Archive for November 15, 2013

Artist of the moment…..Michael Dweck

{ November 15, 2013 @ 6:28 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Michael Dweck is a contemporary American photographer born in Brooklyn, New York in the year 1957. Dweck enjoys creating fantasy and sometimes exotic worlds in his photography work. He grew up in Long Island and attended the Pratt Institute for college where he studied architecture. He soon switched majors and graduated with Fine Arts and communications degree.

In this clip a wonderful montage of works by this artist:

In the 1990s Michael Dweck opened his own commercial photography studio. This studio won many international awards. Dweck closed this company in 2002 with the idea to devote himself fully to fine art photography.

Sotheby’s ran a show for the artist in 2006. The first time a show was given at the famed auction house that featured a living artist.

Dweck is based out of Montauk, New York and also New York City.

Price range information: Works range from $5,000 to $30,000.

I found the photographs of Dweck remind me of British photographer Christopher Bucklow. Bucklow uses the silhouette shape of female figure and infuses with light giving it a “Goddess” type of feeling. Below an example of Bucklow’s style.

bucklowA

A new way of seeing the traditional figurative work is always appreciated!

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Artist of the moment…….Joseph Edward Southall

{ November 15, 2013 @ 5:40 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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The last two works in the gallery are self portraits done by the artist.

Joseph Edward Southall was a British painter born in the year 1861 in Nottingham, England. Southall painted in a realistic style and was among the foremost artists to use tempura as his medium of choice. The artist took part in the Quaker lifestyle and remained a Quaker throughout his lifetime. Southall was renowned for his portraits, murals, and decorative art painting. His father owned a grocery store but died shortly after the artist was one year old.

For his collegiate education Southall attended architecture school at a leading local firm and also enrolled at the Birmingham School of Art. The artist thought that architecture students should be more experienced in basic arts and crafts including carving and painting.

Was a president of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

Price range information: Works range from $5,000 to $250,000.

Southall was inspired to use tempura by the great painter John Ruskin. Southall had an uncle who was a personal friend of John Ruskin and showed Ruskin some architecture work done by Southall. Ruskin was so impressed he offered Southall some commissions. The project was stopped short of completion, but showed what a great draftsman Southall had become.

In addition to tempura Southall pained with watercolor on vellum.

Southall married a cousin of his named Anna Baker.

In this clip a great montage of works by Joseph Edward Southall:

After World War 1 began, this put a huge damper on his painting exploits. As a Quaker and life long Pacifist, he felt it was important to spread the word of peace. At this time the artist made several entries to magazines dealing with political cartoons.

After the end of the war Southall traveled to many locales and painted tremendous scenes of the landscape in watercolour. These locales include Cornwall, France, and Italy. The artist also did portrait requests of wealthy patrons, similar to John Singer Sargent except Southall’s patrons were mainly Quakers.

Southall gained a reputation for being a decorative painter who was extremely skilled at using the color red.

Joseph Southall passed away in 1944 at the age of 83 years old.

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Artist of the moment……Northwest Coast artist Ken McNeil

{ November 15, 2013 @ 12:46 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Ken McNeil is a Northwest Coast artist born in the year 1961. The Nations he represents include Tahltan, Tlingit, and the Nisga’a. McNeil is one of the leading sculptors of his generation and has been carving for nearly three decades.

A major inspiration was his uncle, Northwest Coast artist Dempsey Bob, for whom he apprenticed for many years. Dempsey Bob was able to give him assistance and let him help complete very large commissions including many totem poles. Below is a wonderful mask by Dempsey Bob.

bob

Ken McNeil was one of the first professors at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art which is located in Terrace, British Columbia. He still teachers at the school.

Price range information: Works range from $3,000 to $30,000.

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