a most mysterious ‘FMR’ artwork

As yet to be verified ‘FMR’ painting [with accompanying writing and photo placed within the frame] – 20 cm x 15 cm.

To appreciate my latest blog article whilst dining on a belly full of edible delights from the sea, please firstly read an earlier blog I posted April 2016 about Mr FMR, here:

https://theunfathomableartist.wordpress.com/2016/04/07/the-family-knight-and-the-artist/

This photograph of a painting (or print) shown above with the signatory ‘FMR‘ came to me by way of a blog reader.  Incredibly they had this ‘FMR’ artwork in a frame as yet waiting to be identified.

I almost couldn’t believe it, however, I need more information to confirm the artist.

My artist relative ‘FMR’ had most definitely painted an umber coloured boat in a previous pastel entitled ‘Swan Lake’.  I’ve carefully kept a printed card of ‘Swan Lake’ and may publish this on my blog in the future, along with further artworks by Frank Malcolm, Jnr.

Please take a look at two additional pieces of this provenance puzzle:

Handwriting on the back of the artwork shown at the top of this blog article.

The handwriting is in the style of the period.

Accompanying the painting, hidden inside the frame is a photograph of a lady, here:

Faded monochrome photograph of a lady hidden inside the frame.

I do have useful ability at handwriting analysis from the personality perspective.  However, assigning handwriting to a particular person for the purpose of identification is not my professional forte.

Presently I cannot ascertain the identity of the lady in the photograph.  Although it would be reasonable to believe it has connection to the artist.

We all love a mystery and personally I’m excited to receive information of possible Frank Malcolm ‘FMR’ artworks.

In my living room an original framed printed greeting card entitled ‘Sunset Over Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe’ signed by FMR takes pride of place on a table.  Again, I shall publish this artwork in a future blog.

I’m in the process of establishing whether my relative ‘FMR’ produced reproductions.  Clearly seascapes and landscapes feature strongly in his portfolio of work.

Original paintings, cards and prints of his work is of great interest to me.  Please send me a WordPress message if you see any further examples of his artworks.

Thank you – I shall post up-to-date news following on from this blog article as soon as I find out anymore.

Anna Hyatt Huntington – The Sculptress

‘Diana’ [1932] by Anna Hyatt Huntington, Aluminum, gold plate and silver plate, 32 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.

Anna [Vaughn] Hyatt Huntington born 1876 shared her birthday of March 10th with her wealthy husband Archer Milton Huntington whom she married in 1923.

Relocating to New York City to enable her career to flourish in 1902, A.H. Huntington is one of the greatest representations of female empowerment within art.

Truly inspiring.

Her ‘Diana’ figure shown above was produced in varying sizes, cast materials and alternative compositions.  The New York Historical Society and NYC’s National Academy of Design have two larger versions of this cast.

The beauty of this sculpture is immediately eye-catching.

Okay, what does this sculpture reveal to us?

The bow points upwards signalling a contrary position to divinity.  Artemis, the Greek name of the latinised Diana, is posturing her own divine power.  An understanding of specific ancient texts regarding the usage of arrows in ancient culture as ‘signs’ is intimated in this piece.

Likely Anna Hyatt Huntington was aware of such understated references during her prior sculptural studies and research.

Art professionals know that Anna was particular about physiological designs in terms of historical, anatomical and cultural placement.  The ‘Diana’ figure has symbolised adoration of the female form for millenia.  From a military perspective the upward positioning of the bow could also represent ambition to further exceed in contested plans.

‘Here on Earth the answer is always a matter of the Height, the Breath and the Depth of things.’

The way Huntington has intended her Diana to pose alluringly beckons the viewer in a feminine way to support her cause.

The figure is both subjective and authoritive in design – a uniquely crafted balance.  This might help us to gain insight into Anna’s idea of marital harmony.  Anna is not forcing her artistic idea of ‘Diana’ upon you.

‘El Cid Campeador’ [1927] by Anna Hyatt Huntington, Bronze statue on stone at the New York Hispanic Society of America.  Photograph courtesy of the HSA – NYC.

Please click the photographs for further detailing:

‘El Cid Campeador’ by Anna Hyatt Huntington.
Photograph courtesy of http://xtremearttourists1.blogspot.co.uk/

‘El Cid Campeador’ in New York by Huntington, pictured twice above, is a highly useful study for fledgling sculptors to investigate.  If you’re studying art I would encourage you to do so.

