Art School
September 14, 2008
Can you get a decent art education on the web? The answer is a qualified ‘yes’, …. if you do your homework, and if you select a reputable art school.
The internet is actually a good way to find out about various art programs around the country, around the world. First you have to select an art school which has a good reputation.
Many of the benefits to online education have to do with added flexibility:
1. Ability to stay home and study with a college or school whose base is at a different location.
2. Ability to study when it suits you. You can work around your day job or the busy routine of a family life with children.
Challenges of online education for art schools are generally:
1. student interaction with other students, teachers and tutors.
2. student interaction with teachers and tutors
An online art school should contain just about the same as a “live” education, depending on how long and intense it is. you should be able to learn different techniques, take idea and concept based courses, at least one course in art theory and history. Personal tutoring from teachers is important as well. You have to be able to get response and feedback on your progress, otherwise it’s hard to develop your skills and ideas.
Challenges of online education for art students are generally:
1. the required discipline to ‘keep going’ when the going gets tough’ and to see coursework through to the end. Some people simply need a physical teacher around, who could frown to you if you’d tell her you didn’t complete your art project.
2. certain students need to hear or see things to be able to learn, while others are brilliant at learning through books.
What you’d get in the end
Some educations offer a degree and some just diplomas. It depends on the level on it, and how much time and money you are able to put in. if you are aiming on a degree in fine arts on a professional level, you have to take a college course and that will cost more for you in time and money investment. If you want to take some courses to learn new techniques or just for a hobby, you can take shorter single theme courses. It all depends on your needs.
The one thing to keep in mind is to fulfill your dreams. A fine or graphic art education can be something many people would advice against, but I’m of the opposite opinion. You have to try out your dreams how else would you know what your purpose in life is?
As an aid in this process:
Famous Vogel Collection of 2500 artworks to be gifted in 2008/2009
May 1, 2008
A dream is coming through for 50 art institutions around the nation, as the renowned Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection of 2500 works of contemporary art is gifted and distributed among America’s 50 states, art museums around the country are getting excited.
The Dorothy & Herbert Vogel Collection’s focus of the collection is on conceptual and minimalist art. They were ahead of their time and selected artists who were lesser known (before they were well-known) for their collection. They bought directly from the artists, and often developed a relationship of ongoing support of the artists.
The first 10 art institutions to receive 50 artworks each of the collection as art gift were announced in April. They are: Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas (Texas), Delaware Art Museum (Delaware), Harvard University Art Museum (Massachusetts), High Museum of Art, Atlanta (Georgia), Indianapolis Museum of Art (Indianapolis), Montclair Art Museum (New Jersey), Museum of Contemporary Art ~ LA (California), New Orleans Museum of Art (New Orleans), Seattle Art Museum (Washington), and Speed Art Museum (Kentucky).
Twenty more institutions will receive gifts in 2008, and the another twenty art institutions will receive theirs in 2009.
There are works by 170 artists in the collection. Some of the artists in the collection: Lynda Benglis, Sol LeWitt, Michael Lucero, Robert Mangold, Edda Renouf, Richard Tuttle and Tony Smith.
Dorothy & Herbert Vogel have the refreshingly different professional profile of librarian and postal worker ~ abolishing all stereotypes around who art collectors are. Their impeccable and discerning taste led them to buy ‘bargains’ which will soon bejewel 50 museums and other art institutions in America.
The Vogels began collecting art in the ’60s. They went for drawings, smaller paintings & sculptures, prints, photographs, and illustrated books ~ all sized to befit their apartment.
For more information about the Vogel Art Gift http://vogel5050.org/vogel/index.htm
How to Get Your Photography Noticed, Gain Recognition and Start Making Money
April 30, 2008
From time to time we post articles that are written with the artists in mind. Usually, we choose articles that offer a glimpse behind the scene for art collectors and art market observers, to gain understanding of the input that goes into art making. I hope this is an educational art article in that sense. eArtfair.com
By Larry M. Lynch
The Questions
When a reader wrote, “Recently I have taken an interest in photography and am taking a photography class at a local community college.” She then asked, “How do I get my artwork noticed by someone who can do something about it?”
