Artist of List

The topic i chose was 18th century. the artist that i found that worked in the 18th century and did work that i liked was Thomas Gainsborough. his use of form in the human body, as well as almost... dusty details in the background make his works very impressive to me.

1. Thomas Gainsborough uses oil paints and striking detail work to make his paintings beautiful and lifelike
2. I would attempt to capture his abilities when working in oil.
3. i would not use the same type of subjects. while he paints portraits and still lives, i would paint different things.

Mi Artista Favorita

This piece, entitled "Il Condottiero" was drawn by the great Leonardo da Vinci in 1480. I love this piece so very much because of the detail and expression. Look at the expression in the mercenary's face. The wrinkles in his chin. The extreme detail in his decorative armor. Da Vinci impresses me so much because of his versitile ability to work in nearly any media and still achieve a masterpiece.


Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452, illigitamate son of notary Ser Piero and a peasant girl. His parents continued to have children, though not with each other, until he had 17 half brothers and sisters. Leonardo became interested in art early and worked in and around art all his life. He died on May 2, 1519 in Cloux, France. Legend has it that King Francis was at his side when he died, cradling Leonardo's head in his arms.

Birthday Sharin' Artists

Of the artists with which I share the month of July, Lasar Segall may be one of the more interesting. I chose him not because his first name sounds suspiciously like "Laser," or because he was born in Vilinius Lithuania (though i don't deny that may have swayed my vote), nor was he my choice because he was the second to come up on Wikipedia. No, I chose my good friend Lasar because of his art. Generally I detest and shy away from cubism like a cleaned up Eminem shys away from crystal meth. However, Segalls own personal brand is somewhat less absurd. The feeling in his paintings is nearly palpable. The piece of his work that I found most capturing is "A Familia Enferma," painted in 1920. However, Segall also gained my sought-after respect with his difference in styles. Segall not only creates cubist pieces, but also creates realist and abstract works as well. This flexibility greatly impressed me. Lastly, his striking use of both line, and contrasting lights and darks gives his pieces a clear sharp feeling that I enjoy.

Ye Old Time Story

So i messed up and commented on peoples blogs for thursday, instead of writing these, so i shall remedy that now.

Probably the most vivid memory i have as a child, especially at this time of year, is of pumpkins. all little kids love halloween. as a matter of fact, most older kids do too. but one delightfully crisp october day my father finally gave into my bambi-eyed pleas and bought us a pumpkin. however, this was no ordinary pumpkin, it weighed, my father told me i said "probably like eleventy thirty pounds." thats a lot of pounds. i perched upon my prize and mum or dad, i dont know which, snapped (as cameras still snapped then) a famous picture of me, grinning proudly atop a pumpkin weighing, roughly mind you, eleventy thirty pounds.

The same year, i also made another famous piece of family history, my clay handprint. i think of it now because it is one of my favorite art pieces. my class made them in mr. sattlers kindergarten art, carefully rolling out our clay, pressing our hands into the cold surface, then baking them in the pot-bellied kiln. when they where finished, we glazed them. for whatever reason, i glazed mine yellow. it hangs in our dining room now. it amazes me to see how much my hand has grown since i was 5.