Anna and her husband Archer enjoyed researching fine details.  Their vision of art is based upon facts, realism and visibly tangible elements.  Regardless of the subject matter Anna was always looking to create a faithfully unique sculpture of the subject wherever possible.

The process of learning about an intended commission preceded her clay studies as an integral part of the intellectual design long before the delivery or final unveiling.  Archer was a constant source of inspiration for Anna through his own scholarly interests.

Yet, Anna was already self-sufficient from her art career prior to their marriage.  From the 1910’s Anna earned a monumental amount of money per annum – $50,000.  This would be at least $1.2 million US dollars annually – adjusted for 2017!

‘The Torch Bearers’ [1954] by Anna Hyatt Huntington, Aluminium sculpture, 6m x 6m x 6.2m. At Ciudad Universitaria in Madrid, Spain. Photograph by JL De Diego.

There are versions of this Spanish sculptural installation by Anna called ‘The Torch Bearers’ (shown above) in Havana Cuba, South Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia and one each at Bridgeport & Redding in Connecticut.

‘The Torch Bearers’ is a truly moving piece of work, part-reminiscent of Michelangelo’s near-ineffable Sistine Chapel ceiling artwork.  If you can visit any of Anna’s intricate sculptures I’m sure you will enjoy the whole experience.

Anna Hyatt Huntington’s sculptures along with the ancient ‘Artemision Bronze’ at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens Greece can only be best appreciated visiting them in person.

As friends.

N.B. In keeping with todays article theme of female artistry please check out Marie Hammer’s art, hyperlink below.  Her husband, Rusty, writes the Xtreme Art Tourist blog aforementioned.

They both love art as much as Archer and Anna Huntington.  After reading about Archer’s Hispanic museum quest from his boyhood this takes some serious doing!

Marie’s website:

http://mariesegallery.blogspot.co.uk/

John Singer Sargent – Portrait Art’s Everything

‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ [1885] by John Singer Sargent, Oil on canvas, 68.5 in × 60.5 in

The title for the above painting by John Singer Sargent ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ is from the song called ‘The Wreath‘ by eighteenth-century operatic composer Joseph Mazzinghi.

The two girls are the daughters of Frederick Barnard an illustrator by profession.

Dolly aged eleven is to our left and Polly aged seven is standing in front of her to our right.  Sargent found inspiration to include Chinese lanterns whilst sighting them during an earlier boating expedition on the Thames with American artist Edwin Austin Abbey.

This en plein air technique literally influenced by Monet to John Singer Sargent was completed over countless sessions whilst visiting Broadway, Worcestershire, England – The Cotswolds.

I promise you would find a visit to the Cotswolds oh so very pretty just like these two adorable girls painted herewith.  Therewith or herewith – its almost like going back in time.

The house of these very gardens was then owned by yet another friend of Sargent’s – American painter, writer and sculptor Frank Millet.  Sadly he died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912.

A 2016 auction of the beautiful “Poppies – A Study Of Poppies for ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose'” sold for £6,858,000 USD at Sotheby’s.

The history, its painted subjects, the luminous mastery and intricate technical derivation would make the original ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ a grand prize for any serious Art Collector.

What do you like most yourself about this painting?

The trodden grasses?  The girls’ concentrated facial expressions?

Warm Chinese lanterns incandescently glowing amidst arty white lillies?

I particularly love that Barnard’s daughters are thoroughly engaged, individually, in an unspeaking togetherness.  A shared purpose to delight each other and themselves equally.

John Singer Sargent gifts us with this painting for the ages.

‘Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife’ [August 1885] by John Singer Sargent, Oil on canvas, 20 1/2 x 24 1/2 in

Rock and roll baby!

I thought of The Beatles when I first saw the painting ‘Robert Louis Stevenson and His Wife’.  Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and more specifically George Harrison.

Stylistic lyrical geniuses.

Robert Louis Stevenson is super cool.  Sargent captures Robert’s inherent quirkiness, his restlessness of thought.  Creatives can, at times, exhibit this characterisation without being aware of their indifferent juxtaposition.

Art takes over the mind.  It becomes the working of the hands.  The pacing of the feet by sheer conscious will.

Interestingly his wife appears almost ghostly and distant in this full-bodied reddened portrait.  Stevenson looks as if he wants to ‘get away’ to his writing even as Sargent’s brush strokes are being formed.