She added that her art, “… is something that I am very passionate about and I want people to see and hear my message through my art.” Questions like, “who do I show my art to?” and “How do I get my work out there?” are common to myriads of amateur and professional photographers and artists alike. Since “a picture can often be more powerful than someone giving a speech”, an important question for many is how do I get my work noticed?
Although photography is not my principal occupation, I do use it almost daily as a supplement to my university English EFL teaching and writing. I’d suggest trying these approaches to help get your photography “out there”. If your work is not on display it can’t get noticed by those who may be in a position to allow you to benefit from your skills, insight and vision.
Five Viable Approaches
1. First, try to get your work up on the web. Use your own website or a blog. Use a photo to introduce a short commentary on your specific topic. For a type of example look at some of my blog postings at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com Be sure to look at all the photographer websites you can find to inspiration and ideas, but don’t copy. Always be original.
2. Then, look into photo banks that accept freelance work. Do a Google search and you’ll come up with plenty of them. Read through their guidelines and submit accordingly. If you need specific recommendations on this do a targeted search inside the general search results. If you’re still really stuck, e-mail me and I’ll try to help.
3. Next, enter photo shows, competitions, media works display shows and contests. Winning or placing even in a small local event or contest can get your work noticed quickly and at high levels. Check local photo shops, schools and the media for listings of these events. Participate in as many as you possibly can. Each and every week, month and year have your work entered or displayed somewhere, somehow.
4. After that, try working with writers who could use your photos as art to accompany their articles, posts, reports, books, etc. and get some of your photos published. The more exposure by different means, in different media on and offline that you can get, the better. Try unique ideas for exposing yourself and your work to a broad-based public and focused groups. Print your business cards, flyers and brochures on the backs of selected photos. Offer them framed for display in company lobbies and reception areas. Use any other ideas you can come up with. Carefully read photography guidelines available online at newspaper and magazine websites. Follow submissions recommendations to the letter.
5. Fifth, Keep shooting. Keep practicing and growing in your craft. You’ll get better and grow. This will show in your work, but don’t wait until you’re “better”, start pushing, and showing your work now. It’ll be a great incentive for you to continue to forge ahead. I’d like to see some of your work myself. Let me know when and where you get your blog, website or other online display up and I’ll personally check it out and give you further comments.
Winston Churchill Said It Best
Finally, in the words of the late Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never, never give up” Keep on with what you love no matter what anybody else says about you or your work. You work to express yourself and that’s paramount to your success. Do everything you can to get your photography out there, get noticed and start making money and otherwise reaping some benefits from your skills, insight, and vision.
I hope these suggestions help. Good luck.
Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free.
For more information on entering or advancing in the fascinating field of teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language send for his no-cost PDF Ebook, “If You Want to Teach English Abroad, Here’s What You Need to Know”, immediate delivery details and no-obligation information are available online now at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/
Need professional, original content or articles for your blog, newsletter or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and teaching materials mailing list? Then contact the author at this website for a prompt response.
How We Live with Art – Banksy video
March 19, 2008
This is an interesting video of how people interact with a work of art. It shows the mix of appreciation of the art itself aestetically, of its whimsy and fun, of its serious message and and a ‘trying it on for size’ – identification with the art.
Banksy
This fine art video shows graffiti artist Banksy’s latest street work on the Essex and its people:
Banksy Books
A little book review
Wall and Piece: this book is great ~ page after page after page of stencils and stories. A how to stencil book that makes you think. Highly recommended.
Banging your head against a brick wall: pocket-sized. The art speaks for itself, and it will change your mind. Commentary included.
Existencilism: unmatched collection of brilliant works. Shows Banksy’s sense of rebellion and genius.
Banksy locations: at first only in London, you now have to travel around the world to find them all. A new updated version.
Cut It Out: a third pocket-sized book in color, showing Banksy’s works, including museum pieces.
America’s Top Museums & Art Galleries A-K
February 23, 2008
By A. Lee, copyright 2008.
My list of US-based art museums and public galleries, in alphabetical order.
- Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh
Housed in a renovated seven-floor warehouse building, the Andy Warhol museum displays more than 500 works of art in film, paintings, prints, and drawings, offering a comprehensive presentation of the development of Warhol’s work. The artworks displayed are drawn from its extensive collections of works by Andy Warhol as well as from its huge archives and a collection of works by other artists. An ever-changing gallery. - Art Institute of Chicago
This art school has 2 art galleries: Betty Rymer Gallery, which provides a provocative, stimulating forum for the exchange of ideas and discourse on contemporary work in the visual arts, featuring faculty, student, Chicago-based, national and international artists. Gallery 2 and Project Space exhibits innovative and experimental curated works by advanced students.
Oriental Poppies, 1928 Georgia O’Keeffe Buy From Art.com 
- California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco
Large museum with many highest-quality artworks. First, it’s works on paper collection is one of the largest in the US: 74,000 prints, drawings& illustrated books span six centuries (Dürer, Gauguin, Rembrandt, Kandinsky, and O’Keeffe, Japanese prints, Indian miniatures). Includes the Logan Collection of Illustrated artists’ books. Second, its large collection of 750 European masterwork paintings (14-20th century) incld works from Fra Angelico, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt, Watteau, Gainsborough, Monet, Bouguereau, Matisse, and Picasso. Third, it holds 8000 objects of European Decorative Art, e.g. furniture, sculpture, other. Last, the Legion of Honor holds 1300 antiquities (pottery, sculpture and metalwork) from the ancient Mediterranea & Near East, including Greece, Rome, Egypt, Assyria, and Mesopotamia. - Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, California
The Center presents six exhibitions annually, featuring both established and emerging artists who represent a diversity in technique and style. Small, contemporary center. - Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland
- Contemporary Arts Museum – Houston, Houston
- Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
- Dia Center for the Arts
- Freer gallery of Art & Sackler gallery
- Frick collection
- Guggenheim , New York City
- Harvard University art Museums, Boston
Also see:
America’s top museums & art galleries L-Z
Copyright 2008, Astrid Lee. All rights reserved.
Do not copy list without written permission.
Discover Five Highly Collectable Living, French Artists…Unique And Affordable!
February 21, 2008
By Rose Bourne
In the 19th and 20th century many French artists left their undeniable influence on the art world. Artists such as Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edouard Manet and Jean Miro created a style so unique that books have been written about them and their works. Their art hangs in museums worldwide.
Now we invite you to peer into a looking glass for the 21st century and see which artists may make the art history books in the future.
We have singled out five artists for this article because their style is unique. Each artist is well established and known because they have sold their artwork worldwide.
FANCH LEDAN is one of the most prolific and successful artists today, Born François Ledan in 1949, he is a self-taught artist who signs his work Fanch Ledan. His unique style captures the interior of a room with extreme detail. In capturing this style he has added his homage to artists of the past and present. Some of his best selling works include Interior with Picasso, Interior with Miro, and Interior with Dali. In a scene, such as a living room, he will place famous paintings of these artist on the wall. These works usually do not have any people in the scene yet he gives you a sense of presence by placing in the room objects to let you know someone had been there. You may see a coffee cup in a table or a scarf draped over the arm of a chair.
Fanch has established a wide international reputation and his artwork has been well received by collectors internationally from Japan and Australia to Europe and the United States. He paints with the best quality acrylic colors on linen canvases.
These originals are eventually published and distributed as limited editions: serigraphs on paper and canvas, lithographs on Arches paper, giclees and posters. All of Fanch’s images are available and many have been used for specific exclusive copyrights uses, on four continents. Fanch maintains residences in both California and the South of France.
EMILE BELLET is a self-taught artist who has aligned himself with the discipline of the “Fauvres”, or savages – a school of artists who lived at the turn of the 20th century, which included Matisse, Cezanne, Dufy, and Vlaminck. They painted in vivid non-authentic color, and Emile Bellet has mastered this discipline with an impasto knife accentuating this color with the elongated forms of the mannerists.
The familiar female figure used throughout his work is symbolic of his impression of femininity. She represents all women, and for this reason has no facial expression. She is timeless and ageless, and universal.
Patrice de la Perriere, Director of the Art Revue, Univers des Arts (Universe of the Arts)
says of Bellet:
“The ethereal, red women of Bellet magnificently show themselves in the fragrance of summer light. Whether they are standing near a window opening onto a romantic countryside, or sitting languorously in a comfortable interior, Bellet’s women never cease to draw you into a dreamlike world. Their presence, undeniably brings a real emotion to the viewer.”
