New Year/New Decade

Wishing us all a wonderful, happy, prosperous New Year. .
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Top image - "Surprising The Angel Of Defeat". Please click to enlarge.
Bottom image is the underpainting.
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Chapter & verse

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This painting, titled "Corinthians 13-4", by Nikola Savic is not his normal fare. But I like the drama and how seeing that there's something to read, draws you in. Once you get in close you can scrutinize the figures; wondering - how'd he do that?
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The image is from the Zero 10 Gallery. Only the first seven paintings (of 15 images) are in this style.
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Happy Ha Ha Ho Ho

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Oh what fun it is to search for and then find wonderful, inexpensive surprises to give as gifts for Christmas.  What makes it even more funner is to wrap them in newspaper rather than store-bought gift wrap. It makes each gift even more personal, thought-out and interesting. They're always a conversation booster and bring an extra laugh to an already festive occasion.
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The top gift has a picture of an x-ray of an astronaut's suit. I inserted the rest of the article about that Exhibition into the wrap so he can read the whole thing if he's interested - it was a good read . . . .
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Dotty Holidays

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Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.
And a very special Thank You to those who follow my blog.
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This lovely 12" cube (animation paint on aluminum) is by Simone Adels and you can see more of her 2-dimensional work at Angles Gallery.
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Image from Angles Gallery.
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Beautiful Pwrainting

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pwrainting - writing/painting
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Eastern, abstract calligraphy took center stage last week at Sotheby's HUROUF: THE ART OF THE WORD Auction. It was a real pleasure for me to see some of my favorite artists get even more, well deserved exposure and attention. And it's always fun to see how much money goes for what. The only disappointment came from researching some unfamiliar names; a real dearth of images in some cases.
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Image is from ArtMarketMonitor.
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Dirt Dots

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Well, you'll have to visit her site to fully appreciate that statement. This piece, "Red Dirt Poem" 2006, made of black stoneware and Mt Rainier red earthenware should be a big clue. But you'll still be in for some nice surprises when you visit Margaret Boozer's Website.
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Maybe it's just me, but the navigation arrows on her pages are so discreet that you almost don't realize there's more content to be seen - believe me, you'll want to see everything.
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Image from her website.
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Constructivist Dots

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You'll see what I mean about the Constructivism when you visit Stas Volovik's  Website.
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Image from Joshua Abelow.
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A Certain Green

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For me, it's still fascinating, sometimes even enchanting to find artists who find a niche and plumb it thoroughly. Jos Van Merendonk is obsessed with chromium oxide (green) and is doing just fine - thank you very much.
For more examples of his work, you can visit his Website or visit the slide show Here (click on the picture).
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Image is from LiveJournal, where you'll find more images.
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Aboriginal Pointillism

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Here's a very nice nine-plus minute sampler of Aboriginal Art. Whether you're already a fan or not, you'll enjoy seeing these different, yet iconic works in a museum setting.
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Hint - If you don't have fast Internet service, once the video starts playing, pause it and do something else while it loads. When you come back, it should play through.
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Default Lines

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Joseph James is represented by Galerie Anhava and after reading the short statement explaining how he makes his works, I'm still a bit confused; but it sure sounds like an interesting oeuvre. It seems slightly similar to the way I approach some paintings.
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Image from Galerie Anhava.
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Intimate Lines, Meaningful Dots

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 Knowing that Pat Adams (b,1928) was a student of Max Beckmann, goes a long way in helping to understand her abstractions. She's represented by the Zabriskie Gallery, where you'll find images of her work, a Press Release and an Essay.
BigTown Gallery has four large images. (click on 8,9,10 & 11)
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Image from Yaddo.
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Turning Japanese

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I'm not referring to the pop-rock, song by The Vapors, but to the way Kaoru Mansour updates some of the visual icons we associate with Japanese-style art and makes them her own.  You'll see what I mean when you visit her  Website and explore the different facets of her oeuvre. Several paragraphs Here, fill in some of the blanks.
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Image from LaArtcore.
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Quietly Turning