The opened door and positioning of our protaganist might seem incidental.  However, would you have chosen this composition over all other possible scenic angulations?

We have to say ‘Eureka!’

John Singer Sargent is a true portrait artisan.  The Rubens of his generation.  Sargent is as accomplished at Impressionist works as he is portrait Realism.

‘The talk of the town’..  Sargent probably knew someone’s ‘ears were burning’.

‘Miss Elsie Palmer’ [1889-90] by John Singer Sargent, Oil on canvas, 75 1/8 x 45 1/8 in

I found the pose of ‘Miss Elsie Palmer’ quaint and disciplined.  A pragmatic solution to posing for great lengths of time.  Her hair natural and the clothing fabrics a multitude of folding criss-crossing layers.

Miss Elsie Palmer’s eyes look rather mournful here.  This is a professional portrait revealing a practically perfect young lady in every way.  Modest and likeable.  Sargent’s use of light and dark is exemplary as expected.  Mood is, as Warhol commented in his own way, where Sargent’s genius shines.

Looking through his vast body of work is hugely pleasurable for any art lover.  Blending of interactive foreground and background details.  His unique artistic quality incorporated from canvas to canvas.

Quite remarkable.

‘Lawrence Alexander “Peter” Harrison’ [c1905] by John Singer Sargent, Watercolor on paper, 50.16 x 33.02 cm

Immediately above is a relaxed Impressionist portrait of the artist ‘Lawrence Alexander “Peter” Harrison’ by his close friend John Singer Sargent.

Immediately pictured below please take a look at Sargent’s fellow artist Giovanni Boldini‘s (1845 -1931) likewise expert rendition ‘Portrait of the Artist Lawrence Alexander “Peter” Harrison’:

‘Portrait of Lawrence Alexander “Peter” Harrison’ [1902] by Giovanni Boldini,
Oil on canvas, 49 5/8 by 39 3/4 in

Boldini’s portrait is regal and dignifying in its own exquisite artistic right.

Whilst Sargent’s portrait clearly demonstrates his extreme skill at Impressionism.  The sense of body and movement in both artworks is outstanding.  Please remember that Sargent is strongly regarded as the epitome of classical high society portraiture.  True it is too.

Yet he is also very brave artistically with his career.

Impressionist works.  Perfected landscapes.  Architectural masterclasses.  Ordinary peoples, time-indefinitely painted during his various travels.

John Singer Sargent – Art at Everything.

Kieron After Claude

“Cattle Walking At St Benet’s” [2015] by Kieron Williamson, Oil on canvas, 16ins x 22ins.

Having viewed John David Ratajkowski’s beautifully charming ‘Cow Tuesday’ art pieces online I thought it would be interesting for me to include “Cattle Walking At St Benet’s” by prodigious child artist Kieron Williamson.

Artists incorporate a unique personality and stylistic signature to their artworks.  Art experts know a John Ratajkowski artwork from a Kieron Williamson, a Basquiat from an Andy Warhol.

All masterful artists in their own right.

Where do I begin writing about an artist whom at six years of age was already exciting prospective buyers into making sealed bids for his artwork?

His lifetime earnings have exceeded £2.5 million.. and Kieron is still only 14 years old!

‘I guess’, said the movie veteran, that when you make a child genius we should always appreciate that their early talents have also likely been nurtured from a very young age.  Even so, they are undoubtedly born this way.

Like Justin Bieber musically.. and beyond.

“Cattle Walking At St Benet’s” is glorious.  Cows have that remarkable quality of looking at us pensively.  They’re immensely trusting.  Chewing the cud they couldn’t care less what was going on in another field, sheep grazing by their side.

Kieron’s artwork above captures the layperson’s idea of cows.  Aloof, awkwardly thoughtful and at great efforts in movement at everything until perhaps the Farmer calls.  That’s how I see it.

Then again, I breathe art every single day of my life.  Kieron and John too.

“Dramatic Sunset” [2009] by Kieron Williamson, Pastel from his 2nd Exhibition, 14 ins x 10 ins.

Immediately above is an astoundingly mature artwork by Kieron Williamson when he was just seven years old.  I encourage you to look online to see his people-in-rural-landscapes work.

This sunset pastel is one of my favourite sky scene artworks, ever.  I’m trying to bring forward words to describe here what I’m seeing.  Artists study artists and none more so than lifelong famed British artist David Hockney.

