Alexander Chen

Art Appreciation

Born in Southeast China, Alexander Chen is an international acclaimed artist known for his hyperrealistic cityscapes and landscapes paintings. He is also the official artist for the US Olympic Team.

In 1989, he and his wife immigrated to American. His love for the U.S. is apparent in his paintings of iconic American symbols and images, such as Manhattan Celebration, where he captures the twin towers and Manhattan behind the iconic Lady Liberty--a remembrance and symbol of how strong our nation is despite malice and hostility.

You can see many of his wonderful work HERE.

Manhattan Celebration via artbrokerage

A Evening in Time Square via shruti914

Fisherman's Wharf via internetartgallery

Sources: http://www.alexanderchen.com/; http://bio.parkwestgallery.com/artists/Alexander-Chen; http://artonegallery.com/chen.html; http://www.arcadja.com/auctions/en/chen_alexander/artist/335247/; Wikipedia

Romare Bearden

Art Appreciation

Born on September 2, 1911, Romare Bearden was considered to be one of the most important American artist of the 20th century. Although he did paintings of realistic and religious themes, he is best known for his collages of scenes of the American South.

Being an influential African-American during a time when black artists struggled for civil liberties, Bearden was a founding member of the Harlem-based art group known as The Spiral. His wife, Nanette Rohan Bearden continued his legacy by creating the Bearden Foundation which supports young African-American artists.

You can see more of his wonderful art HERE.

Morning via paris-tx-naacp

The Dove via 3502imageandnarration

Card Players via aubreylevinthal

Sources: Wikipedia; http://www.beardenfoundation.org/index2.shtml; http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/beardeninfo.shtm; http://www.metmuseum.org/metmedia/interactives/art-trek/romare-bearden-lets-walk-the-block; http://www.biography.com/people/romare-bearden-40540; http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/arts/design/romare-bearden-at-michael-rosenfeld-gallery-review.html?ref=romarebearden; http://paris-tx-naacp.blogspot.com/2011/09/romare-bearden.html; http://3502imageandnarration.blogspot.com/2010/03/artist-of-week-romare-bearden.html; http://aubreylevinthal.blogspot.com/2013/08/sunday-pick-romare-bearden.html

Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

Music Appreciation

Named one of the most important American musical works of the 20th Century, David Byrne's and Talking Head's "Once in a Lifetime," was released on February 2, 1981.

I remember watching this music video on MTV, when I was young. Back then, I thought the video was a bit disturbing to watch Byrne dancing with convulsions to lyrics that didn't make sense.

It wasn't until my adult life when this song started to make a whole lot of sense.

Sometimes we find ourselves with everything we need and want, but we're still unsatisfied. We want more and more. In the process, we're missing out on living life with what we've got.




PREVIOUS POST: Talking Heads - And She Was

Source: Wikipedia; http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1867

Sally Delap-John

Art Appreciation

I came across Sally Delap-John's work while thumbing through The Essential Guide Santa Fe & Taos book I picked up from the New Mexico travel center. Her painting titled "Truchas - Long View" caught my attention that I wanted to find more of her work online.

In the process of looking for more of her work, I learned that Delap-John paints en plein air, and she works with watercolors and oils.

You can find more of her work HERE.

Truchas - Long View via issuu.com

Llano Churchyard via high-road-artist.com

Sources: http://sallydelap-john.com/; http://high-road-artist.com/9056/artist-profiles/sally-delap-john-painting-the-villages/; http://issuu.com/creativeindustri.es/docs/essential-guide-2011-2012

Janice Urnstein-Weissman

Art Appreciation

American figurative artist, Janice Urnstein-Weissman, is known for her photorealistic paintings of heavily tattooed female nudes.

In previous interviews, she has stated that she has "been fascinated to watch the story unfold on the skin of my female models," and "much like wearing jewelry or designer clothes, tattooing has become a persona message about a woman's identity."

Indeed, those complex designed tattoos do tell stories as its captured in great detail in Urnstein-Weissman's paintings.

