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

Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (Le Corbusier)

Art Appreciation

I've been waiting too long to blog about Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, also known as Le Corbusier. I really don't know exactly why I haven't been aggressive in including Le Corbusier in my blog.

Le Corbusier is best known for his contribution as an architect. But he also had a passion for painting.

Born in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland in 1887, Le Corbusier moved to Paris and became a French citizen in 1930. There he with Amédée Ozenfant created Purism, a variant of  Cubism.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Untitled (1932) via theartinstituteofchicago

Mirage via flor

Deux Femmes (1958) via artnet

Sources: http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Le_Corbusier.html; http://blog.frenchtouch-travel.com/agenda-september-2013/; http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=3426; http://www.flor.com/blog/le-corbusier-art/; http://www.sfmoma.org/explore/collection/artists/4877; http://artsy.net/artist/pierre-jeanneret; http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/484025/Purism; http://theartinstituteofchicago.blogspot.com/2011/12/aic-modern-wing-contemporary-art_8240.html; Wikipedia

Georgia O'Keeffe

Art Appreciation

Known as the Mother of American Modernism, Georgia O'Keeffe born on November 15, 1887. She is known for large paintings of flowers.

After coming across a photo by Alfred Stieglitz of O'Keeffe, I decided I had to learn more about the artist.

Interesting factoid I learned about O'Keeffe was that she spent some time in Amarillo, Texas as a teacher than head of the art department at West Texas State Normal College (now West Texas A&M) at the age of 29. She also spent most of her life in New Mexico.

You can see a great documentary film of her life HERE.

Ram's Head White Hollyhock and Little Hills (1935) via momentc

Red Poppy (1927) via momentc

White 20 Flower via art-now-and-then

Jack-in-the-Pulpit No. IV (1930) via mbbarton

Sources:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310650-1
http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/
http://contentdm.okeeffemuseum.org/
http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=4360
http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/collections/highlights/alfred-stieglitzgeorgia-okeeffe-archive
http://shimango.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/life-lessons-from-georgia-okeeffe/
http://art-now-and-then.blogspot.com/2011/05/georgia-okeeffe.html
http://mbbarton.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/art-of-the-day-jack-in-the-pulpit-no-iv-okeeffe/
Wikipedia

Alfred Stieglitz

Photography Appreciation

I came across a photograph of American artist, Georgia O'Keeffe, taken by Alfred Stieglitz. Needlesstosay, it captured my curiosity of the photographer and his model.

It turns out that the model was his wife, whom he had met, while he was married, after displaying her artwork without permission. Eventually, they got married and she became one of his models.

Alfred Stieglitz was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on January 1, 1864 and known as the father of modern photography and for making photography an art form. Although, in an article that appeared in a conservative New York publication, he stated "Photography is not an art. Neither is painting, nor sculpture, literature or music. They are different media for the individual to express his aesthetic feelings."

You can watch a great documentary on Alfred Stieglitz and the birth of photojournalism and photography as an art HERE.

via reelfoto

via a2-photography-kelly

Katherine (1905) via art-bytes

Georgia O'Keeffe (1919) via alias61

Sources: 
http://alias61.tumblr.com/post/66920706937/georgia-okeeffe-photographed-by-alfred-stieglitz
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/stgp/hd_stgp.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/stieglitz_a.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YhwYgdtphE
http://reelfoto.blogspot.com/2013/04/alfred-stieglitz-moving-photography.html
http://art-bytes.blogspot.com/2010/09/alfred-stieglitz-photos-seaport-museum.html
Alfred Stieglitz (March 14 1922). "Is Photography a Failure?". New York Sun: 5.

Peter van Straten

Art Appreciation

When I was a young boy, I remember running around outside in the dark pretending I lived in a post-apocalyptic world. My surroundings were filled with pure imaginative structures, elaborate floating objects and characters that only I could see.

The surreal and almost spiritual artwork by Peter van Straten reminds me of my youth. The South African artist's paintings captures the world behind what we see. His glazing technique adds to the experience of involving the viewer into his thoughts painted on canvas.

You can see the beautiful imaginative world of Peter van Straten HERE.

Beings and bodies in time

Extreme pianism The art of craft

The bull and the ballerina

The Thirst

Source: http://www.petervanstraten.co.za/; http://www.saatchionline.com/petervanstraten; http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_van_straten/; https://www.facebook.com/surrealvanstraten; http://www.capegallery.co.za/peter_van_straten1.html; http://www.finearts.co.za/index.php/painting/peter-van-straten; http://thesnad.deviantart.com/; http://www.myersonfineart.com/index.php?mode=browser&sub=artistCv&ArtistId=10; http://www.davidbrownfineart.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=15; http://scenicsouth.co.za/2012/10/an-interview-with-peter-van-straten-artist-writer-and-songwriter/

Stanko Abadžic

Photography Appreciation

I came across a black and white photo of a beautiful girl in front of a vanity titled In Front of the Mirror. I thought perhaps this photo was taken in the 20s or 30s. After researching the photographer, I learned that this photo was taken in the last decade.

Croatian photographer Stanko Abadžić, born in 1952, is known for his nostalgic black and white photos. Abadžić's work has been exhibited across the globe.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Aperture Man, Zagreb Croatia (2011) via pluvisca-gozandoconlamirada  

Feet and Cello (2005) via pluvisca-gozandoconlamirada

All My Apples via thebesttimeoftheday

In Front of the Mirror via photographyinterviews 

Sources: http://sabadzic.net.amis.hr/; http://pluvisca-gozandoconlamirada.blogspot.com/2012_03_23_archive.html; http://thebesttimeoftheday.blogspot.com/2011/08/stanko-abadzic.html; http://www.vervegallery.com/; http://www.cornelyu.ro/blog/?p=217; http://www.catherinecouturier.com/artists/stanko-abadzic/gallery/happiness/; http://photographyinterviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/stanko-abadzic-old-school-lyricism-few.html

Igor Medvedev

Art Appreciation

While I was browsing the art gallery on the Carnival Cruise ship, I noticed a couple of painting of boats. I thought perhaps these works were by Horacio Cardozo. They were actually paintings by Ukrainian artist, Igor Medvedev.

Born in 1931, Medvedev's lived during the World War II. He spent his young life in Germany before immigrating to the United States.

He is known for his realistic architectural, nautical, cityscapes, and female figurative paintings.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Fuengirola, Spain (2005) via kazimbaloglu

Sapphire via kazimbaloglu

Untitled via tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica

Untitled via josephdonaghy

Untitled via tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica

Sources: http://kazimbaloglu.blogspot.com/2013/02/igor-medvedev.html; http://josephdonaghy.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/catherine-la-rose-by-igor-medvedev/; http://majamalamamaivogovieditorijali.blogspot.com/2012/10/igor-medvedev.html; http://www.parkwestgallery.com/artist/igor-medvedev/; http://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2012/03/igor-medvedev-1961-russian-painter.html; http://www.artbrokerage.com/Igor-Medvedev; http://www.franklinbowlesgallery.com/Shared_Elements/ArtistPages/Medvedev/pages/medv-home.html; http://www.rogallery.com/Medvedev/Medvedev-hm.htm; http://artnow.ru/en/gallery/3/4384/picture/0/0.html; http://tatucya.com/2012/01/02/igor-vitalevich/