Jacques Louis David

Hello again! It's been a while since I last posted anything and I apologize for that, my loyal readers. I recently just got back from Europe, visiting Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and several other amazing cities and have not even been able to wrap my head around all the amazing art I saw. I had the opportunity to see paintings, sketches, architecture and sculptures that many people have only dreamed about seeing in their lifetime.

The first artist I'd like to spotlight from my whirlwind trip is Jacques Louis David. I had the chance to visit the Louvre in Paris where, in addition to the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and many other famous works, houses many pieces by David. For those who aren't familiar with David, he was a highly sought after French painter in nineteenth century France. He is arguably one of the most well-known Neoclassical painters but probably best known for his paintings of and for Napoleon I... yes, that Napoleon.

[image http://www.jacqueslouisdavid.org/]

Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and Consecration of the Empress Josephine

Seeing this painting first-hand was amazing. Not only do I remember studying every little nook and cranny of this masterpiece during high school and college art classes, it's also my mother's favorite painting so it has a very special personal meaning for me.

The first thing that stood out to me was the massive size of this painting. I could not believe how big it was! That's me in the photo to give you an idea of scale (I'm about 5'2" depending on the shoes I'm wearing that day). The painting is about 10 meters wide by approximately 6 meters tall.

The subject of the painting is also very interesting. Napoleon, being the modest man that he was, declared that he was the new Roman emperor and leader of all of Europe. The pope traveled to Paris to confirm Napoleon's new position. While David wanted to paint an accurate representation of the event, you'll notice that he has Napoleon crowning his wife, Josephine de Beauharnais, rather than Napoleon receiving the crown from the pope. That's because Napoleon wasn't actually crowned by the pope - scandalous! Napoleon didn't want to be subjected to an allegiance to the pope or Catholic church, so in reality he took the crown and crowned himself. David didn't want to paint this disrespectful action, so instead he painted the lesser coronation of the empress.

Oath of the Horatti

Just around the corner in the Louvre was my second favorite painting from David, the Oath of the Horatii. You may recognize it from your old high school art class because it's basically required by all teachers and professors to study its style, elements and themes. But again, look at the size of the painting - it's huge! While very beautiful, the story behind this painting is probably the most fascinating aspect about it.

The painting depicts three members of the Roman Horatii family. According to the story, the three Romans had been chosen for a ritual duel against three members of the rival Curiatii family in order to settle disputes between the families' two cities. The painting depicts the three brothers of the Horatii family swearing allegiance to Rome in front of their father.

This was a very important scene at a very tumultuous time - it was just five years before the French Revolution but people could sense a major change coming. The scene, similar to many other paintings created during this time, urges loyalty to the country rather than family, church or other special interest groups. Because of this, Oath of the Horatii became a defining image for the revolutionaries and democracy.

Check out other Jacques Louis David works and information at http://www.jacqueslouisdavid.org/

Earth Day Art

I was in San Diego over the weekend at the city's annual Earth Day Festival in Balboa Park. I love going to this festival; it has the most earth-friendly products, clothes, cars and art that you can find in one place. I also love the overall atmosphere - everyone there (with the exception of a few protesters) has such a positive attitude and energy and there for one thing: making the world a better place.

Another thing always on display at the fair are pieces of green artwork. Local artists bring out their work made from recycled products or conveying their own personal green message. But there were a few pieces of art that caught my eye because they were so unique - recycled glass bottles and drinking glasses. While these don't sound too unique on the surface, you really have to see them and learn about the people behind the art that make the pieces so special.

The first product I saw were Love Bottles. Created by a San Francisco nutritionist looking to improve the emotional and physical health of the world, these bottles are covered with positive messages and images that strive to inspire love in the bottle holder. The bottle is partially made from recycled glass (of course) and is 100% reusable. I loved the message behind the Love Bottles so much that I had to get one to bring home with me. It feel good to do a deed by reducing waste and, as the site describes, drinking fresh water from a glass bottle tastes so much better than plastic or aluminum. And one of my favorite things about Love Bottles is that you can design and create your own bottle!