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Click the square with four arows to watch, full-screen.
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Spotted on Arts Journal.
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Marks With Meaning

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Although Edwina Leapman's oeuvre is about line and process, I like to "read" them as abstract texts. You'll understand that better when you look at the first two examples of her work at Annely Juda Fine Art.  I'm showing this particular image from said Gallery to show you the sumptuous color she can achieve. This in depth article makes you appreciate her work even more.
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Early Modern Abstract Pointillism

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You're in for a real treat and mostly, much surprise when you visit the Website of artist Ian Stephenson.
I won't spoil it by saying more. Please do snoop around his site . . . . .
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Image from the Tate.
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Just A Few More Dotts

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Yes, the photo is blurry - sorry about that - and no, I'm not quite done yet. Well, technically, I'm done; there are no missed spaces, but I'm quite sure that 5 or 6 strategically placed dotts of the just the right colors will help "balance out" this latest endeavour.
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Titled "True Saints (heroes and contenders)", it started as a mixed mediums piece with collage, but didn't quite make it and languished for several years with other unfinished works. I hadn't painted for a while and was up for a challenge; decided to try a few new things while staying true to my oeuvre. I allowed for a little lee-way a couple times (creative license), but mostly each and every dott is where it should be and within bounds. Click image to enlarge. (What looks like negative spaces are all covered with dotts just like the rest of the painting.)
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Your comments, gut reactions, what ever, would be greatly appreciated.
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The Articulate Artist

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It's ten after 10; time for a short break after ploughing through yet another layer in my latest painting.
Got on the pc and noticed this video was still in my favorites and thought it would be nice to share it.
I can't ever remember an artist verbalizing so clearly and easily about their work; speaking with such a confidence that it ignites a slow burning inspiration within you. Things were getting a little tricky in this last painting and I was beginning to "see" figures and objects coalesce, which made me question what I should do next. But having seen this video helped influence me to be true to my oeuvre and stay the course; have faith and not let fear or indecision side track me.
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So get comfortable and enjoy.
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Spotted this on Tim McFarlane's Blog.
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Creative Scribbling

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There's a lot more to Tom Mueske's colorful scribbles than first meets the eye.
Visit his Website where he gives you plenty of detail shots of his work that lets you see he's really interested in what he's doing.
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This is his Artist Statement from the Drawing Center's Website -
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"My recent drawings are acts of commitment and rejection. I avoid conceptual practice and representation in search of pure unalienable labor. I am more interested in process than purpose. I begin each drawing using many colored markers to quickly create a composition of lines. I then outline the marker with black ink, which transcends the banal and pedestrian qualities of the original gesture."

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Graffiti Styled Calligraphy

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This video of Raum constructing a painting using words, more than aptly depicts a new category called graffigraphy where the emphasis is on the lettering. For such a short vid, it brings to mind different art movements and main line artists past and present. I like the fact that his execution is so straight-up and straight forward; akin to a construction worker quickly finishing a project.
Be sure to notice the other artwork in the background (starting at 19seconds).
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Unfortunately I could not find anything else about him on the Internet. If you have any leads, please let me know.
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Abstract Hieroglyphics

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When you read this short Press Release for his show in 2008, it becomes so easy to understand most of Matt Magee's hieroglyphic-like paintings. But then, when you visit his Website and see the wonderful dott paintings from the 1995-2000 Series ( a few of which could compete nicely against contemporary aboriginal dots painting), you wonder how he got from there to here (like the lovely painting below). But then he goes back to the hieroglyphics and reductive works. There are times when I wonder if his is an oeuvre without a rudder. Regardless, there are more than enough wonderful pieces to make you glad you visited his site. I found many paintings to be an inspiration.
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When you visit his Galleries, you'll need to click on the left-facing v, to the left of the thumbs to go back to the previous page.
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Top image from Wilson Stephens Fine Art.
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Bottom image from Artnet.
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Atomic Dotts