Therefore I can say that this sunset pastel has become ‘pools and portraits’ to the art world in my opinion.  KRW Esq, if you will.

“Distant Cattle” [2014] by Kieron Williamson, Oil on board, 10 ins x 14 ins.

The above artwork “Distant Cattle” contains intense drama.  The wind could be roaring any moment soon.  Those approaching clouds might loom as a thunderous downpour.  This painting is about our relationship with the environment.  How it makes us feel.

‘Urgency mixed with the oils of imperturbability’. 

Thanks Kieron, I’ve hyphenated this new saying as it sounded, dare I say of classic landscape art, inspirationally cool.

JMW Turner’s are cool.  And Hockney too.

Imperturbability, he said.  Oh how this most unusual word somehow reminds me of Roald Dahl and all his wonderful children’s books.

“London Monotone Figure” [2013] by Kieron Williamson, Oil on board, 10 ins x 14 ins.

I continued to sit back in my chair whilst I first viewed “London Monotone Figure” on Kieron’s website:

http://www.kieronwilliamson.com

Anyone familiar with my photography will probably understand why for interconnective reasons:

“The Snow Walker” [photographed 6th January 2010, 1635hrs] by Matt The Unfathomable Artist,.  Unknown man walking near and to my hometown local lake.

Interconnective reasons of Imagination and Reality.

You see, at around 9 years of age I was by my own personal request gifted with a children’s book about spycraft.  It was for Christmas that year I think.

Can I please imagine that the solitary figure in Kieron’s painting is a spy vanishing into London’s misty void? Okay, he might be an old man.. in disguise?  Or a blind man tapping his way along the murky pathway?  Kieron’s painting allows artistic licence for our imagination.

Which brings me to my next interconnective thought..

..The 1927 film ‘Metropolis’ by Fritz Lang was my Dad’s favourite movie.  He owned the complete film on video.

The full movie is itself a work of art, inspirational even to this day.  I’ve no doubt my Dad saw a simile of his own mother and father in the film.  Yes a good likeness of character, a simile of my Gran and Grandad.  I’m absolutely certain of this.

M and the spy movie genre began to find its place in film art history.

“London Monotone Figure” is also a superior artwork.  Its simplicity and complexity.  A bluish-grey gun metal palette.  Mysterious, Spooky, Ghostly.  Absolutely charming, characterful and inventive of Kieron’s design.

Kieron Williamson is producing masterpieces in a consistent manner with the dexterity of past greats such as Carlos de Haes.

Here’s to a superb “Family Gathering” as we check the “View From A Window” at “Day’s End, Norfolk” just wishing for the “Blakeney Sunrise” to arrive.

‘The Foundlings’ – A Poem by Matt

‘The Starry Night’ [1889] by Vincent Van Gogh, Oil on canvas, 29 in ×  36 1⁄4 in.

Today I am inspired by three Friends, a Singer, a Painter, the Sons and Daughters of Humankind.

“The Three Desolates in Sight,

A multitude of dwellings readied for sand and clay,

The Foundlings.

A block made by Humankind, its breathing within.

First it’s blow an astonishment,

The building Hammer swift and unyielding for the Second strike.

Those that move around with camels make ancient cakes,

Feet sprout downwards strong as fig roots into the ground.

Palatial Grasses overgrow Dusts by the Water from its Rivers old.

Smiles are The Starry Night,

Peoples of the Vineyards and their Storehouses gather,

Trees spring forth for The Yellow Moon.

Their long necks are made happy,

As Thorns are gathered up for dung.

Even The Horned One recovers and the Grey Tail finds peace.”

– ‘The Foundlings‘ poem by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, Copyright © 9th February 2017.

Pip McGarry – International Wildlife Artist Extraordinaire

“White Rhino, Lake Nakuru” by Pip McGarry, Oil on canvas, 20in x 18in, Sold at Sotheby’s February 1999.

Choosing Pip McGarry for the express purpose of bringing art and wildlife conservation commentary into my blog took me about 30 seconds.

If it takes former Navy SEALs, ex Marines and Army veteran’s to protect the world’s endangered wildlife heritage then so be it.  Recently I’ve been extremely heartened by international Governmental policies regarding the humane treatment of animals.

Such changes take courage, strong effort and time.

