Brand New and Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950's

Brand New and New and Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950's has been released to coincide with the artists exhibit of the same name at The Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville, Maine running from July 11, 2015 - October 18, 2015. The Colby College has a rotating collection of more than 800 works of his art and serves as a center for the study of Alex Katz's art.

Katz studied at the famed Cooper Union Art School in Manhattan, a prestigious institution for art, architecture and engineering.

To understand how unique and individual his style is, one only needs to look at the art scene during the 50's. Abstract Expressionism was indeed the prevailing style with artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns paving new ways of art methodology. Andy Warhol was just gearing up with his iconic Pop Art soon to come.

Alex's works of art were in opposition to the prevailing trends and his compositions, which included great portraiture, landscapes and still life's stood out upon a flat ground on which he always worked quickly, fluidly, with a direct purpose. never second guessing himself. Many of his works focused on his beloved and supportive wife Ada. 

Later, into the 60's Alex was influenced by film and advertising, thus going into both large scale painting and printmaking, producing a huge collection in lithography, woodcut, etching and silkscreen. He even became a set and costume designer for theatre in the 60's, painting many images of dancers in the following years.

"Rauschenberg Double"

"During this time,  (the 50's) my paintings were very concerned with the specific in contrast and in conjunction with the general. I was now interested in Manet and Kline. My paintings were of a particular person, at a particular time, in abstract form"

Since 1951 Alex's works have art have been featured in more than 250 exhibits worldwide and is in the permanent collections of more than 100 public art institutions.

This esteemed living painter has admitted to destroying a thousand paintings early in his career while finding his ultimate unique style. 

"Sara" painted in 2012

Please enjoy this small sampling of Mr. Katz's prolific works of art and do consider a purchase of the book for your library.

Brand New and Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950's can be purchased at Amazon. Publicity copy and images courtesy of Anne Wu with Prestel Publishing and The Colby College Museum of Art.

Also a later work, "Alex at Cheat Lake", lithograph and photo offset in produced in seven colors.

Students touring the Paul J. Schupf Wing for the Works of Alex Katz at Colby College

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xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

  

Bunnies by Hunt Slonem

BUNNIES

BY HUNT SLONEM

PUBLISHED BY GLITTERATI INCORPORATED

From Bunnies by Hunt Slonem, © 2014, published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com

Foreward by John Berend

Essay by Bruce Helander

This delightful book encompasses  a lyrical and engaging body of work by artist Hunt Slonem.  There are Bunnies abound and they seem to scatter all about, many leaping off the canvases and then some sitting and posing demurely like one Hunt would see sitting in his backyard when he was growing up in Kittery, Maine.

Mr. Slonem is a world renowned artist: a painter, printmaker, and sculptor who has exhibited in more than 350 galleries and museums worldwide. Some of these include The Solomon R, Guggenheim, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Many of his early works also included animals, birds and fish, painted in an abstract or an impressionistic way. There are many explanations in the book of the absorbing appeal that rabbits have for him, as well as children and other adults. I will let you discover these for yourself when you add this inspired book to your library!!

Chinensis 3:

2013, oil on canvas, 72” x 84” 24

Wall of Bunnies

Red Sea 2012, oil on canvas, 72” x 84”

Confederate Rose 2013, oil on wood, 10” x 8” 100

Leontine Linens Founder, Jane Scott Hodges home in New Orleans, designed by Interior Designer Gwen Driscol

Two Metals 2013, oil on wood, 18” x 14”

Blue Streak 2013, oil on wood, 12” x 10”

Artist and Author Hunt Slonem

This is a visual feast, a truly luxurious book which is designed and crafted like a work of art. Luxe, with golden endpapers, edging, and bookmark, all with a printed protective outer cover. A fabulous addition to your collection, you may purchase at your local bookseller or at Amazon.com .

John Berend, who wrote the insightful forward for Bunnies, is an American author, well known for writing Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil, which was a runner up for the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction.

Bruce Helander, who wrote an exceptional essay for Slonem's book, is an American artist and Fellow for the National Endowment for The Arts. He is also a well-known artist, art curator, national juror and writer. He published the Art Express magazine.

Thank you to Glitterati Incorporated for my review copy and for the use of these inspirational images.

Please sign up for email alerts to receive my latest posts and do leave a comment as they make my day!

Thank you to my Family, Friends, and Followers who Support The Arts!

xoxo

Karena

The Arts by Karena

2013 Artists Series: Anne Harwell

Introducing Anne Harwell, a most talented artist and author of the blog Annechovie 

Please enjoy our conversation below and some of Anne's works of art!

