Monday 27 August 2012

Erte’s Symphony in Black - The Best Known Art

The famous artist Romain de Titroff, better known by his initials as Erte, was so multi-talented and produced such a wealth of art throughout his long and illustrious career that most people would think it difficult to choose one stand out work of art. In the case of Erte paintings; however, the decision is easy. The most iconic work of Erte art is by far his iconic and generation defining Symphony in Black.

Erte’s classic Symphony in Black showcases a tall, slender woman painted all in black. She has a very Avant Guard hat and fashionable clothing. She holds onto the end of a long leash with a small dog at the end of it. This famous piece of Erte artwork has been reproduced thousands of times. The image was used repeatedly by the artist himself in paintings, prints, and Erte sculptures. It has also been copied and reproduced countless time by other artists and among popular culture.

One of the major reasons Erte’s painting Symphony in Black is so famous is because it so clearly represents the artist’s aesthetic. Erte is considered the father of the Art Deco movement. His art’s aesthetic not only defined his art, but it went on to be symbolic of an entire era. In the 1920, Erte directly influenced culture’s art deco aesthetic through fashion and art, both of which he played a pivotal and era defining role in. He went on to influence movies, popular culture, architecture, design, and many other areas indirectly as well. Symphony in Black is quintessentially art deco in its styling. The painting’s use of all black, long slender lines, and use of negative space, represent of the era’s art deco aesthetic that Erte created.

Another reason for the widespread appreciation for Erte’s artwork Symphony in Black is that it represents the evolution of his artistic career. Beginning in fashion design, making costumes for the theatre and designing covers for Harper’s Bazaar, the viewer can immediately recognize Erte’s artistic roots upon looking at his famous Symphony in Black. The very fashion forward outfit and hat worn by the woman display Erte’s appreciation for fashion. The fact that this image was reproduced over and over again throughout Erte’s career in a multitude of mediums also represents the artist’s history. Erte While Erte bronze sculptures, paintings, and prints are the most famous today, the artist worked with many mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, print making, fashion design, interior design, along with others. The use of the iconic image from Symphony in Black in so many forms represents Erte’s vast flexibility and skill as an artist.

Finally, Erte’s artwork Symphony in Black is interesting for art critics and collectors because the majority of the image’s use came later in Erte’s career. Not only was Erte famous as the father of art deco, but he also experienced of widespread appreciation during the art deco revival of the 1960s onward, also created by Erte. This nostalgic look back on the art deco perspective of the 1920s and 1930s was largely created be Erte and created a massive resurgence in the popularity of Erte art. Many Symphony in Black renderings were created late in the artist’s career, between 1980 and 1990.

Erte’s Symphony in Black is considering the defining work of the artist’s career. It’s ability to capture the essence of both Erte, and the generations and aesthetic which he created make it a stand out among a vast body of Erte artwork.

Monday 20 August 2012

Robert Wyland-Miniaturizing marine world on canvas


 Robert Wyland is without question the pre-eminent modern marine artist, and he may very well be the most famous and recognized marine artist of all time. But beyond just creating beautiful works of art, Wyland is famous for his environmental awareness and ability to raise awareness among others that his artwork touches.

Robert Wyland grew up painting from an early age. While his young obsession was dinosaurs, he soon became heavily influenced by Jaques Coustea, a scientist who studied, researched, and photographer marine life. These interests lead him to begin painting marine life himself. Wyland majored in sculpting and painting in school.

Wyland is a master of many mediums. While his paintings are certainly his most famous works of art, Wyland’s sculptures and photography are equally impressive. His art delivers a direct and very lift like quality. All of his art has a tranquil, serene quality. His most famous work of all are his large scale outdoor murals of whales and other marine life. The largest of these covers the entire Long Beach Convention Center and is 1280 feet long and 105 feet tall. It took over 7000 gallons of paint and each marine creature showcased was painted to actual size. Wyland has painted 100 “Whaling Walls” in over 70 cities in 12 countries and 4 continents around the world. The walls feature life sized whales and are extremely impressive in their detailed life like quality as well as their enormous scale. Wyland painted the final whaling wall in 2008 in front of the Great Wall of China. Impressively, Wyland does not accept compensation for any of his whaling walls. He paints them to get others to appreciate and respect marine life and focus attention on his cause. An experienced SCUBA driver, Wyland draws inspiration for his lifelike work for the up close personal experiences he has had with marine life.

