Water Babies

Happy birth time you lovely Pisces people! I hope you are having fun in life. Today I came across some beautiful watery images that I just had to share. A collaboration between photographer Natasha Wiseman and model Alexa Jones, this series “In Bloom” uses simple colour themes and amazing flora to make a cohesive series that is dreamy and youthful. I hope you enjoy it too.

Tadas Sidlauskas

Lithuanian oil-painter, Tadas Sidlauskas, uses colour, ornamentation, abstract shapes and human figures to bring strong emotion into his paintings. I especially like these three pieces from his portfolio, mainly the use of primary colours in these first two images and the Klimt influence in the final image. To see more visit his website.

Elizabeth Yoo x Alain Robbe-Grillet

What do you get when you cross one masterful filmmaker with another masterful artist? You get more art, of course! I recently chatted to the talented creative, Elizabeth Yoo, about her recent work that uses the erotic cinema of Alain Robbe-Grillet as muse. Yoo’s expressive artwork is a treat on its own but, incase you are yet to meet, let me introduce you to Robbe-Grillet in the clip below. Yoo’s interview and artwork follows.

Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about your series of paintings based on the films of Alain Robbe-Grillet. I’ve actually never seen his films, as embarrassing as it is to say, but I’ll definitely be checking them out soon. 

It was the first series I’d ever done and it was also the first time I’d picked up a paintbrush in several years. But I guess I needed that long hiatus from making art in order for me to expand my frame of reference, collect my inspirations, see what my true interests really were. This series was kind of a rebirth for me. Through painting my interpretations of these scenes from the first four films Robbe-Grillet directed (L’Immortelle, Trans-Europ-Express, The Man Who Lies, Eden and After), I was coming into my own. I felt like I was finally freed from inhibitions. These paintings are not just scenes from films—I also see them as self-portraits. They communicate my own desires. Although more widely known as a writer, pioneer of the nouveau roman (“new novel”), and a screenwriter, his films deserve to have a wider audience. I’m drawn to the ambiguity of his films– the line between reality and fantasy is indistinguishable. And of course, I’m drawn to the sadomasochistic eroticism and this desire mixed with fear present in most of his films.

What about sexuality in art do you find appealing? Who are artists that you feel perfect the art of eroticism? I’ve always loved Egon Schiele and you can find newcomer Kaethe Butcher on most erotic art sites, she’s taking the world by storm.

Egon Schiele is definitely one of my favourite artists. His aggressive, expressionistic style heightens the eroticism of his paintings. The angular bodies, the bones jutting out, pale skin marked by bright spots of red or blue that look like smears, eyes looking directly at the viewer, intertwined lovers: you really feel the energy. Another favorite painter of mine is Balthus, whose style is kind of the opposite of Schiele—there’s a calmness and a stillness to the figures in his paintings. There are defined, domestic backgrounds unlike Schiele’s work which has all this negative space. Kaethe Butcher is fantastic. Her style is incredibly provocative and I love the way she incorporates text into her drawings.

You use a limited colour palate in your work, does this act as a vehicle to explore darker undertones in your subjects? Or is it purely an aesthetic/style preference? 

I think I express myself better in black and white than in colour. Black is the colour of nighttime and sensuality—perfect for my subject matter. I don’t have to think as much when using only black paint and ink—I can transmit all my raw emotions onto the paper without hesitation or forethought; spontaneity is key in my work. When I use colour, I’m usually drawn to bright, primary colours– but I worry if the colours will work together. Sometimes the cheerful colours contrast with my dark themes— I like that disparity.

Eros And After: Pleasure & Pain in the Films of Alain Robbe-Grillet was your first solo exhibition. How did you find the process? Was selecting the final work for display difficult or are you a total planner? How did outcomes meet expectations? 

Originally, I was going to paint scenes from several more of his films. But due to lack of time, I ended up only doing his first four films—and I like that limited focus. I’m happy with how I ended up with twenty paintings. The perfect symmetry: we hung ten paintings from the ceiling on one side and ten on the other. I tend to over-plan and since it was my first show, a lot of stress was definitely involved! But I was very happy to see that people who came to my exhibit understood the work and saw how powerful and in control of their sexuality the women in the paintings are.

Your second exhibition is underway as I write this. How does this compare with your first exhibition? 

The audience is very different and the way in which my paintings were exhibited is also very different. The walls of the gallery at my second exhibition are coloured (blue, orange, and magenta) so I feel like that becomes part of the artworks and changes how they look, which is interesting. At my first exhibit at Holyrad Studio in Brooklyn, we showed one of Robbe-Grillet’s films during the reception—so the audience (mostly twenty-something year olds) got a really full experience. At my second exhibit at Home Art Gallery in Long Island– it’s a suburban area and it’s an area with people of all ages, so the reaction was a bit different. Most of the Robbe-Grillet paintings were shown, as well as other artworks of mine with thematic and stylistic similarities. Most of the people at both exhibits had never seen a Robbe-Grillet film—so it was a pleasure for me to introduce them! I was able to meet Robbe-Grillet’s widow (and a very famous dominatrix in France) Catherine Robbe-Grillet twice shortly after my show and she told me I was “converting” people into “Alain fans”—so my work was done!

