Why We Need Museums

I am fortunate to live in a city that has a large museum. I truly enjoy visiting museums and I often volunteer my services. It seems that museums are often taken for granted. Museums are important part of our culture.

Museums are different today than they were 40 years ago, but they still exist for the same purposes. Here are 5 reasons why I believe we need museums.


1. A museum provides a central place for viewing art.

2. Museums allow great artist to be recognized.

3. Art and history are preserved at museums.

4. Museums provide an educational resource.

5. Museums are a place to express our culture.

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Trends in Western Art - Part 2

It could be said that Western art produced today is more innovative and imaginative than in the past. I previously discussed the trend for modern creators of paintings and sculptures of Western art breaking away from the traditional.

An article in a magazine recently listed the top10 western artist to watch in 2009. The magazine referred to these individuals as “rising stars on the horizon”. One of the artist listed was landscape painter Jill Carver. A picture of an oil painting by Carver, Colors of Autumn, was included with this article. This picture reminded me of the way a landscape would look in a dream.

Contemporary artist, Will Pope is another artist whose work definitely takes a new direction from the traditional. Pope refers to himself as a “postmodern landscape artist”. Pope is unconcerned with accurate renderings of figures or objects. Instead, Pope includes imaginative animals, people and symbols in his landscapes.

You will find art books and catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

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Trends in Western Art

I have always admired Western art. Having spent several years living on the west coast, I became familiar with the art work of traditional Western artists. In the last few years, I have developed an interest in western art trends.

The art of the American West was not given serious attention except in a few Western states until recently. The traditional Western art included the old masters of Taos. The old masters of Taos painted their environment as reflected in their work. The artists in this group included Joseph Henry Sharp, Victor Higgins and of course Georgia O’Keeffe. Another one of my favorite traditional Western artist is Charlie Russell. Russell is frequently referred to as the “cowboy artist.” His paintings and sculptures reflect his knowledge and passion for life in the west.

Today’s top painters and sculptures of the West are taking a new approach. Their work can be described as innovative and imaginative. These artists are not so much concerned with accurate renderings of figures or objects. They seem to allow their dreams and imaginations direct their creative processes.

You will find art books and catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

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Understanding Art - Part 2

I recently discussed how I sometimes have difficulty getting a handle on new and contemporary art. We know from studying history, accepting modern art has been difficult for many art patrons for years. Even Picasso, who later became very influentail in the development of modern art had critics early on. Another example of an artist who had difficulty with early acceptance of his work is Henri Matisse.

Matisse, a French painter, sculptor, graphic artist and designer struggled to earn a living early in his career. Like Picasso, he revolted against realism. He believed that art does not represent but reconstructs reality. At first the reaction to his work was not good. He later became associated with the Fauves and his popularity grew.

Matisse today is considered one of the greatest influences on modern art. His work is represented in most important collections of modern art. There are Matisse museums in Nice, France, his birthplace.

You can find art books and catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

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Understanding Modern Art

I will have to admit that I sometimes struggle to understand some of the new contemporary art that I see today at museums and in art magazines. Although I find some modern art interesting, I can honestly say that I don’t have a real appreciation for the work. I suspect my experience can be compared to many others over the years.

I recently had an opportunity to read a 1947 art magazine. My attention was drawn to a comment in the Letter to the Editor section. The writer stated “... I do not understand cubist, futurist, abstract, or other modern art.” “We not only do not understand this so-called art but detest it.”

Today, nearly 60 years later, innovators like Picasso and Matisse are known to have led the forces of artistic innovation by introducing new style and are considered the most influential artists in modern art.

You can find several vintage art magazine back issues along with art books and catalogs at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

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What is Afro Cuban Art

I recently viewed a clip on Cuban Art on one of my favorite sites, ArtBabble.org. This site is a great source of art videos. I have been curious about Cuban Art and wanted to learn more.

A video presented an artist who discussed his perspective and inspiration for this work. I learned that Cuban art is a diverse blend of African, European and North American design that represents this diverse part of the world.

Many Cuban artists early on were influenced by European modernism. The movements later adopted by the Cuban artists were characterized by a mix of several artistic genres.

You can find art history books, art exhibition catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

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A Day at The Fair

I love this time of the year. This is when I get to do one of my favorite things—attend art fairs. I am not an artist. I would not call myself an art collector. I do, however,manage to purchase something at most art fairs I attend. I think I could be classified as an art lover.

The fair I attended today was the first of several that will take place locally during the spring and summer months. We were interrupted by a brief and light rain shower. I found it interesting to see how people handled it. I like many others did not come prepared with rain gear. Most of us did not let the rain keep us from having a good time.

I found out about a new online site for art information today. It’s called ArtBabble.Org. This is a site with videos and is a source of free-flowing conversations about art. Everyone is invited to join in an open and ongoing discussion about art. I visited the site today and found some great information on one of my favorite artists, Jacob Lawrence.

You can find art history books, art exhibition catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com

Graphic Arts - Silk Screen Prints

I last wrote about graphic art techniques, specifically the intaglio print process known as drypoint. Rembrandt used the intaglio printing processes of drypoint as well as etching. Another method to reproduce artists work that became popular later was silk screen printing or serigraphy.

Silk Screening

This method developed in the United States was used by Andy Warhol, a successful graphic designer. Warhol who was known for his hard-edged graphic style perfected the silk screening process. Warhol attached a stencil to a screen of silk stretched on a frame. Ink was pushed through the stencil with a squeegee. The result was a flat and unshaded image.

