Observingarts: "Eve and the serpent", Craig LaRotonda

I often  return to CA artist Craig LaRotonda and his iconic paintings. They have a passion, reference to mythology and inner quality to them that makes them both personal and rare. Craig is a craftsman, his paintings with a technical quality appart from much other artwork I came across. His painting are spread to collectors all over the world. I'll leave you with a detail from "Eve and the serpent", oil and mixed media on board. 

More from Craig at: http://www.revelationart.net/

Observingarts: PATRIK ANDINÉ Look inside November 7 at Lars Bohman Gallery

Herr Byxlös, 2015, oil on canvas, 83 x 75 cm

Patrik Andiné has been true to his iconography ever since his debut in the early 1990’s.
He has gradually and with focus gained a self- evident place in the Swedish contemporary art scene.

One can associate Patrik Andiné with symbolism and classicism. His interest for drapings and depicting pleated fabric makes you think of renaissance masters like Piero della Francesca or baroque geniuses like Bernini.

People are his primary motives even if we sometimes only discerns traces they left behind in the landscape. Along with a subtile sence of humor Andiné charges his paintings at times with a peculiar erotic feel. In his imagery the unspoken is often the most prominent.

- There is a narrative in everything I do - even if I try to make the stories incomprehensible.
Patrik Andiné. More

Observingarts: Major Showing of Woodcuts at the National Museum from Albrecht Dürer to Edvard Munch

Nikolai Astrup, Fugl på sten,  Martzstemning. Foto: Knut Øystein Nerdrum The “Impressions: Five Centuries of Woodcuts” exhibition, set to open on 6 November at the National Gallery, will showcase a wide array of Norwegian and international woodcuts. The selection is wide-ranging, spanning from Albrecht Dürer to a newly produced installation by Thomas Kilpper. The exhibition will feature woodcuts by artists such as Hanne Borchgrevink, Tore Hansen, the Kierulf sisters, and Mamma Andersson.  It will also display exquisitely executed Japanese colour woodcuts from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Though the formats and styles vary greatly, the works are linked by their use of graphic techniques. See museum homepages for pictures and video presentation.  More

Observingarts: Sigbjørn Lilleeng at Blank Space Oslo

Solo exhibition,Sigbjørn Lilleeng

opens 6. November 2015!

Blank Space is proud to present their newest exhibition solo exhibition with Sigbjørn Lilleeng.

The exhibitioin will feature pages and illustrations both from published and upcoming work, including both finished work to drawings and sketches. 

More at Blank Space

Observingarts: art on Instagram, Thomas Saraceno Art Basel

artbasel#TomasSaraceno '61 Vir b / M + I', 2015 (detail) via@tanyabonakdargallery | Galleries 2015#ArtBasel

Every now and then purely beautifull images passes by on the screen. And they fit the digital format just perfect. Take a look at this detail - I imagine a synthetic structure that comes with the appearance of a virtual butterfly!  

Observingarts: something quite different - exploring football through art

PIGSKIN focuses on the recorded imagery of the culture that surrounds the NFL. This does not necessarily include athletic portraiture or motion photography while athletes perform, but an art that revolves more along the sport that consumes America. Football has, arguably, the most 'larger than life' characteristics in comparison to other sports. The rivalry translates into deep love and pure hatred between teams, cities, and states. Whether it’s the logo, the mascots, or the rush of the game, the emotion that lies within each fan is immeasurable. The importance of winning, dedicating entire Sundays to a game, and the fights that arise contribute to a cultural collision of art and sports.

32 artists were given the opportunity to create an art piece that best represents their team of choice. This exhibition, no matter what the artistic outcome is, it may run the risk of having pieces that are obscure and even risqué.  But one thing is for sure, Pigskin will be all about football, and simultaneously, nothing about football.

Preview of the NFL-themed art show “Pigskin” at the Stay Gallery. By Daniel Barron

Sean Norvet

More about exhibit.

Observingarts: Mimi Yoon at 1XRUN

"The Once Upon A Time No More series illustrates my modern take on fairy tales where the princesses are still beautiful, feminine and innocent, yet they'd no longer take bullying from the villains or wait helplessly for their princes to come to rescue. 

In "Once Upon A Time No More II", Cinderella's done waiting for the prince and wearing the glass slippers... instead she's worked hard (as in the story) and gotten herself a pair of AJ's. My princesses are strong and independent, and they work hard to achieve what they want... but still sweet and feminine." - Mimi Yoon 

More

Observingarts: What drives collectors today?

Scott Reyburn uses his International New York Times column to make a startling comparison between the prices of some Contemporary works and the sales for Old Master paintings that lack the scale and reputation to command top prices. Read More → Art Market Monitor

Observingarts: Bjørn Ransve, Edvard Munch, Scandinavian contemporary art

"Den norske ekspresjonist-generasjonen er representert ved blant andre Rolf Nesch, før utstillingen avrundes med 1960/70-tallet og kunstnerne Per Kirkeby, Bjørn Ransve, Ola Billgren og Kjartan Slettemark».
«Danske Kirkeby, norske Ransve og svenske Billgren hører til vår tids store malere, mens norsk-svenske Slettemark var, og er, en mester i iscenesettelse." 

"The Norwegian expressionist generation is represented by, among others, Rolf Nesch, before the exhibition ends with 1960-1970's and artists Per Kirkeby , Bjørn Ransve, Ola Billgren and Kjartan Slettemark". "Danish Kirkeby, Norwegian Ransve and Swedish Billgren belong to our time great painters, while Norwegian - Swedish Slettemark was, and is, a master of staging".

Quotes from article in Aftenposten: http://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/anmeldelser/Munch-ismer-7135143.html

Observingarts: Turkish delights, Istanbul, The Blue Mosque

The beauty of arabic arhcitecture and art is often forgotten in the shadow of extremism. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul still has the tolerance, high cieling and warm tolerance for everybody wanting to enjoy her:

Observingarts: weekend reading: Your Definitive Guide To Reading A Piece Of Abstract Art

Detail from painting by Norwegian artist Kjell Nupen

Huffington Post article: 

Your Definitive Guide To Reading A Piece Of Abstract Art