JEAN -CLAUDE PICOT displays a use of color and texture that adds an excitement to his work. He has developed a unique style that recalls a Post-Impressionist application of color combined with the expressive qualities of line. The world of his art is often one of a happy reflection on relaxation, and his personal “joie de vivre”. He captures the animation, romance and essence of the landscape.
Picot spends much of his time in the Cote d’Azur. He is inspired by the landscape of the beautiful region with its beaches, promenades and harbors, His work reflects the natural beauty and breathtaking views. Picot works in a Post-Impressionist manner reducing flowers, trees, houses and figures to their essential forms. International art critics have described this mature French artist, Picot, amongst the masters of the turn-of-the century Impressionism and early Twentieth Century Fauvism citing the commonalities in their works, He will have a place in the art history of important French landscape painters. Today, Picot displays his works in many media including oil, watercolor, etching, and serigraphs.
SHAN MERRY was born in Paris in 1938. In 1957, she was a student at the School of Fine Arts in Angers. She is best known as a model-maker and designer of scarves for HERMES. Because of this her “Profile” was presented at the Museum of Horses in Chantilly. The year 1972 was the beginning of her painting career with her principal Parisian shows.
She loves to utilize watercolor as her signature medium. Her works primarily depict images of young, alluring women. Her use of darkened eyes and lashes are contrasted by swirling hair and pastel. The facial features create a highly sensuous image. She often places these figures on light colored and often totally white backgrounds. This technique allows the viewer to see an air of purity in the faces.
Shan-Merry has participated in numerous international exhibitions in New York, Chicago and Osaka. Awards received for her paintings include the New York watercolor prize in 1974, Chevalier (Knight) of Arts-Sciences-Letters, Chevalier (Knight) of Cultural and Artistic Merit, Member of Italian Academy with gold medal, and “Signature” prize in 1979.
H. CLAUDE PISSARRO was born into a painting dynasty, starting with his grandfather, Camille Pissarro, and continuing with his father, Paul Emille, two of the most celebrated French impressionist.
Claude Pissarro gained vast knowledge from the two artistic masters of his family. Camille Pissarro was not only considered one of the most famous painters in history, he was also a highly regarded teacher. Among his pupils were Cezanne and Gaugin, as well as Claude’s father and uncle. His father, Paul Emile, spent many hours guiding and helping his son Claude to develop his own style and technique.
Claude studied the works of the masters at the Louvre and Jeu de Paume. For more than fifty years of his life Claude Pissarro has devoted himself both mentally and physically to art.
It has been a difficult but rewarding journey for Claude Pissarro. He lives under the shadow of his artistic heritage, yet now has gained International respect for his own talents. His dual education, traditionalist (due to his origins) and avant-gardist (because of his generation) means that he has been able to discover the both artistic worlds.
He paints landscapes and harbor scenes with great fluidity and dazzling light. Art critics have felt that his beautiful landscapes and harbor scenes often go beyond the accomplishments of his famous father and grandfather.
All of the five artists introduced in this article are represented by many online galleries.
For over 20 years I have worked in the art field as an art auctioneer, art lecturer, newsletter publisher and author of numerous educational textbooks. Currently our company publishes the Art Collector’s Newsletter for both new and seasoned collectors. Click here to receive a free issue of the Art Collector’s Newsletter. http://www.theartcollectorsnewsletter.com/
The Life of Joan Miro
February 14, 2008
By Mike McDougall
Joan Miró, the legendary Spanish painter, sculptor and ceramist, was born in Barcelona in 1893. Miró’s early life was nothing out of the ordinary, at age 14 he enrolled in the “Escuela Superior de Artes Industriales y Bellas Artes” where he studied for three years. After this he took on a job as a clerk In Barcelona but after suffering a nervous breakdown Miró decided that this wasn’t the career for him so he returned to his studies, this time at Francesc Gali’s “Escuela d’Art” where he studied for a further 3 years up until 1915. Miró’s first real breakthrough came when he had an opportunity to display his art in 1917. Local art dealer José Dalman had shown an interest in the young artist’s early work and used his studio for the exhibition.
