Day 9...

Day #9, I am thankful for :

Artists/Art history/Museums!!!

Today I saw my all time absolute favorite artist, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio! I was so excited! My heart was racing, my hands clasped together in anxiousness, my eyes huge, it was surreal for me! I'm absolutely serious when I say this, I almost cried. Literally, choked up when I stared at the brushstrokes. "His hands created this. Such a gift", is what I said in my mind. I was that museum go-er that shoved their way to the front of the crowd to get a better look, and honestly, I didn't even care! This is my rockstar, people! True, he was a murderer, a tough guy, but he was genius! Regarding his painting The Calling of St. Matthew, 

Caravaggio's solution is much simpler: Light indicates the touch of grace. It pours in behind Christ and falls full upon Matthew, while the rest of the painting is plunged into dreary shadow. Caravaggio pioneered this chiaroscuro style, which is characterized by extremes of light and shadow. -Secret Lives of Great Artists

G E N I U S.

Georges de La Tour, Magdalen with the Smoking Flame, circa 1638-1640

aka the painting in the Little Mermaid's secret cavern. 

My boys + Chris Burden's Urban Light, 2008

The little + Michael Heizer's Levitated Mass, 1969-2012

love.

Things that make me go "hmmmm"...

1) Getting new sunglasses! With my prescription put in them! Sigh...I can't wait to wear these bad boys all over town...

2) Becoming a LACMA member again. Did you know I love art? You didn't?! Get outta here, stop reading my blog this instant! Just kidding, come back. 

3) THE GROVE! I can't wait to go back and pretend I have enough money to shop there like all the celebrities...

3) My pup Teddy! Isn't he a riot? He jumped in the basket to cuddle with the toasty clothes, and even as I picked each article of clothing out and folded them, he stayed in there fast asleep! I lub him. 

4) My son! We are so excited to take this lil' guy to Disneyland for the first time. Be on the lookout for a post solely devoted to that trip! It's coming sooooon! 

5) My husband who adores art just as much as I do. Ok, maybe not as MUCH as I do...but pretty close. 

6) Springtime. Perfect weather can be found in California at this special time of year. Not too hot, not too cold, not too windy (I hate you Santa Ana winds)...it's just a splendid time full of sunshine, April showers, birds a-chirpin', and all that lovey dovey crap. 

What are some things that make you go 'hmmm...'?

Phillip Toledano...

This photographer has some serious skill. Maybe you've heard of his work before, one book in particular titled, "Days with my Father". 

To me, there's something equally captivating and creepy about these photos in Toledano's book, "A New Kind of Beauty". I came across a post by Babble on Toledano's work, which "tackles whether plastic surgery is poised to create a new paradigm of what we see as beautiful, and if beauty that never existed previously can be created artificially." Toledano photographed people that have had plastic surgery in a way an artist would paint a portrait, emphasizing beauty.

As I was scrolling through the photos, I thought that visually and conceptually, they had a unique quality to them. I also thought of the Romans, and wondered if plastic surgery would be a common practice for them, if the technology had been around. Maybe it would even be a ritualistic practice the way it is for so many in our culture today.

The subjects in his book have been "dubbed the Botox Botticellis".  

Here is one of Toledano's photos from the book: Michael, 2008.

 And here is one of Botticelli's paintings: St. Sebastian, 1474. 

The photos are not digitally enhanced with photoshop. Just some amazing lighting. 

So what do you think? Is it beautiful? Or does the saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" ring true?

New book...

I found this little gem at Borders on Sunday, The Secret Lives of Great Artists. At first I wasn't completely sure about this book. I wondered if it was going to be like the Weekly inTouch Magazine for artists, but as I thumbed through it, I was actually surprised by the accuracy and humor! 

So far, my favorite quote is, "Of course you will say that I ought to be practical and ought to try and paint the way they want me to paint. Well, I will tell you a secret. I have tried and I have tried very hard, but I can't do it. I just can't do it! And that is why I am just a little crazy."- Rembrandt Van Rijn

Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, 1632, Rembrandt Van Rijn

It's Happening...

in 8 days. 