 

How important do you think exhibiting work is as an artist, especially given the plethora of online spaces art can be showcased these days?

I think it’s extremely important because you don’t get a real sense of the size, texture, and detail in a work of art unless you see it in person. I like to stand for a long time in front of an artwork when I’m at a gallery because I try to see the artist’s process: the brushstrokes they made, how many layers of paint they used, etc. It’s a totally different experience, too, seeing an entire series or a body of work in a gallery—you’re totally in that artist’s world and there’s almost a private communion between you and the artworks. Online,you may get a more scattered, incomplete experience.

You obviously love film. Can you recommend five films and/or directors to us? 

Alain Robbe-Grillet’s Trans-Europ-Express (which I screened at my first show) is very playful and sexy—about a film-within-a-film. A director (played by Alain Robbe-Grillet himself), a script supervisor (played by his wife Catherine), and a producer, riding the Trans-Europ-Express from Paris to Antwerp, discuss ideas for a crime movie about a man who will travel on the same train they are on. This character, played by Jean-Louis Trintignant, smuggles cocaine into Antwerp and becomes involved with a prostitute played by Marie-France Pisier. The two have daytime trysts involving sadomasochisticplay that eventually become fatal.

Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samouraï. Melville is my absolute favourite director—a Frenchman who loved American gangster films and film noir, like me—this film stars my favourite actor Alain Delon playing a quiet hit man who follows the code of a samurai.

Roger Vadim’s Barbarella: Jane Fonda in some of the sexiest costumes ever. I adore her combination of innocence and total lack of shame about her sexuality. Campy fun. Shirley Clarke’s The Connection. I worked with director Immy Humes on an upcoming documentary about Shirley, who was an independent filmmaking rebel. My favourite film of Clarke’s is about a group of jazz musicians jamming in this Greenwich Village apartment as they wait for their drug dealer to come. A documentary film crew shoots them and it raises all sorts of questions about “realism.”

Agnès Varda’s Le Bonheur—absolutely beautiful, colourful film about a happily married couple, which takes a devastating turn after the man cheats on his wife. I really love the disparity between the colours and this dark undercurrent.

From your website I can see you are a total all-rounder when it comes to creativity! I love this. I also dabble in many art/creation forms. I’ve often felt the pressure to pick one art-form to focus on and excel in. Can you relate to similar concepts? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by having such an active mind? 

I often do feel very overwhelmed! I have terrible insomnia due to my overactive mind. I often do most of my work into the night because I have no sense of time passing. My other passion besides painting is writing. I write very dark, twisted noir stories, psychological thrillers—a bit like Patricia Highsmith—and stories that fuse eroticism with horror. Once I am completely happy with my stories (I’m too much of a perfectionist which is why it takes me so long to complete a story!) I will eventually post them on my website with an illustration to accompany each story. My goal is to find a way to link my love of visual art with my writing.

See more of Elizabeth’s work on her website.

Beth Hoeckel

I’m loving these fun, feminine collages by Beth Hoeckel. Each piece connects femininity and sexuality with everyday objects like waffles and plants to create super powerful imagery with an understated connection to the goddess. Oh yeah, what more could you want? Plus, you can grab them for under $20. Links below each image. Peace and love x

Crescent

Waffle

Seasonal

Seethe

Lina

There’s something really powerful about this image by Marco Michieletto. The whole series (available here) has a very sensual energy but this image has a darker side that made me love it. The black and white colouring, amazing setting and pose and expression model Lina delivers all work together to make a piece of art. I just had to share! Hope you are all having a good week and getting through Mercury Retrograde… My computer keeps restarting itself with no warning…better post this lest I lose it! xx

Sophie van der Perre

Sophie van der Perre is a photographer from Belgium who, being a free-spirited Gemini, may be experiencing the effects of Mercury Retrograde (read more on this here). Her portfolio showcases a range of styles and subject matter with a general ethereal nature and freedom. I have selected some black and white photographs (with a slight horror vibe) that I think work well together from various series on her website. You can check out more of Sophie’s work here.

