Friday, October 22, 2010

Favorite Artists Inspiration Swap

I recently joined an ATC Swap at atcsforall.com where we are to create an image inspired by our favorite Famous or well known Artists. I love color! I love the energy and movement and depth the use of color can create. That is why I chose artists, who I feel, really express color in this way. These are the four examples I submitted.

The first artist represented here is Katie Sevigny. She is actually an Alaskan Artist who I just LOVE her style, and use of color! Whimsical, and natural at the same time. I think her work is just beautiful, and I hope to someday have one of her pieces in my art collection. And I love that she is an Alaskan artist who isn't just painting the usual Mountain Landscapes that you mostly see around these parts.

(above)

My rendition of "Blue Octopus" by Katie Sevigny

"Blue Octopus"

by Katie Sevigny


Joan Miro, a Spanish artist, known for his surrealist/abstract paintings, is my next favorite artist I chose to emulate. I love examining the timeline of his work because it is evident to me that some of his inspirations could have come from Matisse, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, and Picasso. And I love the use of color and line and the freedom of expression I feel when admiring in his artwork.

(above)
My rendition of "Daybreak" by Joan Miro.

"Daybreak"
by Joan Miro

The third artist of inspiration shown here is Henri Matisse. I love teaching about Matisse, I love learning more about Matisse, I love most everything about his work. His "Green Stripe" ~ Madame Matisse, is one of my favorites.

(above)
My rendition of "Green Stripe" ~ Madame Matisse

"Green Stripe" ~ Madame Matisse
by Henri Matisse

The last of my four favorite artists is Russian artist, Wassily Kandinsky. If you go do an image search of Miro's work and Kandinsky's, I think you will see the similarities I referenced to earlier.

The piece I chose for inspiration was more challenging than I originally thought. It is also I piece that isn't my favorite example of his work. But, it is one that I was less familiar with, and I wanted to get to know it better. It is very different from the 'high energy', paintings of his that I love from his later work. Much of what I am typically drawn to in his other paintings, is his use of organic and geometric line. To me, that is where the energy comes from in his work. When I look at Kandinsky's paintings I hear music! Often lively and full of energy, and at times, poetic and rhythmic. I could stair at his paintings all day. They just make me feel good.

(above)
My rendition of "Farbstudie Quadrate" c. 1913
or "Squares with Concentric Rings"

"Farbstudie Quadrate" c. 1913
by Wassily Kandinsky

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Out Of Africa!

So here are some ATC's I did for an Out Of Africa Swap that Joss, in London, is hosting. I missed out on her first swap, and didn't want to miss out on this one. This time we could do people and animals, so I did a couple of both. Giraffe Resting
(acrylic)
African Mama
(acrylic)
Mother & Child
(acrylic)
African Zebra
(soft pastels)