When the World Gets You Down...

Today has been a very long day....just to give you an idea..I woke up 5:45 am to finish studying for an Italian test at 9:00 am...all the coffee in the world did not seem to give me back my edge for the day. However, this Klimt put a little pep in my step. So, when the world gets you down...look at some Klimt! Simple refreshments such as these make all the difference in the world.

Gustav Klimt, a well known Art Nouveau artist, created many works through abstracting the human body and combining its' beauty with patterns and earthly elements. He lived from 1862 and passed away in 1912, leaving behind many, many wonders. This painting is known as Hygeia from 1898. Check out this website...it shows close-ups of his works! They are really amazing..

http://www.gustavklimtcollection.com/pages/giclee.html

Le Bonheur dans un Croissant...

This morning I went downtown for an interview with the Director of the Old State Capitol Museum... afterwards I decided to embrace the "city-girl" feeling. I strolled around for quite some time, pacing up and down the streets of Third, North, Laurel, etc....I finally ventured into Strings Cafe...what a delightful secret! I decided to treat myself and stray far away from my diet and enjoy a spinach croissant with small spinach salad on the side (to still feel a bit healthy). This croissant was PURE HAPPINESS. SO AMAZING. Not only were my taste buds dancing but my mind wandered into my French altar ego. Edgar Degas instantly entered my mind. I could look at his ballerinas for hours, like a kid in a candy store. Along with that spectacular croissant, Monsieur Degas will be bringing a little happiness to my life today.

Here is a great link if you are interested in some background information...

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/degas/

This pastel is called Ballet Dancers. The colors are magical and broken strokes are flawless. The motion is liberating and the tones vivid. Enjoy!

Oggi..Amo Italiano

I just trucked across LSU campus to the nearby PJ's to enjoy a medium hazelnut iced coffee, after sitting through my 9:00 am classe Italiano con Professore Paolo Chirumbolo (Italian class with Professor Paolo Chirumbolo) . I have to say....during the class I am usually groggy, eagerly awaiting my comforting plastic purplish PJ's beverage...but once I leave that lovely Italian class en route to my coffee heaven..the world is glowing. None the less.. GREAT MOOD! I cannot decide if it's the coffee anticipation...or just because of my love for Italian! Something about learning a different language and culture is exhilarating. So...today I am posting an Italian artist to accompany my theme of Italian love for the day.

So...who else better to glorify Italian art than Leonardo Da Vinci. He was born April 15th, 1452...a master of many, many things...a true Renaissance man. This is an under-painting on panel completed in 1482....it's called The Adoration of the Magi. Completely captivating...the mysticism and tones draw you in. Enjoy the energy!

“Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature because in her inventions nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous.”

~ Leonardo Da Vinci

How Lovely Prints Can Be!

Today I woke up thinking about how wonderful Spring is. Walking outside without a jacket is a giddy feeling...for me at least. It's before those hot days where you cannot even imagine wearing jeans or your hair down...instead everything is comfortable and dazzling. While sifting through prints I found one entitled Spring. Perfecto..it just fits for today.

This image is captivating. The colors feel like perfection. Spring is a color lithograph from the Seasons Series done in 1896. The artist, Alphonse Mucha, was a Czech artist born in 1860. He is well-known for his brilliant Art Nouveau work. If you like this print you will probably fall in love with many of his other works...have a look.

http://www.muchafoundation.org/MHome.aspx

Wondering what a lithograph is?? http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/kl/lithography.html

Enjoy this print and breathe in the fresh Spring air once it arrives! Ciao.

Willem De Kooning

Willem De Kooning painted this in 1944...I think the colors are amazing. He called it Woman....but when I look at it I just sense the mood created by the colors instead of the image. I am always confused which De Kooning is the Dekooning...I know of at least another artist by the same last name. She produces similar work. I believe her name is Elaine De Kooning...look her up!! Gotta love internet...what would we do without it? Hopefully this piece of art will brighten your day as it has mine! Aloha.

The Simple Things..

I firmly believe the simple things in life can bring you the most happiest. So...I am trying to keep this blog short and sweet. I will post a piece of artwork daily just because it makes me happy...HOPEFULLY it will make you happy, too!

Here is the first painting....done by an artist known as Ed Clark. From New Orleans he created large-scale mostly non-objective paintings. He manipulated the painting with a push-broom over the canvas. Very cool. His work is featured at the LSU Museum of Art...The exhibit is called Beyond Black.