Rob Evans 2

Well this is my 100th posting.

Since absolutely no one was looking when I started I think it's worth revisiting my first entry.
The realism in his work is one thing; there's no denying his technical proficiencies. But I think I was immediately drawn to his work for its atmosphere. From his earliest interiors to his most recent traditional landscapes he has been obsessed with and successfully captured the dramatic tension that exists at night or in the twilight hours when natural light is diminished but what is revealed is just as powerful. Much of his earlier work uses this dramatic lighting to heighten the effect of symbolic and allegorical imagery.

I only posted 2 of his pieces originally. Since then I usually pick about three pieces from each artists. here's a bunch... And don't forget to click on the images to view them at least a little larger, especially the last piece.

Visit his websites for many many more: robevansart.com and robevansart.net






















"Susquehanna Moon" pastel 13x11" 2006






















"Above and Beneath" 27x19" mixed media 2004

















"Migration" mixed media 20x28" 1997






















"Refuge" oil on panel 48x48" 1997










"Evening Ritual" oil on panel (triptych) 40x90 1989

Alex Gross

It's not at all clear to me what these paintings are supposed to mean. They certainly look like symbolist allegories. But sometimes knowing the answers can ruin all the fun. I actually like to wonder and they do facilitate that. I'm also intrigued by how artists collect a vocabulary of images in their work. Mr. Gross has a particular obsession with burning/crashing aircraft and ice cream cones. Hmmm.
www.alexgross.com



















"The Last Judgment" 58x72" 2007























"Ice Cream Cone (despair)" 55x38" 2007






















"Departure" 28x28" 2001

Nicoletta Ceccoli

She is a very successful children's book Illustrator, but fortunately does not let success get in the way of her art. These pieces readily demonstrate why she is good at her job but transcend the genre and appeal to the darker side of childhood that remains with us all.
You can see more of her work and even flip through some virtual picture books at www.nicolettaceccoli.com






















"Balloon Girl"
















"Bird Cage"

as always (well, almost always) click on the images to view them larger.

Chris Mars

How did I not know of this artist earlier? Here is work to gnaw at you even while it entertains. What are monsters? What is madness? The answers are not simple. But they can be beautiful.
I wonder if this guy and Chet Zar (Jan. 22, 2009) are friends?

www.chrismarspublishing.com




















"Like Moths"























"Bound"






















"A Soother for Dwayne"

Dan May

I was surprised to look back and find that I had not posted an entry on Dan May.
Here is an alternate reality worth visiting. While his style definitely fits into a larger scene (for which I still don't have a good name - if you know what I'm talking about help me out) it is also decidedly unique.
See lots more at dan-may.com and at his flickr site




















"The Gift" 13x12" 2009























"Orange Heist" 12x16" 2008






















"Because of April" 2009

Amy Bennett 2

This series was under way the first time I posted her work (see January 2009). She creates models of a specific environ to act as backdrop for her odd little narratives (here, a small summer vacation lake; previously a tiny neighborhood). The scenes are both intimately familiar and peculiarly mysterious. Looking at her paintings is a little like spying on your neighbors, but without the guilt.
Her website is really worth looking through: www.amybennett.com






















"Shoreline" 22x28" 2008

















"Taking Arms" 18x24" 2008






















"On Dry Land" 14x18" 2008

Amy Casey

There is so much work on her website that it is rather daunting to look through it all (amycaseypainting.com). But it is rather interesting to see the transition from her earlier work and the gradual discovery of this new imagery. She's been exploring it for a few years now, and just in time for the collapse of the real estate bubble.

















32.5x41" 2009





















"Stragglers" 21x22" 2008

















"Top of the Heap" 22x30" 2008

David Dalla Venezia

These stark figure studies really need to be enlarged to be appreciated. Just click on the image. His isolation of individual body parts, and in some cases complete detachment of them, is both compelling in it's realism and detail and disturbing in it's lack of context. There's one extremely disturbing example on his Artdoxa.com page (don't say I didn't warn you).
There's more work on his website: daviddallavenezia.com












no. 561 120x60cm 2008








no. 562 72x25cm 2008

















no. 573 35x27cm 2008

Alfredo Di Bacco

This is the second artist I've posted that appears to have quite a thing for the aptly named scandinavian painter Odd Nerdrum. (see also Edgar Mendoza Mancillas)
Unfortunately these paintings cannot be viewed any larger and his Flickr site does not provide any details so it is difficult to assess them more fully. He has posted a lot of paintings there that all seem to be from this year so the man is at the very least, very prolific.






















"Uomo poeta" 50x60cm 2009






















"Dopo la tempesta" 50x70cm 2009






















"Obsessione del poeta" 60x80 2009

Howell Golson

I actually saw these images while walking through a street fair the other day. From what I can tell he mostly does straightforward illustration work. But what I love about illustrators is what they do when left to their own devices. I'm hoping he does a lot more of this stuff.
There's a few more on his Flickr site
and very cheap prints available at www.plywerk.com





















"Spore"





















"Enoki"

















"Jellyfish"

Chad Hagen

Something completely different. Chad is part of the make-something-every-day crowd (sheesh, the pressure!) and as part of that effort produced these beautiful diagram, chart thingamajobs; proof that graphic design can be Art. There's an astonishing variety, so go see all the rest of his crazy stuff on his Flickr page, and maybe tell him you want posters!























"Nonsense Chart no.1"






















"Nonsense Chart no.6"






















"Knob-Dial-Switch no.3"

Mark Bryan

I told you there was a lot of this sort of thing (see previous post). If you don't care for it I'm sorry (for you). I think Mr. Bryan has on occasion captured some very universal themes. I mean, who doesn't sometimes feel like a smoking baby-man with monkeys for brains?
artofmarkbryan.com






















"Monkeys In My Head" 11x15" 2008


















"The Plein Air Incident" 36x48" 2006

Marion Peck

There's a lot of this kind of kitschy, ironic pop counter culture art out there. And I like it.
But honestly, a lot of it just looks like clone-work of all the others. Which is unfortunate because there's plenty of room for striking individuality in this odd sub-genre. Here's a great example. And if anybody out there has a name for this school of art, let me know.
See more at www.marionpeck.com.

















"Landscape with a Submerged Deer" 19.5x25" 2008




















"Kittens" 12x14" 2003











"Dream #186 (Block Party)" 16x22"

Rick Beerhorst

An interesting combination of post renaissance inspired style and surrealist imagery. I'm not sure why all my favorite pieces are of figures with their eyes covered in peculiar ways. There are plenty with eyes revealed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/studiobeerhorst/ along with photos and work by the entire beerhorst clan of mom dad and six kids. The kids are clearly the prominent feature of Rick's work.






















"Braided Vision" 12"x16"






















"Double Rose Third Hand" 3'x4'






















"Hmummingbird Girl" 8x10"

Carl Randall

I was first struck by this night scene for reasons anyone who has looked at my own work will understand. (I particularly like the use of red to capture that peculiarly urban light). While there are more paintings that are quite good, I was overwhelmed when I looked at his relatively more recent portrait drawings in Japan, including survivors of the bomb in Hiroshima.
There are more paintings and plenty of drawings to look through at his website (but nothing to indicate what he's done in the past couple of years): carlrandall.com


















"House at Night" 65x45" 1999






















"Portrait of Hibakusha - Mr. Kakuta" (survivor of the atomic bomb, Hiroshima) 35x45cm 2005






















"Portrait of Hibakusha - Ms. Hideko Takahata" (survivor of the atomic bomb, Hiroshima) 35x45cm 2005























"Portrait of Donald Richie" 60x45cm 2005