Alex Alvis Art

GUESS who painted these ??? No fair peeking!

1908, Le Viaduc de L'Estaque (Viaduct at L'Estaque), oil on canvas, 73 x 60 cm, private collection

Still Life with a Bunch of Grapes, 1912

1909, Port en Normandie (Little Harbor in Normandy), oil on canvas, 81.1 x 80.5 cm (32 x 31.7 in), The Art Institute of Chicago

Are you thinking Pablo Picasso?? 

Picasso this Picasso that.  He was not the sole inventor of cubism as so many people think.  He is probably the most celebrated artist working in one of modernism's most well known movements - but he alone did not construct this new type of painting which was derived from a re-imagining of the works of artists such as Paul Cezanne.

This is the work of Georges Braque (1882-1963).

This from WikiArt:

The development of cubism came shortly after Braque met and began working with Pablo Picasso, in 1909. Both artists produced representative paintings with a monochromatic color scheme and interlocking blocks and complex forms. The summer of 1911 was especially fruitful for the artists. They painted side by side in the French Pyrenees, producing paintings that extremely difficult to differentiate each other’s paintings. The ultimate result of their time together was the development of a new style of painting, Analytic Cubism. show more

(if I have at any time deviated from these principles - I extend my deepest apologies and will remove the image in question)

Fair use rationale:

1. it is a historically significant artwork
2. the image is only being used for informational and educational purposes
3. the image is readily available on the internet
4. the image is a low resolution copy of the original artwork and is unsuitable for commercial use

Artworks protected by copyright are supposed to be used only for contemplation. Images of that type of artworks are prohibited for copying, printing, or any kind of reproducing and communicating to public since these activities may be considered copyright infringement.

Happy Friday

My technical difficulties are continuing and I will have to put my daily blog writing on hold until Monday.  I have only my ipad to work on at the moment and the blogger app is just too hard for my lack of technology minded self to deal with.  I hope you have a fabulous weekend and I will be back in a few days!
~Alex

The Academic and the Conventional

In the book written by Harold Speed (over 100 years ago) called The Art and Science of Drawing - in Chapter 6 "The Academic and the Conventional" he begins the chapter by writing:  "The terms Academic and Conventional are much used in criticism and greatly feared by the criticized, often without either party appearing to have much idea of what is meant."  he writes on about schools of art, etc., and then says something that makes me think of my own work - for I very much feel it speaks with my own authentic voice.

UNCLE!

I have had an Uncle-y month.  Today has been hell-ishly busy...and I feel the necessity of making a meal especial for one uncle visiting even so.  But still there is the matter of a daily blog post.  Another Uncle has come to my rescue (he knows who he is).  I hope you also enjoy this link he emailed to me several days ago.  http://www.boredpanda.com/worlds-most-creative-statues-sculptures/

Unlimited Power

God help me, I do indeed have an Anthony Robbins book. 

TONY ...yes. 

Well.  I could only wish to have half his energy.  But, you know.  If wishes were horses....

So Unlimted Power is the last book I pulled from my library to turn to a section.  And what I found in Google Images when I put in "Unlimited Power Art" took me on an interesting journey.  I saw a photo of an artist, Alvaro Cardona-Hines standing in front of a painting of his.  This is the image:

"Now you should do one final thing:  make a list of the things you already have that were once goals --all the things in your ideal day you can already do, the activities and people of your life you are most grateful for, the resources you already have available to you.  I call this a gratitude diary.  Sometimes people get so fixated on what they want, they fail to appreciate or use what they already have.  The first step toward a goal is seeing what you have, giving thanks for it, and applying it to future achievements.  We all have ways to make our lives better at any moment.  Achieving your wildest dreams should begin today with the everyday steps that can put you on the right path.  Shakespeare once wrote, "Action is eloquence."  Begin today with eloquent action that will lead to even more eloquent outcomes."

I think that is a very good thought to end the day with.  May it make you tomorrow even better than it would have otherwise been.

"Til then -

~Alex

Artist Inspiration Sunday

I'm back to artist inspiration Sunday.  A little inspiration to get us all through the week.  I tell you what, I can use it too.  I don't know about you - but for me, every summer is so crammed full of activities and family and shows and trips that having enough energy left to create art is sometimes a very hard thing to muster up!

So if you don't know from reading my earlier Inspiration Sunday blog posts, I have a book in my library called Artist to Artist Inspiration and Advice from Artists Past and Present compiled by Clint Brown.  And I randomly turn to a section of it and share with you what is in that section.

This part of the book are quotes about artists and gender and race.

"I believe that it is crucial for women artists to situate ourselves in the context of our own gender, class, and ethnic histories and struggles rather than in relationship to male histories."
-Judy Chicago

"I don't paint like a woman is supposed to paint.  Thank God, art doesn't bother about things like that."
-Alice Neel

"True strength is delicate."
-Louise Nevelson


Shinique Smith in her studio

"Maybe in that earlier phase I was painting the woman in me.  Art isn't a wholly masculine occupation, you know."
-Willem De Kooning

"I find that women can be creative in total isolation.  I know excellent women artist who do original work without any response to speak of.  Maybe they are used to a lack of feedback.  Maybe they are tougher."
-Elaine De Kooning

"All artists, Negro and white, have the problem of making a living, of finding a gallery or a place where they can display their work and often with the Negro artist these problems are attenuated."
-Romare Bearden


Pinaree Sanpit 

I love to tell a story.  The history of the United States fascinates me...The part the Negro has played in all these events has been greatly overlooked.  I intend to bring it out.
-Jacob Lawrence

"I feel that women 'and men,' but I mean the 'individual,' can be totally feminine and still be totally powerful."
-Louise Nevelson

"I don't think the quality of being a good teacher or a good artist has anything to do with sex.  I think it's objective:  you either are or you aren't."
-Alice Neel


Alexandria Smith

"At no point do I wish to be in conflict with any man or masculine thought.  It doesn't enter my consciousness.  I think art is anonymous.  It's not competitive with men.  It's a complementary contribution."
-Dame Barbara Hepworth

There you are alone in the huge space and you are not conscious of the fact that you have breasts and a vagina.  You are inside yourself, looking at this damned piece of rag on the wall that you are supposed to make a world out of...Inside yourself you are looking at this terrifying unknown and trying to feel, to pull everything you can out of all your experience, to make something.  I think a woman or a man creating feel very much the same way."
-Grace Hartigan

"I think it would be reasonable for critics to look upon the art scene and ask themselves 'What are women thinking about the world?'...If men seriously said, "What are women?  How are they responding to life as shown in the art?' it would be so interesting!"
-Isabel Bishop



Mona Shomali 

"I feel totally female.  I didn't compete with men and I don't want to look like a man!  I love being a lady and dressing up and masquerading and wearing all the fineries.  I'm breaking down the idea that the artist has to look poor, with berets.
-Louise Nevelson

"Historically, women have either been excluded from the process of creating the definitions of what is considered art or allowed to participate only if we accept and work within existing mainstream designations."
-Judy Chicago

So that is it for today's inspirations to start you on the way to a fabulous week!
I hope you have a mountain of creative work and inspiration.

'Till tomorrow ~

~Alex

Beyond Fear

Oh!  I suddenly thought of Peter Max - who I saw at an art show years ago...he was showing his Heart Series.  Here is one of the paintings from that series.

 This is how beautiful one heart...your heart is.  Keep it faithfully - then share :)

Wishing you an artful and love filled Saturday ...and every day.

~Alex