Shintaro Ohata

Hello there my peeps!

Today’s work is by the artist Shintaro Ohata. Here is a quick bio statement from his website:

http://yukari-art.jp/en/shintaro_ohata_en

 “Shintaro Ohata is an artist who depicts little things in everyday life like scenes of a movie and captures all sorts of light in his work with a unique touch: convenience stores at night, city roads on rainy day and fast-food shops at dawn etc. His paintings show us ordinary sceneries as dramas. He is also known for his characteristic style; placing sculptures in front of paintings, and shows them as one work, a combination of 2-D and 3-D world. He says that it all started from when he wondered “I could bring the atmosphere or dynamism of my paintings with a more different way if I place sculptures in front of paintings”. Many viewers tend to assume that there is a light source set into his work itself because of the strong expression of lights in his sculpture. His further steps have been noticed as he has been featured by lots of media from overseas, including a cultural magazine from the USA that featured him on their front cover and a long interview.”

The piece that I picked today is called “Starry Night” and I just love this for several reasons. First off, not everything in the picture is a painting even though it is made out to look that way. The use of the sculptures to work as the main subjects in the painting itself is genius. I find that it also creates more of a connection with different kinds of viewer because part of the painting is a 3-D object.

The final reason that I love this piece is because of how he took any ordinary back ground, something we may see every day and turned it into something beautiful. The beauty of the brush strokes and the application of the paint makes me want to weep but, not from sadness but from the beauty of it.

What do you guys think?

As ever, peace out my peeps! -DG

Peter Callesen

Hello there my peeps.. How awesome you guys are today as usual.

Today’s is more of an artist rather than a piece simply because of how awesome he is. But I will throw in what I think about the piece, so don’t worry.

Today’s is by Peter Callesen who is a Danish artist who is excellent at minimalism and folding paper. I’ve noticed that he seems to be using the positive and negative space to tell the story which is sometimes a dark one. This use of both the positive and negative areas helps portray both the past and the future of his subject with only the use of the clean crisp white paper. 

This particular piece is called “Transparent God.” If you go to his website (http://www.petercallesen.com/paper/large-scale-papercuts/)  you can see more details of this large scale piece. The figure seen is made up of cutouts from the paper in the shape of people.  And this is only one single piece of paper. There are no extra pieces used or added.

The message I am receiving from this is that “God” is does not simply exist but is made up and built by people; that without people he/she would not exist.

What do you guys think he is trying to say here?

Peace out my peeps!- DG

IT'S A GIANT RUBBER DUCK!!!!

Ok my peeps, today’s piece is a little different because one) the information I am using is directly from the artist’s website and two) it’s kind of huge.

“Rubber Duck

Hong Kong 2013

14 x 15 x 16,5 meters

Inflatable, pontoon and generator

The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn't discriminate people and doesn't have a political connotation. The friendly, floating Rubber Duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them. The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages!

The work has traversed global waters since 2007 and could be seen in St. Nazaire (FR), Sao Paulo (BR), Auckland (NZ), Hasselt (BE),Osaka and Hiroshima (JP), Sydney (AUS), Nürnberg (DE), Amsterdam (NL) and more places.”

This piece I find fascinating not just because of how the artist describes it but the size in itself. A regular rubber duck is pretty small compared to us and this this is huge! I think it’s awesome that Florentijin Hofman is trying to spread just a simple friendly and fun message through art.

What do you guys think?

Oh and it is going to be in Pittsburg next I hear.

Here is his website if you want to see more of his oversized work:

http://www.florentijnhofman.nl/dev/index.php

And of course what kind of post would this be without this little gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8IfCSnYPYo 

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Stay beautiful my peeps and as ever, peace!- DG

Li Hongbo

(It’s awesome today peeps!)

Perhaps some of you have seen this is a video already. It is done by the Beijing artist Li Hongbo. This particular one is just named “Girl.”

Today’s piece at first looks like carved porcelain but it actually is thousands of layers of paper glued together.

I just …. WOW. The technique used is similar to the one used when making paper gourds (those things that can be stored flat but then when opened can be a flower or other shape in 3D). Just imagine the time put into this …. And the crazy part, this won’t be able to last as long as say, a painting. These are very beautiful, very creative and just overall wow.

See more here:

http://www.dominikmerschgallery.com/Artist.aspx?id=92&img=1286

And here is a video from the Dominik Mersch Gallery that gives a little more background information on the artist and sculpture. Plus, you get to see some of them in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4deyy44s3g

What do you guys think?

As ever leave a comment, stay beautiful and peace! -DG

AWESOMENESS!

Ok my peeps, I’m sorry I didn’t post anything yesterday I was super busy looking for an awesome piece for you guys and then I stumbled up this little gem.

This piece is by the modern Japanese artist Yuki Matsueda and it is titled “Super Egg.” Made out of wood, egg shell and resin this piece really has the “cool” factor.

This particular piece is one of a collection which he currently is still making.

I really am drawn to it because of the simplicity of it and because it makes you think. Here we see the yolk coming out of the egg, more like ejecting from the egg, and coming towards the viewer.

How many times have you sat down to eat an egg and you never once considered that maybe there was something in there other than food? It gives it a comical sense and almost a humanization of the egg yolk. Plus the fact that most of the egg is intact it gives the impression of the egg coming out of its shell (instead of a turtle).

What do you guys think?

And if you like his work here is a link to his website:

http://www.yuki-matsueda.com/works.html

As ever, peace out my peeps! -DG

Frederic Leighton

Hey there my peeps! Today’s work is by a guy named Frederic Leighton

It’s oil on canvas and from 1864 and it’s called the Painter’s Honeymoon.