Here are some images of the bottle I purchased as well as a link to Love Bottle's site:

http://www.lovebottle.net/index.asp

Another glass art company that I found to be really interesting was BottleHood. This is a company that makes glassware from recycled liquor, beer, wine and soda bottles that are collected from local restaurants, bars, homes and events throughout San Diego. I really love for what this company stands for: "A Pride in our neighborhood, our local craftsmen and entrepreneurs, and our social responsibility." I wasn't able to pick up some of their art at the Earth Fair, but I definitely plan on picking some up soon. They are at the Hillcrest Farmers' Market every Sunday from 9-2pm as well as other events and retail stores throughout San Diego. Check out their site for all locations as well as their online store.

http://www.bottlehood.com/



[Earth Fair Image momsgoinggreenblog.com]

Barcelona- Dali Museum

The next city I'm visiting while in Spain next month is Barcelona, so it only makes sense it's the next city I preview in my museum tour series. I have heard from numerous people that Barcelona is their favorite city to visit in all of Spain. I have a feeling it's going to be one of my favorites, too, since it's the home to the Salvador Dali Museum. I feel so lucky that I'll be able to visit the museums for my two favorite artists, Picasso and Dali, on the same trip. Despite their many differences, the artwork of both artists inspire me to daydream (and inspired some of my own work - check out Dali on the "Katie's Work" page). I really feel like I get a peek into their worlds and inner minds every time I look at a new piece. Dali, especially, seems to have such a vivid, dreamlike imagination - that's why I love his artwork so much!

The Dali Museum isn't actually located in Barcelona but it's just a short train ride or drive away in the town of Figueres. Figueres was home for Dali for several years and the museum has one of the largest Dali collections in the world. According to the Barcelona Tourist Guide, Dali built the museum on top of the ruins of the 19th century Municipal Theater which was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War.

The Dali Museum in Figueres (image from www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com)

One of the pieces housed at the Dali Museum in Figueres that I am most eager to see is Galatea of the Spheres (1952). According to theartistsalvadordali.com, this painting was a protrait of Dali's wife, Gala. Dali considered Gala his world and his saviour and signed many of his paintings with her name. Also, this particular painting is an important piece in Dali's artistic progression. According to Dali, his early Surrealist works were based on that of a psychological world (Dali regularly called Freud his "father"). As Dali's work progressed and his view of the world changed, his interests and his artwork developed a more scientific approach:

"Today the exterior world and that of physics, has transcended the one of psychology. My father today is Dr. Heisenberg."

Dali's shift from the inner mind to science and physical space began with Galatea of the Spheres and came to a pinnacle with his manifesto on Nuclear Mysticism. But I could spend days talking about this topic, so I won't bore you with the specifics.



I can't wait for my trip in Spain and to see Dali's artwork firsthand. Check out below.


http://www.salvador-dali.org/dali/coleccio/en_50obres.html


[image & text http://www.theartistsalvadordali.com/galatea-spheres.htm]

UCSD Professor, Ricardo Dominguez, Artist and Activist, Under Fire

The Visual Arts department at UCSD was where I studied and developed my passion for art. Not only did the coursework help me develop my artistic voice, the professors had a huge impact on changing my perception of what art really means in a broader spectrum. One of my professors, Ricardo Dominguez, has been causing quite a controversy around my former campus because of his style of artwork which centers around social action. The most recent incident centered around him rallying up some 200 students and faculty for a nonviolent protest while taking an informal vote of the crowd to decided if he should meet with Campus advisers. Dominguez, an expert in the emerging field of electronic civil disobedience, is being questioned about a previous virtual protest intended to disrupt the Web site of Mark Yudof, the president of University of California.

The "virtual sit-in" was organized online and caused the UC president's Web site to reload every time someone registered for the "event." In addition to the reload, the computer program would generate random messages on the site such as, "There is no transparency found at the UC Office of the President.” According to SignOnSanDiego, about 400 students, faculty and staff participated.

In my opinion Dominguez was providing a voice to all those people who are underrepresented in the UC system, students struggling with the budget cuts, increasing student costs and being affected by administrative priorities. I remember how expensive it was for me to attend UCSD so I can't even imagine what the costs are like now. Studying under Professor Dominguez was a once in a lifetime experience, teaching me that art is not just expressing yourself but standing up for what is right and what you believe in.

