_c0a49c91-ab85-5b6e-b16a-68d4e703bd83.html; http://illustrationart.blogspot.com/2009/05/peter-max.html

Sir Terry Frost

Art Appreciation

English artist, Sir Terry Frost, is considered Britain's most successful and highly acclaimed artist of the 20th Century. He is known for his abstracts.

I came across the Frost while searching for artists born in October. He was born on October 13, 1915 in Warwickshire.

Frost became interested in art when he was captured and spent four years as a prisoner of war during WWII.

Frost was knighted in 2000.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Green, Black and White Movement (1951) via tate.org.uk

Frisky (2003) via chrisbellinger

Suspended Forms via curwengallery

Sources: http://www.bohungallery.co.uk/index.php?location=artist&artist=372; http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/artists/terry-frost; http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-terry-frost-1126; http://chrisbellinger.com/2009/11/20/sir-terry-frost-r-a-1915-2003/; http://destructivetesting.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/artist-of-the-day-sir-terry-frost-england/; http://sbmacinnis.wordpress.com/; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3201925.stm

La Tampiquena

Music Appreciation

You might think that people who live in Austin are constantly watching live music. Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World. Unfortunately, having a family and living in the suburbs, it's kind of hard to catch all the fun.

A couple of weekends ago, my wife's coworker invited us to South Austin Brewery to watch some live music. The band playing was La Tampiquena.

The band from South Austin plays a little Tex Mex mixed in with country funk to produce a neat sound.

You can listen more on their Myspace page HERE.