Gustav Klimt

Art Appreciation

I came across Gustav Klimt from a book my dad had bought me as a present.

Born on July 14, 1862, the Austrian symbolist painter, Gustav Klimt, was considered a leader of the Viennese Art Nouveau movement. Paintings during this movement had decorative designs incorporated in their images.

You can see more of his wonderful work HERE.

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907 via Wikipedia

Judith I (1901) via Wikipedia

The Kiss (1907-08) via Wikipedia

Sources: http://www.gustav-klimt.com/index.jsp; http://www.iklimt.com/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt; http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/5/prweb10673597.htm; Buchholz, Kaeppele, Hille, Stotland, Buhler, ART: A WORLD HISTORY, 2007

Alberto Mielgo

Art Appreciation

A few months ago, I came across a youtube video of a young artist working on a painting of former porn actress, Belladonna. Naturally, this caught my curiosity, and I wanted to learn more about the artist.

Spanish-born, Alberto Mielgo is recognized not only for intimate portraits and nudes, but he is also known for his contributions in comics and animation, such as Tron Uprising, which received an Annie Award in 2013.

You can see more of his paintings HERE. Also, check out pinkman.tv for his animated works.



Gon via hifructose



Belladonna via klimtbalan



Untitled via klimtbalan

Similar Artists:
Jennifer Balkan

Sources: http://www.albertomielgo.com/; http://albertomielgo.blogspot.com/; http://hifructose.com/2010/12/01/alberto-mielgo-the-inspired-life/;
http://motionographer.com/2010/02/24/modern-rebel-alberto-mielgo-pinkman.tv/;
http://klimtbalan.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/alberto-mielgo/;
http://conceptcentral.blogspot.com/2010/04/artist-profile-alberto-mielgo-aka.html


 

Jasper Johns

Art Appreciation

Americans will be celebrating Independence Day this week, and what better way to celebrate the American spirit than with a portrait of Old Glory.

Flag (1960-66) via Wikipedia

This encaustic painting, which was painted in 1954, is by influential contemporary American artist , Jasper Johns. The idea to paint this iconic image came to him in a dream.

Johns, who was born on May 15, 1930 in Augusta, Georgia, primarily worked in painting and printmaking, and is also known for his close relationship with Robert Rauschenberg.

You can read more about the artist HERE.


Sources: 

Miles, Frank J., "Partners in Love & Art," LstyleGstyle Magazine, September / October 2012, Page 27 

http://www.jasper-johns.org/index.jsp 

http://artsnapper.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/jasper-johns-birthday/

John Neil Rodger

Art Appreciation

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, I'm an aesthete who appreciates most types of art.

My personal favorite mediums are oil pastels and ink, and I appreciate impressionism and realism and don't care much for cubism. I enjoy looking at paintings that are realistic or have a somewhat "dream-like" feelings.

I came across John Neil Rodger, a South African-born artist, while researching realism art. Like other realistic artists, his work, which are primarily of farm animals and the female form, captured my attention.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Onagadori Rooster via eldibujante 

 

Appaloosa Stallion via catherinelarose 

Reclining Nude II via conchigliadivenere 

Similar Artists:
Sergey Marshennikov
Spartaco Lombardo



Sources: http://neilrodger.co.za/?m=1; http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/john-neil-rodger-1941-south-african/; http://filipinofestival.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/john-neil-rodger-south-africa/; http://iamachild.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/john-neil-rodger-1941-south-african/; http://eldibujante.com/?tag=john-neil-rodger; http://catherinelarose.blogspot.com/2012/10/neil-rodger.html; http://www.vgallery.co.za/2000article26/vzine.htm


 

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

Music Appreciation

I remember watching the music video to Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer when I was about ten years old.

At that age, the music video was captivating with its stop motion animation of trains, paper airplanes, bumper cars, and dancing oven-ready chickens. For its time, the music video was not only innovative but cool and fun.

But what's the song's meaning?

I've tried to look it up and get an idea of its meaning. Many commenters on Songmeanings.net think its a song with many sexual innuendos. A few think Peter Gabriel was singing about the music industry--nothing new to musical artists (see my previous posts on other artists HERE and HERE).

Songfacts.com quotes Peter Gabriel regarding the song, "Sometimes sex can break through barriers when other forms of communications are not working too well."

So, while my parents sheltered me from Rate R movies, I was filling my head with sexual innuendos and lyrics of phallic symbols. This explains a lot, now.





Sources: 

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/13038/

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=773

Wikipedia

Jennifer Balkan

Art Appreciation

Recently, I came across an article about Jennifer Balkan, a local Austin artist, in Tribeza magazine. After reading the article, I google searched her and her work, and not only became fascinated with her artwork but also her educational background before she became a full time artist.

Balkan studied behavior neuroscience at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. As described by Tribeza author, Raechel Kelley, Balkan "integrate[s] psychological and sociological concepts in her pieces."

You can see more of her narrative oil paintings on her website HERE.

Lucky 1 (2010) via womenpaintingwomen

When I grow up (2010) via blackvanilla2012



Mes reflexions d'un autre monde (2012) via terrystricklandart

O Fortuna (2006) via generousart

Sources: http://jenniferbalkan.net/; http://www.tribeza.com/magazine_content/jennifer-balkan; http://artstormer.com/2011/08/19/master-of-disguise-paintings-by-jennifer-balkan/; http://terrystricklandart.blogspot.com/; http://vimeo.com/29856047; http://www.southwestart.com/articles-interviews/emerging-artists/jennifer_balkan
 

Jean Pucelle

Art Appreciation

Parisian Gothic manuscript illuminator, Jean Pucelle, is known for the illuminated prayer book called The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux. The book was created for Jeanne d'Evreux, the third wife of King Charles IV of France.

The illustrations are done in grey tones or "grisailles" and "with touches of blue, red and yellow."





Sextam: Crucifixion/Adoration of the Magi via luciolicinio

Tierce: Christ Carrying the Cross/Annunciation to the Shepherds via luciolicinio

Sources: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Pucelle; http://luciolicinio.blogspot.com/2012/06/jean-pucelle.html; http://french-painters.blogspot.com/2012/08/jean-pucelle.html; http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/54.1.2