Still Here

I have been away for a while, but I hope to be back soon.

Art Work of the Day

The first time that I saw a work by Rodney Smith was inside of the magazine Communication Arts. The work above was the photograph that I saw in that particular issue of Communication Arts. There is a timeless quality to the work that stuck in my mind.

Then, about a year later I saw the same photograph in an advertisement on the pages of the New York Times. Although they might be commercialized, the works evoke a sense a timeless beauty.

There is something surreal and powerful in the works. They seem to be glimpses into a magical world of whimsical beauty. I have also included some other works that I like by Mr. Smith. You should also check out his blog.

The Soloist

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Steve Lopez at Vromans Bookstore in Pasadena. Those who were in attendance got the opportunity to also meet Nathaniel Ayers. If you don't know who Mr. Ayers is then you have not read The Soloist.

The Soloist is one of my favorite books of all time and is the perfect inspirational book for any artist or person. Every time I recommend this book to anyone I get goosebumps. It is amazing to read about a man who lives on the streets of Los Angeles and is driven by his passion for music.

Steve Lopez, writer for the LA Times, met Mr. Ayers one day as he was walking into work. What caught the eye of Mr. Lopez was the vision of Mr. Ayers playing a two string violin. Over a period of time, Mr. Lopez found out that Mr. Ayers had attended Julliard at the same time that Yo-Yo Ma was a student there. Lopez recounts the story of their relationship that he had begun in his column. After 6 years, Mr. Lopez and Mr. Ayers remain friends.

It goes to show the power that music and the arts has over someone. This is why it is so important that we continue to fund the arts and help those who suffer with mental health. Mr Ayers has started a foundation Naayers that is dedicated to "serve arts programs at mental health and arts organizations that serve the mentally ill."

Tonight we had an impromptu performance by Mr. Ayers and was accompanied on piano by a student (name escapes me) from Cal State Northridge. Everything was a last minute addition and Mr. Ayers never met or performed with the young lady from Northridge. There was a bit of improvisation and very touching. Mr. Ayers also happened to be celebrating his birthday today and had come straight from a party.

Happy Birthday Nathaniel.

Painting of the Day 1/25/2011

An Inner Dialogue with Frida by Yasumasa Morimura

Its interesting to see the influence of the West in the works of Morimura and Yue Minjun. Artist from the East are becoming increasingly popular with Western collectors because they have themes that are idealized by the West.

Morimura's work primarily is of re-appropriation. He portrays himself in the works of famous artists from Van Gogh to Cindy Sherman.

Two Frida's by Frida Kahlo.

Painting of the Day

The Execution by Yue Minjun. 1996

I love the works of Yue Minjun. Minjun has arranged the figures in the same manner as Edouard Manet did in his painting The Execution of Maximilian (1868).


Here are a few other works that you might recognize. The links are to the original paintings that he interpreted.


The Nighthawks


The Death of Marat

The Small Cowper Madonna

The Small Cowper Madonna by Raphael Sanzio
(Italian, 1483-1520)
November 5, 2010 - January 24, 2011

If you live in the Los Angeles area, you should make it a point to see this remarkable piece at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California. There are only four more days left to see Raphael's Madonna.

It is always amazing to see this works in person. The name Raphael gives you the impression of a larger than life work of art by one of the great Renaissance artists. Raphael was able to adapt Leonardo's draftsmanship and Michelangelo's color into his own.

Take the time this weekend to visit this masterpiece. Click here for directions and map.

Painting of the Day

Madame X by John Singer Sargent. 1884

Throughout his career, Sargent completed over 900 paintings and thousands of watercolors and drawings. The painting of the day is John Singer Sargent's portrait of Madame X (Virginie Amelie Avegno Gautreau) 1884. Madame Gautreau was an American socialite living in Paris who would be comparable to being the Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian of her time. Madame Gautreau was married to a French banker named Pierre Gautreau and was of creole blood.

The painting of Madame X nearly destroyed the reputation of Sargent, who was establishing his career as a portraitist of great renown. Sargent was able to capture the essence of his sitters through his use of color and chiaroscuro that he learned in the atelier of Carolus-Duran.

The scandal regarding the painting was due to his portrayal of Madame Gautreau in profile. The dark dress conforms to her statuesque flesh and stature. Originally, Sargent had painted the dress with the right shoulder strap off her shoulder. Following the scandalous reception of the painting, Madame Gautreau was humilated and Sargent departed to London.

For a quick video regarding Madame X click here.

Paul Cezanne

January 19th marked the 172nd birthday of the Post-Impressionist Paul Cezanne (19 January 1839-22 October 1906). Cezanne was the transitional figure that laid the foundation for the Modernist of the 20th century. Modernist like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse looked towards Cezanne to bridge the gap between themselves and the Impressionist.

In his painting Still Life with Cherries and Peaches (1885-87) we see the beginnings of Cubism. In fact, Matisse and Picasso saw Cezanne as the "father of us all". As the Impressionist looked to capture a singular moment in time, Cezanne looked to capture multiple moments in time. The art of Cezanne becomes linear, angular, and simplified. The cherries are seen from a much higher view that almost directly looks down upon the dish, while the peaches are seen from a much lower angle.

In 1852, Cezanne met the French writer Emile Zola at the College Bourbon. Zola encouraged Cezanne to move to Paris and in 1861 left Aix-en-Provence. While in Paris, Cezanne became friends with the Impressionist Camille Pissaro. Between 1865 and 1885, Pissaro and Cezanne would develop a strong relationships in their painting excursions at Pontoise and Louveciennes.












The painting on the right is by the elder Pissaro while the painting on the left is by Cezanne. For an interactive experience of both their works visit the MOMA website.