I like getting portfolio links from artists I may not have discovered on my own, such as The H Lazarus.
She sites some of her influences as Neo Pop-Surrealism and Cyberpunk, Saints, mythology and technology…the fragmentation of the spiritual side of men rediscovered in the advent of new technologies.
Some very cool pieces!
Dana is experiencing technical difficulties. Today’s post comes a tad later by proxy.
Edward Kienholz (1927 – 1994) was an American installation artist. His works are still exhibited today. I’ll be brief, but you can read more on him at the Beat Museum website.
Kienholz’s statements are strong, often tinged with some eeriness. We hope that you find his work interesting.
You can see more here.
I’ve decided I’ve really enjoyed including artist statements in posts. I am by no means a trained art critic…just a voracious observer…and at times the artist’s own words really enhance the experience of viewing the work. I’m going to try to include more direct quotes.
Now let’s have a look at Lauren Marx’s creations.
In her own words:
Cosmology, biology and anatomy have always been intriguing to me. My attraction to these topics have compelled me to find a way to create images that combine elements from these dissimilar fields to shape a universe that reflects my unique understanding of the cosmos.
I have developed a symbolic cosmology where animals represent nebulae, birds are the stars formed within the nebulae, and insects are the elements (or ”dust”) created from exploding stars. My hope is that this symbolic representation allows the viewer to see these phenomena as a complete picture of an interacting Universe. Using these animals and insects, I am going to make my own ”creation” myth of the Cosmos to parody current and past creation myths which are strongly reliant upon animals, to show how humans attempt to understand the epic intricacy of the Universe.
I’m sorry it’s been a bit more around here. I was in the hospital last week, and back again this week (not in for another major surgery, thank goodness). I just got home and I’m spent! But I’ll resume regular posting ASAP.
Here is yet another gorgeous tarot deck, a bit out of my price range, that I find very interesting: The Lost Tarot
The use of skulls and skeletons is lovely, and the soft color scheme is quite unique (click image to enlarge a bit).
Hopefully one day this deck will be part of my collection!
I also recommend checking out the other categories of art on Dominic Murphy’s site. There are treasures to be found there!
David Choquette very appropriately labels his work “pop grotesque.”
Grotesque is exactly the word that comes to mind when I view his portfolio. But it takes talent to paint subjects that elicit a visceral response.
Squinted eyes (is it anguish? Exhaustion?), sickly looking flesh and grungy teeth create the feeling that these creatures are rotting alive.
Theoretical Part is a “creative community” of two illustrators from Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
Most of these works are ink on paper, done in luscious detail.
There are a number of beautiful typewriter images in the portfolio (which I love, of course), always teeming with wildlife, creatures and growing plants…
Check out her series of zodiac lettering!
I found this on Pinterest ages ago, but no artists was credited. Anyone recognize it?
Tricia Joy’s paints languid lovelies that catch the eye…
Is it mere listlessness, or are they the carriers of lost stories?
Sometimes, body parts are displaced and disembodied.
…and strange things grow.
Agostino Arrivabene has an extensive portfolio of amazing work. Tiny tendrils emerge upwards from his subjects, making them appear in the process of magical morphing.
He adds texture to these blooming, grasping tendrils (they actually rise off the canvas due to molding powder). The effect is incredible; somewhere between hardened scar tissue, vascular systems and the glorious sprawling of roots…
…or flowers and spirits luring their hosts into other dimensions, intertwining them with something invisible to the naked eye.
I love when artists find the SheWalksSoftly Facebook Page (please add and/or friend suggest it, if you haven’t!) and I get to discover new work I might not have otherwise seen. I’m loving some of these colorfully frenetic pieces by Hernan Faraci.
Some call to mind the art of Ralph Steadman…
Xeeming (a Ukranian artist whose real name is Dmitri) makes some fun horror art.
Here were have a not-so-pleasant surprise for the sanitation department, come time for trash pickup.
Gather round and let the fiddler play you a tune!
This one reminds me slightly of R.S. Connett (whose work I adore).
The walls are alive…
This first image goes out to my fellow lighthearted dancer in darkness Carrie.
Although one might think a narwhal would be out of place in a doughnut shop, the respective designs of those two things are actually quite complementary (narwhals figure quite prominently into her work, undoubtedly because they are amazing).
Other creatures appear where you least expect them.
She does vinyl toy customs as well!
I was casually browsing some art, and this picture stopped me dead in my tracks. It captured me as if I were looking into a mirror (strangely, in meditation, I’ve had almost this exact image appear many times).
I still can’t look away from it. She is only a pencil sketch, but she conveys a sense of knowing…of traveling lightly with concentrated life force in her hands.
I was then drawn into the rest of Raul Guerra’s work.
His portfolio contains many girls, morphing into colorful butterflies…
And sympathetic skeletons.
Villains that seem somehow less than villainous…
Love it.
Raul Guerra
More here.
Allison Sommers creates what I call “artistic anatomical animal studies” (and so much more).
I love how she uses these hinged panels; it works wonderfully with her style.
Some might find this morbid, but I find it beautiful. There is a delicacy and flow to her work that make raw, exposed anatomy appear elegant.
The master of suspense had many books. While I’ve enjoyed his TV shows and movies very much, I don’t think I’ve actually read any of the books. However, I adore the vintage book covers, almost all of which have Hitchcock himself somehow incorporated (often humorously) into the artwork. I’ve managed to collect many images of them over the years, so here’s the first installment.
I can always count on Monster Brains to showcase great stuff. Tasty Soil is the wild, weird and wonderful artwork of Chris Pottinger. Are you ready for some awesome monsters that look like rampant doodles came to life on the page?
Look at them! Globs of overflowing viscera and teeth, mysterious piles of organs and glands, too many eyeballs!
I’m definitely going to print out some of the black and white monsters to color…because I’m not ashamed to act like a five year old. Every adult should pull out some markers and color a monster, now and then.
Since I’m still battling some serious health issues, I think I’m going to use these monsters as my visual adjectives on especially tough days.
Example:
“How are you feeling, Dana?”
“Like this:”
“…thanks for asking!”
See more at Tasty Soil.
I’m not sure how many of you (amazing readers) are in LA. Did anyone get to the Suggestivism Chronology opening at Copro Gallery?
A few previews…
The artist roster is incredible! I’m going to try to get there while this show is up (and I’ll post some favorite pieces if I do).
I don’t often gravitate toward geometric graphic design, but Andy Gilmore’s work is positively hypnotic.
I could get lost in these patterns.
Once I hit Advanced Pre-Calculus in high school, my brain decided that it wanted nothing to do with math beyond that point. But I’m mesmerized by intricate mathematical patterns in art and nature.
Such glorious, ordered complexity…
Check out this fine jacket custom by Kat Mannel!
Her portfolio contains various anatomical explorations, with some range in style and material. I love this vole skull study, particularly because of the classic still life feel combined with such a vibrant red.
You will find some closeups of viscera…
Drawings…
And relief prints.
Good stuff!