More on Professor Dominguez and his ongoing can be found at SignOnSanDiego.com

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/09/ucsd-prof-turns-meeting-protest-rally/

[image Nelvin C. Cepeda/ Union-Tribune]

Museo Nacional Del Prado- Francisco de Goya

The next museum I would like to visit during my brief stay in Madrid is the Museo Nacional del Prado. Thanks to recommendations from former art teachers, friends, tour guides and by @ohmygola on Twitter, it's a can't miss for any trip to Spain. One reason I'm so excited to visit this museum is because it houses many of the most famous paintings by Francisco de Goya.

Francisco de Goya was one of my favorite artists to study in college. Many regard him as the most important Spanish artist of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. de Goya painted during what's known as the Spanish enlightenment, which produced some of his most famous paintings to date including The Disaster of War, 85 prints prints that illustrated his account of the atrocities Spain faced during the Napoleanic Wars.

My favorite piece of his is The 3rd of May 1808 in Madrid: the executions on Principe Pio Hill. According to the Museo Del Prado, Goya was able to "show the depiction of the execution of the patriots from Madrid by a firing sqad from Napoleon's army in reprisal for their uprising against the French occupation on the second of May, 1808." I really fell in love with this painting because I believed de Goya was able to capture the emotion and pain the Spanish people were feeling because of the war.

Just four more weeks and I will be able to see this masterpiece in person!

[image http://www.museodelprado.es/en]

Lego Art

Lego Art? This is definitely the kind of art I could drag my husband to go see. Legos are the toy that every kid loves to have laying around. You can build everything from fortresses to spaceships all in one sitting. This toy differently brings out the imagination in kids and the kids at heart. That is what happened to Nathan Sawaya.

Sawaya is a New York-based artist who creates awe-inspiring artwork - but what makes him stand apart from other contemporary artists is that he uses Legos as his medium. He's secured a loyal following thanks to many private commissioned pieces as well as a life-size Stephen Colbert statue that he presented to the TV host on "The Colbert Report." Thanks to this growing enthusiasm for his brick art, he's going on tour showing The Art of the Brick at museums across the U.S. with his larger-than-life artwork made of the tiny building blocks. The tour kicks off in New York at the Agora Gallery, but check his site for future dates and locations.

Looking at many of the pieces featured on his Web site, one theme he portrays often and very well is escapism, which, according to Tonic.com's article, symbolizes his personal flight from the rat race of life. Before he became a Lego artist he was an unhappy attorney - he was able to turn his frustrations into inspiration, something that I think a lot of artists can relate to.

[image http://www.brickartist.com/]

http://www.tonic.com/article/lego-art-exhibition-tours-us/

Banksy's first Film Debut

Everyone in the contemporary art community knows of or has heard of Banksy. The graffiti/pop artist is one of the most infamous artists in the world today. Some may call his work "vandalism," others consider him a genius - but he definitely knows how to bring public awareness to his art not only because of his images but also because of the powerful social messages they convey.

Banksy is most well-known for spraying/painting his art on the side of buildings, chain fences, and in other public spaces. Bansky once wrote, "I've wandered round a lot of art galleries thinking, 'I could have done that.' " Banksy believed that these "galleries were just a trophy cabinets for a handful of millionaires, the public never has any real say in what they see." This quote from Banksy really brings you back to why art is important. It's not only important for yourself, but to deliver a message to the general public - in Banksy's case, a social message to make people think about and change the world around them.

His artwork can be seen all over the world but I have unfortunately never seen one up close. It's because of this that I am so excited to see his first film, Exit Through The Gift Shop. The documentary will debut April 15th in Los Angeles and hopefully spread further so others can learn about this amazing artist. For more details check out the below links.

http://www.banksyfilm.com/

http://www.sourharvest.com/2010/03/31/banksys-first-film-to-finally-debut-in-la-on-april-16th/

[image http://www.benmautner.com/]

Museu Picasso- Barcelona!

[image http://bit.ly/936rQ5]

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I will be taking a vacation in Europe in May. I'll be spending a week in Spain and a week in Paris - what better places to go for an art lover? Before I leave I want to have all my days planned out and all the museums I want to visit. Let's organize this list by city, shall we?