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Stephen Swartz

Firstly, I just want to acknowledge how cool it would be to have ‘art’ somewhere in my name. Lucky for Stephen, not so lucky for me. Stephen SwARTz is an analogue photographer who studied the craft well before digital was around. His work dates from the late 90s to the present but most of his work carries this 90s energy. I would put this down to the look of the women Stephen uses in his work, although I’m sure the analogue technique plays a part. It is pretty rare these days, with my beloved Ellen Rogers being the main contemporary analogue photographer I am aware of. I have chosen a selection of images from Stephen’s portfolio that appeal to me the most but I would recommend taking a look yourself to fully absorb yourself in his intent. Soft female forms are juxtaposed with geometric architecture to comment on the contrast between organic figures and structured forms and, on a deeper level, intuition and rationale. Stephen uses female figures to express his own feelings as a man, allowing him to explore his own emotional state – something he notes men often try to push down. It is important to respect the skill and patience it takes to work as an analogue photographer, especially in the age where digital technology runs rampant. I’m not one to talk, being a digital artist myself after all. I suppose at the end of the day, the most important thing is to simply acknowledge and respect art, both as the end form, as well as the techniques used to get there. I hope you enjoy these striking photographs. I just adore the first image and find some connections to William Mortensen’s work in a few of the others. Delightful.

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Nadia Lee Cohen

London-based photographer, Nadia Lee Cohen, recently embarked on her ‘100 naked women’ project which has been met with mixed opinions. Her amazing photographic style is a little surreal and the opposite of natural – her subjects looking like Barbie dolls or mannequins after all – but I really love it! Cohen uses a bold colour palette, pop-culture iconography and striking composition to capture her subjects in a very ‘plastic’ state. The result is contemporary photography with a nostalgic energy that takes us back to the 50s, when pop culture and mass consumerism began to overwhelm our lives. Here are a few images from the series that I like but I would definitely recommend visiting her website to see a whole lot more goodness!

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Blood E

Here is a small selection of photographs with an evocative use of blood and the human body. While technically the final image may not have blood in it, the red colouring of the flowers and the way the flowers are bleeding themselves, ties this image in with the others. It’s a fascinating photograph and one you could get lost in. So do.

Interestingly, all these photographers first names start with the letter E. (Hence the journalistic pun for the article name. Forgive me).

Evelyn Bencicova

 

Elsa Bleda

Elena Vizerskaya (Kassandra)

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Self-Centred

It has been a while between posts, but I’m using my 26th birthday as an excuse. The celebrations kicked off on Saturday with a birthday brunch with my family, followed by a sunny day with friends and bubbles. For my actual birthday on Monday  I had a combination of work, short-story editing, beer, amazing food, more bubbles and great company. Considering it has been all about me, I thought I would showcase some of my artwork this week. It’s been a while since I’ve showcased my personal work so here’s a look at a range of my more recent work. To see more you can check out my website or follow me on Facebook for regular updates. That would make me happy. Peace and Love xx

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Blue Companions

I have connected these images together through their unifying blue colouring and the pairing in each image. Each pairing is different but they all have a slightly eerie nature to them and exude a highly emotive power.  The first, a man and a woman amid sex (Milan Nenezic), next, two blue birds in a stormy setting (Zofia Bogusz) and finally, two women holding hands, eyes closed awaiting their moment (Shae Acopian Detar). I love all these images separately and even more when viewed together. Truly amazing painting by both artists and a captivating photography and fashion combo by Detar.

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Alex Stoddard

These stunning photographs by Alex Stoddard highlight the raw connection between humans and nature. Women are seamlessly integrated into the delicious, dangerous environment or are shown breaking out of it with fierce dynamism. I love the earthy aspects to many of his pieces, with the third image shown here reminding me of scenes from Antichrist. I want to see these images moving and to delve deeper into their essence, however, I suppose they are perfect just as they are. What do you think?

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Milan Nenezic

Milan Nenezic is a fantastic, realistic painter. I love the colours in this image which is part of a series that captures moments often ignored in art. This one, called ‘The Moment After’, exudes a safe serenity and a heightened sensuality post intimacy. Evocative and emotional, Nenezic creates some truly fascinating paintings well worth exploring.

Here are a few more images from this series that I particularly like.

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Bath time

I find these two pieces by Lee Price really cool. Price is interested in exploring the relationship between women and food in her realistic paintings. For me, the first image shows the negative side; binge eating, excess food and a melancholy attached to the image. The second image is more fun and frivolous, and the licking aspect combined with the bath setting allows it to acquire an erotic aspect, which I really love. Interesting pieces from an interesting artist.

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Den of Foxes

I really enjoy this piece by Mandy Tsung. It is a little bit different to other work of hers that I have shared in that there is quite a complex background and story going on, but what really makes the piece stand out to me is how well the wood grain works as the wall. Amazing. In terms of subject, the woman is empowered in her sexuality which is always great to see. How she holds the fox tail reflects the ease with which women can gain control over men (shown as a butler here, a literal servant) by using one’s sexuality. A good, interesting piece to wrap up the week. Enjoy.

