Archive for the ‘Famous Artists’ Category
March 7th, 2010 | 
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Born in Rotterdam, Holland but later settling in Long Island, USA, Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) was a leading artist of the abstract expressionist school along with other artists; Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, Arshile Gorky, Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman.
Following eight years of learning art at the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts and Techniques, de Kooning arrived in the United States in 1926. De Kooning settled in a Manhattan studio in 1927 following which he came under the influence of artist and critic John D. Graham and also befriended Arshile Gorky with whom he formed a close bond. De Kooning’s first opportunity to indulge his creative genes came when he was appointed to work in the WPA Federal Art Project. He was involved in easel-painting and murals till he resigned in 1937.
In 1938 de Kooning, influenced by Arshile Gorky, brought out the paintings ‘Two Men Standing’, ‘Seated Figure’ and ‘Man’ that depict male figures. The same time he had worked on two series of abstractions entitled ‘Pink Landscape’ and ‘Elegy’. Gradually, de Kooning seemed to move from abstract art to figurative abstract art, blending these two trends became a characteristic of de Kooning’s art in the 1940s. Works of the period that display this fusion of the abstract and the figurative are ‘Woman’, ‘Standing Man’, and the ultimate example, ‘Pink Angels’. From 1946 onwards de Kooning brought out a series of black and white renditions created with enamels – ‘Light in August’ (1946), ‘Zurich’ (1947), ‘Mailbox’ (1947-8) and ‘Black Friday’ (1948)
In 1950 Willem de Kooning embarked on his most famous and representative abstract art – the ‘Woman’ series. De Kooning had already dealt with the subject of women in the 1940s but now he would devote himself fully to its study. ‘Woman I’ began in 1950 and was completed in 1952. The Woman series continued until ‘Woman VI’ which created a ripple in the art world these pieces were quite distinct from the art of the other Abstract Expressionists. Though the figure of the woman is visible in de Kooning’s art, it isn’t a strict form and it degenerates into a mix of colours and textures. This combination of expressionism and traditional forms – the constant and the ambiguous – made de Kooning’s works the most colourful of all Abstract Expressionists paintings of the time. The imagery of the Woman series was the result of agitated brushwork combined with the use of high-key colours. It brings out a woman alive with all the sexual emotions of modern man.
Towards the early 1960s De Kooning headed towards pure abstract art with the focus shifting from human figures to landscape. ‘Bolton Landing’ (1957) and ‘Door to the River’ (1960) feature similarities with the work of another artist of the Abstract Expressionism movement, Franz Kline, in the broad brushstrokes and calligraphic tendencies. De Kooning also embarked on his first sculptures modelled in clay and cast in bronze in Rome in 1969, while in 1970-71 he was involved in creating life-size figures. In 1979 de Kooning also received the Andrew W. Mellon Prize while the Museum of Modern Art held a retrospective exhibition on de Kooning in 1997.
This representative figure of Abstract Expressionism died on March 12, 1997 after creating some late works that haven’t been studied yet. These paintings seem to move into a new direction and display new trends, but have borne the brunt of gossip and negative criticism.
By: George Baxter
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As with many of the artists of the Abstract Expressionism Movement, Willem de Kooning created each piece of his art on Artists Canvases. This talented and successful artist transformed each Blank Canvas into a thought provoking work of abstract expressionist art. Be creative and produce your own works of art with Acrylic Painting Supplies from artistsblankcanvas.co.uk.
One of the leading figures of the Abstract Expressionism movement in art, Clyfford Still was born on November 30, 1904 in Grandin, North Dakota. Still completed his education in art from Washington’s Spokane University. Following stints of teaching at the Spokane Art Centre during the Great Depression, and at Washington State University, he founded the Nespelem Art Colony along with Worth Griffin in 1937 to bring out portraits and landscapes depicting Native American life in the Colville Indian Reservation.
