It’s Maurice De Vlaminck’s Birthday – Raw Power

Maurice de Vlaminck (b. 1876-1958 Paris, France). was one of the original founders of a group of artists called the Fauvists. The small group of artists, whose members included Henry Matisse and Andre Derain used pure of vibrant colour, this caused them to be named ‘Fauves’ (wild beasts) by art critic Louis Vauxcelles after seeing

Happy Birthday Max Ernst!!

Max Ernst born 1891- 1976 was a Surrealist artist. Born in Germany, he became a Naturalised American in 1948 and French in 1958. He was prolific in painting, sculpture, poetry and graphics art. He was a leading light and pioneer in his artistic approach to Surrealism and Dadaism. A lot of information about the artist

Room Full of Mirrors (Part One)

“I used to live in a room full of mirrorsAll I could see was meThen I take my spirit and I smash my mirrorsAnd now the whole world is here for me to see” It seems that we have always lived in a room full of mirrors.  Our fascination with our own reflection has never

My 500th post

It’s not really my 500th post – that was yesterday, but I wanted to commemorate the Titanic.  I have been playing around with WordPress’ slide show tutorial and I thought what could be more fitting than to try to make a slide show of some of the items I have featured on my blog so far.  Starting in

On the Town

It was National Museum day 1st February.  I followed the Tate Modern London, Tate Liverpool, Dox Prague and Beamish.  But you don’t have to wait for a special day to support museums – you can support them any time and the best way is to actually visit them.  I love popping into the Manchester City

Art I LOVE:The Sound of Silence – Vermeer

Sometimes the sound of silence can actually be very informative.  I’m talking of course about the sort of silent narrative that some of the old Master’s used to convey quietness, closeness and intimacy.  Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer (c.1632 -1675) is a good example of capturing the private moment and sharing it with you.   When you look

‘Happy Birthday Dear Dali!’

It’s legendary artist Salvador Dali’s birthday today!  He would have celebrated his 105th birthday (and been in the Guinness Book of Records) is he’d have lived!  He died in Figueres Spain (his birthplace) of heart failure in 1989, aged 84. He is in my opinion the  personification of a painter: talented, original and as mad

Art and the Subconscious: Sleight of mind

  Being fascinated with the subconscious and the art associated with it, starting with the Surrealists (see Max Ernst) and earlier post: ‘Altered book page 10 Freefalling Snake in the Grass’ and  ‘Altered art book page 4 A Qustion of Life and Death’   you will see what I mean.  Artist have used many different means to tap the subconscious.