First up is Barcelona. I have heard from a handful of people that this city is by far their favorite to visit in Spain. The architecture, the food, the music, the art; they can't stop raving about how amazing Barcelona is. The first museum that I want to see in Barcelona will be the Picasso Museum. Picasso is by far one of my favorite artists - I can always go to his work for inspiration. And his life is just as amazing as his art.

Picasso lived in Barcelona off and on for several years. He first arrived in Barcelona as a child and spent several years studying at the School of Fine arts. He would leave the city to continue his studies and career but would return several times throughout his life. During his time here he built up a very close relationship with the community - many of his closest friends, family, loved ones and his biggest supporters lived in Barcelona. In addition, Picasso said that Barcelona served as inspiration for many of his works. Because it meant so much to him, both personally and artistically, Picasso wanted the city to be the home of his museum. The Museu Picasso was opened by his friend and secretary, Jaume Sabartes, in 1963.

There are 39 pieces in the permanent collection including his famous The Offering and one of my personal favorites, Seated Man. There are also examples of a lot of his earliest works, especially while he was studying in the city, which I am very eager to see in person. When I get to the Museu Picasso I will make sure to take write down everything that I am thinking, feeling and even taking a picture or two to bring back to share with everyone.

For more information about Picasso, his art and his life, check out http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en/.

If you have any suggestions for museums or other sites to see during my European trip, please feel free to share them in the comments! And keep an eye open for the other museums I hope to visit as I continue to plan out my travel itinerary.

People as Canvases!?

[image Alexameade.com]

I came across this really interesting blurb from the San Diego Union-Tribune about Alexa Meade, an artist who paints using a unique medium. Instead of using canvases, she paints directly onto her live models and completely transforms her clients into works of art. They turn into real life paintings!

"...her art imitates life - on top of life."
[AlexaMeade.com]

It's amazing how she was able to take the traditional "live model" concept and completely turn it around into what Robert Pincus, the Union-Tribune's art writer and critic, calls "a novel kind of pictorial illusionism."

Successful artists need to take risks like this is order to innovate and remain fresh while expressing their unique vision. Meade, who studied Political Science in college only to trade in her Capitol Hill experience for a paint brush, is as innovative as they come.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/volumes-and-visions-books-arts/2010/mar/30/artist-makes-work-which-model-imitates-painting/

Jim Marshall Series

I have finally decided on a couple of photos for my Jim Marshall Series. The photos that stood out and had the most impact on me (which also happen to be some of my favorite music icons) were of Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Keith Richards. I am definitely really excited to get started on this series. Not only am I excited to pay tribute to one of the best photographers ever, but also to musicians that inspire me.

So far I've got the background down for my first painting, which will be the Jim Morrison piece. I'll show off my progress as I go, so check back soon!

Inspirational Story of the Day

I think reading at least one inspirational story a day really helps to change perspectives and teach people (and me) what life is really all about. I came across this interesting article on Tonic.com about a LA based graffiti artist named Tony Quan. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, leaving every muscle in his body paralyzed except for his eyes. Using the latest technology and the support of the art community, "a group of artists created a gadget, costing about as much as an iPod Shuffle, that lets Quan continue making art using only his eyes."

Zach Lieberman, the inventor of the technology, tells NPR, "He can plot points. And from plotting points, create letters. And from creating letters, create words. And then color the words, shade the words, extrude them in 3-D, add different features."

Tonic.com also has a video of the device in action, which is truly remarkable.

http://www.tonic.com/article/paralyzed-graffiti-artist-draws-with-his-eyes-video/
[image tonic.com]

Venice Boardwalk Vendors Getting Territorial

One of my favorite spots in Los Angeles is Venice Beach. It's a care-free area where people can take an afternoon stroll, listen to music, see some hippies and enjoy hand made artwork from hundreds of vendors on the boardwalk.

According to a recent article from the Daily Breeze, the peaceful Venice hippies are getting a little hostile when it comes to vendor space. Thanks, in part, to the tough economy, lack of space and increased number of vendor requests, the 200 vendor spots along the boardwalk are tougher to come by and frustrated peddlers are taking out their anger on their counterparts:

The number of performers wanting a spot has jumped by 80 percent over the past year, while the number of vendors has doubled. That's led to some boisterous raffles.

