Antony Micallef

'The degenerate'

Oil on linen, 140cm x 140cm

'Hiena'
Oil and charcoal on linen, 140cm x 180cm

'Siren'

Oil on linen, 140cm x 140cm

I feel bad that I haven't shared any artworks on here for ages as I see my blog as a place to share all kinds of art. So I thought what better way to make a comeback by showing you the work of a artist I have recently discovered, Antony Micallef. The English artist first appeared in the art world about ten years ago and since has created works that are a gleeful attack on consumerism. The best way that I can describe my feeling towards his work is from a quote he made about his work, "My work is like watching a Disney movie which slowly turns into violent pornography". They are a perfect example of how something can be gruesome yet so beautiful at the same time. You can visit Micallef's website to view more of his work and find out about his current exhibition at the Rathbone Place in London.

Echoes of Yesterday

If you guys caught my post where I shared some goodies that I had won in a giveaway then you might of already checked out Natasha's Echoes of Yesterday blog and esty store already. As a little thank you to Natasha I wanted to share some her amazing art with you guys that I adore a lot.If you haven't already you should visit her blog and check out some her other amazing artworks. I absolutely love the drawing of the bearded man as it has this really structural feel to it, which is what I really like about Natasha's work. You are able to purchase original artworks by Natasha through her esty store, where there also many other goodies up for grabs.

Photo Credit: Images of artworks courtesy of Echoes of Yesterday

Understand Still

'This is nowhere', oil on canvas, 54 x 66, 2008

'The Event', oil on canvas, 54 x 66", 2009

'I Wanna Love', oil on canvas, 66 x 54, inches 2011

'From Milan to Vienna', oil and acrylic on canvas, 66 x 54", 2006

I have kind of fallen in love with these paintings by artist Nick Lepard. He paints these intriguing self portraits and portraits of friends with these harsh brush strokes. This kind of 'quick' style is what I am looking at this semester in my painting class as we are also doing portraits. I still haven't decided on what I want to paint on yet, but I have in mind painting on wood which is really cool and exciting. Does anyone else have any new paintings/artworks/projects their about to start or stuck at the moment? Maybe we can inspire each other and get motivated to start them :)

Nick Lepard: Official website

Photo Credit: Images courtesy of Nick Lepard and all found on his web site

In Our Veins

Left: 'Untitled', acrylic on canvas, 6" x 6"

Right: 'The Pack', acrylic on canvas, 20" x 10"

'The Wild West', acrylic on canvas, 24" x 30"

'Vulnerable', acrylic on canvas, 24" x 12"

A while ago I received a lovely email from a lovely lady named Amy Guidry asking if I would show some of her works on my blog. So checking it out I was more then impressed with her work and was excited to show you guys these amazing works. Amy Guidry is an American artist whose latest body of work has really caught my attention. In Amy's statement, "In Our Veins" explores the connections between all life forms and the cycle of life and demonstrates these ideas in a surreal, psychologically-charged narrative. I love how how she has mixed this style of photorealism and surrealism to create these hyper-realistic worlds that are both haunting yet beautiful. Her technique is impeccable and simply gorgeous. To view the rest of the "In Our Veins" series then visit Amy Guidry's website and be sure to check out her other amazing works while your there. Also a huge thanks to Amy for sharing her works with us :)

If you're interested in submitting some work to me to show here on the blog then visit my Submit Page for more information.

Amy Guidry: Official website, facebook page

Photo Credit: Images courtesy of Amy Guidry

Crossing Borders

Today I wanted to share with you guys a guest post I did on Dane's Tornadoes and Tigers blog last month.Been meaning to share it for a while now, but keep forgetting about it :)

So may I introduce to you Tanya Chaitow, a Australian contemporary artist who works with acrylics. Tanya creates these whimsical and poetic works featuring some quirky characters. When looking at her work I feel like a young kid again being told a story where it's set in this uncertain, mischievous fantasy world filled with part human and part animal characters. I also love how simplistic they are with this very light colour palette and the characters as if a child has painted these.

So many exciting things have been happening for me lately, which I am just dying to tell you. Firstly I have just got my first ever commission from one of my friends sisters. I am very excited to get started on the work for her and hopefully this is the start to more in the future.

Images courtesy of Stella Downer Fine Art 

Kris Lewis

My latest art love is the American artist, Kris Lewis. Working with oils, Kris often depicts images of strong women and often refers to his family as an inspiration to his works. He is considered a modern day master as his works relate closely to the old masters of painting in his expression of the human figure. Kris' paintings are a response to both historical portrait painting and popular culture, powerfully combining traditional art practice with contemporary content.  I love how realistic his paintings are and  how they also have a surreal like quality to them. As well I find myself questioning these paintings when I look at them as I keep trying to find the message and story behind his works. This search for meaning within a artwork is what I believe that great art should always do.

Images of painting from here and here

Deidre But-Husaim

Today I would like to share with you guys my latest art crush, Deidre But-Husaim. She is a Australian artist who works and lives in Adelaide, Australia. Through her eyes, images of young aspiring model's become a blank canvas onto which she paints these elaborate tattoo designs. By doing this she raises her subjects from being the unknown and unwanted, into an image of true beauty. She has also branded them as her own creation, which to me almost makes it seems as if these are not real people, but as something of the imaginary. As if true beauty like this cannot exist in our world.

