An Artful Pause: Wolf Kahn

I recently discovered German-American painter Wolf Kahn for the first time--and he's amazing! Still going strong in his 80s, too. I love his deep, saturated colors and his love of painting forests, fields and other natural landscapes. Click here for more.

An Artful Pause: Wolf Kahn

I recently discovered German-American painter Wolf Kahn for the first time--and he's amazing! Still going strong in his 80s, too. I love his deep, saturated colors and his love of painting forests, fields and other natural landscapes. Click here for more.

Pneumonia, Taxes, Art, Home Repair--and Aliens--All in About a Week!

Wow, has it already been a week since I last posted?! It's a blur, really. Somehow in the last week (or so), I've managed to complete my taxes, take in a new local art exhibition, sand the walls of the bathrooms in my house in preparation for painting, see "District 9" (surprising!)--and recover from what my doctor says was the beginnings of pneumonia!

I'm tired! So today, with the weather irresistibly beautiful in that teasing way of an approaching spring, I blew off the afternoon and had a cocktail with a friend, sitting outdoors at a local hotel. VERY fancy, thank you.

Don't forget to grab life while you can!

Pneumonia, Taxes, Art, Home Repair--and Aliens--All in About a Week!

Wow, has it already been a week since I last posted?! It's a blur, really. Somehow in the last week (or so), I've managed to complete my taxes, take in a new local art exhibition, sand the walls of the bathrooms in my house in preparation for painting, see "District 9" (surprising!)--and recover from what my doctor says was the beginnings of pneumonia!

I'm tired! So today, with the weather irresistibly beautiful in that teasing way of an approaching spring, I blew off the afternoon and had a cocktail with a friend, sitting outdoors at a local hotel. VERY fancy, thank you.

Don't forget to grab life while you can!

Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"

I love this woman! This video is one of the craziest I've seen in a while. I'm sure you could analyze each frame to try and figure out what's going on in Gaga's head. It must take her forever to come up with these videos because there are so many details--it's like she's sending us an encrypted message! And I'm totally hooked.

Great ear- and eye-candy!

Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"

I love this woman! This video is one of the craziest I've seen in a while. I'm sure you could analyze each frame to try and figure out what's going on in Gaga's head. It must take her forever to come up with these videos because there are so many details--it's like she's sending us an encrypted message! And I'm totally hooked.

Great ear- and eye-candy!

Bears Roam Freely in Cherokee!

Well, sorta. You might get lucky and glimpse a real bear, but these are just a few of the 15 painted bears placed throughout Cherokee as a way to highlight tribal artists.

This first one honors Sequoyah, the man who transformed the Cherokee language into a written syllabary. There's a famous portrait of Sequoyah showing him with a pipe and turban-like hat, so that's why the bear is shown in this manner. Some characters from the syllabary are also shown on the bear.

I just liked the design on this second bear, but I'm not sure if there's any special representation.

And last, I love the mountain scene painted on this bear. Beautiful colors.

Click here to see more bears and read about the art project. More Cherokee info and pics to come!

Bears Roam Freely in Cherokee!

Well, sorta. You might get lucky and glimpse a real bear, but these are just a few of the 15 painted bears placed throughout Cherokee as a way to highlight tribal artists.

This first one honors Sequoyah, the man who transformed the Cherokee language into a written syllabary. There's a famous portrait of Sequoyah showing him with a pipe and turban-like hat, so that's why the bear is shown in this manner. Some characters from the syllabary are also shown on the bear.

I just liked the design on this second bear, but I'm not sure if there's any special representation.

And last, I love the mountain scene painted on this bear. Beautiful colors.

Click here to see more bears and read about the art project. More Cherokee info and pics to come!

Artist Ahmad Nadalian

 This Iranian artist works in ways that resonate with me: carving images of fish and other creatures into rocks and leaving them as "gifts" to the waters or to be discovered by passersby. He also carves stone cylinders with similar images (above) and uses them like a printing press in the sand, leaving behind on a beach, for example, an image of a crab that will soon be washed away by the surf.

Nadalian adds that fish and snakes are often seen as symbols of fertility and treasure in parts of Iran. He says that his art gives him a way to help "heal the spirit of neglected streams and coastlines" around the world.

Find more artists that work with the Earth at greenmuseum.org.

Artist Ahmad Nadalian

 This Iranian artist works in ways that resonate with me: carving images of fish and other creatures into rocks and leaving them as "gifts" to the waters or to be discovered by passersby. He also carves stone cylinders with similar images (above) and uses them like a printing press in the sand, leaving behind on a beach, for example, an image of a crab that will soon be washed away by the surf.

Nadalian adds that fish and snakes are often seen as symbols of fertility and treasure in parts of Iran. He says that his art gives him a way to help "heal the spirit of neglected streams and coastlines" around the world.

Find more artists that work with the Earth at greenmuseum.org.

Art to Soothe the Soul

This artwork is by a friend of a friend, and it's become lodged in my noggin of late. I find it calming and meditative--and beautiful, which is the exact opposite of how I feel right now. With all the emotional turmoil in my life, I'm trying to focus on the positive, trying to find some clarity. These works of art help. I hope you enjoy these few here, but click this link to Judi Malone's web site for more.

