El Greco

Art Appreciation

Doménikos Theotokópoulos, also known as "El Greco" (Spanish for the Greek), was a Spanish Renaissance artist. Born on the Greek island of Crete in 1541, Theotokópoulos was ahead of his time--he is "regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism."

He is best known for the elongated and articulated fingers. The use of color and light and the avoidance of proportion is a common feature in his paintings.

At age 22, an organization of painters' guild referred Theotokópoulos as a master (maestro Domenigo). In 1577, before spending time in Venice and Rome, Theotokópoulos moved to Toledo, Spain, where he spent the rest of his life. El Greco was regarded as a great painter.



Mary Magdalen in Penitence via hoocher

Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest via artchooser



Martyrdom of St. Maurice via artinthepicture

The Purification of the Temple via imaginemdei

Sources: http://hoocher.com/El_Greco/El_Greco.htm; Wikipedia

Minor White

Photography Appreciation

Considered one of America's greatest photographer, Minor White was known for his distictive style of using light in his photography.

White, who served in the military intellegence during World War II, studied with other influential photographers such as Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Weston, and Ansel Adams.

White developed the "zone system," which promoted the previsualization of what the photographer is planning to capture with the camera, rather than just point-and-shoot. Ironically, he worked as a curator at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York--George Eastman introduced the world to Kodak whose slogan was "You push the button; we do the rest."

White kept his bisexuality a secret throughout his career, and it wasn't until 13 years after his death that his photography of male nudes were published in 1989.


Frost on Window via rctc-photo-1.blogspot.com



Barn and Clouds (1955) via dptips-central



Tom Murphy (1948) via arttattler



Gino Cipolla (1940) via theredlist.fr

Sources: Miles, Frank J., "Partners in Love & Art," LstyleGstyle Magazine, September / October 2012, Page 26.; http://myglobaleye.blogspot.com/2011/02/minor-white-arts-and-aperture.html; http://fultonstreet.us/EXH_PUB/white/white.html

Giuseppe Muscio

Art Appreciation

Giuseppe Muscio is a realist and surrealist artist known for the beautiful paintings of everyday objects and female nudes. Born in the small village of Orta Nova, which is east of Napoli, Italy, Muscio's photorealistic paintings are not only beautiful but magical, spiritual and poetic.

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



Voltiamo Pagina via privategallerygiuseppemuscio



Poetiche Rielazioni (2008) via privategallerygiuseppemuscio

Resta Un Po Con Me (2010) via blogger-index

Sources: http://www.giuseppemuscio.it; http://artelibre.net/ARTELIBRE1/MUSCIO/index.htm; http://privategallerygiuseppemuscio.blogspot.com/

 

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