Thomas Kinkade

Art Appreciation

A couple of months ago, while having dinner at my in-laws, we were discussing my personal preference in art. During our conversation, my mother-in-law mentioned Thomas Kinkade to which my response was that I didn't care for his art. As I said it, I turned behind me and saw that my mother-in-law had a Thomas Kinkade curtain hanging on the wall.

I attempted to explain why he wasn't one of my preferred artists, "many of his artwork look alike. It's either of cottages, bridges, or landscapes."

When I was young, I remember walking into a Thomas Kinkade gallery in San Antonio. The store was crowded with people who found his paintings spiritual because of his use of light. In reality, the technique Thomas Kinkade used was not something spiritual but rather known as chiaroscuro, where the artist uses strong contrast colors.

Nonetheless, the "Painter of Light," did contribute to art in how to mass market printed reproductions. It's estimated that 1 in every 20 American homes has a copy of his paintings.

The Christian artist was born on January 19, 1958 in Sacramento, California. Kinkade died of natural causes; although, autopsy found a combination of alcohol and Valium in his system.

You can see more of his work HERE.

Christmas Moonlight via christmasvillagefun

Cobblestone Christmas via christmasvillagefun

Autumn on Mackinac Island via keepersathome

Sources: http://www.thomaskinkade.com; http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2010/11/thomas-kinkade-effect.html; http://christmasvillagefun.blogspot.com/2012/03/thomas-kinkade-and-easter-art.html; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/thomas-kinkades-troubled-past_n_1421117.html; http://keepersathome.blogspot.com/

Alex Krivtsov

Photography Appreciation

Alex Krivtsov is a Russian photographer know for his black and white images that captures beauty, style, and emotions.

You can see more of his wonderful photography HERE.

via thats-my-pointe

via tanisto-whisper

via beautyloveandsoul

via luceplace

Sources:
http://alexkrivtsov.ru/
http://alafoto.com
http://www.photoforum.ru/user/364/photos.0.0.0.date.desc.0.0.0.1.en.html
http://beautyloveandsoul.blogspot.com/2010/06/alex-kristov.html
http://luceplace.tumblr.com/page/372
http://mejores-desnudos.blogspot.com/2008/03/ver-web-de-alex-krivtsov.html
http://thats-my-pointe.tumblr.com/post/39327770473
http://tanisto-whisper.blogspot.com/2009/03/alex-krivtsov-photography.html

Boris Vallejo

Art Appreciation

If you're around my age and have the same interests as me, you've seen Boris Vallejo's work in movie posters, video game covers, and sci-fi paperbacks.

The Peruvian-born American painter and illustrator Boris Vallejo is best known for his fantasy paintings of male and female barbarians, such as Conan the Barbarian and Barbarella.

You can see a lot more of his work on his website HERE.

Mermaid Couple via artodyssey1

Black Unicorn via thomasandv

Wings of Night via artodyssey1

Sources: http://www.imaginistix.com/; http://thomasandv.blogspot.com/; http://5-ladies.blogspot.com/2010/11/boris-vallejo.html/; http://thomasandv.blogspot.com/2013/11/boris-vallejo.html; http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2013/08/boris-vallejo-and-julie-bell.html; Wikipedia

Alex Alemany

Art Appreciation

Spanish artist Alex Alemany is known for his surrealistic paintings that incorporates realism with symbolism. For example, his painting "Poema Imposible" features a cloth holding a sea, which would be impossible to capture the beauty of the sea with a cloth.

You can see more of Alex Alemany's beautiful work HERE.

Poema Imposible via impressioniartistiche

Musica via maherartgallery

Sin Titulo via danceswithcolors

Vida secreta de los espejos via maherartgallery

Sources: http://www.alexalemany.com/; http://webneel.com/25-magical-realism-paintings-and-realistic-still-life-paintings-alex-alemany; http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2009/07/alex-alemany-alex-alemany-was-born-on.html; http://www.rogallery.com/Alemany_Alex/Alemany-bio.htm; http://www.tuttartpitturasculturapoesiamusica.com/2012/04/alex-alemany-1943-spanish-hyperrealist.html; http://surrealistisch.blogspot.com/2013/01/lexalemanycom.html; http://impressioniartistiche.blogspot.com/2013/01/alex-alemany.html; http://maherartgallery.blogspot.com/2012/02/alex-alemany-1943-hyperrealist-and.html; http://danceswithcolors.blogspot.com/2012/10/dwc-hyperrealist-artist-alex-alemany_20.html

Belarmino Miranda Montoya

Art Appreciation

I appreciate hyper-realistic artists, such as Santiago Carbonell or the late Matt Doust.