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Manipulating computer code to generate animations of simulated particle collisions, Carter Hodgkin then uses the stills as templates for her oil paintings. These beautifully layered dots against a dark, void background remind us of all the unseen spectacles, both large and small, that make up our universe.
When you visit her Website, you can watch several of these animations. What's intriguing is that her inspiration is a Korean landscape paintng.
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Image from her website.
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Psychogeography w/Dotts

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Sara Mast has an endearing Artist Statement that explains the how and why of her encaustic oeuvre.
Her Website have images and detail images of her work and also a few pics of her studio.
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Image is from TheSeattleTimes.
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Calligraphic Portrait

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This short video is thoroughly interesting, entertaining and thought provoking, but you'll be totally surprised by the image that's created.
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Whenever my fine art searches wander into the graffiti world, I'm always surprised and amazed to find such skill and raw creativity.
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Rain Dots

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This is actually one of the less dramatic rainscapes by Elizabeth Patterson, from her Website. It feels so real that you find yourself doubting the fact that it's just color pencil, graphite and solvent. Skill, inspiration and commitment are what makes these woman made objects sing.
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This image is one of many from the Landscape Series (Current and Archives).
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Reductive Pointillism

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Keith Breitfeller makes quiet paintings; works that lure you with their whispers of serenity. Everyone loves a good mystery and these do a good job of keeping their secrets.
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When you visit his Website, be sure to go through all eighteen Galleries of his work to see how thoroughly he's committed to his oeuvre. Aside from enjoying all the subtle changes, there are a few interesting surprises. It seems that the date (last two digits of the year) is incorporated into each title, giving a sense of his development.
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Image is from his Site.
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Graffiti Pointillism

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Pointillism is an artistic tool that gets tried and tested by each new generation, it seems. And each new genre adds it's own personality to this older concept of breaking down the picture plane into parts and pieces.
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Alex Young's spray painted canvases hover between illustration, fine art and graffiti. This image is one of many, from his Website.
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Alex explains his art in this video.
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Images from the Opening of his Solo London Show give you a better idea of their scale and you'll want to read this fascinating interview to learn which artists influenced his work.
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Abstracts With Writing Gestures

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You can't help but love the works of Moe Brooker. Fresh and alive, they all tend to brighten your mood. What especially attracts me are all the calligraphic lines, marks and gestures that look like writing in his paintings. You can find out more about him by reading this post at the art blog, where they have 6 pix of their studio visit with him. And there's nothing like meeting the man himself in this short YouTube.

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He's represented by the Sande Webster Gallery in Philadelphia, where you'll find more images.
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These images are from their Website.
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Artistic Ballistics

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There really are no words to fully describe the beauty of this.
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Abstract Expressionist Graffiti

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A first impression of Katrin Fridriks' paintings is that you're witnessing a collision between graffiti, cartoons and abstract expressionism. To say that these look like a joyful outburst would be an understatement. It is eye candy, for sure.
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To get a handle on what she's doing, visit her Website for many types of images(pdf) - I would suggest starting with the Museum Link (on the right), first.
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Seventeen seconds of her lovely smile and a kiss here.
Watch this Video of her painting a Land Rover to see how she works with her paints.
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You really much watch this Vimeo of the Group Launch of Future Tense. What a fantastic Gallery and Show. More images from the Opening here.
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Image from Arrested Motion.
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Drip & Smoosh

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Frances Thomas definitely has dots on her mind, but her oeuvre seems to take several directions. And that's a good thing. Many of her works exude a quiet, almost shy formalism; in others, she loosens up and slathers it on. Either way, you can tell that she definitely likes paint. I particularly like the smoosh marks on some of the dots as though she had used a brayer.
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Images are from the Peter Robinson Gallery.
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Abstract Crop Circles

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You really gotta love this - it's just so real.