 

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Body Fashion

I came across the wonderful collaboration between artist, Janine Rewell, and shoe designer, Minna Parikka, and just had to share the images. Inspired by her latest footwear collection, Rewell approached Parikka and the two worked together to create these stunning adverts which showcase the essence of the footwear, as well as making the shoe the only actual garment in the shot (clever advertising).

The final images reminded me of the my Klimt Again post, in which Klimt inspired clothing was photographed on matching materials and backgrounds to connect the whole image. Work by Gorman has also been showcased here which has a similar vibe, with outfits photographed in front of matching backgrounds. With Gorman, however, the clothing was actually inspired by the art (awesome). With Rewell, the shoes inspired art, but what makes the art so cool is that is becomes one with the body. I wonder why I haven’t seen something like this before? Certainly worth the time and effort that would have gone into designing the patterns and then executing them onto a human figure. I also love the way the shots have been layered over each other. It reminds me of an all glass mirror that has angled edges that reflect in this way. A really creative, fun idea and a refreshing and engaging way to advertise. You can take a look at a bit more of the process below.

 

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Mandy Tsung

Mandy Tsung produces really wonderful work that focuses around women. I love her style and how intriguing her work is. There is something great about work on wood panels, and can’t help but connect this to the amazing Audrey Kawasaki. I do see similarities in their work, but Tsung certainly has her own, developed style.

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Scarves

Conrad Roset has featured on here a few times before, but never in relation to clothing. These are his recent scarves that use his artwork to create visually stunning pieces. This style of art is different to some of his prior work I have showcased, and I find this style to be more original. Created for the Thai fashion house, Labyrinth, I think they are pretty great and perhaps a good investment as Roset continues to do strong work with important clients. You can find them for sale here as well as scarves by other artists.

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Nishe

I found the photography of Nishe and was quickly in love with the beauty of it. Soft, feminine focus and dreamy subject matter make for stunning images that I would happily display on my walls. Her website has a great selection of work, as well as deals on prints and links to other web presence. I selected some images I quite like, but as you can imagine it was hard to limit it to just a few.

Photography can be so amazing and capture the essence of a painting which is quite unreal. Nishe’s work certainly delivers on this while also evoking great wonder and beauty. I hope to find more photographers like her. So do let me know if you know any similar by leaving a comment. I would love to showcase more photography in this style.

For now, enjoy these delightful images and get carried away in the beauty.

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Happy New Year!

Happy new year lovely readers! I hope you have had a bit of a relax (or party-time if that’s more of what you were desiring!) over the Christmas and New Year period. I took a break from art and blogging, had some days at my day job (how appropriate), and did a bit of family holidaying. Not too bad. I am looking forward to 2014 and hope that with the influence of Neptune that it will be a dreamy, feminine and creative year. I’m also into my moon year in my cycle, which might make my creative juices take a feminine approach as well. I’m excited to see what art I create and if this is different from my sun year.

I didn’t really set any resolutions, but I want to continue all the good I did in 2013, as well as push my art onto the world (watch out) and try to get some pieces into shops and stuff like that. I want to have a group or solo exhibition too! And I also want to reach a wider audience here, as well as work on my writing and connections with other creatives. Hey, look at me, no superficial resolutions! That makes me proud. Oh, and I want to try to help out the world a little bit more, ideally in some area related to women’s rights. Wish me luck! And I wish you all the best with whatever endeavors you set yourself for the year that is 2014.

I thought what better way to kick off the new year than with a pic of the stunning Kate Moss (digitally edited by me)? With Moss being a Capricorn it seems the ideal way to get into the swing of things. Enjoy and all the best for the year ahead xx

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Bernhard Handick

Loving the photography and mixed-media collage from Bernhard Handick. His work is interesting and sensual, and just what I feel like looking at today. Hopefully you enjoy it too! One piece reminds me of an image by Richard Prince that I shared a while back, see if you can find the connection x

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Asunder on Sunday

Something  little dreamy for your Sunday. This piece is called ‘Asunder’ and is by the wonderful Kelly McKernan. 

a·sun·der adv.
1. Into separate parts or pieces

2. Apart from each other either in position or in direction

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Saidov Aydemir

Saidov Aydemir is a Russian artist who creates some truly dreamy, wonderful pieces. I love his paintings of women, but he also does a pretty awesome job with landscapes and still life. His work is realistic and romantic. It takes me back to an older time. In some ways I would connect his work to Charmaine Olivia – both use realism and focus on the faces and get more gestural around the edges and backgrounds of the images. His first piece shown here is the most like Charmaine in style – but isn’t solely his style, as you will see as you scroll down. Charmaine is more modern than Saidov, but both artists are really refreshing in their quest for true beauty and romanticism. Here is a collection of pieces by Saidov Aydemir that I thought were worth sharing.

