Hua Chen

Art Appreciation

I came across a beautiful painting of a woman titled Sweet Scent by acclaimed impressionist Hua Chen, while visiting the art gallery on the Carnival Dream.

Chen was born in Shanghai, China, but moved to the United States in the late 1990s. He is known for his pastel paintings of women in sensual and intimate settings. He was also invited to be the official artist of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Sweet Scent

Olympic Dream via artodyssey1

Ballet Girl No. 1 via artodyssey1

After the Bath via baterbys

Sources: http://www.huachenstudio.com/; http://www.progressiveart.com/hua_chen.shtml; http://sales.parkwestgallery.com/results/All/Hua-Chen/cTitle/1/; http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2013/04/hua-chen.html; http://www.baterbys.com/blog/2011/10/25/similar-differences-ladies-in-waiting/

The Rolling Stones - Beast of Burden

Music Appreciation

I can't believe I've never blogged about The Rolling Stones. I couldn't believe it. I actually went back and searched for any entries regarding The Rolling Stones.

I mean, the Stones are indeed a huge part of my life. I grew up listening to all their best. I've gone to two concerts with my dad. We even got to sit near The Rolling Stones stage when they performed at Zilker Park in 2006.

So, to make up for the void, I'll write about one of my favorite Stones song, Beast of Burden. 

Beast of Burden was released on September 9, 1978. The song's verses was primarily written by Keith Richards but Mick Jagger added lyrics "to fit with he smooth running guitars of Richards and Ronnie Wood."



Source: Wikipedia

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