For me who appreciates the female form, looking at art on art is absolutely something to admire.

You can see more of Urnstein-Weissman's work on her website HERE.

Tattoo V111 (2005) via inkedmag

La Rouge Femme via underpaintings

Sources: http://www.janiceurnsteinweissman.com/; http://hoteldelaspinturas.blogspot.com/2012/11/janice-urnstein-weissman-cuerpos.html; http://tullman.blogspot.com/2009/10/tullman-collection-artist-janice.html; http://www.eegallery.com/artists/wei.inx1.html; http://www.easyreadernews.com/25151/where-beauty-is-skin-deep-2/; http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/feminist_art_base/gallery/janice_weissman.php?i=2595; http://figurationfeminine.blogspot.com/2011/05/janice-urnstein-weissman-1944.html; http://www.jenkinsjohnsongallery.com/press/2008/NY_PRweissman.pdf; http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20081218/rpv-artist-celebrates-beauty-of-tattoos-in-detailed-portraits; http://underpaintings.blogspot.com/2013/03/sneak-peek-figure-in-american-art-16th.html

Stick with Pandora or get SiriusXM

I have to admit, I'm starting to fall in love with satellite radio.

I remember when the idea of having satellite radio was outright ridiculous. Why pay for radio that plays music and talk radio when one can get it free on the FM or AM? But then again, I've found myself paying for CDs, iTunes, and now Pandora for my music.

In the past few weeks, the cars I've rented through Enterprise have come with SiriusXM radio. I quickly became a fan of their comedy stations, Comedy Central Radio and Blue Collar Radio.

If you dare and switch the dial up a few channels, you'll find Radio Sex, where two former porn stars, Ginger Lynn and Christy Canyon live it up on the radio.

Yes, I'll admit, I listened to this station, but soon switched it when one of them suggested to a listener that he should send his rap tape to Tupac or the Notorious B.I.G. Obviously, these two girls were still living in the 1990s.

So, for $14.49 a month, I could get "commercial-free music, plus sports, news, talk and entertainment." Sounds great, huh?

I pay Pandora $3.99 a month for "personalized radio."

The thing I like about Pandora is that I can customize my stations for 4 bucks a month. The problem I have with Pandora is its inconsistency--stations drop or freeze during rush hours. Sometimes when I'm at the gym, my Pandora will not load songs.

Satellite radio is uncensored, which is pretty cool. The music they play is from the track without radio edits. The comedy stations are amazingly funny, and, yes, the idea that a station dedicated to sex is enticing. The downside of satellite radio is that the station drops more often in city driving--mostly due to overpasses and tall buildings. Plus, $15 bucks a month is still pretty steep.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

John Gannam

Art Appreciation

John Gannan was an American illustrator and painter known for his work which appeared in popular magazines such as LIFE and Woman's Home Companion.

He is also known for his watercolor paintings that captured women in intimate moments. One of my favorite of his paintings is that of a woman sitting in front of her vanity, titled The Mirror.

What I appreciate of paintings featuring women in front of vanities is the artist's capture of the mirror's reflection--capturing the woman's complete beauty.

You can read more about John Gannan from the Society of Illustrators' website HERE.

Mother and Child via mestresdarte 

Fair Morning via conchigliadivenere

The Mirror via conchigliadivenere

Sources: http://beautyjoy4ever.blogspot.com/2008/10/john-gannam-1907-1965.html; http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/john-gannam-1907-1965-american/;
http://www.societyillustrators.org/Awards-and-Competitions/Hall-of-Fame/Past-Inductees/1981--John-Gannam.aspx; http://illustrationart.blogspot.com/2007/07/watercolors-of-john-gannam.html; http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/2011/09/john-gannam-scans-parting-gift-from-tak.html; http://mestresdarte.blogspot.com/2011/08/john-gannam.html; http://wickedwink.blogspot.com/2008/09/influence-john-gannam.html; http://gogd.tjs-labs.com/table-view.php?illustrator=JOHN*GANNAM; http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/john-gannam-1907-1965-listed-tearful-164295668