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Elsa Isabella – Paper Dolls

I am so in love and so impressed by what Elsa Isabella can do. Her work is truly amazing. Not only is the subject matter great (who doesn’t love a Pin-up girl?) but the size she works in just blows me away. They are so small! Yet so wonderfully detailed. The quality of her work is amazing, especially when you see the scale she is working in. It’s hard to draw small even with a fine pen, but I would find it even harder in charcoal. I don’t know what else to say other than that I am so impressed. So, I am truly happy to be sharing her work here today. You must like her on Facebook where you can see a whole lot more of her outstanding work (I mean, it was pretty hard to limit what I showed here today, so imagine how much more there is!) I have chosen some complete pieces, as well as in progress shots because they look pretty great too. Enjoy xx

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Emanuele Cassina

Italian photographer Emanuele Cassina creates very sensual and evocative photographs. I love the softness and peacefulness in the images. Another positive is how they are erotic without being overly sexual or low brow. In fact, they are quite the opposite. Always a pleasure to share such beautiful photography. Enjoy x

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Erotica

I love Juxtapoz Magazine’s website. It has so much to offer, and following on Facebook and Twitter keeps you up to date with new artists and artworks. One section that I find quite interesting is the Erotica tab. As you can imagine, it showcases art that has some erotic element. But don’t be too offended prudish people, because the section isn’t as sexual as you might imagine. Rather, pieces have strong sensuality or offer provocative women in a rather subtle way. Of course, some pieces are a bit more out there, but I find this is often connected to culture which is an interesting way to explore erotic art. If you have some spare time, I would recommend going to have a nosey at http://www.juxtapoz.com/ and browsing the Erotica Section. In case you’re not entirely convinced, I have collected a few artists that I discovered there.

Malcolm Liepke

   

Adams Carvalho

  

Takato Yamamoto

        

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A little naughty.

This series by Richard Prince takes black and white photographs of an erotic nature and simply adds CD/DVD labels from famous albums or movies. Each label adds a new context to the image and also works to cover up certain naughty bits. I like the really raw aspect to the pieces, especially when they have hand drawn numbers or details on the edges. Prince also uses self-control when choosing what labels to the add to the images. I can imagine it would be easy to go towards more overt titles that would either be ironic or too literal. Prince shows restraint making the pieces interesting and engaging rather than making them seem like porn titles.

What do you think? Do you like these pieces? Can you think of better titles that you may have used? As always, feel free to let me know. I love comments xx

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Mercurial

We are almost nearing the end of Mercury retrograde – thank goodness! For those of you that don’t know about Mercury retrograde, here’s a brief rundown. About three times a year, the planet Mercury starts turning in a backward motion which begins to cause some havoc. Mercury governs communication and transportation, so in retrograde you may notice that issues arise surrounding these matters. Examples of such include computers crashing, missing appointments, buses running late, things going missing and so on. Essentially, it is not such a flash time of the year. Mercury is a bit of a trickster, so if you have noticed things going a little weird you can start to relax, as retrograde will finish in the 20th of July, and things will start to go back to normal. I find Gala Darlings run down of retrograde pretty good, so check it out here. Plus, retrograde isn’t all bad, as Gala explains.

Like myself, Gala is a Virgo. This may explain why she has an interest in Mercury retrograde, as Mercury is the ruling planet of both Virgo and Gemini. And this means that us Virgos, and all those Geminis out there, feel the effects of retrograde quite a bit harder than the other signs of the zodiac. I haven’t had too many issues this time, but have had hard-drives break and other serious mishaps in the past. Although, I have to wonder about where my emails are going lately… I am not getting the usual replies, which is making progression quite difficult. But nevermind, enough about me. Here are a few artists that may be feeling, or could have felt, the effects of Mercury retrograde. Yes, they are all Virgos or Geminis.

Virgo

Joel-Peter Witkin – September 13, 1939

 

Jen Mann – September 17, 1987

Man Ray – August 27, 1890

Gemini

John Baldessari – June 17, 1931

   

Egon Schiele – June 12, 1890

 

Diego Velazquez – June 6, 1599

 

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Nude

       

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Horyon Lee

Here’s something a little sensual for your Sunday. Work is by Korean artist, Horyon Lee. They are all paintings that mimic double exposure photography to create something a little flirty and seductive. The movement through use of clothing really brings certain pieces to life. I like the concept and love the execution. I have selected a few of my favourites here, but to see more of her work (which goes a little Korean at some points) visit her website and have a nosey. Happy Sunday everyone! (We have had snow and rain for the last week and today it is actually kinda sunny – the name fits!)