From this point on Miró’s career as an artist really took off. He made his first visit to Paris in 1919 and moved there a year later to be part of the artistic community in Montparnasse. It was here as well that he met his fellow countryman Pablo Picasso, for the first time. After this Miró would spend the rest of his life dividing his time between Paris and Montroig back in his native Spain. His first solo show in Paris followed quickly in 1921. Paris was the place to be for a young artist at this time, it allowed Miró to meet many other great artists and in 1924 Miró joined Andre Breton’s Surrealist movement. This gave Miró the opportunity to work with fellow surreal artists Andre Masson and Max Ernst and in 1926 he helped Ernst to pioneer his “grattage” technique. Despite his ties with the movement, it has been said that he was always something of an outsider; indeed Breton later went on to say of Miró that he was “the most surrealist of us all”. As Miró developed his new style he claimed that he wanted to “assassinate” and “murder” traditional painting techniques.
By the early 1930’s Miró’s own style was developing and he was starting to get recognised as one of the leading artists of his time. His vibrant colours and almost amoebic shapes are reminiscent of a child’s drawings. On the home front, Miró had also been married to Pilar Juncosa in 1929 and this period also saw the arrival of their first daughter in 1931.
Miró was an artist revered for his adaptability and his use of different media. In 1929 he started his first experiments with lithography and his first etchings and sculptures also date from around this period. These different forms of artistic expression would go on to form a huge part of his work and, like his peer Picasso; it would ultimately make him more accessible as an artist.
The 1936, due to the outbreak of the civil war, Miró decided not the return to Spain; he moved his wife and daughter out to join him in Paris. He would not return to his homeland for nearly five years. Miró continued to experiment with new mediums and in 1944 he produced his first ceramics piece. By now his renown was worldwide and he made his first trip to America in 1947. He returned again frequently and had successful one-man shows at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York in 1951 and 1959.
Some of the highlights in Miró’s glittering career include receiving the 1954 Venice Biennial printmaking prize, in 1958 he was commissioned to do two murals for the UNESCO building in Paris which won the Guggenheim International Award for and in 1980 he received the Gold Medal of Fine Arts from his sovereign, King Juan-Carlos.
Undoubtedly Miró was one of the 20th century’s finest artists – his legacy lives on today and a huge volume of his work can be seen at the Fundacio Joan Miró in Barcelona, a superb museum that is a fine showcase to this extremely talented man.
Miro Books
Article by Mike McDougall. Mike McDougall has five years experience working as a travel writer and marketeer. He is currently working to provide additional content for Babylon-idiomas, a Spanish language school with an excellent presence in Spain and Latin America. This work is covered by a creative commons licence
Roy Lichtenstein
February 4, 2008
Introduction
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) was an American artist born in New York City. He epitomized pop art, and brought popular culture into fine art. Personally, he described his pop art as industrial painting. Pop Art started in the ’50s and referred to the interest of a number of artists in the images of mass media, advertising, comics and consumer products.
Pop Art Contemporaries
Other key players in the pop art movement included Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Jim Dine, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, David Hockney, Wayne Thiebaud, Keith Haring, and Sigmar Polke.
Lichtenstein’s Famous Pop Art
Roy Lichtenstein became famous for his comic-strip style paintings such as “Whaam”, “Torpedo . . . los!”, “Grrrrrrrrrrr!!”, his series of crying women, features of Tintin, and his New York graffiti, or murals.
(part of original painting to show Lichtenstein’s style)
Roy acknowledged that his ideas on perception by Fine Arts professor Hoyt Sherman, Ohio State University, were his earliest important art influence, and that his ideas continued to affect his ideas of visual unity over time. This professor used a “flash room”. This was a dark room where images would be briefly flashed onto the screen. Students were supposed to draw what they had seen – a method of grasping an image by copying it. Roy received his MFA from Ohio State in 1949, and subsequently taught at the same university. In 1957 he started teaching in upstate New York.
Lichtenstein’s earlier artwork switches between Cubism and Expressionism. 1957 was a turning point for Roy when he adopted Abstract Expressionism. In 1961, Lichtenstein commenced his now-famous Pop Art style, using comic strip images: displaying hard edge figurative close-ups, and applying his famous painting technique of using Benday dots, sourced from commercial printing.