Wyland’s personal passion has been water conservation. The Wyland Foundation helps individuals recognize the importance of keeping our oceans and waterways healthy and safe. It also emphasizes protection watersheds and the preservation and access to healthy water for living. He communicates his foundations efforts primarily through his art, but also through educational outreach and live events. There is a special emphasis placed on the involvement of children and beginning the education of water preservation early. Robert Wyland paintings are seen not only as beautiful art, but they also serve as a symbol of what he is trying to preserve and protect. Wyland tours the world for this mission today, testing water and given presentations to draw more attention to his mission. He has found a way to use his exceptional talent to promote and further his passion.

Robert Wyland is an exception painter and an exceptional humanitarian. His ability to use his talent to draw attention and promote a cause he is passionate about is what sets him apart from contemporary artists. He produces art in many mediums and many scales. His is unique as an artist because his work is at the same time highly sought after and all around us. With over 100 life sized murals painted for free and readily available to the public at any time, art collectors still value his work for their private collections and museums still compete to have his work.

Monday 13 August 2012

Enjoy the Dale Chihuly's Glass Art on display in Dallas

Relish renowned glass artist, Dale Chihuly’s exhibition from May 12-August 18, 2012 at Talley Dunn Gallery and from May 5-Novemeber 5 2012 at Arboretum.


Dale Chihuly, the most famous glass artist in the world, is on display for several unique art events in Dallas, TX. Dallas residents have multiple opportunities to enjoy Dale Chihuly’s breathtaking and one of a kind artwork.

Chihuly’s artwork is influenced by an experience in master craftsmanship blowing glass and a unique artistic vision driven by wide ranging artistic experiences. The artist has studied painting, fashion, and interior design as well as the art of glass blowing. It is this combination of varying influences that make Chihuly art so one of a kind and interesting.

Chihuly paintings and glass art are featured permanently in museums and art installations throughout the world as a part of more than 200 collections. These include famous art installation the Seattle Center in Seattle, WA, the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, NV. It also includes art displayed at many of the world’s most elite museums such as the De Young Museum in San Francisco, CA; the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA; the Smithsonian in Washington D.C; the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY. These also include permanent installations in hospitals, corporate headquarters, and retail centers. Dale Chihuly paintings and glass are also extremely popular in the homes of art collectors and makes a unique statement piece for any home.

In Dallas, Chihuly currently has two major art exhibitions showcasing his artwork. Chihuly: Recent Works and New Forms is at the Talley Dunn Gallery in Dallas. This exhibition is running from May 12-August 18, 2012 and features paintings and other paper works along with the Dale Chihuly glass that the artist is most famous for, including two chandeliers and a one of a kind “indoor garden” installation. Another option available to see Dale Chihuly artwork for Dallas residents is at Chihuly at the Dallas Arboretum running from May 5-Novemeber 5 2012. This is a unique opportunity because in addition to showcasing Chihuly fabulous glass work, it also ties this work in with his love of nature and flowers. Many of Chihuly’s most recent works are installation in or involving gardens or greenhouses since they are a passion and primary source of inspiration for the artist. For the installation in the Dallas Arboretum there are more than 25 large, dramatic glass sculptures displayed in over 15 locations throughout the arboretum’s property of more than 66 acres. The most impressive piece on display is called “The Sun” and is comprised of more than 1220 separate parts that all had to be hand constructed when it arrived in Dallas.


In addition to these two great opportunities to see Dale Chihuly glass installations in Dallas, there are also excellent permanent opportunities to see Chihuly art in Dallas museums. His work can always be seen at the prestigious Dallas Museum of Art and the Jesuit Dallas Museum.

This unique opportunity for Dallas residents to see Chihuly’s is rare and well timed. Dale Chihuly paintings and glass are at the height of popularity currently in the U.S. and for one city to have so many opportunities to enjoy his work is truly unique to any U.S. city outside of Chihuly’s home state of Washington. If you will be in Dallas over the next few months, now is a better time than any to develop a new appreciation for Dale Chihuly’s artwork, his technique, and his avant guard vision.

Thursday 9 August 2012

Erte - In The Arctic Sea


Erte bronze sculptures, paintings, and other famous artwork have come to represent an artist, a style, and two distinct periods in American history. Considered the founder of the art deco movement and the 1920 and 1930s and the father of the art deco resurgence of the 1960s, Erte art experienced two distinct periods of widespread critical acclaim and public appreciation. Famous for his iconic drawings, paintings, etchings, prints, and bronze sculptures, Erte was a master of many mediums.

