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Mike Perry is an artist living in Brooklyn, NY. He uses several different mediums.

“Making books, magazines, newspapers, clothing, drawings, paintings, illustrations and teaching whenever possible.”

His first book, which I own, is entitled Hand Job. It is a collection of type, along with several illustrations. Some of it is his own work, but most is compiled work by several artists.

Mike Perry was a huge influence to me last semester, and still is. His work is so inspiring to me for several reasons. It is easy to look at, it is usually used with flat color and it is so creative. He uses simple shapes to create type but then he creates it into a piece of art with his illustration. I also love how everything is hand drawn. I feel like a lot of people assume that everything we see on billboards and in magazines are computer generated. I suggest you take a look at some of Mike’s work! Its quite fab

images and information: midwestisbest

Joshua Allen Harris is a New York street artist.

“…fantastic New York street art in the form animals made out of shopping bags positioned on subway street grates that cause them to periodically inflate and animate…”

I think that this type of street are is super fascinating! I am not completely familiar with street art. It reminds me of a project I completed not too long ago in my Visual Literacy class. We had to create a sculpture that was able to be made completely flat. These bags start out completely 2-D and then inflate and continue to animate because of the air pouring out of the subway grates.

Simple materials are used to create such interesting pieces of art. This is inspiring and comforting to see such simple things turn into a big production.

information: laughing squid

video: youtube

image: olympiadumpsterdivers

Andy Goldsworthy is a british photographer and artist. He had this catologue projecet in which he created many ephemeral sculptures.

“The Digital Catalogue constitutes a unique resource: comprising approximately 3,500 images, it documents the 2,700 or so sculptures that Goldsworthy made in the ten-year period 1976-1986, and gives unprecedented access to Goldsworthy’s early working practices and contexts.”

I find this project particularly interesting because it is completely based on nature. The sculptures are all created with natural materials. It is also a combination of sculpture and photography. Finding the perfection in nature is also inspiring. These things are rearranged to create something even more beautiful. 

images: stumbleupon

information: goldsworthy

Yeondoo Jung is an artist from South Korea. He has a collected entitled “Wonderland”

“Yeondoo Jung set out to turn the drawing’s of 5-7 year old children into reality, some interesting environments were sure to arise. After he collected over 1,000 drawings, a select few were selected and turned into reality through a series of photo shoots…”

I think that this idea is so creative and fresh. What I would do to have the imagination of a five year old again. Looking at their drawings is incredible and brings images to mind that as adults, we cant really understand. Seeing these drawings in reality is like seeing into a child’s imagination.

I think that the creativity of Jung’s work is very inspiring. To me when I look at the images it seems like they are almost impossible.

images: stumbleupon

information about jung: yeondoojung

“ALEC SOTH has created a photographic career out of finding chemistry with strangers. On his frequent road trips through America, he’s drawn to loners and dreamers he spots from his car; sometimes he will do several pass-bys before striking up a conversation. Often that will lead to a portrait session with his large-format 8-by-10 view camera.” new york times

Earlier this week Alec Soth was brought up in one of my classes. I was embarrassed to say that I had never heard of him, so I decided to look up what the internet had on this character. I came to realize that his work is very very famous.

I looked at his website and flipped through some of his projects. I then came across this article in the New York Times. It is about his relationship with strangers, or more so his work’s relationship with strangers. I don’t think his work would have the effect it does if these people were his friends. I can’t say that I am a huge fan of his work, for I feel like I could walk outside and attempt to do the same thing. Maybe it wouldn’t be as good, but the idea is what intrigues me most. Sometimes as an artist I am scared to step outside of myself and attempt to do or create things with the fear of failure. I can say that that is my biggest fear – but this is what is inspiring – even though I don’t care for Soth’s work, others do. That shows me, that art can be successful or a failure to anyone. It is completely subjective. I have the freedom to do or create whatever I want and I should have the reassurance that whether I think it is a failure or success, it is always a success. Maybe not visually, but mentally – I learned, I grew, I succeeded.

This painting, titled The Dining Room in the Country, was the work of a nineteenth century French artist, Pierre Bonnard. Bonnard was born into a well to do family just outside of Paris. Bonnard first studied law at a Parisian liberal arts school. Soon after, Bonnard and a few colleagues formed a society called the Nabis.

While working as a civil servant in Paris, Bonnard entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Here he began studying art at a high level. This education did not influence Bonnard’s work, and is more so a place he made friends.

After Bonnard failed his civil service exam, he rented his first studio. His work ranged from paintings, to textile design, to screen painting, and even puppets.

In 1983 Bonnard met his future wife, Maria Bonnard. Most of his paintings reflect her and are much more personal.

At the turn of the century Bonnard began venturing away from the city and more towards the countryside. Much of his landscape work took place here. I believe that this painting is from the French countryside.

Bonnard continued to develop his own style and rejected the ideas of Fauvism and Cubism, among several others.

Bonnard continued to travel and create art until his wife died in 1942. From then on he became a recluse and died in 1947.

I think that the story behind this image is greatly influenced by Bonnard’s trips to the French countryside. This painting was completed in 1913, right around the time Bonnard was into his landscape and countryside paintings. I don’t know who the person in the painting is, maybe his wife – for it was common for him to use her in some of his paintings. I do believe that this painting is trying to capture, and successfully does so, the beauty and serenity of the country. The colors are vivid and the content of the painting is very static. It is very enjoyable to look at.

I think that this painting is timeless. When I examine this painting’s content, I am clueless as to what time period it came from. It is a place that people still escape to today. It still exists and is coveted by some who want to get away from the fast paced society often found in cities. There isn’t much movement in this painting and that is very literal in what feeling it is giving off.