Lichtenstein’s most famous works were created in the early ’60s. In this phase of his career, he was a cartoon copyist. However, he changed scale, color, treatment and implication. (A convincing project by David Barsalou reviewed 30,000+ comic strips, uncovering the strip images that Lichtenstein used in his artwork. http://davidbarsalou.homestead.com/LICHTENSTEINPROJECT.html shows many source strip book artwork and Lichtenstein paintings side-by-side.) Anyhow, Lichtenstein stopped copying cartoons in 1965.
His art made in the ’70s and ’80s with a much looser style of art, displaying surrealism. He also created hundreds of screen prints in this period.
In 1996, Lichtenstein donated 154 prints and 2 books to the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. With this huge donation, the museum now holds the largest collection of this artist’s work. Other museums holding his work include the Tate in London; SF Moma, in San Francisco; MoMa, Guggenheim and The Met in NYC. And then there is of course the gallery that represented him, Leo Castelli Gallery, also in NYC. There are an estimated 4,500 of Lichtenstein’s works in circulation, shared between private collectors and museums around the world.
The Increasing Value of Lichtenstein’s Art
Lichtenstein’s artwork has been in demand for decades, capturing increasing value. In 1989, Torpedo…Los! sold for a record $5.5m at Christie’s. This sale make Roy Lichtenstein 1 of 3 living artists to have attracted such huge sums. In 1990, a second record price for a Lichtenstein work was set when ‘Kiss II’ was sold for $6m.
In 2002, that record for Lichtenstein was broken when another work ‘Happy Tears’ sold for $7.1m at Christie’s in New York. ‘Happy Tears’ (1964) is a pop art painting of a smiling women with tears. In 2006, Lichtenstein’s ‘Sinking Sun’ (1964) was sold for $15.7m at the modern art auction at Sotheby’s in New York. New York gallery L&M Arts purchased the work. This artwork is considered as ‘one of the greatest icons of the 20th Century’.
copyright 2008 — all rights reserved.
http://www.eArtfair.com
Leonardo Da Vinci – A Legacy of Immortal Genius – II
January 23, 2008
By John Keaton
– part II of his article on Leonardo Da Vinci:
MONA LISA DEL GIACONDA
Began in 1503, the Mona Lisa was a commissioned portrait of the Florentine nobleman, Francesco di Bartolommeo di Zanobi de Giocondo’s third wife, Lisa di Antonio Maria di Noldo Gjerardini at the age of twenty four. Painted on poplar wood, the iconic imagery of the Mona Lisa is so ingrained into western culture that the enigmatic smile of the mysterious woman is nearly synonomous with art, itself. As with many of da Vinci’s works, this painting has a stunning history. The allure and myth of the work Is matched with the technical and artistic virtuosity of the piece. The sublety of the magnificent smile, the richly layered and highly detailed background are hallmarks of a process known as sfumato. Utilizing layers and layers of glazes, the illusion of depth is achieved. This technique, highly developed by the Dutch masters, was adopted and perfected to such a degree by Leonardo that it became a Da Vinci trademark. Another fine example of sfumato is The Virgin of The Rocks (1484) National Gallery, London.
The original Mona Lisa was actually larger than the present 77 x 53 cm. Originally, there were two columns one on each side of the figure which made it much clearer that the young woman is seated on a terrace. Leonardo worked on Mona Lisa for 4 years and kept the painting himself. Some believe that he was simply unable to part with it. Nine years later, arriving in France, the painting was in his baggage, and was sold to King Francis I. Amboise, Fountainbleau, Versailles, Ludwig XIV’s collection and the Louvre were all homes to this alluring masterpiece. Napolean removed the painting from the Louvre and hung it in his bedroom. Upon his banishment to Elba, the Mona Lisa was returned to the Louvre.
In 1911, the painting was stolen by an italian art thief. Ironically, two years later, the Mona Lisa resurfaced in Florence, the city of its true origin! Eventually the painting made it’s way back to the Louvre. In the 60s and 70’s, The Mona Lisa was exhibited in New York, Tokyo and Moscow. Today the masterpiece is in permanent residence in the Louvre and international law prohibits any foreign exhibition.