Following two exhibitions in San Francisco and New York in the 1940s, Clyfford Still’s first solo exhibition in 1943 did not showcase his characteristic style that would form another dimension of Abstract Expressionism – colour field painting. Still later became one of the foremost colour field painters, a style he developed after he met Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko following his first solo exhibition. It was Rothko who introduced Still to Peggy Guggenheim in New York. Guggenheim gave him a second solo exhibition in 1946 at her Art of This Century gallery. It was this exhibition that truly introduced Still and his mature style to the world.
Still wasn’t alone in experimenting with colour, Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman also organized colours, but in relative simple patterns. Still’s style concerns with juxtaposing colours in different forms. Unlike Rothko and Newman, Still’s arrangements of colour are irregular, they look like flashes of colour that vary in shades giving the viewer the impression that one layer of colours has been torn off the canvas to reveal the layer beneath. For this purpose, Still used thick impasto to create subtle shades across the painting. This style can be seen in some of his most important paintings, named after the year they were painted; ‘1957-D No. 1′, ‘1953′ and ‘1964′. In the latter, the painting is chiefly consists of the colours black and yellow with patches of white and a little red. These have been the colours generally used in all of Still’s paintings.
Still took up a teaching job at the California School of Fine Arts, San Francisco, in 1946 before heading to New York City in 1950. In 1959 he held an exhibition at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York. The exhibition met with a positive reception prompting him to donate 31 paintings to the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. Still insisted that the paintings be never loaned out, clearly showing him to be particular in the way his works are shown.
In 1960 Still decided to cut himself off from the world of art when he moved away from New York City in to his farm near Westminster, Maryland. He went on to hold solo exhibitions in Philadelphia in 1963 and New York in 1969-70. A permanent installation of his works opened at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts in 1975, and in 1980 he was given an exhibition by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Clyfford Still won the 1972 Award of Merit for Painting from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the 1975 he received The Skowhegan Medal for in recognition to his lifelong contribution to the art world. Still died in Baltimore in June 1980, it was the demise of one of the foremost and most unique forces of Abstract Expressionism.
By: George Baxter
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As with many of the other artists of The Abstract Expressionism Movement Clyfford Still created his paintings on Stretched Canvas while few preferred to paint on un-stretched canvases which were later mounted on Canvas Stretcher Bars after the artwork was completed.
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Tags: Barnett Newman, Grandin North Dakota, Portraits And Landscapes | 
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Art galleries are the perfect settings for exhibiting art, generally visual art such as paintings, sculptures, and photography. Basically, art galleries feature a variety of art styles including contemporary and traditional fine art, glass art, art prints, and animation art. Art galleries are dedicated to the promotion of emerging artists. These galleries provide a platform for them to display their works along with the works of nationally and internationally renowned artists.
The U.S. has a wealth of famous art galleries. Many small towns in the U.S. boast of an art gallery. The High Museum of Art, Alleged Gallery, Henry Art Gallery, National Gallery of Art, Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Agora Gallery, Rosalux Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, The Alaska House Gallery, and Anchorage Museum of History and Art are some of the famous art galleries in the United States. Today, there are online art galleries exhibiting original artwork.
Many famous art galleries display regional pieces of art such as African art, American art, Indian art, and European art, along with folk art, modern and contemporary art, and photography. These galleries collect, exhibit, and preserve the works of art for the coming generations. Many famous art galleries strive to entertain and educate their regional, national, and international audiences. Some famous art galleries specialize in particular areas such as portraits. A good number of famous art galleries are owned and operated by government.
Most famous art galleries provide an opportunity for visitors to purchase outstanding artwork. Also, they organize several art-related activities such as music concerts and poetry readings for children and adults. Art galleries organize seminars and workshops conducted by renowned artists. Committed to excellence in both art and service, most famous art galleries offer you a rich, unforgettable experience.
By: Richard Romando
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Art Galleries provides detailed information on Art Galleries, Art Gallery Dealers, Fine Art Galleries, Online Art Galleries and more. Art Galleries is affiliated with Framed Art Prints.
It is said that Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) never painted an unhappy picture. The Impressionist Renoir specialized in happy, joyful scenes depicting candid body profiles and smiling facial features. The youthful exuberance of his paintings is complemented by luminous hues, varying brush strokes and a dynamic interplay of light and shadows. The buoyant charm evident in Renoir’s paintings all helped to propel him to the top of the Impressionist movement.
The Dance at Bougival is just one magnificent example of Renoir’s masterful style. However, many art historians consider Dance At Bougival to be an exception to Renoir’s traditional happy sceneries. Although the painting shows a couple dancing, the pair does not seem particularly cheerful. When you look at the girl, you will see that her mouth is closed, almost as if in a grimace. The man’s face, while not visible in the painting, does not seem to be formed even in a half-smile. The painting suggests that Renoir was aware that even in such joyous occasions, such as fairs and festivals where there is dancing involved, people can still manifest other emotions such as boredom or apprehension.
Still, that does not negate the fact that Dance at Bougival is still one of Renoir’s most famous paintings. The beauty of the colors and creative use of brush strokes make this painting a truly sought-after work of art. In fact, it’s been frequently made into tapestries or wall-hangings, whether by art collectors or just simple homeowners who want to add a touch of class and elegance to their own homes or offices.
Tapestries are wall hangings woven from such materials as pure cotton and silk. They feature works of art made by famous artists and are usually used as wall fabric decoration. Most tapestry sellers include other materials such as hooks and tassels along with the tapestry itself. Sizes vary too, so it would be wise to measure the wall on which you plan to hang your tapestry.
By: Alex Hanson
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Whether your home is a chic, modern home or a Victorian inspired abode, it will surely be made into a more beautiful and more relaxing space by enhancing your classic wall decor. One idea would be to look into the famous artists work and having it woven into a tapestry. Fabulous wall décor, Renior’s Dance At Bougival tapestries retail anywhere from $130 to $200. It’s truly an inexpensive and wonderful way to incorporate a timeless work of art into your surroundings.
Does the artist make the electric guitar, or the electric guitar make the artist? I suspect the answer to that question would vary significantly depending on who you asked. A manufacturer such as Gibson, Fender, or Yamaha would probably reply that an artist can only be as good as his instrument. But a guitarist, while likely to acknowledge the importance of a good guitar, would probably want to take the lion’s share of the credit for himself. This is the “chicken and the egg” question of the musical world and one to which we will probably never know the answer. Fortunately, even without knowing it, we can still enjoy the outrageous talent that electric guitarists have displayed over the decades.
Keith Richards. My favorite quote about this gentleman comes from comic Robin Williams’s 2002 Live on Broadway performance: “I know there is a cure for whatever bioterrorism they send at us. I know that there is one, and it lies within Keith Richards, I know that. He’s the only man on the planet who can go ‘Anthrax? (sniff) Alriiiight!’” Sums it up, don’t you think? Mr. Richard, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, is a wonderful example of the rock and roll electric guitar player. He’s rebellious, scandalous, filthy rich and still going strong.
Eddie Van Halen. A poster child for the big hair era of the 80s, this man is still recognized thirty years after the release of his band’s first album, which was entitled “Van Halen.” Hey, if both the band and the album are named after you, that kind of says it all. Van Halen didn’t confine his talents to his own band, either, and he contributed a guitar solo to the song of another 80s icon. The icon was Michael Jackson and the song was Beat It. No wonder this guy is still (in)famous.
Carlos Augusto Santana Alves. No, I didn’t know he had four names either, to me he’ll always be “Santana.” This gentleman first became famous over forty years ago and he’s showing no sign of slowing down. His genres include rock, blues, salsa and jazz fusion. His music has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the last decade or so and in 2003, Rolling Stone named Santana number 15 on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time. Talk about getting the industry’s stamp of approval.