1) Anne, tell us about your beginnings and the pursuit of an art career.

I have always been artsy and crafty since preschool, but I never grew up with any sense or goal of being an "artist" per se. I honestly kind of just fell into it in my 20's after finding I liked working in watercolors on boring Winter evenings. Things slowly evolved from there and I started selling my work in a home & antiques shop my parents used to own in Atlanta. The rest is history but involves a whole lot of work, ups and downs and some great opportunities and many disappointments I had to push through.

One of Anne's most popular prints, The Courtney Barnes Chair

2) Did you have encouragement from a mentor, or are there certain artist’s works that you admire?

    To be honest, I have admired other artists, namely Monet, Matisse, Bonnard, Mark Hampton and others but have not had a formal "art education" so to speak. I don't use any specific technique other than what just feels right to me. I would make a horrible art teacher because I do not have an exhaustive knowledge of art history or technique. The Nike motto applies to me when painting and sums up the way I work - "Just Do It".

Chanel #5 

      3) You do have a very distinctive style. How did your genre come about and    would you tell our readers about your methodology

      I don't use any specific technique other than what just feels right to me. I would make a horrible art teacher because I do not have an exhaustive knowledge of art history or technique. The Nike motto applies to me when painting and sums up the way I work - "Just Do It". I probably lean more towards saturated, clear colors and am not all that attracted to muted tones. Several people have told me that my colors are "happy" and I am glad that's what comes across.

Worcester Porcelain Jar

    There's so much darkness and heaviness in this world and even though life is not always upbeat, I am an optimist and prefer to focus on the positive. Honestly, I am one of those people who doesn't have a staid regimen and doesn't do anything by the book. I just implement the "LOOK LONG AND CLOSELY AND ABSORB" method. LOL. Anything that has developed with me came by digesting tons of paintings, magazines, books, etc. and then working by trial and error to paint what was in my head. I started out with watercolor and have found myself moving more towards acrylic and even oils now. 

     I am a work in progress and have a looong way to go, but I have learned to enjoy the journey. I am a firm believer that God gifts us with all and any talents that we have and my personal relationship with Him is a tremendous source of inspiration and motivation that has helped me to grow and develop more than anything else.

Ginger Jar #2

      4)  Do you work in a studio or do you have a dedicated area in your home? (if you have a studio could you send an image?)

I    I work in a studio area that is part of my home now. I am moving into a new home with my husband in 2 weeks, so will have a completely dedicated room to work from where I can just shut the doors on my art mess and leave it undisturbed.

Peonies and Paisley

5) You must have a fine print-maker (I have several of your chair series prints) How does an artist find one where you can be sure of good quality control?

II    I now print most all of my own work and carefully researched printers, ink and paper before I found what worked best for me and produced the highest quality print. I am happy with my method now because so many of my customers tell me that the prints look exactly like an original.

Chairs Series Notecards

Ginger Jar Pillow

6) When did the light bulb go on so brightly to start licensing your art and are you pleased with the results?

    Actually, I was blessed to be approached by a company for my first licensing contract and didn't do the initial chasing, although I continue to seek out great opportunities now for licensing more of my work.

Hermes Bag

    

     7) What is the best way for our readers to reach you with any inquiries

      They can contact me via a convo on my Etsy page or email me direct at: anneharwell@hotmail.com

      Other Links for Anne are:

      Etsy store: www.annechovie.etsy.com  

      Blog: www.annechovie.blogspot.com

      instagram: http://instagram.com/anneharwell

FB :https://www.facebook.com/anne.chovie.98 

Anne does Custom work, simply send her an inquiry; also custom pet silhouettes on Canvas

Custom Pet Silhouettes

      8) Lastly, Anne, What words of advice do you have for the beginning artist of any age?

Follow your natural bent and passion, don't shy away from hard work and don't give up when there's not immediate gratification or open doors!

ALL CANVAS PRINTS 

 20% OFF

THROUGH 8-25-13!! 

JUST TYPE IN CODE at checkout: CANVAS20

Anne, Thank you so much for participating in The 2013 Artists Series.

I love the Pop-Art quality to your work, although I know you do very traditional renderings as well. 

Wishing you and your new husband much happiness and a bright future together!

Dear Readers, Thank you for supporting the arts and please leave a comment for Anne!

xoxo

Karena

Art by Karena

Images Courtesy of Anne Harwell