"They get into it, calling each other all kinds of names," Jauregui said. "It's the frustration, especially if you get someone who is truly an artist and they haven't gotten a space in a few weeks."

Police say the tension is spilling onto the boardwalk with complaints about illegal selling and even fistfights.

This is a very frustrating situation. Not only are people starting to resort to violence to secure a spot on the boardwalk, but the influx of the many out-of-town and commercial vendors is taking away from the funky, Bohemian style that Venice is famous for. As Mike Newhouse, a 15 year resident of Venice, said in the Daily Breeze article,

"Venice has got to stay funky or else Venice is no longer Venice."

Thanks to LAist.com for the news tip and to their featured photographer, vmiramontes, for the awesome photo.

Joanna Geeting: Make-up Artist

I recently created a painting for Joanna Geeting, a professional make-up artist. Check it out here. Joanna has done make-up for a number of independent films such as The Black Album ( a zombie movie with one of my favorite 90210 alums, Jeremy Jordan), Secrets of a Hollywood Nurse and The Bitterness, music videos and concerts for the bands Pic Vicious and The Deal, fashion shows for prominent Los Angeles designers, celebrity photo shoots at Smashbox Studios, and more. She was gracious enough to sit down and talk to me about her personal artwork and how she became the artist she is today. You can also see examples of her work throughout this post.

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Joanna Geeting and I'm a professional make-up artist. I do make-up for the entertainment industry including film, television shows, music videos and runway shows. I do personal make-up too, for weddings and other special events, but my training, my interest and my experience are in entertainment.

How did you become a make-up artist? What sort of training have you done?

I started doing make-up in high school when I would put make-up on my friends before school dances. From there I sort of graduated to weddings and other special events and realized that this was what I wanted to do. I attended the Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts and studied all forms of make-up like special effects, beauty and avant garde. I've also worked at beauty retail shops - that experience has helped me learn more about colors, skin types and practice application techniques which have really helped with my career.

What artists inspire you?

Rick Baker, the famous special effects make-up artists, is one of the main reasons I got into make-up. The work that he does is immaculate. He is able to completely transform a person into a creature, a corpse or bring out their best features to make them angelic. He's done things with make-up that nobody had ever done before and very few people, if any, will be able to repeat. I hope to one day reach the levels of Rick Baker.

I also love Andy Warhol. I've found his work and his life so interesting. I like to think that I channel some of his artistic energy when I'm applying make-up.

What's your favorite type of make-up to do?

I enjoy special effects but my favorite type of make-up is beauty. It's all about turning the person into a work of art, using their natural beauty and facial features as my canvas and making them look and feel as beautiful as they can be. But the real trick, and difference between other types of make-up art like fashion and avant garde, is not to transform their natural features but bring them out. For example, with high fashion make-up one might put several layers of make-up on a model to completely change their facial features. But with beauty, I'll use shades, colors and textures in order to enhance natural features like someone's cheek bones, lips or eyes. Make-up is a decoration, not a mask.

Do you consider make-up a form of art?

Doing make-up is definitely a form of art. Like a painter you have to be able to select the right colors and textures in order to create your piece. Also, I find doing someone's make-up is just as relaxing as painting a picture. And when you see the happiness and excitement on their face afterward, it's extremely rewarding.

Why did you decide to be a make-up artist rather than expressing yourself through other mediums?

I enjoy other forms of art, like music and painting, but I have always thought make-up was extremely rewarding. When I finish my work I can step back and be very proud of what I just created, but when the client looks in the mirror and sees their personal transformation for the first time, it's extremely gratifying to know you can make someone so happy and, at times, more confident.

Jimi

After Jim Marshall passed away yesterday I took some time to go through his entire collection. His images of rock legends are amazing and I can't imagine another photographer make the same impact on music that he did. This got me to thinking that I need to expand my own collection of "icons."

You can see a few paintings I've done so far of my artistic inspirations in my Muse series here. Dali, Thompson and Dylan have played a major role in my life and have a lot to do with my art. Another artist that is blatantly missing from this series is another one of my "muses:" rock & roll legend Jimi Hendrix. Here are some of the photos that Marshall capture of Jimi - I've been studying them all day to think of the colors, angles and emotions that I want to capture.