Jimi Hendrix. There has possibly never been an electric guitarist who more strongly influenced the industry or who more perfectly embodied a generation. He has, posthumously, been inducted into both the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a statue on the streets of his hometown, Seattle, Wash., and an eternal place in the annals of not only American music, but American history as well. A tremendous performer and a brilliant innovator, Rolling Stone named him number one on its 2003 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He remains one of the most famous artists ever to have lived.
By: Victor Epand
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Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for guitars, electric guitar, guitarists, Hendrix, Van Halen, Keith Richards, Santana, sheet music, guitar tabs.
American Abstract expressionist painter Franz Kline was born on May 23rd 1910 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Kline was educated at Boston University and in 1936 he enrolled at Heatherley’s Art School in London. On his return to America in 1939 he married Elizabeth Vincent Parsons – a British ballet dancer – whom he had met in London.
Kline’s early art consisted of paintings of cityscapes and landscapes of New York, murals and portraits were also part of his early efforts and there was a tinge of Expressionism evident in his works. It was during this time in the late 1930s that he acquired two patrons from whom he received tremendous encouragement and support – Dr. Theodore J. Edlich, Jr. and David Orr. During this period Kline received awards in the National Academy of Design annuals, but his more mature and representative style developed in the late 1940s after his meeting with other abstract expressionists; Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock. Kline’s style basically consists of bold strokes of black and white enamel. This black and white style would be revealed to the world in his first solo exhibition at New York’s Egan Gallery in 1950. Indeed, it was his black and white paintings he is known famously for, although he also worked on colour paintings since the mid 1950s and colour began appearing more consistently in his paintings after 1959. His first solo exhibition followed soon after and would associate Franz Kline with Abstract Expressionism forever.
Willem de Kooning was enormously influential in the development of Kline’s mature style, and the guiding force behind his transformation from a painter of landscapes and realistic themes to abstraction. The event that led to the transition is an interesting one, Kline took a drawing and gave it to de Kooning who projected it using a Bell Opticon projector, the projector enlarged the drawing so much that the image began to overlap at the edges. The impact of this projection almost instantly transformed Kline from figurative art to abstract representation. This incident had occurred at a time when Kline was intellectually exhausted, and provided impulse he needed to progress as an artist. The transformation was represented through the Nijinsky paintings, which possess elements of self-portraiture and depicting a series of heads based on the dancer Nijinsky in the role of Petroushka.
One can’t fail to experience a dynamic, spontaneous and dramatic impact on viewing Kline’s paintings. The general inspiration of Kline’s works range from symbols of the modern industrial civilization such as railroads, engines, tunnels, bridges, etc. Though spontaneity is the most recognized characteristic, Kline’s many complex renditions are a result of extensive studies. His paintings were created after referring to his own compositional drawings. He would draw sketches first on any paper he could find before he began his masterpieces. His paintings mask the conscious effort behind them, but the visible spontaneity and intensity of his paintings classified him along with Jackson Pollock and other Abstract Expressionists under the title ‘action painter’.
Some of Klein’s famous paintings after 1950 include New York, N.Y. (1953), Painting Number 2 (1954) and Untitled (1957). Kline died in New York in 1962 of a heart condition, after adding yet another dimension to the rich Abstract Expressionism Movement.
By: George Baxter
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Franz Kline and many of the other artists of The Abstract Expressionism Movement – such as Marc Rothko – often created artwork with oil paints on Stretched Canvases If you are interested in art and need of affordable high stretcher bars check out http://www.artistsblankcanvas.co.uk/canvas-stretcher-bars.html for a good selection of art framing materials.
