Everything Old is New Again

 

 

Art History #4: Grant Wood's American Gothic -- sort of....

 

I can’t remember exactly how my Art History series began. It started about 2 years ago with a piece I called “VanGogh meets Warhol meets Parmigianino meets Kurek”. It was based on a Vincent VanGogh self portrait — but it also incorporated Warhol’s use of repetition — and it touched on late Renaissance Mannerism (Parmigianino’s Madonna with the Long Neck.)  Long, possibly bad, titles aside, the series has been well received and continues to grow. Here’s a look at my latest “victims”: Grant Wood and Max Beckmann. “Art History #4: Grant Wood’s American Gothic …. sort of…” is based on a painting that needs no introduction. “Art History #5: Max Beckmann Merlot” deviates a bit from the other pieces in the series. Warhol’s repetition wouldn’t have worked here. So, instead of creating four repetitive image cells, I added onto the original image. I changed the cigarette in Beckmann’s hand to a wine glass and added a table with a wine glass and bottle of wine. The image on the bottle of Beckmann Merlot features a miniature image of one of his still life paintings.

If it isn’t obvious, let me state that these works are all meant to be in good fun!  They are based on well known works, and I include “Art History”, the name of the original painting and/or the name of the original artist in each title. If you are not familiar with Max Beckmann, you should be!  He was an interesting character. Here’s a Wikipedia link to start you off:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Beckmann

 

Art History #5: Max Beckmann Merlot

 

 

You can find my originals and prints in my Etsy shop at:http://www.etsy.com/shop/SilentMyloStudio?ref=si_shop

Having Some Fun with Art History


Art History Three: DINE-er Jacket

Like most artists, I like to think that my work is completely original. With the exception of long ago assignments in art class I’ve never set out to create a copy of another artist’s work; but there’s a difference between copying and finding inspiration in the work of another. About a year ago I started a small mixed media piece based on a Van Gogh self portrait. In addition to my rendition of Van Gogh’s painting I also referenced Warhol’s multiple images and Parmigianino’s Madonna with the Long Neck. Next I tackled Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, keeping the Warhol multiple image format. My latest piece, and the largest of the three at 30″(h) x 24″(w), pays homage to Jim Dine’s Pop Art Robe’s of the 80’s and 90’s. Unlike my other sources of inspiration, Jim Dine is still very much alive and creating and exhibiting new work.

While each of these pieces found their inspiration in the works of others, I’ve included enough “Kurek” in them to assure that they could never be viewed as “copies”. They are instead original works that are having a bit of fun with art history.

You can find my originals and prints in my Etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SilentMyloStudio?ref=si_shop 

Art History One: Van Gogh Meets Warhol Meets Parmigianino Meets Kurek

Art History Two: Moanin' Lisa