I recently came across another artist that got my interest simply on how he captures the female beauty.

Colombian artist Belarmino Miranda Montoya's artwork has been exhibited internationally. In an interview he perfectly summarized his artwork as, "without any concealment, I just want to capture the greatness of her body and soul, woman it is the emblem of perfection, beginning and ending source of life ... that gives meaning to my existence. "

The women he displays in his paintings are loving and nurturing, and delicate and strong.

You can see more of his wonderful artwork HERE.

Darios, poemas y lecturas via conchigliadivenere

Aire Medieval via conchigliadivenere

Petalos 2 via artodyssey1

Sources: http://www.belarminomiranda.com/; http://conchigliadivenere.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/belarmino-miranda-montoya-1966-colombian-2/; http://iamachild.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/belarmino-miranda-montoya-1966-colombian/; http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2013/08/belarmino-miranda.html; http://cute-n-mast.blogspot.com/2013/08/potrait-by-belarmino-miranda-montoya.html; http://catherinelarose.blogspot.com/2013/06/belarmino-miranda.html; http://maherartgallery.blogspot.com/2013/02/belarmino-miranda.html; http://www.thepassionforart.com/belarmino-miranda-montoya/

Herb Ritts

Photography Appreciation

At a very young age, I knew about Herb Ritts. He was the photographer who captured iconic celebrities such as Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Elton John, and Dizzy Gillespie. He made black and white photography sensual.

Born on August 13, 1952, Ritts became interested in photography after gaining attention for photos he had taken of his friend, Richard Gere, in 1977. After that, he became the celebrities' photographer.

Honestly, it wasn't the photography that captured my interested at first; it was his music videos he directed. In 1989, he directed Madonna's "Cherish" and soon after Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game." His music videos hit me at the perfect time of puberty.

Unfortunately, Ritts passed away after complications from pneumonia on December 26, 2002.

The images he captured defines a generation that was enamored by the glamorous life of Hollywood and rock stars in the late 20th Century.

You can see more of his wonderful work HERE.

Richard Gere, 1977 via wwwsomekindofcolor

Dizzy Gillespie via modeledart

Stephanie Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989 via chloemassey

Christy Turlington via bettysandboys

Kate Moss via thewahlpost

Sources: http://www.herbritts.com/; http://www.artnet.com/awc/Herb-Ritts.html; http://wwwsomekindofcolor.blogspot.com/2012/11/herb-ritts.html; http://modeledart.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/herb-ritts/; http://chloemassey.blogspot.com/2011/12/herb-ritts.html; http://loveisspeed.blogspot.com/2012/03/herb-ritts-photographylife-with-icons.html; http://blogs.nordstrom.com/men/nineties-icons-herb-ritts-and-calvin-klein/; http://blog.ronaldjames.com/herb-ritts/; http://bettysandboys.blogspot.com/2012/01/herb-ritts-photography.html; http://www.thewahlpost.com/2012/11/02/kate-moss-by-herb-rits/; Wikipedia

Terri Thomas

Art Appreciation

I don't remember how I stumbled upon her artwork. But after doing so, I had to know more about Terri Thomas. 

The Detriot-born artist worked in the fashion industry for 15 years before dedicating herself to art. She currently lives in Austin and is known for animal sculptures and paintings that express the sexuality and beauty of women.

You can see her artwork HERE.

Folie a Deux via fivefifteen

Young Curious Pussy Plays with Self in Mirror via currentarts

Foundings (2009) via blog.re-title

Sources: http://territhomasart.com/; http://www.terriart.com/; http://issuu.com/didimenendez/docs/pa23lores; http://blog.re-title.com/features/2010/01/torrance-art-museum-fyi-the-reflected-gaze.html; http://tullman.blogspot.com/2009/11/tullman-collection-artist-terri-thomas_18.html; http://artczar.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/talking-to-terri-thomas/