Painting Of The Day 5/9/2011

                                                                             Jackson Pollock, Going West, c.1934-1935
                                                                                Photo Courtesy of the National Gallery




This painting above illustrates the early artistic roots of Hart Benton in Pollocks beginning works, before becoming even more abstract in his designs. The painting above portrays Pollocks contentment with the American West in which he was brought up and raised in the state of Wyoming. The abstraction in the piece is most clearly seen in the swirling pattern done to the background which is the sky. 




Quote of The Day: "Every good painter paints what he is." (Jackson Pollock)

Place of The Day 5/7/2011

                                                                    Moscow School Of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1865)


Was at one point of the largest educational institutions in Russia. The institution played a key role in helping to develop realistic Russian art during the 20th century. Admissions to the school was based on merit in the arts, no background in other academics was really required. Famous artists that attended the educational place were Vasily Perov, Kazmir Malevich, and Boris Korolev.

Painting Of The Day 5/7/2011

    Eight Red Rectangles (1915), Oil On Canvas, Kazmir Malevich   

Photo Courtesy of Thecityreview.com         

Malevich's painting above is quite interesting in that as it may seem as a regular Malevich suprematist piece which focuses on geometric and simple forms, the piece is actually very lyrical in its relation to music. Malevich wanted the viewer to create his/her owen interpretation of the work.

Quote of The Day: "The square is not a subconscious form. It is the creation of intuitive reason. The face of the new art. The square is a living, regal infant. The first step of pure creation in art." (Kazmir Malevich)

Place of The Day 5/6/2011

                                                   Akademie der Bildenden Künste München (Academy of Fine Arts, Munich)


It was founded in 1808 by Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria and is one of the oldest and most well establish art schools in all of Germany. The school influenced many artistic styles that included academic realism. It was home to many famous early 20th century and abstract expressionist artists such as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, and Josip Racic.  

Painting Of The Day 5/6/2011

       Ravine Improvisation (1914), Kandinsky Oil On Canvas

Photo Courtesy of ibiblio.org

Ravine Improvisation (1914): is a fin:e piece very different from his later abstract geometric paintings like "On White," this painting as a lot of depth, color, and movement to it. There is a ton of meshing and combing of shapes and forms which coincides with Kandinsky's personality and state of mind.

Quote of The Day: I value those artists who embody the expression of their life. (Wassily Kandinsky)

Place of The Day 5/5/2011

                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                  The Old Cedar Tavern, West Village, NY

During My lengthy discussion with Mr. Starr, he brought up a place called Cedar Tavern located in the West Village in New York City which was a bar that was frequently visited in the 50's and 60's by abstract expressionist artists that ranged from Willem De Kooning to Jackson Pollock who was known as the drunkard of the bar and who would be consistently thrown out for his lewd and destructive behavior. The tavern was a great place for the artists to stray away from there state of focus when they were painting to being able socialize in a small place with people who share similar interests. A side note was my Cousin David Amram who was part of the Beat Generation and mentioned in a few Cedar Tavern related articles was seen spending some nights in the tavern enjoying a few drinks and so were the likes of Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac.

Painting Of The Day 5/5/2011

                                                                             Jackson Pollock, Orange Head,1938-1942


Before Pollock's Drip Paintings became well known his previous works consisted of abstract art. This one in particular pertained to him when he was around the age of 26 when he was suffering from psychological breakdowns from his alcoholic binges that he would partake in. In this piece he transferred his emotions, feelings, and visions onto the canvas and made that the focal point of his art. 


Photo Courtesy Of The National Gallery


Quote Of The Day: “The modern artist…is working and expressing an inner world – in other words – expressing the energy, the motion, and other inner forces.” (Jackson Pollock)