Photos from http://www.marshallphoto.com/

I still haven't decided on the final image, but you can definitely expect it to follow in the same style as the rest in my Muse series with a solid background and almost a stencil look to the face. I am really excited to get started, but I have a few other projects I need to finish first ;)

Keep an eye on the blog to see my progress, but in the meantime you can see Jim Marshall's photos of Jimi Hendrix here: http://www.marshallphoto.com/collection/list/album/hendrix

Rest in Peace, Jim Marshall

I was very sad to learn that legendary rock & roll photographer, Jim Marshall, passed away today. For those unfamiliar with his work, check out his collection here: http://www.marshallphoto.com/

I was turned on to Marshall's work the first time I ever saw "Cash Flipping The Bird," the iconic photo of Johnny Cash at his performance at San Quentin prison.

"Johnny flipping the bird at San Quentin Prison, 1969. Contrary to popular belief, John has never been in prison. I think he got busted once for being drunk or something when he was a kid - I don't know and it's none of my business - but he's never been in jail. I've known John since 1962, and I forget why he flipped the bird in this picture. It might have been directed at the television crew who was filming there, or I might have suggested doing a special shot for the warden, but for whatever reason, this has become a very famous, iconic picture. His record company is still using it. It shows John's individuality, but the gesture was definitely done in jest. John's got a great sense of humor and this was not a serious shot." — Jim Marshall

Photo from MarshallPhoto.com

Marshall has captured some of the most famous rock photos of legends like Cash, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, The Beatles, Coltrane and more. His work has been studied and emulated for decades and he will continue to serve as inspiration to artists for generations to come.

The art and music world lost a master today. Jim Marshall will be missed.

Disney's Original Art in Club 33

I recently had the opportunity to spend an afternoon in Disneyland's exclusive Club 33 restaurant. Aside from the amazing decor, 5 star food and the mystique of pushing the buzzer on the unmarked green door, what really struck me was Disney's collection of original art hanging throughout the interior.

Brief History

According to the inset of the Club 33 menu, the restaurant was envisioned by Walt Disney to be an escape reality, a place where VIPs and visiting dignitaries could enjoy a quiet, luxurious meal away from the hubbub of the park. Along with his wife and famous interior decorator Emil Kuri, Disney traveled to New Orleans to pick out the restaurant's decor. They came back with stunning antiques, furniture and artwork. For a more detailed history of the club, check out Disneyland Club 33.

Club 33's Art

In addition to the many treasures Disney brought back from New Orleans, visitors can find original works of art scattered throughout the restaurant. Disney Imagineers, animators and concept artists provided stunning images that add to the mystique of the exclusive club.

The first pieces of original Disney concept art that caught my eye were of the costumes from Mary Poppins.

These two sketches were hanging with several other pieces depicting characters from the movie. They were also near a table from the actual Mary Poppins set.

I couldn't be completely sure without a closer look, but it looked like both of these paintings were done in water color. I absolutely love the simplicity of the them, using the same basic colors of blue, red, white. Very patriotic and by far some of my favorite costumes from the movie. They, like the rest of Club 33, remind me of an escape from everyday life to a time and place of carefree leisure.

As you continue to walk through the restaurant you happen across other remarkable sketches and paintings, including this gorgeous water-color painting of Cinderella's castle.

And of course, how could I not mention the original sketches of the pirates, ships and the concept art from my favorite ride, Pirates of the Caribbean.

It was amazing to see the original sketches that went behind the Pirates ride. The imagination had the start from somewhere and what they did on paper really shines through on the ride. The sketches have incredible detail and look as if they were ripped from the pages of a Robert Louis Stevenson novel.

There are dozens of other pieces of work covering the walls of Club 33 but my battery died before I could capture them all. I outreached to Disney to receive additional information about the pieces described above, as well as the others that I couldn't include, but according to their representative they could not provide background as the artwork is switched out frequently. Maybe someday I can go back and get everything I missed. Or, if you've got your own photos or done research about the artwork, please share with me so that I can add to this post.