I can't believe it.

All the hours of: commuting, reading, writing, learning.

Paying money for: books, supplies (photo/film is killer), gas, tuition.

And you know what? It was worth it.

In 8 days I will officially be an art historian. 

a little preview for next week's gallery! 

6 weeks...

The Sistine Chapel, 1508-1512

"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection."
-Michelangelo Buonarroti 

ps-want to see a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel? Click here.

Weeks 8 & 7...

Wow. Where did the time go?! I know, I'm 2 weeks behind on posts dedicated to my favorite artworks/artists...but here I am, trying to redeem myself by posting 2 weeks worth of art! So sit back, enjoy, and don't worry, I promise to be on the wagon from here on out.


Yes, these are re-posts. No, my feelings have not changed for Robert or Mary, I love them both. Probably too much. Don't judge.

MARCH 5, 2009

Pure Excitement...

Café - Beaufort, South Carolina, 1955 - Robert Frank

I am ecstatic about the ROBERT FRANK exhibit coming to L.A this June 21st. He is my favorite photographer for 2 reasons...

1)He takes the kind of photos that I aspire to take.

2)He mixes beauty & everyday life thru them.

Click here for more info on the exhibit & to read a little bio on this great Swede.

My favor-which will also be on display this June!

JANUARY 28, 2010

The Art & Flair of Mary Blair...

That is the name of her book...the one that I would like to own someday(hint hint). Mary is a fantastic artist & I know I've already written about her at least once, but here is a new artwork I found while doing an assignment (I will also be sharing that with you soon).

This is "Baby Ballet" & was an abandoned project by Disney.

These little ladies are precious & so chubby, they make you want to squeeze the canvas.

Baby Ballet, 1941 - Mary Blair

9 weeks...

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, or better known as simply Caravaggio, is without a doubt, my absolute favorite artist. I was saving him for the final week, but I just couldn't help myself.

Conversion of St. Paul, Caravaggio, 1601

 Before I ever feasted my eyes on this painting, I imagined Paul's conversion to look exactly like this. Seriously. So you can imagine my reaction when I saw this painting for the first time, and now every time I see it, I get so excited, I do a lil' dance inside. 

Plus, check out that lighting? Wow. Just wow. That's what the art world calls chiaroscuro (the arrangement or treatment of light and dark parts in a pictorial work of art). And did I mention Caravaggio was 31 when he painted this? YES...31!

Le sigh, I love.

10 weeks...

until graduation! 

And as promised, here's another beloved artwork...

Berthe Morisot, The Cradle / Le Berceau (French), 1872

Impressionism was an art movement that developed in France in the 19th Century. The Impressionists were seen as a group of outcasts..."unified only by its independence from the official annual Salon for which a jury of artists from the Académie des Beaux-Arts selected artworks and awarded medals." Impressionism is often recognizable by its sketched look, but loved for its depiction of everyday life. 

Today as I was looking for this image online, Mitch peeked over and said,  "You know what I realized today? That she's worried about something. Look at how she is fiddling with the cradle's covering." And you know what? I couldn't agree more. A mother's worry & love for her child is depicted in this painting, and I love how Morisot captured this private moment between momma & child. So precious. 

PS- I have a canvas re-print of The Cradle hanging above my dresser in our room...it's one of my most cherished treasures. 

11 weeks...

That's right. 11 weeks until graduation. Can you please jump and click your heels with me?! So since an art history degree is in order, I figured I'd share with you one favorite artwork every week leading up to the big day!

Venus of Willendorf

circa 30,000-25,000 BCE

I know...it's a little different. But the interesting thing is this artwork was made thousands and thousands of years ago & and the figure's purpose continues to be a mystery! The simplicity of the carving and the detail of the woman is what makes this one of my favorite paleolithic artworks.