Belarmino Miranda Montoya

Art Appreciation

I appreciate hyper-realistic artists, such as Santiago Carbonell or the late Matt Doust.

I recently came across another artist that got my interest simply on how he captures the female beauty.

Colombian artist Belarmino Miranda Montoya's artwork has been exhibited internationally. In an interview he perfectly summarized his artwork as, "without any concealment, I just want to capture the greatness of her body and soul, woman it is the emblem of perfection, beginning and ending source of life ... that gives meaning to my existence. "

The women he displays in his paintings are loving and nurturing, and delicate and strong.

You can see more of his wonderful artwork HERE.

Darios, poemas y lecturas via conchigliadivenere

Aire Medieval via conchigliadivenere

Petalos 2 via artodyssey1

Sources: http://www.belarminomiranda.com/; http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/belarmino-miranda-montoya-1966-colombian-2/; http://iamachild.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/belarmino-miranda-montoya-1966-colombian/; http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2013/08/belarmino-miranda.html; http://cute-n-mast.blogspot.com/2013/08/potrait-by-belarmino-miranda-montoya.html; http://catherinelarose.blogspot.com/2013/06/belarmino-miranda.html; http://maherartgallery.blogspot.com/2013/02/belarmino-miranda.html; http://www.thepassionforart.com/belarmino-miranda-montoya/

Herb Ritts

Photography Appreciation

At a very young age, I knew about Herb Ritts. He was the photographer who captured iconic celebrities such as Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Elton John, and Dizzy Gillespie. He made black and white photography sensual.

Born on August 13, 1952, Ritts became interested in photography after gaining attention for photos he had taken of his friend, Richard Gere, in 1977. After that, he became the celebrities' photographer.

Honestly, it wasn't the photography that captured my interested at first; it was his music videos he directed. In 1989, he directed Madonna's "Cherish" and soon after Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game." His music videos hit me at the perfect time of puberty.

Unfortunately, Ritts passed away after complications from pneumonia on December 26, 2002.

The images he captured defines a generation that was enamored by the glamorous life of Hollywood and rock stars in the late 20th Century.

You can see more of his wonderful work HERE.

Richard Gere, 1977 via wwwsomekindofcolor

Dizzy Gillespie via modeledart

Stephanie Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989 via chloemassey

Christy Turlington via bettysandboys

Kate Moss via thewahlpost

Sources: http://www.herbritts.com/; http://www.artnet.com/awc/Herb-Ritts.html; http://wwwsomekindofcolor.blogspot.com/2012/11/herb-ritts.html; http://modeledart.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/herb-ritts/; http://chloemassey.blogspot.com/2011/12/herb-ritts.html; http://loveisspeed.blogspot.com/2012/03/herb-ritts-photographylife-with-icons.html; http://blogs.nordstrom.com/men/nineties-icons-herb-ritts-and-calvin-klein/; http://blog.ronaldjames.com/herb-ritts/; http://bettysandboys.blogspot.com/2012/01/herb-ritts-photography.html; http://www.thewahlpost.com/2012/11/02/kate-moss-by-herb-rits/; Wikipedia

Terri Thomas

Art Appreciation

I don't remember how I stumbled upon her artwork. But after doing so, I had to know more about Terri Thomas. 

The Detriot-born artist worked in the fashion industry for 15 years before dedicating herself to art. She currently lives in Austin and is known for animal sculptures and paintings that express the sexuality and beauty of women.

You can see her artwork HERE.

Folie a Deux via fivefifteen

Young Curious Pussy Plays with Self in Mirror via currentarts

Foundings (2009) via blog.re-title

Sources: http://territhomasart.com/; http://www.terriart.com/; http://issuu.com/didimenendez/docs/pa23lores; http://blog.re-title.com/features/2010/01/torrance-art-museum-fyi-the-reflected-gaze.html; http://tullman.blogspot.com/2009/11/tullman-collection-artist-terri-thomas_18.html; http://artczar.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/talking-to-terri-thomas/

Paul Stang

Photography Appreciation

I thought for the first day of Winter I would share this picture taken by self-taught Norwegian photographer, Paul Stang. He found interest in photography at an early age. Unfortunately, he also died at the young age of 35.

You can find more pictures by Stang HERE.

Winter in Stongfjorden, circa 1910 via fylkesarkiv

Source: Wikipedia, Flickr

Willy Ronis

Photography Appreciation

A woman leaping over a water puddle on a brick road, kids curiously looking into a factory window, a boy running down the street with a baguette, and a woman over a sink washing herself naked, are just some examples of amazing photos taken by French photographer and photojournalist Willy Ronis.

Born in Paris on August 14, 1910, Ronis was best known for capturing images of post-war Paris and Provence, southeastern France, but his most famous picture was a nude of his wife, Marie-Anne Lansiaux called "Le Nu Provencal." 

You can see a few more of his wonderful work HERE. 