Paul Jackson Pollock was born as the youngest child of LeRoy McCoy Pollock and Stella McClure Pollock, in 1912. Four elder brothers made up the rest of his family. Though born in Cody, Wyoming; Pollock was brought up in California and Arizona. After a period of study at the Manual Arts High School located in Los Angeles, Pollock joined his brother Charles to study at the Art Students League with him under American muralist and painter – Thomas Hart Benton. Benton had a lasting influence on the abstract art output of Pollock. The art techniques of David Alfaro Siquieros, Jos
Artist Paul Ranson (1864-1909) is the genius behind Apple Tree with Red Fruit, a masterpiece blending Oriental motifs and exotic nuances. Ranson was part of a group of Post-Impressionist artists called Nabise whose subjects often revolved around metaphors and symbols of religious and nature themes. His own paintings, though, focused more on the religious aspect, incorporating noveau prints and Japanese designs. His art, indeed, is a unique mix of the abstract and the representational.
This particular painting of Ranson’s, Apple Tree with Red Fruit, is a fitting example of his style. It features a world of branches resembling human arms, and upon which hang plump, red apples. Despite its clear reference to nature, most art historians agree that the painting is mostly symbolic, and refers more to semi-religious themes rather than a direct attribute to nature. Ranson also created stained glass, pottery and tapestries with the same motif and mostly influenced by Japanese prints and Art Noveau.
Because of its beauty, this painting is often woven into a tapestry for homeowners with an eye for art. The painting makes the perfect addition to any home because its colors, while vibrant, are still soothing and pleasing to the eye. It also makes for a fantastic conversation piece. Just imagine your family and friends sipping wine and chatting about this fabulous wall hanging over hors d’oveurs. It’s not that hard to imagine how anyone would not want to spend more time over at your house.
Not anyone can just make beautiful tapestries. Tapestries are made by skilled artisans. They make use of pure cotton yarn and loom to translate this work of art. Aside from which, most tapestry sellers also include finials, iron rods and hardware such as brackets so you can easily hang these onto your walls. No need to call for a carpenter. You yourself can hang this onto any part of your house without having to pay anyone else. Sizes of the tapestry may vary. Choose one that’s just suited for the measurements of the wall you plan to hang this onto.
These tapestries are not only for the homes. It’s also a great addition to your office. Hang one of these in your office and watch as your guests and clients marvel at this work of art. They’ll instantly feel more welcome and more at home. Once they’re settled and comfortable in your office, they’ll be more open to accepting your business deals and proposals. Tapestries really are as beautiful to look at as they are functional.
By: Maridee Hanselman
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Maridee Hanselman writes about famous works of art woven into beautiful tapestries for your home decor. It’s hard to go wrong when you select a museum piece that hundreds of thousands of people flock to see and have that work of art in your home looking absolutely stunning. Famous artists paintings make fabulous tapestry wall hangings with familiarity to friends and family and usually a pleasing mood to the room and gathering. Famous Artists Tapestries Rock.
Hans Hofmann was a strong exponent of abstract art whose paintings depicted a relationship between powerful and vibrant colours on a clearly defined underlying structure, Hans Hofmann – representative of the Abstract Expressionism movement – was born in Weissenberg in Bavaria on March 21st 1880.
In 1898 Hofmann was introduced to Impressionism in Munich at Moritz Heymann’s art school where he studied. His early works clearly reveal this influence, one example of which is the 1902 portrait of his future wife Maria Wolfegg. Hofmann’s early exhibitions were with the ‘New Succession’ in Berlin in 1908 and 1909.
From 1904 to 1930 he found himself shifting between Germany and Paris where he had become acquainted with the Fauves and Matisse. His first solo exhibition was an insight into his exploration of colour was held in Berlin in 1910. Hofmann was influenced by Robert Delaunay’s study of colour by and the pioneering innovative art of Wassily Kandinsky.
Hofmann was also well-known as teacher and art writer. In 1915 he opened the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts at Munich. The School was attended by American artists, Worth Ryder, Glen Wessels, Louise Nevelson, Carl Holty, Vaclav Vytlacil, Alfred Jensen and others, thanks to the worldwide recognition the school attained.