Educating people about the importance of wildlife conservation, ecological recycling and food sustainability is one of the greatest challenges for the human race.

Pip’s work has the capacity to move us into seeing the astounding beauty of our natural world.  Booking your wildlife adventure will help countries unlock the full potential of their ecological economy.  Not just Africa and India, everywhere.

Zoom in at the macro level.  Take in the wider picture.

For younger readers especially I’d like to mention that I loved reading Willard Price adventure books whilst I was at mid-schooling age.  Ferocious and informative, exciting and action packed.  Writing and reading is for everyone to enjoy.

“White Rhino, Lake Nakuru” is a masterful painting of a solitary white rhino seemingly asking us about its future.  Certainly for the Northern White Rhino this could not be more pertinent.  Can we allow poaching to ravage our natural wildlife indefinitely?

The stylish colour paintwork, expression and personality of these graceful creatures make this artwork a forever classic like “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” (1971).

Hopefully you will find your Isle of Naboombu and I’m quite sure your local travel agent would find your itinerary an interesting challenge.

“Winner Takes All” by Pip McGarry, Oil on canvas, 60in x 20in, Sold to Private Collector.

In the artwork above, “Winner Takes All” we see a hefty tug of war for any leopard to take on!

The hyper-realist detailing of this magnificent reptile’s scales and the width ways composition give this piece dramatic flair.  The sunlight reflecting from its mighty tail adds to the display of artistry.

“Chilling Out” by Pip McGarry, Oil on canvas, 30in x 20in.

Snow leopards have always been one of my wildlife favourites.  Their elusive, specialist quality and patient nonchalence is breathtaking to watch.  The speed and fearless nature of their hunger-driven rocky descents into chasing mountain goats is a sheer cliff hanging sight to behold.

A Snow Leopard at relaxed ease like this in “Chilling Out” is a perfectly adorable painting.  Immediately this painting won me over.  Snuggling up to a snow leopard would be a dream come true.

Although definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Painting the intricacy of fur requires a lightness of strokes and wispy handling.  Selecting the best brush for the work is essential. Particularly noticeable to me is his usage and treatment of light throughout his work.  Strong noon sunlight contrasted with evening hues synonymous with the African plains and tropical landscapes.

Pip McGarry is expertly accustomed to using techniques to fine tune adjustments in texture, tone and density for his paintings.  Pip is also a highly accomplished art teacher with on-safari and studio workshop teaching experience encompassing two decades.

The snow leopard’s eyes in “Chilling Out” are completely alive, three dimensional and ponderous.

“Zebras Drinking, Namibia” by Pip McGarry, Oil on canvas, 30in x 20in, Sold at Summer Exhibition 2003.

“Zebras Drinking, Namibia” is compositional brilliance almost entirely in black and white.  This painting demands that our brains make sense of each individual zebra.  Where one starts and where the other outline ends.  Very clever and uniquely distinct.

If property value is based on ‘Location, Location, Location’ then realist art value is based upon ‘Composition, Composition, Composition’.

You cannot better perfection.

Only then can we begin to compute the hyper-realist quality, their water drenched muzzles and trusting comradery.  Thirstiness as a splashing of the liquid surface.  Absolute markings around the head and necks ‘like fingerprints and stars’.

Pip McGarry has extensive wildlife television experience including judging “Wildlife Artist of the Year” for the British Broadcasting Corporation.  He has also been the Artist-in-Residence at Marwell Zoological Park in Hampshire, England for fifteen years.

You can see more about Pip and his artwork at his website here http://www.pipmcgarry.com/index.htm

The Edgar Degas Art Ballet

‘The Ballet Class’ [c1871-1874) by Edgar Degas (b1834-d1917), Oil on canvas, (H) 85 cm; 75 cm

“Edgar Degas born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas, 19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917 was a French artist famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. He is especially identified with the subject of dance; more than half of his works depict dancers.”

Opening quotation courtesy of Wikipedia.

Ballet dancers feature extensively by Degas.  Having seen Degas’ work for myself I can irrefutably attest to his awe-inspiring magnificence.  Please let me be clear, I’m talking about breathtaking quality.

The kind of art works that cause me to wonder-at.. much like a child seeing their first puppy.