One of Erte’s most famous works is his Arctic Sea. This image was captured as a famous Erte painting as well as a bronze sculpture. It depicts a beautiful woman standing with her lower body draped in a cloak that appears to be a wave. On her head is the tip of the wave to one side is an extravagant head piece that appears jeweled. Its position and shape harkens images of a sail. The woman’s neck is draped in beautiful necklace. In images where her face can be seen, she has a serious, stern expression.

Erte’s Arctic Sea is so famous because it clearly shows the roots of Erte’s fashion design background. Erte’s work in fashion launched his artistic career. The artist began working with Harper’s Bazaar magazine in 1913. During his career, he designed over 240 covers and also worked with other popular magazines of the times including Vogue and Cosmopolitan. He went on to create costumes for Broadway actresses and dancers. His fashion sensibility, known as art deco, went on to influence fashion, art, and architecture. It defined the year in which he first began his career, and later came into popularity again through an art deco resurgence movement in the 1960s lead by the artist himself. The way the woman in Erte’s famous image Arctic Sea is pictured captures this art deco style and design sensibility perfectly. The way she holds the draped fabric over her lower body like a wave and the use of her extravagant headpiece as a sail shows that Erte is confident in his ability to manipulate fashion and design for his desired artistic outcome. The long lines and beautiful fashion element highlight the artistry that defined Erte throughout his long career.

Arctic Sea’s popularity is perhaps catapulted because it was an image that resurfaced throughout Erte’s career. Appearing first in 1925 in an Erte Painting, the image would be reproduced in other paintings, sculptures, and prints throughout his prolific career. The last incarnation was in an Erte bronze sculpture created in 1988, two years prior to the artist’s death.

Erte’s Artic Sea has become so iconic because it is quintessentially Erte. It defines the artist and his career. The widespread use of the image throughout his career, from the early stages to near his death, shows that it serves as a symbol he kept coming back to. Its use in many forms, for Erte paintings to prints to paintings also shows the wide range the artist had. It also perfectly captures Erte’s background in fashion and the art deco style for which he is famous for creating. Because of this, Erte’s Arctic Sea has become a perfect representation of the artist and has gone on to become one of his most popular works as a result.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Peter Max - An Artist With Great Versatility


The diversity among Peter Max's art has made him one of the most famous and celebrity modern artists. Max's highly varied artistic history includes a number of different subject material, mediums, and historical contexts. While Peter Max art runs the gamut, his work has several permanently defining features that help juxtapose his diversity and still give him a signature as an artist. Despite what medium, what time period, and what subject a Max work is from it is easily recognizable for art collectors and art critics alike as a Peter Max piece. This signature has helped him be successful in multiple modes and has yielded his reputation as an extremely diverse artist.

His diversity is perhaps best epitomized by his varying roles as an artist during different time periods. Max began the poster craze of the 1960s. With his psychedelic posters in vibrant colors, he became the father of the countercultural movement of the time. While his early art represented the psyche of the 1960s, his later art would go on take on a much different role within pop culture. Much of Peter Max's work during the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s was known for its patriotism. The Liberty Head series are among the most famous of All Peter Max paintings. Max's original art pieces including 44 Obamas and 100 Clintons also demonstrate his art's new patriotic tone. Perhaps most indicative of his patriotic art were the revolutionary portraits he painted after the September Eleventh attacks of every fire fighter who lost their life. It was not only the subject matter that varied through this dramatic change in Peter Max Art, but it was also the emphasis. Peter Max's 1960 psychedelic poster work was focused on the future and space, things larger than himself. His later art of the 1980s and on emphasized more tangible qualities and the way things are in the present. Max's original art also progressed in medium as he grew as an artist. He combined his print making experience with his painting experience to make a significant contribution of original art known under the "mixed media" category since it combines different artistic mediums into one.

Today, while much of his artwork continues with his patriotic focus, he has also focused on pursuing new interests in his work. As the world's most notable pop artist, he has stayed true to his name in recent years through Original Artwork capturing famous people and events. The most famous of these include his paintings of Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Shaquille O'Neil, the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and the Super bowl. His interest in World Peace and the environment has been revealed in famous Peter Max art including his famous Without Border and Day Dream.

His artwork has changed dramatically over the course of his dynamic career. However, he has become and remains so famous because no matter how often or how significantly his work changes, it is still always iconic Peter Max. The ability for Max to make his work recognizable has created the artistic identity that he has held. His use of vivid colors, bold yet fluid lines carefully used and spaced apart all give him an artistic style that has outlasted the changes in medium, subject, focus, and time. His subject matter is also always positive, upbeat, and optimistic. Even if what he is painting and how he is panting changes, Peter Max art remains iconic and true to the ever true to the reputation as the pop artist he has become.