Overall, the experience at Club 33 is unforgettable, but the unique original artwork is what really stays with me. I can't help but think that only a few people in the world have actually seen these drawings and paintings.

Using Music as an Inspiration

Los Angeles and great music go hand in hand. You can always find big names, up-and-coming bands and underground artists at one of the hundreds of clubs throughout the city. So it's hard to pick just one show to go to or one artist to profile. But last weekend was an easy choice for me: I saw New Found Glory and Saves the Day, two of my all time favorite bands, at the House of Blues in Anaheim.

Growing up I followed these pop/punk bands all over Southern California. They were a huge part of my teenage years so it was no surprise that I became a screaming teenager all over again. I want to take the emotion of my teenage years with the excitement, awe and adrenaline of the live concert and replicate it on canvas. I captured some images and video using my iPhone that I will use for inspiration for an upcoming piece.

In the first image, I really love the colors and shapes that came out through the black background. In the second image, the silhouettes of the people against the colorful background has a really unique contrast that I think will transfer beautifully to paint and canvas! I think I am going to paint both of them and see what comes out of it.

Here's some video from the show too. It didn't come out the way I wanted it to- sorry for the loud bass (you may want to turn your speakers/headphones down a little), but I couldn't resist showing off my old favorite bands!

Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibit Coming to the Getty Museum

The first time I ever saw an actual Da Vinci piece of art in person was last year when I went to Florence. I saw Adoration of the Magi and Annunciation at the Uffizi gallery and was blown away. They were my favorite out of his collections at the Uffizi and even bought a print of Annunciation to take home with me.

Annunciation
According to VirtualUffizi.com this painting came from the church of San Bartolomeo at Monteoliveto; painted around 1472 when Leonardo was still in Verrocchio's workshop. At the Uffizi since 1867.

[image from www.leonardo-da-vinci-biography.com]


Adoration of the Magi
According to VirtualUffizi.com this painting was commissioned by the monks of San Donato at Scoperto in 1481, it was left unfinished when Leonardo set off for Milan. As the Uffizi since 1670.

[image from http://arthistory.about.com/]

Little did I know that I only had to wait a few more months to see his art at the Getty Center!

The exhibition is going to focus mostly on his sculpture work, so you won't be able to see some of his more famous paintings. But I'm really interested in seeing some of his concept illustrations and sketches since there are no actual sculptures that can be proven to be Da Vinci's. However, the exhibition will feature several Rustici sculptures - Rustici spent a lot of time studying with Da Vinci and, according to the Getty, "because of their collaborations and similar aesthetic, Rustici's work is considered the best echo of Leonardo's lost activity as a sculptor."

The exhibition begins this weekend and goes through the summer (March 23 - June 20). For more information on this exhibition check out the Getty's website at http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/leonardo/.

Thinkspace

One of my favorite LA spots to see the latest in contemporary art is Thinkspace. They always seem to find young, new talent and showcase them in a way that brings out the best in their work. But living on the West side of LA makes it hard for me to get out to their Silverlake gallery. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard they would be moving their gallery to Culver City next month!

According to Sour Harvest, Thinkspace's blog, the move will be a boon for their fans and exhibiting artists: "With this move we aim to enhance our ongoing program and provide an ever-growing base to some of the most exciting emerging contemporary artists from around the world."

The gallery opens on April 1st but the first exhibitions will open to the public on April 9th with a reception from 7-10 p.m. featuring appearances from several of the gallery's artists. I'm especially excited to see drawings and paintings from Anthony Pontius. His work looks amazing!

http://www.sourharvest.com/2010/03/21/coming-up-this-april-at-thinkspaces-new-culver-city-location/

Be sure to stop by Thinkspace when they open in Culver City or try to catch the talented artists at the Silverlake gallery while it's still open.

Thinkspace
6009 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Wed-Sat 1-6 p.m.
www.thinkspacegallery.com

Christian Bolesta: Artist and Teacher

My goal is to have a weekly feature where I am going to post an interview with artists that not only inspires me but who I also want to highlight in the hopes they will inspire others. The first in my series is of my good friend Christian Bolesta who is an artist and special education teacher living in Germany. I had a great interview with him and was able to get insight on his job, how he helps inspire art in unique individuals and why he thinks art is important for all of us to have in our daily lives. He was also kind enough to share some of the artwork from his students in Germany.