‘Rover’ a Manchester Terrier popped his adorable puppy head out from our Dad’s coat jacket.  I was about nine years old.  If you had known our first family dog you would have to say his name was perfectly accurate.  Pretty much everyone within our neighbourhood knew him.  Even the butcher ten minutes walk away at the local shops!  Rover had been known to sit outside looking through the window, waiting.

A nearby family watched him enter their open-gated garden, take their large sheepdogs juicy bone from under its nose and leave like the SAS as if nothing had ever happened.  We only knew because they told us – astounded at his sheer audacity!  Rover once got locked in a neighbours garage, barking for a couple of hours to be let out.  They thought it was a neighbours dog, well it was, ours one road and cul-de-sac away.

As children we’d play with our friends and so the opportunity eventually arose for him to craftily sneak off to do ‘Rover’ business.  One of the funniest things was seeing him regularly ‘jogging’ in front of us, tongue-out looking back at us.  Wouldn’t mind except that we were at full speed on our pedal bikes!

Rover – “an animal which ranges over a wide area.”

Degas had a keen interest in gracefulness and the beauty of depicting honesty in his paintings.

‘The Ballet Class’ shown above has an excellent sense of perspective, order and formal instruction as its theme.  The dancers waist bows are multi-coloured with intentional shine or matte finish.  Floorboards and walls would be painted first ready for his complex ensemble of dancers in their individual postures.

Foreground-left, a girl is uncomfortable and fidgety.  Adding to the sense of flexibility and concentration required for intricate ballet moves.  Degas paints intellectual ideas.  Is this the young girl that attends classes for a few weeks then decides it’s not for her?

Her mother might say –  ‘You loved ballet and we brought you all these lovely clothes boutique et al.’

Their ballet teacher is rigid and strictly characterised in polar contrast to the dancers.  We need to ask – was this momentarily observed by Degas or a structured composition by design?

Likely both.

In 2004 I saw an impossible sight of human perception.  I spoke of this phenomenon to a rare few and made especially careful note.  In 2004 I stood by a paint artist working ‘plein air’ in Rhodes not far from the port itself.  Hidden deep was he, peaceful amongst an ‘orchard’ of trees and deep red flowers.  Likely the red hibiscus.

Speaking with the artist whilst he contrived artily of that gorgeous flower, painting also precisely of certain delicate observations.  His brush movements definitive and skilled.

Whosoever can paint as definitely as Edgar Degas deserves to be earnestly proud.  A Realist of his period and highly capable of masterful Impressionist work.

‘Achille De Gas’ in the Uniform of a Cadet (1856/1857) by Edgar Degas, Oil on canvas, 64.5 cm x 46.2 cm (25 3/8 in x 18 3/16 in)

Achille Degas is his brother.  Posing here relaxed, casual and at ease in his Cadet uniform.

Photographs of paintings allow us glimpses.  Please trust me when I say that having seen ‘The Beggar Woman’ by Edgar Degas for myself that his work defies belief.  Paint has its own texture within oils.  The substance real and magical of properties through the cunning art of visual illusion.

‘Before The Race’ (1882-1884) by Edgar Degas, Oil on panel, (H) 26.4 cm (10.4 in). 34.9 cm (13.7 in)

Degas produced numerous compositions of horses and their riders.  I chose to include an Impressionist oil painting for this article.  The bowing horse is particularly alive to me.  Living.  Breathing.

That the painting is some 132 years old does not prevent me from wanting to know what on earth he is thinking bucking like this with his rider.  The far-left horse could be viewing the finish line already!  Or perhaps waiting for a gentle squeeze of knees and heels for the cantering.

The chromatic symmetry is a work of art all of its own.  Burnt umbers, oranges and yellows.  It allows for variety as an artist.  Sometimes its good to exclaim ‘What does my sky matter when the foreground subjects become our EVERYTHING.’

Diversity is depth of feelings.

‘After The Bath, Woman Drying Her Neck’ (1898) by Edgar Degas,
25.59 in x (H) 24.41 in

The most exciting thing about nude painting?

Naked trust.  Every single time.

A Woman’s Perspective by Berthe Morisot

‘By The Water’ [1879] by Berthe Morisot – Watercolor – Owned by a Private Collector

Berthe Morisot is born into a mid-aristocratic family on 14th January 1841.  Her father Edmé Tiburce Morisot was a Government administrator and her great-great uncle Jean-Honoré Fragonard an exceptionally skilled Rococo oil painter of 18th and 19th Century renown.

