Fun, Factual, Weird, and Breathtaking: painting

Showing posts with label painting. Show all posts

Friday, May 21, 2021

“Vincent Cacciotti” Paints the Inexplicable

Living and working in Los Angeles, California, Vincent Cacciotti is a neo-surrealist painter who at an early age was inspired by his father’s passion for art.

Exposed
Work in progress

Vincent began study at The Art Students League in New York City in 1998, where his break from artistic and social conventions evolved into the art he creates today.

Jack Magic

Fleeting thoughts of unrest, dreams, and the inexplicable inspire Cacciotti as his paintings delve into imagination, the travels of the human mind, and body and soul.

Time Machine

Creating surreal images displaying hidden meanings, his work captures body-centered females, provocative, powerful, and quasi-erotic.

Social Media

When using a model, Vincent tries to create the entire painting in his mind before tackling the painting, rather than beginning to paint and having to add to it.

Raven

“Engrossing and deeply moving, his latest work mostly shifts attention away from the feminine form, relying on metaphor for concerns. The theme is elusive, but potent nonetheless; it is material and psychologically inviting, pushing the boundaries of the viewer’s imagination.” (Artist Bio)

Fisheye

Then, no Lost in Space fan can resist the robot who waved his arms constantly warning, "Danger, Will Robinson!"

B9 in the Study

See Alter Ego by Cacciotti in my previous post, The Masks Behind Which We Remain Hidden.

Visit the links below to discover more amazing art by Vincent Cacciotti.

SOURCES:

All images used with the courtesy of Vincent Cacciotti

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Henrietta Berk, Artist (1919 - 1990)

Portrait in Red

Henrietta Berk, the daughter of a seamstress, is known for paintings mostly done in oil on canvas resulting in amazing bright and bold colors.

Yellow Still Life

Born in Wichita, Kansas, different sources report that Berk moved to San Francisco with her family at a young age, while others state that she moved to the Bay Area during the 1950's. Berk studied at both San Francisco State College and the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland.

Point of View

Berk's still-life paintings became a part of the Bay Area Figurative Movement which encompassed a group of artists in the San Francisco Bay area who rejected the dominant style of impressionism to favor the figure painting in the 1950's and 1960's. Berk was associated with the Bridge Generation which was one of three groups at that time - the First Generation, the Bridge Generation, and the Second Generation. As the Bay Area artists reintroduced human figures into these works, Henrietta followed this trend with her paintings.

The Musician

A painting of hers which was featured in the movie, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," resides in the U.S. Embassy in Peru.

Respite

Berk will always be remembered in San Francisco for riding through Jack London Square dressed in a body stocking and several wigs, "to cover the entire situation," as she put it, for a publicity stunt posing as Lady Godiva in 1972 to raise money for the Oakland Symphony.

Orchard

Later in life, Berk suffered with blindness as a result of diabetes. Henrietta Berk was born in Wichita, Kansas on January 9, 1919, and died in Oakland, California on January 15, 1990.

Visit the links below to enjoy more

of Henrietta Berk's stunning paintings.

SOURCES:

Fine Art Conservation Lab

Henrietta Berk Research Project, The

Invaluable

JustAnswerAntiques

Photos used with permission of

The Henrietta Berk Research Project

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

"Energy Artist" Julia

Aspen Dancer - Spirit of the Trees

Energy Artist Julia Watkins is best known as the founder of the Energism Art Movement which focuses artists to create works which project positive spiritual energy to the viewer.

Horse Crossing - "Crossing Over"

Both her paintings and jewelry represent her devotion to helping others connect to the natural flow of spiritual energy and its healing power.

The Courtship

Julia's artwork is in collections of Carnegie Mellon, Longview Museum, Children's Hospital, and Deepak Chopra.

Owl Spirit Energy

Phoenix Rising
Energy Ring

See more amazing paintings and jewelry by Julia at:

Facebook

Website

Friday, September 27, 2019

Mike Kraus Art, Amazing Acrylics

While currently residing in Rochester, New York, Mike Kraus continues to indulge us with his fascinating paintings.

Twilight Woods
Original - Acrylic

Mike’s journey began on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. Earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he then continued his pursuit and earned his graduate degree from Grand Valley State University.

Sunset Sherbert Birch Forest
Original - Acrylic

Mike Kraus Art was established in 2014, when Mike decided to dedicate himself to being a full-time artist.

Blue Dream
Original - Acrylic

The hundreds of paintings he has sold are now displayed in almost every state and in dozens of countries throughout the world.

Deep Red Birch Forest
Original - Acrylic

All-Seeing Eye
Original - Acrylic

Mike’s inspiration, in conjunction with creating his own art, is discovered through his collaborations with his patrons, collectors, curators, interior decorators, and fellow artists.

Isla Bartolomé Galapagos
Original - Digital Download

Experimentation with new materials, subjects, and ideas of creating and displaying his works of art, has been born as a result of his inspiration.

I Can Stand A Little Rain
Original - Acrylic

Spirit of the Forest
Original - Acrylic

Commissioned by clients, Kraus gives form to new paintings designed to parallel their needs, lifestyle and tastes either to enhance an existing area or bring life to a new space.

Sunflowers and Lavender in Provence France
Original - Acrylic

Mike's vision is to create beautiful artwork, and his commitment is to provide pieces which will deliver happiness to each home.

Visit the Sources below to experience more beautiful art by Mike.

Sources:

Etsy Shop
Facebook
Instagram
Saatchi Art
society6
Whitman Works Company

Photos used with permission of the artist.

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Bryan Holland Paintings

Living in the beautiful state of Minnesota, Bryan Holland has worked professionally as an artist, a graphic artist, and a college professor.

Anthem

While working also with clay, mixed media, and digital painting, Bryan's preference is oils.

Forty-eight
See this painting in progress

Visual and thematic tension is created through the embodiment of text, patterns, decorative motifs, etc., in contrast to the animals and people in the paintings he creates.

Lover

Cut

Sins of the Fathers

Bryan's intriguing paintings and works of collage have been featured in solo, regional, and national juried and invitational exhibitions.

Flotsam

His work has been seen on the MN Public TV show and MN Originals.

Smoke Signals

Remnant

Bryan's publications include features in several journals and Websites such as HI⧫FRUCTOSE and JUXTAPOZ while also being included in collections throughout the world.

Adding a second wildebeest to a painting

Visit the links below to see more amazing paintings, including works in progress, by Bryan.

Sources:

Photos used with permission of the artist.

Sunday, July 22, 2018

And the Winner is…. Starry Night!

Photo credit: John Roaux/AP
NPR.org

After battling with the city of Mount Dora for more than a year and being fined more than $10,000 for being in violation of the local sign ordinance, the ordeal is now over and this home will continue to display the “Starry Night” theme created by Richard Barrenechea.

Nancy Nemhauser and Lubmomir Jastrzebski originally commissioned a local artist to turn the masonry wall in front of their home into a work of art which was enjoyed by their autistic son. They were then told by city officials that the masonry wall had to match the house, so the "Starry Night" theme was expanded.

Read their story here:

Florida Couple Settles Legal Battle To Keep 'The Starry Night' House