1.Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Christian Bolesta and I live near Frankfurt, Germany and attended a college to study special education in Heidelberg. I'm working in a group home for adults who are mentally and physically handicapped. My job is to accompany my clients through their daily lives and offer them different therapeutic activities like swimming, hiking, making music, making candles and painting.

2. Why do you think art helps your students express themselves?
The different art-projects are helping my clients to encourage new and creative ways of dealing with their problems and reflecting on themselves.

3. Do you think art is essential in everyone’s daily life?
Most people are dealing with "art" everyday. A painting is art. All handicrafts that a child does in kindergarten are art. What a surgeon is doing in a hospital is art. Even designing a toilet can be art....and every kind of art is interesting to someone.

4. What kind of art projects do your students enjoy most?
Being creative, whether with painting, photography or making music helps me to express my feelings and my lifestyle to the people around me. I want to share my experiences with others and want to help other people to find themselves in the art.

6. What is your favorite type of art to practice?
I like playing guitar, drums or singing everyday at home. I also travel frequently and take pictures on every trip. I'm painting whenever it’s raining and or when I'm relaxing at home. So it really depends on where I am and in what mood I am in. I think the most of them like working with acrylic paint. It’s got bright colors, has a nice consistency and dries very fast. Painting on large canvases is the most fun for my clients. They can express themselves by big movements and let their emotions flow. The paintings are usually abstract.

7. Who are some of your favorite artists?
I'm still fascinated by gambling and bars - that's why I love the artwork of Michael Godard. I also like his "rock star" attitude. When art is too sophisticated I lose interest. It should be understandable for everybody. On the other hand I love the old masters like Michelangelo. The Sistine chapel in Vatican City is just breathtaking.

I'm also a fan of some of the amateur art at http://www.kunstdepot24.de/ - It’s all young art-students from Berlin who are selling really nice copies of famous paintings for a nice price. I’ve bought a few pieces for myself and my students.

8. What are things that inspire you as an artist?
I'm traveling a lot, especially between Germany and the United States. I'm trying to translate all the different experiences onto canvas or through guitar strings.

9. What do you think is missing from the art world today?

The dialogue between all types of people and social classes. I'd rather go to an exhibition of kindergarten paintings than to an exhibition of an arrogant-wanna-be-artist that sells expensive paintings that a monkey could have painted.

10. Where can people learn more about your students' artwork?
You can see the paintings and buy all kind of colorful candles and woodwork in our store at the workshop of the "IB Behindertenhilfe Hessen" in Grävenwiesbach, Germany or at our store in Usingen, Germany.

Name: Marcus Country: Germany Age: 40

Name: Angelika Country: Germany Age: 27

Name: Fahim Country: Afghanistan Age: 31

Name: Yvonne Country: Germany Age:34

Name: Arzu Country: Turkey Age:25

Name: Janel Country: USA Age:36

Name: Fahim Country: Afghanistan Age:31

Name: Yvonne Country: Germany Age: 34

TIm Burton @ MOMA

Tim Burton is currently having a exhibition from now until April 26th at The Museum of Modern Art. If you are around and can stop by please do and let me know how it is!!! I have only been able to explore his exhibition through his website on MOMA and it looks amazing! I think my favorite is his private collection of drawings, especially The Ramone. If you have a chance check it out.

http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2009/timburton/

Also check out MOMA's blog Inside/Out below- More great stuff on Tim!

http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/category/tim-burton

[image-http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/category/tim-burton]

Bergamot Station

I read today on LAist that they are considering turning Bergamont into a train station or expo yard. Bergamont is one of my favorite spots in LA. Not only do I sometimes go there during lunch to escape my hectic work schedule, but it's full of great art, atmoshphere and culture. I think LA needs better public transportation but not at the expense of the local community and it's cultural assets. One solution could be a train station nearby so that people that live in other parts of LA who might not otherwise get to visit the galleries can stop by.

http://laist.com/2009/03/10/expo_line_transit_yard_or_cultural.php

(photo-theandrewsgallery.blogspot.com)