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This vs. That: Round Nine

It’s time for Round Nine of This vs. That. This month I look at two pieces by Jen Mann. The catch is, that the pieces are actually only one piece (!?). Well, not exactly, but I look at how she has edited an existing piece of hers to make a new piece. Photography, luckily, allows us to see the before and after to which I comment on. Have a read over Round Nine: Visibility and let me know what piece you prefer. Did Jen Mann make the work better? Or should she have left it alone? Or, perhaps it could still be worked on? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Round Eight: Skulls, Round Seven: Faceless, Round Six: Creepy Children

Egon Vs Conrad

 

I love Egon Schiele. His work is raw and wonderful. Twisted bodies, decaying bodies, erotic bodies. Some artists have an innate ability with line work, creating effortless, organic pieces. Schiele was no exception. I’m sure a lot of artists are inspired by him (and his mentor Gustav Klimt) and can’t help but want to do their own studies in Schiele style. Previously, I have connected some pieces by New Zealand artist, Kelly Thompson, with some of Schiele’s nude adolescents. You can refresh yourself with my musings here. And now I recently discovered Spanish artist, Conrad Roset, who draws strong influence from Schiele. I have gathered a few pieces in which I see connections. Arguably, Roset does not have the erotic similarities of Schiele, but his style (especially the thick paint outlining the figures) is definitely a match.

      

If you want to read more on Egon Schiele, I found an interesting article here.

Barbie by Jansson

I found these photographs taken for Vogue Paris by Swedish photographer, Mikael Jansson. What attracted me to them was how much they reminded me of Barbie dolls. The models (Diana Dondoe and Missy Rayder) appear so casual about being naked it is almost as if that is all they know. Much like Barbie, it seems their own bodies are desexualised and their nakedness is made very secondary. This is why the photography works so well – the product is emphasized through the very casualness of the naked bodies, and in doing so the product has nothing to compete with. Very clever work in my opinion. The models are shinned up to add a lovely glossy sheen to their skin which looks flawlessly beautiful, and very much plastic (hence the Barbie connection). In this first image the poses of the models (especially the one on the left) look rigid, as if the models (dolls) have been positioned manually and are unable to move themselves. And despite the models having beautiful figures, it is not their skinniness or shape that really makes them look like Barbie dolls, but rather how they are positioned, the colour choice, the way the light hits the skin making it shine, and how disconnected to their own bodies they appear. I think it is a wonderful accomplishment from Jansson.

On another note, I found a black and white image (above) from the series which despite being more beautiful (in my eyes), completely loses the doll-like aspect. I find that without the colour, and with the shine diminished, that the models’ human quality returns and they appear as two naked girls hanging by the pool (seductively, of course). So I suppose in this instance colour photography really achieves something that is arguably otherwise unachievable through a black and white image. Normally I prefer black and white photography, so it is great for photographers like Jansson to impress me with the accomplishments of colour.

Kelly Thompson

I always remember Kelly Thompson. I guess she’s up there with my other contemporary favourite, Audrey Kawasaki. But sometimes you can forget artists you know and love and look for new pieces to share. Discovering is always fun and inspiring, but today I wanted to share some pieces from someone familiar.

I love Thompson’s work. It is beautiful, erotic, sensual, fierce, coy, vulnerable, strong and so much more. The detailing is just right and the colours always work – sometimes muted, sometimes bold. Thompson focuses on my favourite subject matter, the female, and showcases a diversity of emotion and attitudes under the umbrella of femininity.

  

 

These are a few pieces I like, but all her work is great so you should check it out here. I also wrote a piece when I started this blog that compared some of her work with Egon Schiele (an old-time favorite) which you can access here. 

Fauna

Androgynous

Charmaine Olivia

In my last Visual Female of the Month, the lovely Wesley Bird mentioned that she had a few art pieces in her room by Charmaine Olivia. I hadn’t heard of this artist, so promptly got onto some googling and found a big selection of her work. Olivia’s art is very sensual and feminine, using women as her subject matter very frequently. Within her art she has a range in style – from thought-out perfection, to organic illustrations. I like both, so here are a few of my favourites. Make sure to check out her website for a more comprehensive selection.

 

Copy Klimt

Like most cool people in the world, I am in love with Gustav Klimt. He has been my art hero since I was a teenager. I always have to scatter a few images of his art throughout my home and he has remained with me from flat to flat over my student years. The beauty in his work is truly incredible and actually quite hard to recreate (trust me, I’ve tried!). Many people, including myself, have attempted to do our own Klimt style piece – some staying true to Klimt by direct mimicking and others by using his style as inspiration only. Below I will share a range of homages to Klimt I have discovered so far. They are all great, but nothing can really beat an original Klimt in my opinion!