This painting is unusual for Leighton because of the mere fact that all of the figures in the picture have clothing on. Leighton was very fond of nudes and some of them were so prolific that they had to be removed from the exhibition of English art that toured America in 1857.

This one however it not one of those! After painting this Leighton did not show it to the public until two years later at the first exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1866. This is attributed to Leighton’s lack of confidence and shyness.

Another fun fact about the painting is the man portrayed. This man appeared in several other works of Leighton and here his hands are painted with such great to detail it seems to emphasize the importance of his hands for his work.  And of course the orange in the orange tree and the green in her dress contrast beautifully to show the difference between the inside and outside scene. 

So my peeps, what do you think? And remember that art is always open for interpretation and there is no wrong or right answers. I would like to hear from some of you about this painting and all of the other works. Don't be shy my peeps, just be yourselves. 

As ever, stay beautiful and see beauty every where. Peace!- DG

Judith Ann Braun

So my peeps, I know that I haven't done anything not modern recently and today I'm not either (sorry bout that) but today's is a special treat. 

Judith Ann Braun started out as a traditional painter but now she creates her art using charcoal dust and her fingers. That's right, her fingertips. 

I think this has a similar concept to pointillism. Up close you see the that they are fingerprints but farther away you can see the whole picture. 

Also, these are mostly done on walls and not paper (although a few are). 

She also, in her other pieces, seems to be a fan of symmetry.

Here is her website if you want to see more:

http://judithannbraun.com/498397/indianapolis-museum-of-art/ 

As ever, stay beautiful my peeps and I am out. Peace!- DG

Diego Faz (more like Freaking Awesome Artist)

Today, my peeps, another modern artist named Diego Faz

I don't think there are any words to describe this besides I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

This is not a photo, no. It's charcoal pencil.

Don't believe me check him out on deviantart:

http://diegokoi.deviantart.com/

There it shows the process of him making it and many more. 

Enjoy!

As ever peace out my peeps!-DG

Eric Fischl

ART OF THE DAY!

Ok peeps. I find it hard to be as energetic and excited as I am on these post because of today's date. 

I think today's art will be Eric Fischl's controversial statue  the Tumbling Woman 

Many people find this statue disturbing and too graphic or simply as Paul Labb said "I don't think it dignifies their deaths."

With this point I disagree with him. 

When I see this statue it reminds me of the suddenness that 9/11 happened. It reminds me of the pain and the horror of that day. It may not represent the victims as heroes or angels but as what they really were. Unsuspecting, decent people who went through something no ever could have guessed. That day was horrible and this statue inspires the same emotions we all felt when we watched our TV's in disbelieving shock. It does not glorify the event, it retells it and reminds us of those painful emotions we felt that day. 

I think people are uncomfortable with this statue for that reason and instead of admitting that they claim that the nudity bothers them, or that the figure is not graceful. But, I would like to hear what you guys think. 

However, the most important thing to remember on this day is to cherish life and remember that life does go on.

As ever, peace out my peeps and leave your comments below- DG

Phil Hansen

Ok so today art is a video of a talk. It’s more of an artist than a specific piece and I thought that he had a good point and has some creative and great ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anujFqvCJsk

Here’s a link to his website:

http://philinthecircle.com/

Oh peeps! I hope you like today's rendition of art and I hope that you take the time out of your busy schedules in order to explore his work and the message he has about art and what it is. 

Peace out my peeps! - DG

Unlikely Series by Giuseppe Colarusso

This artist imagines bizarre and humorous objects that make us think about what we use in our everyday lives.  What he said is that “He hopes each image will make you stop, think and hopefully bring a smile to your face, which is definitely a worthy cause.”

Here is a link to his website if you want to see more:

http://www.giuseppecolarusso.it/improbabilita_.html

I don't think I can add anything that would make his work seem more awesome. In this instance it's just not the execution which is excellent but the thought behind it. 

Please take a moment to enjoy the rest of the series on his website. 

Peace out my peeps! -DG

Juan de Pareja by Diego Velazquez

1650

Oil on canvas

Juan de Pareja was the slave of Velazquez. It was common for slaves to assist painters in the making of colors, canvas and brushes. Pareja was apparently also a painter who imitated Velazquez’s style.

This painting is different not because of the subject by how the subject is portrayed. Velazquez portrays his slave in a half-profile with his head slightly turned towards us. He’s dressed in nice clothing and the light falls directly on his face. The gesture he has is proud and secure. This painting fits Velazquez’s style because of his ability and willingness to give a character dignity no matter what their social standing was.

I just love this piece because of how Velazquez treated Pareja in the picture. He could have shown Pareja doing tasks for him or in lower standing but instead he showed him with an air of respect that another human being deserved. I love when Velazquez does this with his subjects and hope you guys enjoy this picture not just for the aesthetic value but for the history and meaning as well. 

What do you think my peeps? 

OK, so first post. Yeah! 

What I choose ....? Oh, I know! How about the 1850 painting by the Russian artist known as Ivan Aivazovsky. This painting has often been called the "most beautiful painting in Russia."

The Ninth Wave

oil on canvas 

87 in. X 131 in. 

I just love this piece!

Why?

Well I like it not just for the color palette but what the color palette does for the message of the painting. For me at least, the warm tones of the sky offer the people clinging to the debris a sense of hope. These people are in a dire situation but the atmosphere of the painting says other wise. I see this as a very hopefully painting and it is considered to be one of Aivazovsky's best works.