THE ARTIST AS NATURE’S OBSERVER
In addition to Leonardo’s extraodinary contributions to the world of art, his powers of divine intellect led him to explore many other fields of endeavor. The renaissance was the period in which science and art blended together in the search for the purest, logical, and analytical observation of nature. The Homo – Vitruvianus by Da Vinci is a study of proportions with the human figure inscribed in a circle and a square is a superb example of this philosophy and the period’s quest for scientific analysis.
Leonardo again placed himself at the forefront of this new age of reason and intellect. His commitment to observation of the human body is unsurpassed and included skeletal and muscle studies, respiratory and digestive systems and the evolution of the fetus within the womb. The collection of Leonardo’s anatomical studies consist of roughly two hundred folios and are kept at the Royal Library at Windsor, England. Additionally daVinci’s vast study of nature include the action of light, the growth of plants and the flow of water.
THE SYTHESIS OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY
Considering the scope and vision of Leonardo’s power of expression and the multitude of interests that inspired and intrigued him, it would be next to impossible to list them all. His spirit of scientific inquiry coupled with a daring and inventive mind allowed him to explore and elaborate on inventions and concepts as varied as engines, gears and pulleys flow mills and irrigational aqueducts. Fascinated with flight, Leonardo carefully observed birds and their wing structures. Applying these deceptively simple principles to mechanics and technology, he made numerous illustrations depicting machines of flight which are in essence the “working plans “ for hang-gliders, planes and helicopters which exist today. This is but one of the many examples of why Leonardo da Vinci is considered an enigma that lived centuries ahead of his time.
AN INVITATION TO FRANCE
In autumn of 1516 Leonardo arrived in Amboise, at the invitation of King Francis I. He lived in the small castle cloux and pursued his hydrological studies. At the age of 67, the great master passed away on May 2, 1519. His health had severely deteriorated and paralysis had taken over the right side of his body. Leonardo da Vinci’s remains are in the Chapel of St. Hubert situated within the king castle complex in Amboise, France.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
Considered the last of Leonardo’s verifiable works, this painting is strikingly different from previous visual conceptions of the saint. It is a powerful work in it’s subtle simplicity and contains four recurring elements or themes consistent with Da Vinci’s other dazzingly poetic paintings: the flowing curly hair defined with incredible precision, the enigmatic smile, peering through deep, dense shadows and perhaps most poignant, a finger pointing to heaven.
PICTURE INFORMATION AND SOURCES
1.) Self Portrait. 1512. Red Chalk on Paper. Biblioteka Reale. Turin, Italy.
2.) The Annunciation. c. 1472-1475. Oil and Tempera on Wood. Uffizi Gallery. Florence, Italy
3.) The Last Supper. 1495-1498. Oil and Tempera on Plaster. Fresco, 460 x 880 cm (15 x 29 ft)
Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, (Refectory). Milan, Italy.
4.) The Last Supper (detail of Jesus) see above.
5.) Mona Lisa. (La Gioconda) 1503-1506. Oil on Wood. Louvre, Paris, France.
6.) The Virgin of the Rocks. 1503-1506. Oil on Wood, 189.5 x 120 cm (6 x 4 ft.)
The National Gallery. London, England
7.) The Proportions of the Human Figure (Vitruvia Man). 1490. Pen, ink and watercolor over metalpoint.
Galleria dell ‘Accademia. Venice, Italy.
8.) Female genitals and foetus in the uterus. 1510-1512. Windsor, Royal Library (RL 1901r: K/P 197v)
9.) Study for flying machine. C.1487-1490 (the so-called “helicopter”) Ms B f. 83v
10.) St. John the Baptist. c.1573-1516. Oil on Wood. Louvre, Paris, France.
WEBSITES AND WEBPAGE RESOURCES:
www.kausal.com/leonardo/
www.mos.org/leonardo
www.iblibio.org/wm/paint/auth/vinci
www.artchive.com.com/artchive/L/leonardo.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/3044/adv_over.html
www.bbc.uk/science/leonardo/
www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/vasari/.html
www.island-offreedom.com/DAVINCI.HTML
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
Leonardo Da Vinci
By Carlo Pedretti
Published by TAJ Books
Cobham, Surrey
United Kingdom
Renaissance
Great Ages of Man
Time-Life Books
Copyright 1965
Art: Context and Criticism
By John Kissick
Penn State University
Published by Wm.C. Brown Communications, Inc.
