F. Scott Hess

Art Appreciation

By now, many of you know I enjoy realist painters; especially, if they incorporate a touch of surrealism in their work.

While surfing the art blogs, I came across F. Scott Hess' Floodplain. The painting depicts a woman giving birth in isolation in the pre-dawn hours. On a blanket over muddy ground, she sits in pain as she pulls her baby out of her.

F. Scott Hess was born in Baltimore in 1955. He is known for his realistic paintings that have been exhibited throughout the United States and internationally. His paintings tell stories, and some of them can be a bit frightening or disturbing.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Sudden Storm (1987) via iamachild

Dark Horse (2011) via artweek

Floodplain (1999) via ultramassa

The Colonel's Daughter (2006) via artodyssey1

Similar Artists: Jorge Santos

Sources: 

http://www.openmuseum.org/museum/show/46; http://www.koplindelrio.com/content/f-scott-hess; http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2009/10/f.html; http://artweek.la/issue/december-19-26-2011-double/article/f-scott-hess-in-transit1

Justin Timberlake ft. Jay Z - Suit & Tie

Music Appreciation

Justin Timberlake is about 5 years younger than me (I actually had to take out the calculator to figure how much older I was to him), but there is something about the kid that I absolutely admire and respect. I admire him because he is true to his art, and I respect him for his creativity and his contribution to music and society.

In past posts of my appreciation to music, I usually provide a background on the artist. Well, we all know and, if you are around my age, have followed Justin Timberlake.

He needs no introduction. He needs no background, because we all know his extreme talent.




Source: Wikipedia

Evan Wilson

Art Appreciation

While researching Vincente Romero, I came across one of Evan Wilson--an American artist known for his realistic paintings of interiors, landscapes, still lifes, and portraits.

What caught my eye of Wilson's work was the use of light, which makes his paintings so realistic--for example, the porcelain vase in Sunflowers. Of course, what caught my attention and admiration was his painting of a beautiful fair skin lady laying on a silk kimono and sheets titled Lillian.

You can see more of his beautiful work HERE.

Sunflowers via artodyssey1

August Morning via loverforbooks



Lillian via artodyssey1

Sources: http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2010/01/evan-wilson-evan-wilson-was-born-in.html; http://www.evanwilson.net/

Candlebox

Music Appreciation

If you are about my age, you'll probably remember coming across a deal offer by either BMG or Columbia House for "free" CDs. Yes, CDs. Before iTunes and mp3s, we bought or borrowed CDs from friends to record on cassette tapes. These club membership allowed us buyers to stock CD rack with the tunes we liked.

It was great. You'd fill out the CDs you wanted from a catalog, mail it, then wait to receive a box  addressed to you. It was like opening a birthday present. A day could be easily lost listening to the CDs.

One of those CDs I remember ordering was Candlebox's self-titled debut album. And although I heard each track in that album, my personal favorites were Change, You, Blossom, and Far Behind.

Released twenty years ago this summer, Far Behind was a song written in tribute to the late singer Andrew Wood of the Seattle grunge band Malfunkshun. Wood overdosed on heroin.

Source: Wikipedia

Ivan Slavinsky

Art Appreciation

Ivan Slavinsky is perhaps one of my favorite contemporary artist. I came across his work while surfing Pinterest, recently. I quickly became a fan.

Originally from Leningrad, Russia, Ivan Slavinsky is a realist artist who is known for his realistic paintings that touches on impressionism and surrealism.

His cityscapes are amazing, and his portraits of women are absolutely beautiful.

You can see more of his work on his website.



via tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica

via tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica

via marisecretgarden



via pinupcartoongirls

Sources: http://www.ivan-slavinsky.com/; http://kingsgalleryhk.com/2012/03/06/ivan-slavinsky/; http://www.artisticanatomyblog.com/various-works-by-ivan-slavinsky/; http://www.passportmagazine.ru/article/839; http://ggalleryslo.blogspot.com/2011/10/featured-artist-ivan-slavinsky.html#!/2011/10/featured-artist-ivan-slavinsky.html; http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2010/03/ivan-slavinsky-i-painted-and-drew-as.html; http://www.artisticanatomyblog.com/various-works-by-ivan-slavinsky/; http://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2011/10/ivan-slavinsky-1968-russia-surrealist.html; http://marisecretgarden.blogspot.com/2012/04/painting-ivan-slavinsky.html; http://www.pinupcartoongirls.com/2012/09/ivan-slavinsky.html?m=0

Johannes Wessmark

Art Appreciation

Recently, I came across an image of what appeared to be a photograph of rocks in a stream (Maid Bay). I then learned that the image was not a photograph but a painting done by Swedish artist, Johannes Wessmark.

Born in 1962, Wessmark's painting techniques include watercolors, color pencil, oil, and gouache, a method similar to watercolor but with an additive that makes it opaque.

You can see more of his wonderful paintings HERE.





Maid Bay via emptyeasel

Pressbyrån Järntorget via artodyssey1

The Softest Beauty via artodyssey1

Sources: http://www.johanneswessmark.se/; http://www.redbubble.com/people/wessmark; http://www.saatchionline.com/profile/54036; http://artoncall.weebly.com/johannes-wessmark.html; http://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2011/12/johannes-wessmark-1962-sweden.html;
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2010/04/johannes-wessmark-born-1962-live-and.html;
http://emptyeasel.com/2008/03/04/johannes-wessmark-photorealism-with-colored-pencil-and-watercolor/; http://sweet-station.com/blog/2011/06/johannes-wessmark/





 

Anwen Keeling

Art Appreciation

Anwen Keeling is a contemporary realist artist known primarily for her portraits of women in intimate settings.

The Australian born artist received a BA with Honours and University Medal from Canberra School of Art at the Australian National University. She then received a Master of Art from Winchester School of Art at Southampton University.

You can see more of her work HERE.

More Strawberries (2011) via sydneyartgalleriesandartcommunity

Tender is the Night (2007) via sidestreetsydney

The Letter (2008) via thesugarmill

Paramour (2007) via sexualityinart

Similar Artists: Lee Price, Sergio Martinez-Cifuentes, Vicente Romero

Sources: http://www.anwenkeeling.com.au/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwen_Keeling; http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/about-us/staff/207; http://www.michaelreid.com.au/artists-view?aid=88; http://www.voiceless.org.au/voa3/artists/Anwen_Keeling; http://sydneyartgalleriesandartcommunity.wordpress.com/2011/07/; http://thesugarmill.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/oh-what-a-night-mid-february-something-something-arts-degree/; http://sexualityinart.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/anwen-keeling-2-of-2/