MOVING ...

To my dear six readers ... I have set up shop elsewhere for a little more flexibility. I hope you will bookmark me and follow me here.

Chiura Obata

One of my favorite Japanese artists is the great Chiura Obata. He was a talented illustrator and woodblock printmaker, but he is probably most famous for his paintings of Yosemite National Park. His landscapes are alive, vibrant and modern yet they also incorporate aspects of traditional Japanese style. He was an art professor at UC Berkley from 1932 -1935 until WWII when he spent over a year in an internment camp. I love spending time looking over his many paintings and I hope you will too. 

http://obata.wilderness.net/

Art of Japan

In honor of all of the people who lost their lives or who are currently suffering because of the earthquake and tsunami, I am dedicating all of my posts this week to the beautiful art of Japan.

For years I have admired and been very moved by so many aspects of Japanese art, from prints and screens of Geishas and Samurai Warriors to textiles and Chyogami (Yuzen) papers. I have a large file of these things for inspiration that I often draw upon and incorporate in my art.

Here is a touching work of art. I wish I could give credit to the artist, but it was just an image I found while trolling for inspiration. I think it is a beautiful image to keep in mind today as thousands of Japanese are suffering and not knowing what tomorrow brings.

AN OBJECT OF BEAUTY

I think I'm one of the few remaining humans who loves to own an actual book, not a digital edition. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin (yes, the comedian) is the perfect example of why; the textured dust jacket, the frayed edge pages and the glossy images of the art that are woven into this novel make it one of my new favorites to add to my book shelves.

I am not a book critic so I will just say I enjoyed it a lot, especially upon reflection. Like his previous novel, Shopgirl, this is a bittersweet tale. But more interesting that the story of the protagonist is the story of the art and the art market over the past 20 years. He manages to intertwine real works of art and the NY art scene neatly into the book and I found myself wanting to know more and look up certain pieces that I was not familiar with. I enjoyed getting the bonus art history lesson.

What are some of your favorite art books?

FIRST COMMUNION

Many people don't realize that Pablo Picasso was a technically gifted painter. He painted "First Communion" at approximately 14 years old without having had any formal schooling, aside from instruction from his father who was also a painter.

After his father asked him to finish the feet on some pigeons he had started painting, he handed over his brushes to Pablo realizing his son had surpassed his own talents at such an early age. Which must have been a simultaneously depressing yet moving realization

Ironically, his parents were disappointed when he began painting abstracts because they had high hopes that he would make the Picasso name famous.

Do you think Picasso's realistic paintings are better than his abstract works?

LANDON AND GAVIN

Last portrait delivered today before Christmas. These boys are so adorable- I always feel so nervous painting someone's beautiful kids!!

EMMY AND IZZY

Continuing to finish my last few portraits. This was a fun one to do because I love the girls and also their expressions were so sweet.