Please do look up his work as its truly ‘off-the-scale’ in quality, so to speak.  His work will absolutely give you a Mona Lisa smile.  To this day I cannot possibly say ‘so to speak’ or ‘to coin a phrase’ without thinking of a preeminently smart stockmarket broker from my informative years.

‘Through The Looking-Glass’ I saw the man seated like an attentive human Orchestrator amid the ensemble, waving his arms about to the flickering of innumerable monitoring screens and flashes of sinuously time-honoured figures.

In ‘The Matrix’ the telephone rings and as lightning Quicksilver +- pick it up!

Question – So why not punch the keys like the speeding rock hitting speeding rock with ‘o-Ne’ mightily thunderous shudder?

Well, at least ‘Your mind makes it real’.

I’d like to mention that I was already familiar with Fragonard’s work sometime before researching Berthe Morisot.  Calling all art museums, please, never leave any of his paintings within the positronic grasp.  Well, not unless you would enjoy watching ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’.  A ‘1999’ would look quite splendid on a bedroom wall, don’t you know?

Merely a witticism of course.

Berthe along with her sisters Yves and Edma painted from an early age.  Edma and Berthe continuing their painting together into adult life.  As proletariat’s their working education was immensely important.

The testimony to their position within aristocratic society is made exemplary by Edgar Degas painting Yves after her marriage to Theodore Gobillard.  His portrait piece of 1869 is entitled ‘Madame Theodore Gobillard‘ and can be viewed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Edouard Manet is also closely associated with the sisters prior to and following the marriage of Berthe to Eugene Manet in 1874 – brother of the famous French painter.  Indeed, Edouard Manet and Berthe influence each others work.  Embracing elements of their respective art styles and methods.

‘English Landscape’ [1875] by Berthe Morisot – 43 cm (h) x 64.8 cm – oil on canvas – Displayed at Newark Museum.

For anyone avidly interested in perfecting art construction, including myself, this raucous painting by Morisot is worthwhile study.  Perfection could aptly be described as fit for purpose.  The ambiguity within this artwork demonstrates charm, interpersonal connectivity of characters and natural commercial industry.

Seagulls as apparitions mimic the sky and water!

‘Would you like to see the sky as seagulls fly or waves made as dolphins and whales that ascend upon high, laughing bound as seconds they escape their watery surround, replete with animated odes that fill eyes with salted joyful tears found, nay shy, nay shy to all of life’s earthly sounds?’

The red flecks intrigue and hint at Chinese scribal influence.

Two characters at the foreground, what is this you are discussing?  In this English landscape shown above is there a far-eastern influence?  Symbolism.

Below we see a breezy meadow scene depicting Edma Morisot reading.  We can take an educated guess that the Morisot women are learned and rather eager for the knowledge of things.  Facts and fictional works in literature.

A green umbrella perhaps to protect Edma, also, from the sun’s rays can be seen lower left of the painting.

‘L’ Ombrelle verte’ / The Green Umbrella – Reading Portrait of Edma Morisot [1873] by Berthe Morisot; oil on fabric, 18 1/16 in x 28 1/4 in; stored at the Cleveland Museum of Art

Edma has begun reading her book and is blissfully engrossed in the pages.  Umbrella and fan cast aside, eyes downward sitting comfortably in a ‘lady-like’ manner.  The prettiness of her hat reminiscent of Julia Andrews singing and dancing through fields.

Raw detailing of the surrounding vegetation with superlative handling of background structure.  I feel that one could run towards the hilly horizon trudging along in Wellington boots and knee high shorts.  Oh what fun.

‘Girl Carrying A Basket’ [1891] by Berthe Morisot; pastel on paper;
Musee Marmottan Monet – Paris France

The ‘Girl Carrying A Basket’ has one of the best posing expressions I’ve seen.  Truly Mona Lisa-esque.  The pastel work is vibrant, conspicuous and distinct.

Do we change when posing for photographers and painters or do we morph into who we really are?  The girl is humble and respectful of her well known French illustrator.  Today, girls excitedly seek hats for special occasions.  Fashion world please bring back the social hat experience.

‘Peasant Girl’ [1890] by Berthe Morisot; red chalk with stumping on light brown paper; 20 3/8 in × 17 5/8 in – National Gallery of Art, Washngton D.C.

