Inside the Artist’s Studio
In the savvy film, “New York Stories,” the character played by Nick Nolte is an artistic genius, drunk and painting ferociously all night long to ear splitting rock music in his very romantic loft studio.
Artists’ studios are remarkably diverse. A setting for contemplative reflection or for wild collaborative social galas, hidden in a barn or located in a “state of the art” warehouse..cluttered or pristine.. all, even in Nick Nolte’s fictitious studio, are places where creative work happens!
Check out these famous artists’ (and one not so famous!) studios.
Matisse (1869-1954)
Final Studio
"Blue Nude II"
Matisse, 1952
Matisse, after first studying law discovered his passion for art, and as a young man he was confined to his bed for nearly a year with an illness. He began drawing from his bed as a pastime. At age 85, and once again confined to his bed, he produced one of his last great paintings, “Blue Nude II.”
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Francis Bacon (1909-1992)
Studio
"Portrait of Pope Innocent X"
Francis Bacon, 1953
You may love or hate his work but Francis Bacon, Irish artist, is famously known for his paintings of bold graphic and emotional raw energy. Margaret Thatcher described him as “that man who paints those dreadful pictures.” The Tate Museum in London sold out two Francis Bacon retrospective shows.
View this unbelievable video of Bacon’s Studio.
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Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Photo: Andy Warhol's Studio
"Marilyn"
Andy Warhol, 1964
Andy Warhol’s studio was not only his working space but the hip hangout for musicians, artists, film stars and socialites. His studio was called The Factory.
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Kirby Kendrick
Outdoor Studio, San Diego, CA
"KA-POW!"
Kirby Kendrick, 2011
Kirby Kendrick, San Diego/Santa Fe, NM, artist paints on any surface that stands still long enough.
Guerrilla Girls
"The Grande Odalisque"
Jean Ingres, 1814
Plastered over New York City's
buses and billboards, 1989
What? Do women really have to be naked to get in the Metropolitan Museum, New York City.
Apparently so. In 1989, of all the figurative nude paintings in the Metropolitan Museum, 85% of those paintings depicted nude women. And only a grim 5% of US women artists were represented at all. Responding to this, an anonymous group of feminists began appearing in gorilla masks (albeit fully clothed!) on billboards and in public appearances, coining the name, “Guerrilla Girls.” Devoted to fighting gender and racial inequality in the art world, the Guerrilla Girls are still going strong today and they have a website!
Guerrilla Girls website
But are women artists making progress?
Today’s statistics from The Women’s Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate:
8% of artwork in galleries and museum collections are by women artists.
70% of artwork in galleries and museums are created by male artists.
Pretty dismal, folks. But hark! Do not despair! Gradually women artists are being recognized in a significant way in major US museums and galleries, which are now featuring such icons as Alice Neel and Joan Mitchell.
"The De Vegh Twins"
Alice Neel, 1975
"Two Pianos"
Joan Mitchell, 1979
Comment on a success story of a present day woman artist and we will post it!
HE IS RISEN!
"The Entombment"
Titian, 1520
"The Entombment"
Kirby Kendrick, 2004
Titian was one of the most famous and accomplished Italian painters of the Renaissance. His masterpiece, The Entombment, was painted around 1520 for the family of the Dukes of Mantua. It now hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Titian’s brilliant composition displays the intense emotions of those present at Jesus’s entombment. The grief of Mary, Jesus’s mother, is wrenching as she is comforted by the horrified Mary Magdalene. The face of the apostle, John, who holds Jesus’s right hand, is full of anguish. Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy Jew who offered his own tomb for the burial, is the figure in the rich red robes and Nicodemus, a rabbi dressed in the black robes of the scholar, is the figure holding Jesus’s feet.
While I was studying art at the New York Studio School, our graduating thesis was to “transcribe,” or replicate a master painting in our own way. Titian’s entombment of Christ stilled my heart and I set out to paint this moment of great import as best I could. A strange thing began to happen. Other students in this international school would drop by my easel and ask questions about the subject matter. All had certainly heard of Jesus, but details were dim of his crucifixion and resurrection. It was my profound privilege to tell and retell the story to my fellow students.
My “transcription” of The Entombment is now in the permanent collection of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego, California.
HAPPY EASTER!
HE IS RISEN!
The Radiant Bath
"Nude in the Bath and Small Dog"
Pierre Bonnard, 1941
"Bano de Espuma"
Kirby Kendrick, 2002
Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947), French master of 20th Century art, painted this intimate, jewel-like image of his life-long muse and wife, Marthe, in her iconic claw-footed bathtub. Marthe, a neurotic, had a mania for cleanliness and retreated for hours everyday to her bath; art historians also say she may have suffered from a medical condition, for which the treatment was water therapy. Bonnard, ever the artist, repeatedly painted this bath scene, capturing this prosaic setting, and transforming it into a rich and exotic world with glowing tiles, smooth ceramic surfaces, light and pattern. Although Marthe was 62 years old at the time of Bonnard’s painting, she is portrayed as a young woman. Marthe, who appears in almost 400 of Bonnard’s 500 paintings, never seems to age. Hmmm, could it be the water?
Masterpieces of Pierre Bonnard. Use this link if unable to view the video.
March Madness — Ballet and Basketball
"Degas Petits Rats," 1878
Edgar Degas
"Basketball #40," 1977
Elaine de Kooning
The joy of ballet, basketball and art!!
Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was one of the founders of French Impressionism. He was especially identified with the subject of the dance, and over half of his works depict dancers.
Elaine de Kooning, born the year after Degas died (1918) was an Abstract Expressionist artist who was famous, among many other areas, for painting abstract basketball players.
Degas and de Kooning portrayed their athletes with the beauty of the “dance” as well as their focus, their grace under pressure; their grace under pain.
Both ballet and basketball demand daunting feats of their dancers and players. Both must jump, run, spin and maintain balance. Both drive the body beyond natural limits year after year and perform through constant pain and injury. The great ballerina and the great basketball player must have leadership abilities combining their extraordinary talents with deep humanity.
In 1993, ballerina, Janie Parker, ended a brilliant career at the Houston Ballet. With tears streaming down her face in gratitude, this astounding dancer was given a standing ovation by the audience, which lasted a half hour.
The next day, on Father’s Day, after the Chicago Bulls won the National Basketball Championship, Michael Jordan broke down and wept for the memory of his murdered father, displaying to all the world his remarkable humanity.
Grace under pressure; grace under pain.
View videos for Ballet and Michael Jordan’s greatest moments!
Ballet video. Click here if unable to view the video.
Michael Jordan’s Greatest Moments video. Click here if unable to view the video.