Sunday Pick: Paul Higgs

Check out this beautiful collage work by Paul Higgs.  These images courtesy of Stella Downer Fine Art, where many more examples can be seen and enjoyed.

New Things

I got some new things!  The first is a $5 necklace that I wear as a bracelet.

The second is paint, glorious paint!  This is my first time buying Old Holland.  I have always wanted to but until now always talked myself down a notch.  However, Blick was having an online sale and I knew exactly what I needed so I went for it.  Can't wait to try them out today.

And lastly, I got a great used book of Matisse drawings.  Its called Femmes and Fleurs but its in German so I can't read a stitch of it.  But I don't care.  The shop is a great little place in West Philly called The Last Word Bookshop (40th and Locust), its owned by one of my former student's father.  Check it out. 

Bowery Gallery Show

I'm happy to share that one of my paintings has been included in the Bowery Gallery's 22nd Annual Juried Show.  Joan Snyder was the juror and I couldn't be more thrilled.  The opening is August 1st from 6 to 8 pm, if you are in NY.  

Above is a video from James Kalm, who has a wonderful youtube channel of visits to ny gallery shows.  In this one, he visits Joan Snyder's 2010 exhibition at Betty Cuningham.  Check out her moving work in this second best way to view art.

Sunday Pick: Gastone Breddo

One of my recent Sunday Pick artists, David Holt, was kind enough to be in touch and give me a few artists he thought I may enjoy.  Sure enough, they were right up my alley, especially Gastone Breddo (1915-1991).  Breddo was the head of the Florence Academy in the 60s, 70s and 80s (where Holt studied -- always connections between great painters it seems).  He was born in Italy and spent most of his life there in Tuscany and Venice.

I spent a semester abroad in Florence studying art.  I remember wondering how it would be to have a career in a place that has such a long history of art and such a strong identity.  Of course I was only an undergraduate student but I felt almost paralyzed to make my own work in that context.  

I love seeing Breddo's work which filters Italian painting through a personal perspective and also relates to so many other favorite international still life painters.  I learned from my teachers in Florence immensely but what an experience it would have been to hear from a painter like Breddo and look at his paintings in person!  Just a few years too late.  Still I am very grateful to David for introducing me to the work, even if it is only virtually for now.

Sunday Pick: Brian Ballard

This is the work of Brian Ballard, an Irish painter who has been painting for many years.  The confidence in his gestural marks is beautiful.  I love the way he uses a light source to create flat shapes of color.  The harsh contrasts are a welcome change from paintings of the same subject matter that ooze atmosphere and flittery marks.  His work is some I've been looking at a bit recently in an effort to push my own work.

Second Look: Pierre-Eugène Montézin

The Window, 1943

Pierre-Eugène Montézin (1874-1946) deserves a second look for this painting.  Around age 70, just three years before his death, this painting is out of control fantastic.  The abstraction that is going on in the glass cups, patterned plates and drapery put Pollocks of this time to shame.  Gorgeous, gorgeous painting.