Ménilmontant, Carrefour Rue Villin, 

Paris (1959) via theladykillers

Place Vendome sous la pluie (1947) via passouline

Le Petit Parisien (1952) via blog.e-artplastic

Le Nu Provencal Gordes (1949) via carlacoulson

Sources: http://www.hackelbury.co.uk/artists/ronis/ronis_sm.html; http://www.afterimagegallery.com/ronis.htm; http://www.artnet.com/artists/willy-ronis/; http://www.peterfetterman.com/artists/willy-ronis/; 
http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2009/09/willy-ronis-1910-2009.html; http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/arts/design/18ronis.html?_r=0; http://www.jacksonfineart.com/willy-ronis-569.html; http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/sep/16/willy-ronis-obituary; http://lalaland001.blogspot.com/2012/04/body-beautiful.html; http://passouline.blog.lemonde.fr/files/2009/09/willy-ronis.1252882067.jpg; http://theladykillers.typepad.com/the_lady_killers/2009/09/paris-in-black-and-white-by-willy-ronis-et-adieu.html; http://carlacoulson.com/willy-ronis/; Wikipedia

Tim Yanke

Art Appreciation

Being from Texas, I was easily drawn to the Lone Star painted on canvas with scribbles over it. The painting is by Tim Yanke, a Detroit-born abstract artist known for his "Neo-Southwest" style.

Yanke attended college in Texas and worked in graphic design, before retiring and returning to Michigan to dedicate his time to art.

He is highly influenced by other abstract artists such as de Kooning and Rauschenberg, and he is inspired by artist Georgia O'Keeffe.

You can see more of his wonderful work HERE.

Lone Star I via pinterest

Dragonfly II via pinterest

Kokopelli via pinterest

Big Thunder 2012 via pinterest.com

Sources: http://www.parkwestgallery-yanke.com/; http://www.parkwestgallery.com/artist/tim-yanke/; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-of-Tim-Yanke/281972303426; https://twitter.com/Timyanke; http://www.downtownpublications.com/Articles-faces-c-2012-08-28-212969.112113-Tim-Yanke.html; http://vimeo.com/58118997; http://clindsay.wix.com/timyankemaster#!__biography; http://serendipityartandcollectibles.com/tim-yanke/tim-yanke/; http://timyanke.wordpress.com/; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBaQvdInhCM

Tom Tierney

Art Appreciation

I have to admit, when I was a kid, I use to like paper doll books. And I was pretty excited when The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America book displayed paper dolls of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices... naked.

So, it was kinda neat coming across an article in the November issue of Tribeza regarding the famous paper doll illustrator, Tom Tierney.

Born on October 8, 1928, Tierney learned how to paint at an early age. After graduating from the University of Texas and spending time learning landscape and fresco painting in Colorado, he became a freelance fashion illustrator for department stores and magazines.

His drawings are historically and accurate down to his subject's underwear. Many of his subjects are celebrities such as Roseanne Bar, President Barack Obama, and Price William and Kate.

Tierney passed away July 12, 2014 of lung cancer in Smithville, TX. 

You can see his amazing collection and art work HERE.

Roseanne Barr via bradmackay

Fashions of the First Ladies Paper Dolls via orangemercury

The "Rat Pack" in tuxedos via marlendy

Vampire Paper Dolls via gothshopaholic

Prince William and Kate via susiehallam

Sources: http://www.tomtierney.com/; http://www.doverpublications.com/tomtierney/; http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125253236; http://www.mybiggayears.com/archives/tom-tierney/; http://soapboxbyval.blogspot.com/2010/10/wonderful-paper-dolls-of-tom-tierney.html; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Tierney-Paper-Dolls/251022644964564; http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/article/Illustrator-Tom-Tierney-promotes-the-art-of-paper-3480301.php; http://paperstudiopress.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=20; http://bradmackay.blogspot.com/2010/06/most-frightening-paper-doll-ever.html; http://habit-of-art.blogspot.com/2011/06/tom-tierneys-fashionable-paper-dolls.html; http://marlendy.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/las-vegas-stars-paper-dolls-by-tom-tierney/; http://issuu.com/tribeza/docs/tribeza_nov2013

Frank Frazetta

Art Appreciation

I got to see Frazettas up close, recently. Film director Robert Rodriguez displayed original Frazettas at Austin's Comic Con, and for a well-worth donation, I was able to see Death Dealer up close.

Born in Brooklyn, Frank Frazetta was an artist mostly known for his contributions in comic book illustrations, movie posters, and book jackets.

You can see more of his wonderful work HERE, but the online images, like the many other artist's works I blog about, doesn't do the paintings justice.

Death Dealer 1 via dissizit

Fighting Man of Mars via secretsun

Fire and Ice via thebehindthescenes

Moonmaid via dissizit

Sources: http://frankfrazetta.net/; http://frankfrazetta.org/; http://dissizit.com/blog/?p=5188; http://dissizit.com/blog/?p=5188; http://secretsun.blogspot.com/2010/05/frank-frazetta-artist-laureate-of.html