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Archive for the ‘Trivia’ Category

Christmas Already?

Posted in Holidays, Paint Party, Trivia, tagged Andy Warhol, Christmas Sled, Famous Painter, Packages on November 1, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Warhol Sled.jpg As much as I despise starting with the Christmas “stuff” already, it is something we have to do to prepare for parties with a Christmas theme. So here is our next Famous Painters party with a holiday theme. We are painting a Warhol sled. Join us on Tuesday, November 28th at 6 pm and personalize your sled and packages. Click here to register.

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Happy Birthday John James Audubon

Posted in Little Known Facts, Trivia, tagged Birds of America, flamingo, John J Audubon, Wild Turkey on April 26, 2015| Leave a Comment »

American Flamingo, John J Audubon

Wild Turkey, John J Audubon

Born on this day in 1785, John James Audubon is recognized for his detailed study of American Birds and his watercolors and drawings of them. Read more about his fascinating life here.

His book, Birds of America (1827-1839) is considered the finest ornithological work ever written. He identified 25 new species. Take a minute to click the link to Birds of America or his life above and enjoy his wonderful work. Happy Birthday JJA!

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American Modernism, Part 2

Posted in Little Known Facts, Serendipity, Trivia, tagged American Modernism, Guy Wiggins, John Marin, lecture on modern art on March 18, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Guy Wiggins, Snow on Wall Street

John Marin, Related to St Pauls

Last Tuesday evening I attended the first in a series of lectures at our library about American Modern Art. (Read that here.) Last night was the second lecture in the series. The subject was “The Modern Metropolis” and the focus was New York City. This very interesting series is an eye-opening for those of us attending about the drastic differences that emerged in the art world in the early 1900′. It’s fascinating to see the same subject matter depicted by different artists of the same time. Here is a great example: one by Guy Wiggins and the other by John Marin’s during the same time period and basically the same subject matter. What a different view! Art was taking a distinct turn!

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Gauguin Sale Breaks Record

Posted in Little Known Facts, Serendipity, Trivia, tagged Paul Gauguin, record breaking sale on February 7, 2015| Leave a Comment »

‘Nafea faa ipoipo’ (When will you marry?, 1892) by French painter Paul Gauguin

” The 1892 oil painting by the French post-impressionist, Paul Gauguin, of two Tahitian girls called Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) was sold by the private collector Rudolf Staechelin, a retired Sotheby’s executive and has broken the record for the world’s most expensive single work of art. While Mr Staechelin didn’t name the buyer it was thought to be the state-financed Qatar Museums that purchased it for $300 million. The Gulf nation had set the previous record in 2011 when it paid $259 million for The Card Players by Paul Cezanne, and has spent millions more on Western modern art in recent years.”

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Happy Birthday Jasper Johns

Posted in Little Known Facts, Trivia, tagged flag, Jasper Johns on May 15, 2014| Leave a Comment »

“Flag”, oil and collage on fabric mounted on plywood, 1954-55 by Jasper Johns

Born on May 15, 1930 in Augusta Georgia, Jasper Johns is an American contemporary artists most well-known for his painting American Flag. You can learn more about Johns and his art by clicking here.

A few years ago in art camp we studied Johns in one of our art camp sessions and the kids produced a copy of his work. They did a super job honoring his work.

“Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it.” –Jasper Johns

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Picasso & Modigliani Sell for $Millions!

Posted in Little Known Facts, Trivia, tagged Christie's sale, Modigliani, Picasso on May 9, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Picasso’s Dora Maar

Modigliani’s Young Man

At the same Christie’s sale that saw the Monet that we talked about yesterday go for millions there was a Picasso, “Portrait of Dora Maar”, that sold for $22.5 million.

A Modigliani sold at the same auction for $17.6 million.

At that particular auction on Tuesday, Christie’s sold 47 pieces for more than $285 million!

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In Memory of Manet

Posted in Little Known Facts, Trivia, tagged Edouard Manet, Luncheon on the Grass, Manet on April 30, 2014| 1 Comment »

Luncheon on the Grass
Edouard Manet

On this day in 1883 Edouard Manet died. He was only 51 years old. He was instrumental in the conversion of painting from realism to impressionism. Two of his early works caused much controversy in the art community of the time – The Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia. These paintings are often discussed when studying impressionism and modern art.

Bouquet of Flowers
Edouard Manet

I am much more fond of some of his still life and floral paintings…and of course, his dogs.

The Dog
Edouard Manet

You can see Manet’s work in many major museums around the world.

Learn more about Manet here.

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Happy Birthday Richard Diebenkorn

Posted in Little Known Facts, Trivia, tagged Ocean Park series, Richard Diebenkorn on April 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Diebenkorn’s Ocean Park 67

Diebenkorn’s Interior with Book

Born in 1922, Richard Diebenkorn became a well-known figure in the 20th Century Art World known for his Abstract Expressionistic paintings. His landscape and figurative works are very interesting and influenced by Matisse whom he studies. He is most well-known for his abstract series Ocean Park.

Diebenkorn died on March 30, 1993.

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More on Churchill’s Art

Posted in Little Known Facts, Trivia, tagged Winston Churchill, Winston Churchill's art on April 21, 2014| 1 Comment »

Painting kept in an attic for 30 years because the owner did not like it has turned out to be the work of Sir Winston Churchill.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1054563/Unloved-Winston-Churchill-painting-dumped-attic-30-years-sell-150-000-auction.html#ixzz2zTM9aPJM

I love to read stories about people who came to painting late in life or people who are known for one thing and then become painters. Winston Churchill was such a person. I have read several books about his work as an artist and how he felt about painting.

In his essay, Painting as a Pastime, published in The Strand Magazine in December 1921 and January 1922, he says, ” I do not presume to explain how to paint, but only how to get enjoyment. Do not turn the superior eye of critical passivity upon these efforts. Buy a paint-box and have a try. If you need something to occupy your leisure, to divert your mind from your daily round, to illuminate your holidays, do not be too ready to believe that you cannot find what you want here.”

Woodland Scene Near Mimizan by Winston Churchill

Churchill was an avid painter and encouraged others to try. He often said it was a hobby that kept the “Black Dog”, what he called depression, away.

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“Painting as a Pastime” by Winston Churchill

Posted in Little Known Facts, Trivia, tagged Winston Churchill, Winston Churchill's art on April 20, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Winston Churchill Painting

The Marlborough Tapestries at Blenheim by Winston Churchill

Flowers by Winston Churchill

If you watched the video interview from yesterday’s blog you heard Bush mention that he gathered some inspiration from the essay by Winston Churchill, “Painting as a Pastime”. First published in The Strand Magazine in 1921/22 Churchill writes about coming to painting later in life and the enjoyment of it. Here is one of my favorite excerpts from it:

“Just to paint is great fun. The colours are lovely to look at and delicious to squeeze out. Matching them, however crudely, with what you see is fascinating and absolutely absorbing. Try it if you have not done so – before you die. As one slowly begins to escape from the difficulties of choosing the right colours and laying them on in the right places and in the right way, wider considerations come into view.”

More about Churchill tomorrow.

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