Andy Warhol often referred to as the “Pop Star” of the art world perfected the silk screening technique and it became his trademark. The photo silk screen allowed Warhol to create work that he believed did not allow for manipulation.

Graphic Arts - Drypoint

In a previous article on graphic art techniques I wrote about the intaglio print process known as etching. One of the best known etchers was Rembrandt. Rembrandt also used drypoint, another intaglio printing method.

Drypoint

Drypoint allows the artist to create the plate without the use of acid. Drypoint was used at first in combination with etchings. Rembrandt included drypoint to the final touches of some of his etchings. Drypoint later became a popular medium used alone. The process creates a shallow scratched groove when printed and appears similar to a quick stroke with a pencil.

This method of making prints was limited to only a small number of prints. This method was slow and laborious and resulted in the destruction of the drypoint needle when used. Artists and collectors desiring limited editions welcomed this printmaking process.

Graphic Arts - Etchings

In a previous article I wrote about the early technique of graphic art known as lithography. This was the process using a limestone slab and a greasy crayon. This technique was mastered by many artists who were known to pay strict attention to detail in their work.

Another early technique used by artists to create an image was etching. This was an easier way of producing an image than previous methods. The first etching was in 1513.

The etching process uses acid and a plate with indentations. This allows the artists to create lines almost as freely as if drawing with a pencil on paper. Etching became popular beginning in the mid-nineteenth century.

Rembrandt was considered one of the greatest etchers. One of his best-known etchings was “Six’s Bridge”.

This medium later became a popular method for illustrating books and other commercial purposes.

Graphic Arts - Part 2

The last time I wrote about the early techniques of graphic arts which included woodcut and engraving used by the Renaissance artists. Graphic arts continued to develop with various art movements in history.

Some of the techniques later developed were drypoint and etching, lithograph and silk screen prints.

Lithograph

Lithography uses a chemical process to create an image. This process involves the artist drawing on a limestone slab with a greasy crayon. Water is applied and sticks to the nongreasy surface. Then ink is rolled on and it sticks where there is no water. The slab is applied to a sheet of paper in a press to produce the image.

Considered one of the masters in lithography M.C. Escher and has produced many of his prints using this method of printmaking. Meticulous attention to detail was characteristic of Escher’s work. Escher never printed his own lithographs.

The Beginning of Graphic Arts

After my last article on graphic artist Mary Cassatt, I started to think about the beginnings of graphic arts.

I have learned that making prints began as early as the Northern Renaissance and became a popular art form. Because making prints is the most affordable way for collectors to own art, it is as popular today as it was at its inception.

The 2 early types of techniques used to make multiple prints were woodcut and engraving.

Woodcut

Woodcut, the oldest technique for making prints originated in Germany about 1400. Albrecht Durer is often referred to as greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance was a master of the woodcut. Durer improved the primitive looking woodcuts by showing differences in texture and tone with his technique.

Engraving

This process began about 1430 and this method was known as intaglio (ink transferred from below the surface). Durer also perfected this technique and was able to duplicate on a copper plate the effects of light that resembled the Dutch in oil and Italians in fresco.

Mary Cassatt and the Japanese Influence

While reading an old magazine, I recently discovered an interesting article about Mary Cassatt, a self-taught American graphic artist. Cassatt exhibited her paintings and pastels with the Impressionist Group in Paris in 1877, but was not part of the movement.

When Mary Cassatt visited Europe she became friends of Degas. Cassatt was influenced by Degas. Like Degas, Cassatt had a dislike for conventional art. The two visited the large Japanese exhibition held at the Beaux Arts in 1880.

After the Japanese exhibition, Cassatt began working with drypoint and aquatint graphic art techniques. Inspired by the Japanese print, she allowed her own creative ability and taste to direct her work. She adopted some elements from Japanese prints and a new understanding of form and color harmony was reflected in her prints. Her work took on the appearance of a delicate watercolor wash rather than a printed surface.

Expressing Feeling with Photography

The one thing that can be said about photography practiced in the late Modernism through Post-Modernism period is that is was diverse.

Berenice Abbott’s wonderful street scenes and, Margaret Bourke-White classic photo-essays are examples of the types of photography that was practiced in the new subjective style. Bourke-White’s is known for capturing “the essential truth” with her photographs. Abbott used different angles with her street scenes to capture the true life of the city.

Ansel Adams was a leading advocate of straight photography like Steiglitz and Weston. He believed photography to be a medium of expression. Adams had a great love for the American West and spent decades capturing pictures of Yosemite.

Adams photographs have appeared in many books. He was often involved in the printing process for publication and it was said that he even checked proofs on the printing press.

Painting African-American Life Part 2

Another one of my favorite African-American artist is William Tolliver. Tolliver is probably not as well known as Jacob Lawrence but I feel his work should be put on the same level.

Like Lawrence he was self-taught for the most part. Tolliver was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh. He admired Van Gogh’s use of color and light. Unlike Van Gogh’s farmers of Holland,Tolliver’s subjects were from the Mississippi Delta.

He eventually gained the reputation of one of America’s most renown artists and has been compared to other African-American artist, Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden. Tolliver has stated that “art is a means of documenting one’s history.” Like Lawrence his subjects are often taken from his daily observations.

His works is in the permanent collections of private owners, the Corcoran Museum, McKissick Museum, Hampton University Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art and the Zigler Museum.