Oh, but first I better show you an original Klimt incase you have failed to discover him in your life so far!

Gustav Klimt – The Kiss (detail)

And now for the copy-Klimts

And, just for fun I thought I would show you my attempt. I did this for a friend a few years ago. Originally it was done in oranges and golds to be more in line with Klimt, but I found it wasn’t working, so in frustration I kind of scribbled over it with blue which changed the whole essence. I decided I liked it so went with a more icy version of Klimt. I quite like the result as it is Klimt inspired without being as obvious as it could be. I have my orange version in a folder somewhere (!) so maybe I will dig that up at some point for comparison. It’s funny how I had done a whole other painting, which remains hidden under this one. Thank goodness for photography so I could capture the underpainting also. I hope you enjoyed these x

Wolf & Woman

I have a painting I did a while ago that just never felt finished. I decided that it needed a big black wolf or panther in the frame next to the woman. I thought this would add some kind of sinister element, as right now it just feels a bit bland. Like all true creatives, the painting is still sitting there with no additions. But, in the spirit of pretending like I am thinking about getting started, here are some images that have both woman and wolf. Research, shall we say? Surprisingly, they don’t have as much of a sinister vibe as I was expecting. Enjoy, and one day I will show you my wolf and woman attempt.

** This first piece is by the talented Elsa Isabella. To see her wonderful paper dolls (be intrigued) visit this post about her.

I also found this image below which has both wolves and a black panther. Funny, as I was tossing up between which one to use originally. I think the wolf, but maybe the panther has a stronger sense of evil? I do like the three wolves here as they make me think of witches that have morphing ability. What would you advise? Is the panther perhaps a better choice? Or is it a little predictable with the feline association. I’d love some thoughts before I get started.

Under the Sea

I felt like sharing quite a few images today, so here is an aquatic themed selection to quench your thirst. They are quite different but all connect through their reference to the ocean. I love how many ways a person can portray water – with extreme realism or with an abstract suggestion. I love this first piece by Kelly McKernan, who has quite a few water themed pieces you should check out on her website. Water and women seem to go together quite nicely. Perhaps it is the mermaid or siren idea that allows an easy way to connect the two, or simply the notion that water is feminine. Either way, I find that the combination can create a mysterious yet almost sinister essence. Do you agree?

I do?

I came across this image and instantly thought “How many people would still get married if they had to do it like this?”

I honestly think it would be one of the greatest tests. Marriage is supposed to be the ultimate commitment and declaration of love to one person, so arguably one would (should) do anything for this. But, as a lot of us know, many marriages are short-lived and are never wholly true to begin with – a mere fantasy of ‘better-ness’ that never arrives. I wonder how many women would still want to commit to that man they believe is the one if they had to bare all in-front of family and friends? If marriage really means so much to people, then I believe that they should want to do it under any circumstance. Yet if all marriage really means to them is a chance to dress up and play princess for a day then they need to reconsider what they are doing.

Have a happy weekend x

A little late… but

I hope 2013 brings you happiness and joy x

Go ask Alice…

….I think she’ll know.

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen’s “off with her head!”
Remember what the doormouse said;
“Feed YOUR HEAD…
Feed your head”

I love the song White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (go find it if you aren’t already familiar). And these two images made me think about Alice. They are both a bit psychedelic in their own ways – it’s not your usual Alice in her blue dress.  Rather, the women are half-naked which moves it beyond the ordinary Alice representation which is what I like about them. In fact, neither of these images are actually associated with Alice (through name etc). It’s simply the blonde hair and rabbits that connect it to Alice in Wonderland and subsequently White Rabbit. Well, that’s at least how my brain was working today x

Colette Saint Yves

I found Colette Saint Yves work through Society6, and instantly adored the astronomical aspect to these first pieces. Her work is a mix of photography and collage. Simple, but impressive and very engaging.

  

After doing a bit more digging I found some more of her work as seen below. There is such a beauty in her art.  An enticing, dreamy quality that exudes the feminine.

There are so many talented people in the world making such superb art, it is really inspiring. For all you creatives out there, keep it going.  I know I can find it hard to keep creating, but there is real reward when you do, so it is definitely worth it. Happy Friday everyone. Be inspired, be great.

Spring

Today it almost felt like spring.  It has been a bit rainy recently, so it was a pleasant surprise to see the sun shining this Sunday.  Free coffee (go coffee cards) in the sun, followed by a crisp glass of Sav and some fries at a newly opened restaurant right near my house was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. So, I thought I would post something bright and spring-inspired to hopefully brighten your day too.  Enjoy xx

The black and white image

I love the serenity of these images by photographer Dylan Forsberg.  And Kasia Struss is an exquisite androgynous beauty.  There’s certainly something wonderful about a black and white image.  It almost instantly transforms something into art I think due to the fact that it becomes more disassociated with reality through the lack of colour.  A beautiful image in colour, can of course still be incredibly artistic, and certain images wholly depend on colour for meaning.  But I think black and white makes us see it in a different way, a way that we cannot see in the everyday, and that makes it special.  I don’t think many people would choose to only see in black and white, so it is that fleetingness of both photography and colour-blindness that make the black and white photo so wonderful.

