Iolandra Dambra

I met this artist randomly in Italy while visiting the coastal town of Positano. The church there was hosting her show and her paintings are epic. There are mostly all religious in nature and they're so beautiful glossy and colorful. It was thrilling! I purchased this print but it just cannot do it justice. Her work feels so alive. I love the tones and the lines. I tried to copy her style once and failed miserably. I should probably just leave it up to her!

"Hero Piece"

So lately, after much goading, I've been watching that 2009-2010 television series, Dollhouse. I'm really enjoying it! Even if it is kind of the poor man's Alias. There is an episode where they do the back-story of one of the dolls, Sierra, played by the ethereal Dichen Lachman. Without going into too much detail, Sierra (or rather, Priya--her real name) is an artist who sells her paintings on Venice Beach. She is commissioned by the douche-bag who played Billy in Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion to do a large piece for him as his way of trying to get into her pants. 

Anyway, none of this really has anything to do with this beautiful painting other than that it was the medium through which I discovered it. The true artist is a woman called Brooke Reidt and I wish to God that she had prints available for less than $180! Because I am totally in love with her work. The painting featured on Dollhouse is called "Hero Piece" and I just love the lines, and the colors, and the depth. It's a bit bittersweet to me. Like rebirth.

Can I get a dress in this print?

(*Update: I totally bought it)

Spanish Girl of Segovia, 1918

This is my favorite painting. Spanish Girl of Segovia is by Robert Henri (25 June 1865 – 12 July 1929), an American painter and teacher. He was a leading figure of the Ashcan School, a realist artistic movement that came into prominence in the United States during the early twentieth century, best known for works portraying scenes of daily life in New York's poorer neighborhoods. Henri specialized in portraits (my favorite!). The movement grew out of a group known as The Eight, whose only show together in 1908 created a sensation. Aside from Henri, its members included William Glackens (1870-1938), George Luks (1867-1933), Everett Shinn (1876-1953), John French Sloan (1871-1951), Arthur B. Davies (1862-1928), Ernest Lawson (1873-1939), and Maurice Prendergast (1859-1924).

It might seem a bit odd that my favorite painter was a realist considering my favorite illustrator specialized in whimsical works based on fairy stories. But when I first saw Spanish Girl of Segovia at the Milwaukee Art Museum years ago I was captivated. Henri may have painted the anonymous working class but he gave them dignity. They are real, but romantic. And I love that unlike other techniques used by realist painters, Henri didn't try to paint photographs. What I mean by this is that his brushstrokes are broad and he uses dark tones--like Manet (but I prefer Henri)--and isn't hung up on creating an exact replica of her face. I like when you can see the actual brushstrokes! How up close they look like smudges but when you back up you see that they are intuitive smudges that come together to form a portrait. It should be noted that I do not consider impressionism or pointillism intuitive. They are too calculated for my taste.

And on top of everything Henri was a meticulous record keeper! He kept books in which he numbered all of his paintings and listed the exhibitions at which they were shown. This painting is number 87H. As an archivist I could just kiss him!

Arthur Rackham

I was about to say that Arthur Rackham (19 September 1867 – 6 September 1939) is my favorite artist but it would be more accurate to say he is my favorite illustrator, and has been for a very long time. I don't know how to speak about art as well as I would like, but I love how delicate his work is--the tiny strokes, the muted colors. I love how his backgrounds are often equally as important as the figures. And of course I love the subject matter. He doesn't make fairy tale characters and creatures cute, he gives them drama and legitimacy. And yet they can still be funny! When I used to pour over volumes of myths and legends there was nothing more irritating than illustrations that didn't match the mood of the stories. These stories are epic! They deserve for an artist to take them seriously.

The image is of his painting, "Undancey." And while it's not my favorite it was the first Rackham I ever saw and the one that made me search for more.