find 43 artworks that inspire me

I like how Google often changes the logo on their website to promote a particular event. This one is the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street.

What a cool idea!

I don’t know who took these photographs but I really like them!

I came across Igor Iwanowicz on stumbleupon and thought his photography was just amazing. I’ve put a few together here of his ‘dancing mantids’. Here’s the link for more amazing photos!

http://acidcow.com/pics/4370-amazing-insect-images-by-igor-iwanowicz-60-pics.html/

I took this picture during my visit to the Louvre on August 6. Since you’re allowed to take pictures there, I basically took pictures of any work of art that struck my fancy. I took a bunch of pictures of Michelangelo’s Rebellious Slave and Dying Slave because they are great studies of the human figure. Not just great anatomy studies, but great studies in the understanding of beauty and perfection. Michelangelo knew how to pose the figure just right to give the viewer a look at perfection 360 degrees around. Of the two sculptures, I favor Rebellious Slave because of how the muscles flex in order to portray the slave struggling to free himself. I wonder, before the days of working out, did anyone in Michelangelo’s day have such a perfect body, or did Michelangelo have the ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary? One thing I do know, is Michelangelo was extraordinary.

I don’t have an image to share because I can’t find one anywhere! I still want recommend because I think these drawings are worthwhile especially to any artistic anatomy students or anyone else who would have an interest. There was a gallery of his drawings at the Tate Britain when I was there earlier this month. I’m not sure how long they are on display, but if they are still there, go before they are gone and you’ll be glad you did.

William Orpen taught at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin from 1902 until the outbreak of WWI. He drew detailed anatomical studies in white and color conte crayon on black paper, some after my favorite artistic anatomist, Michelangelo Buonarroti.
In 1990, Orpen’s daughter asked his grandson if there was anything of his grandfather’s he would like to have, and he chose these drawings over finished paintings. He seems to have strict copy rights on the drawings because there aren’t any images of them on the Tate website or anywhere else I searched online. I feel lucky to have the 32 page booklet of images from the show I purchased in the giftshop for 2.99 pounds, otherwise I think the only way to refer to these drawings would be by memory.

I saw this on my recent visit to the Tate in London. I knew it the instant I saw it because I remember it from college art history. Of course from my art history class I appreciated it as a fine work of art, but it wasn’t until I saw it in person that it really stood out to me as a meaningful masterpiece. It reminds me of those long summer nights as a kid, hanging out with my sister until late at night, just passing the time doing something as simple as these girls are doing, without a worry as to what to do next. John Singer Sargent captures this. These girls are sisters. He makes great use of color and contrast here the way those lanterns and white dresses are painted just right to stand out against the colors of dusk.

and of course I made sure to view a lot of art, and of course I saw pieces that inspired me! I have three more to go on this goal, so I’ll finish by posting some works that stood out to me. Stay tuned.

Roxy Paine is an American artist who made this sculpture for the Metropolitan Museum’s roof garden. Maelstrom is one of his Dendroids, which are based on vascular networks, tree roots, industrial piping and fungal mycelia. It looks like a giant, fallen tree, except that it’s stainless steel. The artist grew up in Northern Virginia in the 70’s, a time when farms and rural areas were replaced by suburban sprawls. This influenced his body of work. The roof of the Metropolitan Museum is perfect spot for the sculpture because it’s a large enough space for it, and it allows the sculpture to be viewed in Central Park with the Manhattan skyline, showing the interplay between two environments: nature and manmade. The attached picture only shows part of the sculpture. To gain a full appreciation of the sculpture, it should really be viewed in person. Visitors are encouraged to walk through the sculpture, as some of the branches lie on the ground and some of course higher up. It’s on view through October 25, weather permitting. You can also visit the Met Museum website to see a video of the roof installation.

Here is the cat I promised in my last entry. Germain Van der Steen, 1897-1985, was a Dutch artist living in France. He painted various subject matters, but became most known for his paintings of cats. Each cat painting is decorated with its own unique bright colors and designs. Many of the portrayals of cats are in trees with their front paws on a higher branch than the back paws.
I never saw a Van der Steen in person. I first discovered him when I saw a book of illustrations of his cats at the Hirschhorn Museum book shop in Washington, D.C. I’m not sure any of his works are in the U.S. For a Design I project in college, we were to make a three dimensional painting referencing a 2 dimensional work of choice. I chose a hot pink Van der Steen cat positioned in a tree like this one. I signed my name in large letters on a tree branch the way Van der Steen did, but with my name. I remember it was a big hit and I got an A. I remember my professor was really excited about me having introduced him to an artist he was unfamiliar with. Anyway, Van der Steen is still a big hit with me. I think he stands out as a very unique artist and his paintings are a pleasure to view.