Daniel Merriam

Art Appreciation

While surfing my favorite art blogs, I came across the imaginative and beautiful work of Daniel Merriam. Born on February 1, 1963, the self-taught American contemporary surrealist is best known for his dry brush technique and imaginative style.

You can see more of his works HERE and the Bubble Street Gallery HERE.

via artodyssey1

via artodyssey1

via artodyssey1

Sources:

http://www.danielmerriam.com
https://www.facebook.com/DANIELMERRIAM
http://www.bubblestreetgallery.com/artists/daniel-merriam
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Merriam
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2009/07/daniel-merriam-regarded-as-one-of.html
http://www.papayablog.com/2009/10/daniel-merriams-imaginary-realism.html

Steven Meisel

Photography Appreciation

At an early age, I knew about American fashion photographer Steven Meisel. Many of his work included some of the most well-known supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Linda Evangelista. Yes, I use to collect photos from fashion magazines and place them on my bedroom wall.

Steven Meisel started as an illustrator for fashion designer Halston. He then started shooting for fashion magazines and fashion campaigns.

Recently, the Wall Street Journal did an interview with Steven Meisel, which you can read HERE. In the interview, he indicated that he sees himself in his photographs.

You can see more of his beautiful photographs HERE.

Hilary Swank via theglamourwhore

Christy Turlington, Vogue Italia via myaesthetica

Madonna, Sex Box (1992) via onthecoverofamagazine

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Meisel
http://models.com/people/Steven-Meisel
http://www.vogue.com/tag/photographer/steven-meisel/
http://steven-meisel.tumblr.com/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/an-exclusive-q-a-with-photographer-steven-meisel-1422460551
http://grayboulevard.blogspot.com/2010/04/fashion-photography-steven-meisel.html
https://ossiestyler.wordpress.com/category/photography/page/2/
https://allaboutfashionphotography.wordpress.com/fashion-photographers/
http://grayboulevard.blogspot.com/2010/04/fashion-photography-steven-meisel.html
http://onthecoverofamagazine.blogspot.com/2014/01/1992-sex-book-photographed-by-steven_5.html
http://theglamourwhore.blogspot.com/2010/11/proof-that-steven-meisel-can-make.html
http://fabulousfindsandco.blogspot.com/2010/04/bringing-back-1920s-glam-with-model.html

Beastie Boys - Sabotage

Music Appreciation

If you're my age and remember MTV as the cable channel that showed music videos, then you'd probably remember watching the American hip-hop group Beastie Boys' Sabotage music video.

Considered as one of the greatest songs of all time, the 1994 rapcore music video was directed by Spike Jonze. The music video shows the Beastie Boys running around city streets dressed in 1970s attire in an opening credits of a fictional police drama called Sabotage.


via emimusic


Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabotage_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Jonze

Dance: Olga Kuraeva

Dance Appreciation

Improvisation by ballerina Olga Kuraeva.
https://www.facebook.com/kuraevaoa


via MSF Group

Cosplay... Is An Art: Granada Gaming 2015

via Pedro G

The Mothman Prophecies

Film Appreciation

I remember going home and researching the Mothman legend after watching the movie, The Mothman Prophecies. It triggered a curiosity as to whether this was a legend or whether there was substantial evidence of such supernatural creature, like Bigfoot or the Chupacabra.

The movie, which is directed by Mark Pellington and stars Richard Gere, is based on a book by parapsychologist John Keel on actual events that occurred between November 1966 and December 1967 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. There is considerable debate as to whether the appearance of the Mothman was prophetic and a warning or whether the creature caused the disaster.


  via Movie Trailers M&M

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mothman_Prophecies_%28film%29
http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/lost-tapes/videos/hellhound/
http://www.gods-and-monsters.com/mothman-legend.html
http://www.cinefania.com/movie.php/43467/

Svetlana Kondakova

Art Appreciation

I came across a painting by Russian-born artist Svetlana Kondakova of a woman lying in the grass motionless with a skull next to her. This painting which is titled Ophelia more than likely is in reference to William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

As explained on her website, many of her works are introspective. Her educational background in Scotland, Greece, and Bolivia have provided inspiration for her paintings.

You can see more of her beautiful works HERE.

Ophelia via artodyssey1

Self-Portrait via svetlanakondakova

Swan via artodyssey1

Sources:

http://www.svetlanakondakova.com/
https://www.virtualgallery.com/galleries/svetlana_kondakova_a1577875
http://artodyssey1.blogspot.com/2013/11/svetlana-kondakova.html
http://svetlanakondakova.blogspot.com/