Nothing says Brilliant like impeccable placement of Buttons

Source: http://19qu.cn/ideas/10650/

I found of about this website called Flip-board, which is basically like a knock off version of Pinterest, but more business oriented. In the art section, I found a collection of button collages in spirit of familiar faces in pop culture and art. It's been done before, but I don't mind seeing these things on the internet once in a while.

Posing says a lot about photos: Don't think that people are perfect, it's all about the angles.

There is a photographer by the name of Gracie Hagen who took shots of fairly decent looking people posing both in attractive angles and unappealing poses. The point of the photos were not to suggestively compare and contrast, but to point out that people in general have similar bodies to the people portrayed in the photos. In society, we are constantly looking up to these fashion models who are experts at posing and looking slimmer. Even when we take photos of ourselves, we do our best to look skinnier and prettier and well rested. I myself am guilty of snapping a good few photos for a decent selfie. I may cover certain things just to be discreet, but my friends and family know my body type. And when I am alone at home, I pose awkwardly in front of the mirror to see how far my stomach expands and how flat my butt goes when I squeeze it in. The body is absolutely beautiful. 

Only people who have seen me naked know my natural beauty. And to be honest there is nothing wrong about naked skin. I mean, I had to take Life Drawing Classes in college and I have seen all types of bodies. And I was never bothered by the rolls, cellulite and scars. It was more interesting to draw and my pictures had more personality to them. 

I love seeing these people posing fiercely and posing like no one is looking around.

Let's have a look at these raw photos:

Check out more of her work at :

http://www.graciehagen.com/

ART OF BRICK Review: Dimensions and all

So I took the initiative to go see the Art of Brick Exhibition in Times Square with my boo on a slow Saturday. I did my research before and got purchased my tickets on Groupon for less than the original ticket value ($25.00/person). I'm not really the type of person to over pay for anything. That's why I'm somewhat of a museum snob because I want to pay as a donation rather than an entry fee. For what I paid for, it was worth every cent. I noticed that the majority of people on line were young kids with their parents and a few old folks here and there. The exhibition commences by a tour guide leading us to the entry of the first room. We are told to watch a quick introductory video of the artist, Nathan Sawaya and he basically talks about how he started, his passion, inspiration, the usual pretentious crap an artist goes into. We walk into a small room with a replicas of famous art works and every one was ooiong and aaing at the familiar artworks. I noticed that the room was quite small and dimly light and the carpet kind made the space look small. It reminded me of a playroom for kids. Which I guess is the point, but the whole space looked like an 8th grade art class. Most of the artwork in the first room was all based on paintings. I noticed that some on the paintings were flat and some of the backgrounds looked plain. I am a sucker for details and it bothered me when I saw that he didn't play around with the background by adding thin brick to pop out. Otherwise it was definitely impressive.

Vermeer, Girl with the Pearl Earring

Leonardo DaVinci, Mona Lisa

Twilight, Venice by Claude Monet

James Whistler, Whistler's Mother

Caveman Painting

Hokusai, The Great Wave of Kanagawa

Edvard Munch, The Scream

 

Van Gogh, The Starry Night 

 

The second room was a little more open and bright. Statues and replicas of monuments got the kids excited. And every one was stunned by the towering replicas. I think Sawaya was trying to give an ode to all the artists before him who have created monuments and masterpieces and its rather clear that he wants to be in that echelon of artists who have made a difference in history. I find that concept to be a little conceited, but this guy has all the skills and charm to make it big. In the back, there is a room of more personal sculptures that Sawaya did. It was a more vibrant and colorful and probably something he made in a short period of time. There was even a time lapse video of him building a set in a matter of minutes sped up.

 

Going downstairs, I saw more of his larger figurative artwork displayed in a more Zen room. Of course the centerpiece in the room was the infamous yellow figure ripping it's chest open. My favorite piece was the blue figure swimming in a pile of blue Lego bricks. The room on the right displayed more colorful figures and dimensional layered statues. It was definitely part of his experimental phase for sure.

 

One of the last few rooms featured more dark pieces. And some of them weren't as intricate, but the most incredible piece was the dinosaur sculpture. I really wish that I could have seen more variety within the mediums. But Swayan has so much time to experiment and recreate. I'll give him 20 more years to see his grand collection.

 

 

 

 

Van Gogh's Newest Perspective by Serena Malyon

Serena Malyon, a young illustrator  experimented with the tilt shift technique done on the works of art by Vincent Van Gogh. I look at the images and for some reason I see a story book. Who knew the whole perspective of the painting could change. Have a look at a few of the manipulations below:

Art Appreciation of the Day: Textured Paintings by Justin Gaffrey

 

I find his work to be absolutely brilliant. There is a lot of intricacy that goes into textured painting because there is a balance of trying to make it look clean and not have the colors smudge. I love modern art that isn't vulgar. And this is quite relaxing to look at up close. See him in action with the video below: