Art Making a Comeback

A newspaper article reported that recent auctions may indicate that art lovers are buying again. A record was set for the amount paid at an auction for art work. Some experts, however, are cautioning that this may not be the end of the global financial decline that has slowed the sales of art work in recent months.

A large auction house reported the sale of one of Giaocometti’s scupltures, “Walking Man I”, for more that $100 million dollars. Reported also was the sale of Gustav Klimt’s landscape “Church in Cassone” for 42.4 million. Art auction houses for the last year or more have been slow to generate estimated prices for many of their items.

Maybe art is making a comeback. Has the economic downturn ended for the art world? We will just have to wait and see.

If you are looking for some post-auction catalogs, check out Nella’s Books and Collectibles. You will also find a nice selection of art books, art catalogs and magazine back issues.

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Painting the Stormy Seas

Winslow Homer, one of the great painters of the 19th Century, was a self-taught artist. He devoted a significant part of his career to painting crashing waves and stormy seas. It has been said that Homer had the ability to recreate nature’s harsh and stormy weather unlike any other artist.

Originally an illustrator he moved on to paintings—first oil then watercolors. He was the first to display his watercolors as finished works. He believed in using marine watercolors that were luminous and bright. The medium of watercolors is credited to Homer.

If you have had an opportunity to view Homer’s work, it becomes obvious why he is known as the major American marine painter and watercolorist of all time.

You can find books on Homer Winslow and other artist at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.

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An Artist in the Making

I had the opportunity to volunteer at a museum on MLK day. I worked in the the arts and crafts area where we invited guest to create a legacy timeline that would be presented on a gallery wall. Using 3 x 5 cards, visitors were instructed to add something memorable either in words or picture dating from the 1990's to the future.

Many of the young people were of course thinking about the future. Many of this age group submitted cards reflecting this time period. I was amazed by one young boy's work. This young boy sat down and after listening to the instructions began to quickly draw on his card with a blue colored pencil. He drew with a lot of detail what looked like two tall structures. Later he added red lines to fill in some of the spaces.

I asked him what he was drawing and he said it was the Twin Towers in New York. I learned from his mother that he loved art and had demonstrated this by unfortunately painting his bedroom walls . After the drawing was completed the boy took a pair of scissors and began to cut the card. His mother and I were able to stop the young man from destroying his work. We taped what remained on another 3 x 5 card and it was added to the legacy timeline on the museum's wall.

This reminds me of the stories I have read about the lives of some of the great artists of the past. I wonder how much art work could have been saved if a mother had stepped in?

Visit Nella's Books and Collectibles and discover the art of reading.

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Dismantling the Past

It has been said that Ettore Sottsass, architect/designer, devoted his life and work to dismantling the past. Recently some of Sottsass' work was exhibited in New York. Sottsass' career spanned over 60 years and produced work in the fields of architecture, furniture, and industrial design, glass, ceramics, painting and photography. He spent much of his career designing landmark products.

Sottsass experimented with many artistic materials but had a great fascination with ceramics. His first ceramics were made in 1956. Although the ceramics were not popular early on some believe this was his framework for developing the radical design group, Memphis.

In the 1980’s breaking the rules began along with experimenting with the unconventional. Sottsass has been credited with being a major contributor of the postmodern design movement.

You can find some of the work of the design collective, Memphis in a Sotheby’s catalog, Memphis, La Collection Karl Lagerfeld , at Nella’s Books and Collections.

www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com

Finding Dali

I recently read that Salvador Dali’s 1942 painting on a stage curtain was discovered at the Carnegie Museum of Art. This stage curtain was painted by Dali for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. It appears that the curtain was lost after it was transported in 1976. Surprisingly this huge oil-on-canvas painting was discovered in the storage area of the museum.


Dali of course is the Spanish Surrealist known for using realistic techniques to present hallucinatory scenes. Dali was said to have been inspired by his dreams. The artist would place a canvas beside his bed and gaze at it before sleeping. He recorded what he believed were his dreams when he woke up. I can imagine that when this work was rediscovered, many may have thought they were dreaming.

You can find books on Salvador Dali along with other art books and catalogs at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.


www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com

A New Theory on Van Gogh

For many of us Vincent Van Gogh will always be a fascinating figure and a mystery. Much has been written about this sensitive and passionate artists and his self-mutilation. A recent article states that a clue has been discovered as to the reason why Van Gogh cut off his ear. This information comes from the latest discovery and publications of the new edition of Vincent Van Gogh’s letters. The letters were published this past October.

According to the article Vincent learned of his brother’s engagement to a young lady and this was probably the trigger for cutting off his ear. His devoted brother, Theo, provided friendship as well as money for years. Van Gogh may have been concerned that this would all come to an end. Van Gogh eventually discovered that his brother’s loyalty was not affected because of the engagement.

Van Gogh will always be of interest to many of us and there will probably be new theories in the future. Undoubtedly we will learn more of Van Gogh’s life through the many letters that have surfaced.

You can find books on Vincent Van Gogh, other art books and magazines at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.



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An Important Work--The Da Vinci Code

According to a recent survey the book, The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown was one of the most important works of the decade. This 2003 novel by Dan Brown resulted in millions of copies being sold, a movie as well and follow-up novels. Although not often thought of as great literature, it has made significant impact in the world.

Selling over 80 million copies this book has surpassed many other suspense-thrillers. The book has been translated into many languages and adapted into a major Hollywood film. The Da Vinci Code has created religious debate among many individuals. A video game was developed as well as various web-based programs. This book is probably the most imitated during the past decade.

Although there have been many big sellers during the last ten years, no other novel has had a greater commercial impact than this book. This year, everyone patiently waited for the latest follow up. The Lost Symbol sold more books on its first day than any other single book.

You can find the special illustrated edition of The Da Vinci Code along with other art books, art catalogs and magazine back issues at Nella’s Books and Collectibles.


www.nellasbooksandcollectibles.ecrater.com