Jul 29, 2012
Jul 24, 2012
Bob Peak is in My House...My House.
Learn more about the kind of work he does here: Today's Inspiration.
Not only was he great illustrator but it was his show at the Society of Illustrators that me and a bunch of friends flew to in New York from Seattle. It was for a kind of Bachelor Party/Man Trip where drank, ate great food and saw art and more art from Illustration House out to the Brandywine Gallery in Pennsylvania and the Rodin Museum in Philly. We ripped through so much our heads were spinning in multiple states of drunkenness.
This book looks to be a great reminder of many days gone by.
Jul 20, 2012
Sergei Bongart & Russian Impressionistic Lineage
By no means am I an authority on either subject.
I just know what I like and don't mind talking about it. So for the sake of sharing click on the links for more information through book recommendations and websites.
I was introduced to Russian Impressionism in the late 90s by a painting teacher and friend, Henry Stinson,who I talked about in an earlier post. His teacher, Ron Lukas, who now works in development art for animated features because, let's face it, teaching doesn't pay all that much! As the story goes when Ron was younger he sought out Sergei Bongart...even going as far as to show up on his doorstep and not leaving until he accepted him as a student. Total Kung Fu stuff, right? He studied with the guy for 10 years and more than likely cracked that 10,000 hour mark that Malcolm Gladwell's OUTLIERS shows us as the fast-track to advanced skills.
But the story of Sergei Bongart is even more interesting, as told by Mary N. Balcomb, who wrote one of the original retrospectives of the foremost Russian Impressionist, Nicholai Fechin. Her book chronicles a film quality plot of Bongart having to escape Europe before the war starts. He survives by painting dignitaries and eventually makes enough for passage to America. A larger than life character and teacher he seems much more gregarious than his earlier counterpart Nicholai Fechin. Rubbing elbows with the likes of James Cagney, he himself a modest painter.
For the longest time there was very little information on these people. The Frye Art Museum here in Seattle have several Fechin and Bongart pieces. You can see by the profile image by Fechin the differences in their color theory, but the bravura brushstroke and lighting are key. Oddly so, Bongart's work is sparse on the web. I'm almost compelled to scan my entire book to share it but I don't want to damage the spine. But if the above image of the peasant woman is any indication, I hope it excites you enough to chase the immediacy of light and color that he and many of his brethren were able to capture.
And if the internet fails you, I just found a great book dealer who carries rare books from outside of the states that might be worth investing in. DickBell BookMaven.com.
Unfortunately they cost about as much as the shelving you'll need to put them on, but I bet they're worth it.
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Jul 18, 2012
The Evolution of Science: Experimental
I thought about it some more today and something doesn't "feel" right. For kicks I skewed it but now it reads a bit confusing...but having that unsettled sense is kind of interesting. It reminds me of the film SECONDS with Rock Hudson. Probably one of the most daring films of it's time.
Still, I don't trust my rough...further experimentation is needed.
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Jul 17, 2012
The Evolution of Science Triptych
As usual I have know idea which direction all this will take. I only hope it keeps my interest until I have to hand it all in on August 18th.
The triptych is 9' x 4'. Guess we'll see how this flies.
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Jul 16, 2012
Artist Profile
So, last week I painted with HENRY STINSON...
Who paints like this...
...and I wrote up a little something about him here!
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Jul 6, 2012
Weird Creatures
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Jul 4, 2012
Jul 3, 2012
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