Spotted on EROSIE with the following caption -

"A driver who was high on cocaine destroyed an entire cornfield in an attempt to escape from the police. Four police cars were destroyed before the 35-year-old crashed into a ditch and was arrested, near the village of Dussen in the south of the Netherlands."

from: http://www.dizzy-dee.com/news/what-cocaine-does-to-a-cornfield
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Unexpected, Random Beauty

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I have a "thing" for newspaper. Love reading them; enjoy the pictures and ads. You really must try attaching them to canvas or panel, with gesso - it produces the silkiest tooth that begs for pastels. But here's a new idea that's beautiful and thought provoking.
Each time the camera backs away, in this video of Gustav Metzger talking about the project, you can see how well all these pages work as a whole. It's really got me to thinking about the innate possibilities of structured randomness and how I can apply what's happening with these newspaper pages, to my own oeuvre.
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And I'm still trying to figure THIS painting out.
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and . . . We're Back

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During vacation, I had every intention of working on the blog; adding and reviewing some links and changing the overall look a bit. Obviously none of that happened, because I was too busy with my vacation.
Those two weeks were great and now it's time for other things.
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Thanks to all my readers - you are appreciated !
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The above painting, titled "Hi Scotty", is a mixed mediums on Plexiglas that I put in a dumpster in Georgia along with a lot of other paintings that I deemed not having enough merit to bring with me to New York state.
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Square Dots

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Well, what would you call it ?
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This acrylic by Kerstin Gnauck takes a minute to "get into" and then it's quite relaxing and friendly. Check out her Website and especially This. Her site's in German, but take the time to really snoop around and you'll get the gist of what she's about.
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Dots & Circles

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Irene Abraham plays with both, and lines too. This image is from her Puzzled Series.
Visit her Website to find out more about her oeuvre.
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Floral Dreams

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I'm right in the middle of vacation and being pulled between totally relaxing or being productive.
Came across this video on the pc and thought you'd enjoy seeing these lovely paintings by Ross Bleckner from his show at Mary Boone in 2007. He is a tremendous artist/painter and any amount of time that you might spend researching him would be very rewarding.
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Abstract Calligraphy w/ Eastern Accent

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Lisa Travers work seems to simultaneously mimic eastern and western alphabets. The gestures are so lyrical, like eastern script and yet you swear you might be able to read them.
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This image is from her Blog, where you'll find more images and information.
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You'll especially want to read the Post, "Writing Without Meaning" Part II. Her Thesis so easily explains the things I've wanted to say about abstract calligraphy and writing.
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Optical Seduction

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Some of Suzan Batu's paintings hit you like a 6o's rock poster and you find yourself searching for the words, telling you who, what and where. Once you see that's not the case, your mind goes in other directions because the shapes in these op-art works seem to have a definite purpose.
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The image is from LightMillennium where her Artist Statement answers your questions.
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You'll find pictures of the artist and installation shots Here.
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Her Website has lots of images showing the variations in her oeuvre, but no information or dates.
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A Fabulous One-Off

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by  Nikolas Gambaroff and mounted on a sheet of Styrofoam, no less. Go Here and then click on the image to view it super large.
Spotted this on Contemporary Art Daily. He's in a group show at Renwick Gallery. Some Image Searches yielded nothing else of interest to me.
But THIS, this is ripping my brains out. Fantastic !
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Dan Miller Drawings

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Dan Miller has an Exhibition of Large Drawings at Ricco Maresca Gallery and it was a pleasant surprise to read the review in Artnet. Visit the Gallery's Website to see 17 images, including installation shots.
See 6 other examples of his work at Creative Growth.
It's hard to find images of, or text about Dan, so if you're unfamiliar with his work please read this short review in TimeOut to fill in some of the blanks.

But best of all, you can watch a Video of Dan doing what he does best.