In 1930 Hofmann moved to the United States to teach at Berkeley’s University of California. He had his first exhibition of drawings in 1931 in San Francisco. In 1933 the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts opened in New York and he began to paint again after a period of drawing. In The following year he opened a summer school in Provincetown, Massachusetts where Lee Krasner studied with Hofmann. Over the next ten years he found himself living in New York and Provincetown and he became an American citizen in 1941.
In the decade following 1940 Hofmann’s art has been completely abstract, his landmark painting; ‘Spring’ was completed in 1941. It was created by pouring and dribbling paint directly over the canvas. Critics considered the work to be influenced by the ‘Drip’ technique of the abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock. His second drip painting ‘The Wind’ was completed in 1941.
Arranged by Peggy Guggenheim, Hofmann’s first exhibition in New York opened in 1944. The same year he opened another exhibition in Chicago, ‘Hans Hofmann, Paintings 1941-1944′. In 1947 he had a succession of exhibitions in New York, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. In the same year The Kootz Gallery (New York) began organizing a solo show of Hofmann that continued almost every year until his death.
Hofmann designed mosaic murals for the lobby of New York’s William Kaufmann Building in 1956. In 1963 he held the ‘Hans Hofmann and his Students’ exhibition in US and Canada also agreed to donate 45 paintings to the University of California. Hofmann was awarded many honorary degrees and doctorates by various universities in Europe and the US.
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Tags: Alfred Jensen, American Citizen, Provincetown Massachusetts |
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Woven works of art have been around as early as the Hellenistic times. Over the centuries, these decorative wall hangings have gained immense fame and popularity. People from all walks of life have come to appreciate and enjoy them for their unique, one-of-a-kind designs. Most of the earlier tapestry works are displayed in museums, hotels, historic buildings and landmarks, while the newer or more contemporary ones can be bought in an art shop, a gallery or an online store.
There are many different kinds of woven artworks that abound these days, but one of the most popular types is tapestries by famous artists. These works of art are collectively known as “Art Tapestries”. Whether you are a patron of the arts or you just simply enjoy browsing through artworks, then you would definitely appreciate the collection under this category.
Strictly speaking, these woven art pieces are not really the actual works of the famous artists; instead, they are replicas or reproductions of the original masterpieces. These famous artists include the likes of Raphael, Michelangelo, Claude Monet, Francois Boucher, Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, Pierre August Renoir, Jan Vermeer, as well as many others. Examples of this type of art that are available in the market these days are the following: Francois Boucher’s Triumph of Venus and Nude Lying on a Sofa, Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man and Female Head, Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Artist’s Studio, Van Gogh’s Irises, Michelangelo’s The Creation and Madonna, Renoir’s Dance at Bougival, and Raphael’s works on The Life of Saint Peter and The Life of Saint Paul based on the accounts of The Gospels and The Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, to name just a few.
An art tapestry is perfect for those who want to bring home the works of famous artists, such as those mentioned above. Most of the masterpieces of these artists are already on display in museums all over the world and the only way by which a normal person can have a copy of one is to buy these replicas. Although these are not the original works of these masters, they look very much like the original ones. Aside from this, they also have an inherent depth and texture within them (that results from the unique way by which they are woven) unlike any other form of art, which makes their subjects appear more real.
By: Alex Hanson
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Clearly there are many artistic textile forms to choose from for your wall decor and these works-of-art leave you with a large selection to choose from. European Tapestries are pretty fabulous and many can be found on the web from trusted sources such as Decor4u.com. Woven in Italy, Belgium and France with fascinating famous art works as the motif or theme of the wall hangings. Tapestries by Famous Artists are fun, educational and can simply bring your home decor style and sophistication to a new level. Do not overlook Classic Wall Decor – Beautiful Wall Tapestries, while looking around. The bring home the adventures, tales of myth and magic for your children to learn and grow up knowing all about.
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Tags: Acts Of The Apostles, Art Tapestry, Girl With A Pearl |
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