THE AMERICAN ART BOOK

Yesterday, I took me a trip down to Goodwill with my friend. I decided to venture towards books to see if there was anything of interest, out of the corner of my eye there was a huge thick 500 page tome called "The American Art Book" by Phaidon Publishing. Inside in alphabetical order were 100's of America's most important and influential artist, and for a trifling sum of $2.99 it was mine, ohhhh what a bargain!

I flipped through it and there were some incredible artist and works that I had never heard of. Here are a couple that grabbed my attention.

JOHN WHITE ALEXANDER

It's no surprise he is highly influenced by John Singer Sargent, actually they were good friends. 

He seemed pretty interested in women turned away from you.

Samuel Clemens!

There were so many to pick from but this should give you a very good idea of his work.

THOMAS ANSHUTZ

WILLIAM BAILEY

CECILIA BEAUX

JAMES BROOKS

Frank Duveneck

Exquisite Alla Prima!

Al Hansen

Thomas Hovenden

Alice Neel

  Jack Levine

5:29 PM Gaston Lachaise

WILLIAM BELLOWS

Actually I've seen the one above but forgot about it, I had never known who did it until now. You can feel the movement in that one, it's fantastic!

Anthropology Notes

(above & below) The Professor, Jerome O'Neal

Inspiration: An Opera Singer

I'm not the biggest fan of opera, occasionally there's a song that I fall in love with. During one of my plunges into the depths of the internet this gem came into play.

This video had me completely entranced. Not just the power of Wagner or the purity of the soprano's voice, but the expressions on the soprano. I just kept watching it repeatedly looking at her face. 

Her eyes are the first thing I noticed. The eye on the right is open a lot wider than the other, and the eye on the left looks like it wants to sag off the face. 

I think it's interesting when the lips cover teeth. 

Her face is facing one direction but her mouth is facing another!

Her bottom teeth appeared to have been quite prominant through the piece. She has an interesting set of bottom teeth, very long and narrow.

I'm not sure if it's just the aspect ratio or her, but she takes squash and stretch to a whole new meaning.

The one above is probably my favorite. The song got quite dramatic, so did her face.  

I feel that the ends justify the means. She's not there to be pretty (even though she is), she's there to make powerful, moving music. Sometimes I think it's the opposite in todays standards.  

I am working on new drawings. Be patient.