Art to Soothe the Soul

This artwork is by a friend of a friend, and it's become lodged in my noggin of late. I find it calming and meditative--and beautiful, which is the exact opposite of how I feel right now. With all the emotional turmoil in my life, I'm trying to focus on the positive, trying to find some clarity. These works of art help. I hope you enjoy these few here, but click this link to Judi Malone's web site for more.

Last Nod to Winter: Artist Urs Twellmann

I know winter is officially over, and spring is bustin' out all over here in the Grove, but I think this image is beautiful and wanted to share it. Artist Urs Twellmann takes what he finds in each location and uses that to create his works--in this case, tree branches are transformed into "snowflakes."

Find more nature-inspired art at GreenMuseum.org.

Last Nod to Winter: Artist Urs Twellmann

I know winter is officially over, and spring is bustin' out all over here in the Grove, but I think this image is beautiful and wanted to share it. Artist Urs Twellmann takes what he finds in each location and uses that to create his works--in this case, tree branches are transformed into "snowflakes."

Find more nature-inspired art at GreenMuseum.org.

Color and "Music" to Brighten the Day, Courtesy Painter Jules Olitski

It has rained for 4 days straight--ugh. My mood is suffering, so I thought I'd post a few images from one of my favorite painters, Jules Olitski. He's known for his work in color field painting, which is one of my favorite styles.

I could post image after image and never get enough. The colors evoke so many emotions for me--a sense of calm or anger, or perhaps just overall energy and exuberance.

Some people don't understand color field painting--they think it's just coloring a piece of canvas, and that's it. For me, it's the emotions I sense in each work. Oftentimes when I look at a color field painting--I hear music! Just in my head, I hear a tone or a sound of some kind, which pulls me in further. No, I'm not crazy--it's a real phenomenon called synaesthesia, and it can take a variety of forms.

Olitski's web site doesn't really showcase what I consider his most well-known works. Like any great painter, his style and subject matter changed over time, and so if you lined up all his works, you might think, at first glance, that they were done by several different artists.

Hope these inspire (and maybe you'll even "hear" something!).

Color and "Music" to Brighten the Day, Courtesy Painter Jules Olitski

It has rained for 4 days straight--ugh. My mood is suffering, so I thought I'd post a few images from one of my favorite painters, Jules Olitski. He's known for his work in color field painting, which is one of my favorite styles.

I could post image after image and never get enough. The colors evoke so many emotions for me--a sense of calm or anger, or perhaps just overall energy and exuberance.

Some people don't understand color field painting--they think it's just coloring a piece of canvas, and that's it. For me, it's the emotions I sense in each work. Oftentimes when I look at a color field painting--I hear music! Just in my head, I hear a tone or a sound of some kind, which pulls me in further. No, I'm not crazy--it's a real phenomenon called synaesthesia, and it can take a variety of forms.

Olitski's web site doesn't really showcase what I consider his most well-known works. Like any great painter, his style and subject matter changed over time, and so if you lined up all his works, you might think, at first glance, that they were done by several different artists.

Hope these inspire (and maybe you'll even "hear" something!).

Shaman Image by David Hewson

When I stumbled upon artist David Hewson, I was attracted by not only the beauty of his work but also his use of religious images. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find this image below of a shaman ("White Eagle Medicine Man") within his portfolio of figurative art.

I love the shimmering background of butterflies, snakes and other critters juxtaposed with representations of stars and geometric forms. There's probably even stuff here I can't make out--all kinds of groovy symbolism!

A great image for Monday meditation.

Shaman Image by David Hewson

When I stumbled upon artist David Hewson, I was attracted by not only the beauty of his work but also his use of religious images. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find this image below of a shaman ("White Eagle Medicine Man") within his portfolio of figurative art.

I love the shimmering background of butterflies, snakes and other critters juxtaposed with representations of stars and geometric forms. There's probably even stuff here I can't make out--all kinds of groovy symbolism!

A great image for Monday meditation.

Artist Nils Udo Rediscovers Nature

These are simply stunning photographs. German artist Nils Udo takes only what he finds in nature--water, flowers, berries, branches--and creates surprising images. Meditating on these photographs brings a smile to my face and a sense of wonder to my heart. It's amazing when people can take everyday things that the rest of us take for granted and actually get us to take a second look.

Images in order: "Mirror," "untitled" and "Nest."

Found him at Greenmuseum.org. See more images at ArtNet.

Artist Nils Udo Rediscovers Nature

These are simply stunning photographs. German artist Nils Udo takes only what he finds in nature--water, flowers, berries, branches--and creates surprising images. Meditating on these photographs brings a smile to my face and a sense of wonder to my heart. It's amazing when people can take everyday things that the rest of us take for granted and actually get us to take a second look.

Images in order: "Mirror," "untitled" and "Nest."

Found him at Greenmuseum.org. See more images at ArtNet.