Image is from Artnet.
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Artistic Harbinger

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Brion Gysin is getting a lot of attention this week because of his show at the New Museum. It's a better-than-ever time to research this man who had and continues to have so much influence on drawing, painting and collage. Near the end of the Review in the NYTimes, Martha says the Show presents him as a harbinger rather than an historical leader. And till you read this Review in Artnet (with lots of images), you'll begin to understand that positioning.
Five other images here and a good overview of the artist at ArtDaily. Even more story Here and then some more in depth text.
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Top image is one of eight fascinating examples of his work at WhiteWall Magazine.
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Receiving Good Words

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If you haven't already heard, President Obama and PM David Cameron exchanged paintings this week.
Cameron received a painting by the American artist Ed Ruscha and Obama, a painting by a Brit named Ben Eine (top).
I like Ruscha, but I think we got the better work.
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Top is image from Dailyserving .
Bottom image, from The Daily Beast, has longer article.
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Changing The Dotts

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We've posted about Teo Gonzalez before and his beautiful, mesmerizing works. At a certain point he took stock of his oeuvre and made some changes, which you can read about Here. This image is from and he's also represented by Spanierman Gallery where they also echo the different tactic.
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The Press Release for his 2008 Show at Irvine Contemporary gives insight into the older process and they have 28 images of his work. (Be sure to check out page 5.)
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Collaged Dotts

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I have a love/hate reaction to Patrick Michael Fitzgerald's oeuvre. Sometimes, when following his Blog, I"ll be convinced that the boy can't paint and what in the world is he trying to do; then I'll come across something wonderful like this from the Recent Paintings page on his Website and be totally enamored.
Be sure to check out his Selected Paintings and Drawings pages.
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Deceiving Lines

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When you find out that these wonderful paintings by Chris Finley are computer manipulations of other images, it's more of a "Duh !" moment than a disappointment. And you still appreciate these "line" paintings even though the source image might have been a portrait.
You can read about that Here.
Acme Gallery has 14 examples of his work and do visit his Website.
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The image is from Artnet where you'll find 11 images of his sculptures and paintings.
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Crisp As A Pickle

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That's how I would describe the humor in this painting by Uwe Henneken, titled "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to loose".
The imagery immediately evokes Andrew Wyeth and then you zero in on the pretty clown. Is he worn out, passed out or just enjoying the view. At any rate it generates a smile and a chuckle.
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Image from Moon River.
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Andy Does Dotts

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You're right, they're eggs, not dotts and the artist is Andy Warhol. My point is that many an artist have toyed with this simple shape. Some concentrate on color and composition while others sprinkle them here and there to anchor the picture. But for whatever reason, it's a shape that commands attention.
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Image from Jablonka Galerie.
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Flowers As Fireworks

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Tis the season for the skies to be filled with dramatic light displays. Robert Buelteman gives us something more down-to-earth and yet just as dramatic and entertaining. You'll certainly want to visit his Website,  but for larger images go here, Here and HERE.
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Image is from Slow Painting.
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Collagraphic Dottillism

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Eunice Kim's Artist Statement is short and to the point and if you have no idea what collagraph is, she'll tell you all about it when you visit her Website - just click on About the Medium.

Image is from Augen Gallery.
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The Lines That Bind

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Fiona Robinson's abstract line drawings are sincere, relaxing and thought provoking. This image is from Kate Beck's Art Notes where you can read the back-story about her oeuvre.
When you visit her Website, be sure to also click on Projects to see more work.
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The New, old Larry Poons

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Remember the early, op-art work of Larry Poons ? It's been so long now that it's even hard to find examples of the older work on the net. Fortunately someone has picked up the baton and updated this oeuvre.
Jon Thompson is represented by the Anthony Reynolds Gallery and it's a treat to go back chronologically through the 22 examples of his work. This image is from the current group show at Kusseneers where he's in great company.
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Advanced Calligraphy

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I get such a kick out of creative calligraphers who try to "draw outside the lines" so-to-speak. Becoming good at that craft is all about rules and control, so it's fun to see them "let loose'
Would love to find more work (and English explanations) by Helga Ladurner. This image is from Here (German) where you'll find many more artists and examples of calligraphic creativity. Moving your mouse over the names shows the works.
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Colorful Notes

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Beautiful, haunting, ugly are words that simultaneously come to mind when viewing the work of Ashlynn Browning. The Works On Paper section of her Website has nine pages of images and these have more of the words and writing elements that I'm attracted to. You'll find four installation shots HERE. The works are nicely framed in a well lit gallery and just sing. I'm sure you'll find her work interesting and entertaining.
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