Looking at these two last images I overwhelmingly prefer the black and white one.  But perhaps that is just me.  I guess the beauty of photography today is that we can see one image in multiple ways due to computer technology.  I’m sure if we could still only develop photos in black and white we would long for colour.  We should just be grateful we have both. x

Spot the difference

Here’s a selection of pretty iconic / recognizable art works.  But, these images below aren’t the originals and have all been edited in some way.  Have a nosy.

Now, to me (seeing as I am familiar with art) the alterations seem pretty obvious.  It’s a social comment on a subject that’s probably always going to cause some flutter – especially among women.  Guessed it yet?  Now for the original images.

Cool idea, and a good comment on weight and societal pressures and all that jazz.  But, perhaps the question remains, do these slimmed down versions really look any better?  I would love to hear some thoughts.

Louise Brooks, I love you!

I fell in love with Louise Brooks while I was studying film at University.  As part of a silent film paper we watched G.W. Pabst’s Pandora’s Box (1929).  Brooks is the leading lady and totally blew me away.  Like the men she ‘destroys’ in the film, I was truly taken by her.  She honestly has such a charisma and it jumps out of the screen.  I love her cheeky expressions and how easily she fools men.  Using sexuality to manipulate men is one of the oldest tricks in the book, but Brooks just did it so well.  From what I recall, Brooks was originally thought of as a bad actress because her gestures and expressions weren’t as over the top as the acting style was then.  As the films were silent, hugely exaggerated actions were used to compensate (as well as extra long descriptor titles… oh my, those films are so, so long… it can be somewhat trying).  Brooks, however, was able to convey emotion and what not in more subtle ways through her extremely awesome facial expressions and mannerisms. I suppose enough people liked her and she made a few films (often in Germany) until the ‘talkies’ came along and she was cut from the scene (apparently this sexy siren didn’t have such a hot movie voice).

I love her acting style and certainly remember her for her films.  I know others probably only remember her for her infamous haircut.  Say “Louise Brooks bob” to anyone and they’ll know what you’re talking about.  Incase you haven’t seen her without the fringe though check it out below.

I also love that she did some nude pictures.  Considering the time, it’s pretty out there.  It’s great to see strong, independent women doing what they want.  I think Louise Brooks was a good example of this type of woman.

Louise Brooks, I love you!

Anti-Scissors

Ever since I watched Antichrist, the simple pair of scissors have acquired a kind of gruesome vibe.  And these images by Audrey Kawasaki certainly made me think Antichrist.  I assume they are intended to look malicious in terms of hurting another person.  I mean, they do both look pretty ready to take you on.  But since Antichrist (which I absolutely loved by the way) I can only think of female self harm.  The fact that they are naked undoubtedly adds to this.  There’s contradiction in the image.  Firstly, the young, innocent body of the girls’ paired with their knowing and semi-psychotic expressions.  I can imagine if you were standing there you would be a little creeped out.  Like “shit, they’re gonna try stab me with scissors”.  But then Antichrist comes to mind and instead they turn on themselves and it’s even more horrific than getting cut yourself.  I mean, genital mutilation is probably the most horrific thing.  It breaks my heart that some women are subjected to it in certain countries.  It’s completely inhumane and disgusting and unfair.

But back to the art.  I don’t know how someone who hadn’t seen Antichrist would approach these images.  I assume in a different way.  I’d say they are universally sinister images (and fabulous in their accomplishment of that) but to me they will always have that extra association.  Nevertheless, great work again by Kawasaki.

And, if you haven’t seen Antichrist, you must check it out. Especially if you are interested in gender explorations.  Although, I might recommend watching with a few glasses of wine!

Man Ray

I’m a huge fan of Man Ray.  His work is just amazing.  (Plus he’s also a Virgo like me, so that’s pretty cool).

Although this isn’t one of my favourite pieces, it’s a pretty classic, recognisable one.  And I thought it was worth sharing seeing I found this modern take on it below.

Certainly more erotic, but I really like it.  It’s got a raw, sexy energy and showcases the female form beautifully.  I think the fact that she has her legs open in a kind of crouching position definitely sexualises it.  But to me, she is empowered and showing strength through sexuality.  Not a submissive female, which is always great to see.  And almost certainly the throwback to Man Ray adds an artistic, sophisticated feel and moves it past something that could be considered pornographic.

Nice work.