Although I would never get a tattoo that big, her painting's almost make me want to go and get one like these.  They just look so pretty so I think too compromise I will do some face painting next time I am in need to dress up for a occasion.

All image's were found on Deidre But-Husaim's offical website.

Painting Major

If you have been reading my blog lately then you would know that the past few weeks I have been solely dedicated to finish my major works for this semester. I had one for painting and another for my photography class. Thankfully I got both done without any major dramas, which is always the goal when near completing these things. In the end I was very happy with what I produce and how it turned out for both my majors.

Above is what I handed in for my painting class. I explained in a earlier post my concept behind the artwork. To sum it up though, my paintings looks at post mortem photography which was a practice, very popular during the Victorian Age, that captured the image of the recently deceased. This grew to be so popular that family members would be photographed with the deceased to serve less as a reminder of mortality than as a keepsake to remember the deceased. So for my major I wanted to do a painting of a post mortem photograph taken back during the Victorian Age and introduce colour and depth.

Not the best picture of it in the world, but it shows how my painting turned out and I have to say I am really happy with it. It looks exactly the way I imagined it would and when I look at it I actually feel proud of myself. I am going to be continuing this concept next semester and do another painting to go with this one. Eventually I would love to do a whole big series of these paintings like about 15 or more. My teacher even suggested that I even continue with this as my third year major, but that's a bit further down the road and too early to decide yet. I am hoping to get a really good mark for my painting as my teacher said he loved it and was really impressed by it. A HD (high distinction) would be amazing and such a achievement, but any mark will be great.

So what do you guys think? Hopefully you all like it :)

Artist: Shawn Huckins

I have to say one of my favourite past times is actually discovering new artists and photographers from different countries. My latest discovery from America is the artist Shawn Huckins whose latest series of work asks us “If George could comment today, would he click the ‘like’ button, or post wtf? and then go check his Lady Gaga tweet?”. The series titled American Revolution Revolution, is a collection of paintings that are portraits of America's founding fathers with different Internet-age acronyms scrawled across their faces.

I quite like these paintings very much as Huckins' has amazing painting skills but also just the idea of imaging these famous figures saying these phrases. In the series their are some portraits wear people's faces are covered by the American flag which I particular like. I always get so jealous of painters that can paint so realistic. I think one day I might have to have a proper attempt at doing something photo realistic just for the sake of it.

Shawn Huckins has a official website

List of paintings
1. GW's Comment: Rolling On The Floor Laughing, 2011
2. INGRES: Laughing My Fucking Ass Off, 2010 
3. Portrait of The American Gentleman, 2010
4. Chivers: My Eyes Glaze Over, 2011
5. Mr. Mifflin's 21st Century Ultra Smooth Pick-Up Line, (Let's Hook Up), 2010
6. Vanderlyn's Secret Obsession, (Talk Dirty To Me), 2011

Artist: Glenn Brown

If you have studied or know a bit about art history then you would of heard of the term appropriation. Basically appropriation in art is when you take the work of someones art and make a completelt new work out of it. It is an important element of art history which has been explored by such famous artists as Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and Banksy. To me its a something that only some artist can truely grasp this concept and make a new work of art that is actually good. One of my favorite artists that explored it through out his work is the English artist Glenn Brown.

His paintings instead of just changing the image of the original work creates a new meaning to it. He is such an amazing artist that you hardly ever see his work in gallery because private collectors just snatch it all up. While Brown uses the traditional technique of oil on wood panel, under closer inspection his swirls of colour that appear at first glance to be impasto and expressionist, reveal themselves almost as trompe-l’oeil, a result he achieves with very fine brushes.

If your interested here is a great interview with the artist

List of paintings:
1. 'Senile Youth', 2007
2. 'Great Masturbator', 2009
3. 'The Debaser', 2006
4. 'Architecture and Morality', 2004
5. 'Theatre', 2006
6. 'Spearmint Rhino', 2009

Artist: Aaron Smith

My lastest artist discovery is a man from Los Angeles, USA whose work looks at the male image and it's shape on society. Aaron Smith's use of vibrant colours and thick, vivid brushstrokes is a style that is hard to come across by these days. His series 'Bearded Blokes' uses images from Victorian photography where the male played a dominating role in society. A period where it was all about class, status and fancy fancing mustaches and beards.

You are in New York, Smith will be showcasing some new paintings in a exhibition at the Sloan Fine Art gallery called 'Coterie of the Wooly Woofter'. I wish that I could go see it, but if anyone plans on seeing please be sure to leave a comment and what you thought of the exhibition. Smith is also a great artist for me to be looking at towards my major for painting. The idea of using an image from the Victorian period and putting it in today's society to see their reactions.

Bearded,  2009, oil on panel, 24" x 22"                                Chopsy, 2011, oil on panel, 28"x24" 

2 Beards, 2009, oil on panel, 60" x 48"

  Mazzard, 2010, oil on panel, 28" x 18"                                      Sprater, 2010, oil on panel, 28" x 18"

All images were found on Aaron Smith's offial website and here is an interview he did with Advocate.com.