Copyright 1993.
This Article Copyright 2005 by John Keaton. All Rights Reserved.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Keaton
Constructionist Artist Varvara Stepanova
January 23, 2008
By Astrid Lee
The great Russian artist Varvara Fedorovna Stepanova (1894-1958) delved into to a wide range of artistic trends from Social realism to Symbolism. However, Stepanova is mostly known for exploring and furthering Constructivism.
New Abstract Art in Russia began around 1909 – some say, actual Constructivism started in 1919 when first mentioned by Rodchenko. The term ‘Constructivism’ was actually used by the Russian artists themselves. In some ways, Constructivism was influenced by Cubism, Italian/Russian Futurism and traditional peasant art. Constructivist artwork is characterized by abstract, geometric forms and a technique in which various materials, often industrial in nature, are assembled rather than carved or modeled.
Constructivism replaced traditional art with socially-instrumental art. Constructivists invited their audiences to be active viewers of their artwork. In line with this vision, constructivists were innovators in fine art painting; but also in 3-D constructed objects; typographic design including posters; textiles & fashion designs, furniture, and theater sets and costume design.
Constuctivist lead-playing artist Stepanova expressed her wide range of talents in all of these art outlets and media. For a long time, Varvara substituted her painting for production art. She worked with functional materials manufactured in an equal relationship between artist and industrial worker, with an objective to bring art into life.
Stepanova carried out her ideal of engaging with industrial production and designed comfortable clothing for ease of movement of workers. She used striking fabrics in geometric patterns that suited the industrial printing methods. Her modernist practicality combined with sophistication made her popular in Paris in the mid ’20s.
Even though from peasant origin, Varvara went to the Kazan School of Art in Odessa. There she met her live-long art collaborator and then future-husband, Alexander Rodchenko. She moved to Moscow in 1912 with Rodchenko to attend the Stroganov School.
Together Stepanova and Rodchenko became an important part of the Russian art avant-garde, both in terms of their collaborations, and each in their own right. For an example of a collaborative artwork with Rodchenko, is NYC’s Museum of Modern Art. Both Rodchenko and Stepanova considered the artistic experience as public communication rather than a private introspection.
The couple was involved with many influential artists of that time. Before the Russian Revolution, around 1917, they shared an apartment with Wassily Kadinsky in Moscow, and were introduced to many other famous Russian artists.
In the earlier parts of her career, Varvara loved Futurist poetry. She autonomously developed what came to be known as ‘non-objective visual poetry’. An example of ‘non-objective visual poetry’ is featured at MoMA: ‘Gaust chaba’, 1919, which is watercolor manuscript text on found newspaper leaves.
Stepanova designed Cubo-Futurist artwork for use in artists’ books. This kind of artwork combines the Cubist use of forms. At the same time, it adopts the Futurists’ passionate loathing of ideas from the past, especially political and artistic traditions, and a love for action and technology. Stepanova participated in world-famous art shows, including the ‘Fifth State Exhibition’ & the ‘Tenth State Exhibition’ in 1919, and the ‘5×5 = 25 Exhibition’ in Moscow in 1921.
Many of her works feature figures who she displays as robotic, efficient and dynamic, i.e. new socialist human beings. In one of her most famous works ‘The Billiard Players’ Stepanova depicts mechanical action and emotional states simultaneously.
Even more than her husband’s work, Stepanova’s work in the 1920s epitomized the Russian Avant-Garde. Stepanova’s constructivism flourished through the mid 1930s. From 1920 to 1925, Varvara taught at the Krupskaia Academy of Social Education.
copyright A. Lee, 2008 – all rights reserved.
About the Author
A. Lee creates symbolic art, as she works with both healing & spiritual imagery which she infuses with distant healing energy. You can find her desirable artwork at Spiritual Art at AstridLee.com.
She also maintains the website for fine art, http://www.eArtfair.com , which features extensive fine art, abstract art, spiritual art and other quality art collecting information.
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