Usually I post four images per artist, however, I loved this sketch in red chalk so much that I just had to include it.  Actually, as I look at this now it appears artistically modern in style for an 1890 artwork!

Berthe Morisot remains a towering figurehead of achievement for modern creative artists.  Especially for female artisans to aspire to.  Berthe socially intermingled, influenced and conquered the Impressionist art market based upon the merits of her tremendous body of work.  All this whilst living and exhibiting amongst her male artist contemporaries during the latter 19th Century.

Berthe Morisot – A woman’s perspective of the Art Impressionists’ Impressionist.

The Earthquake Artist

‘Seismic Waves [number 4] – triple horizontal version’ on A4 paper using blue ink pen – June 6th 2016 by Matt The Unfathomable Artist

In the modern digital world when a catastrophe happens we could become rather blasé if the events do not directly affect our lives.

Apathetic.  Powerless to events beyond our control.  Even practical, perhaps?

Afterall, it can be depressing news to see or read.  But, wait!!  Please don’t give up on this blog article just yet.  Art can make a difference.  Art can empower us.

Let’s look at Earthquakes for a few minutes.

Iran 2003 – 31,000 people killed.

Indian Ocean 2004 – 227,898 killed.

Pakistan 2005 – 80,361 killed.

China 2008 – 87,587 killed.

Haiti 2010 – 316,000 killed.

Japan 2011 – 15,894 killed.

Chile 2010 – 525 killed.

We would all agree that every single life counts.  That poor boy trapped under rocks for days.  The man washed out to sea waiting to be rescued.  A little girl riding on an elephant that ran to safety with her sat on its back.  All true stories.

‘San Andreas’ the film of 2015 brought these life events into fictional reality with rip-roaring CGi effects.  Within the art of a film you can empathise with that mother or father in distress.  Equating this to your own family.  Your own personal emotions.

The ‘Seismic Waves’ series of artworks I’ve produced this year (the latter three shown below) has been created to remember each and every person whom has lost their life to an earthquake.  To remember every person that has been saved from the clutches of earth’s tremors.

To remember every heroic effort of human caring and self sacrifice in helping people during almost impossibly difficult situations.

The way I am is this.. I remember the people that served me a cup of tea and a sandwich at hospital when my married sister was right then having their baby daughter.  My niece.  This is what new life is all about.

Love and affection.

The people serving sandwiches were volunteers, every single one of them.  Seriously, how incredible is that?!  Beyond Words.

I would much rather my art speak for itself as the person I am.

‘Seismic Waves [number 2]’ on A4 paper using blue ink pen – June 6th 2016 by Matt The Unfathomable Artist

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‘Seismic Waves [number 3]’ on A4 paper using blue ink pen – June 6th 2016 by Matt The Unfathomable Artist

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‘Seismic Waves [number 4] – triple horizontal version’ on A4 paper using blue ink pen – June 6th 2016 by Matt The Unfathomable Artist

To Love and Affection.

by Matt the Unfathomable Artist.

Twombly and Distant Voices

Cy Twombly – Untitled – inscribed NYC, [1968]. Oil based house paint and wax crayon on canvas – 68 x 90 in

The value of art can be truly awe-inspiring.

‘Seismic Waves [first version]’ by Matt The Unfathomable Artist, Blue ink on A4 paper, artwork whereabouts unknown.

Tracey Emin is also renowned for art that is timeless and of the moment.

Spontaneous of inspiration.

All artists will speak of their essence, primality or inner conscious feelings overtaking their work.  Becoming a sort of seismic needle I suppose.  Reacting to inputs, impulses and vibrations somewhere out there in the ether.

I’m not sure whether I’d read about the particular earthquake earlier on that day or not.  We all read about these things so often these days.  I was moved in a humanly caring way to produce this on paper with ink pen.

There are artists and people generally speaking that are so organised.  If I had a spacious art studio I probably would stack everything in perfect order.

Probably.

A collaboration of famous rock musicians, lyrically brilliant songwriters wrote “I put the pen to the paper ’cause it’s all a part of me.”

I’ve always loved those lyrics for all their honest genius.  Beyoncé recently referenced historical symbology to her musical performances.  Art is an inspiration.  Of self and others.

Someone a few years ago wrote:

‘I want to change the world by keeping it the same and I want to change the world by making it different.’.  They wrote this to their dear Nan.  Electronically so to speak.

Is 50 years really so much time to wait?

Depends on how you view Time.