Ericailcane

The name is signed as one word so I'll go with that and leave the question as to whether it is Erica or Eric undetermined. At any rate the work of the artist extends beyond drawings to include numerous large scale murals, installations and video, but at the heart of it all is the drawing; wonderfully charming, cryptic, sometimes dark, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, but always alive. I'm really not even sure what else to say about them. They have no individual titles on the website, and frankly do not need them. They have a life of their own which is quite complete without any verbal clues as to their meaning or context. Go to the website www.ericailcane.org and look through them all! When you get to the bottom of the page make sure to click on the word "older" and keep going.

Michael Schall

Looking at the gallery website representing Ryan Mrozowski (my previous post) I came across this artist. Michael Schall creates enigmatic narrative scenes of colossal human exuberance. There is an ominous tone to all these visions and while some depict clear warnings or criticisms of our hubris, I also get the distinct impression that he's impressed and awed by, and almost giddy with excitement about, the sheer scale and absurdity of human endeavor. His work is often, though not always, suggestive of some possible future and that future may be both thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
He works in extraordinary detail in graphite, so much of what these pieces must convey in person is lost in an online format. The detail images here are really important. I wish I could include just one that was really close up to see the meticulous individual pencil marks themselves. The black and white format also serves him well as it removes us one step from the almost overwhelming realism and heightens the pure drama of it all.
See more great stuff at www.michaelschall.com
and some more at www.pierogi2000.com
















"Remaking the Night Sky" graphite on paper 41.25" x 59.75" 2008

















"Remaking the Night Sky" detail


















"Mist" 2008 Graphite on Paper 12" x 16"

















"Pool of Light" graphite on paper 22" x 30" 2009






















"Pool of Light" detail
















"Rebuilding the Quarries" graphite on paper 40" x 60" 2008






















"Rebuilding the Quarries" detail

Ryan Mrozowski

Ryan Mrozowski's work reminds me a bit of the work of Ian Davis who I posted just over a month ago. They both use relatively simple, graphically strong painting and drawing styles to depict idiosyncratic and largely social narratives. Like Mr. Davis, Mr. Mrozowski pursues a series of themes, the most prominent being audiences. Whether the setting is a classroom, or a theater, or a lecture hall, each anonymous gathering is witness to some largely inexplicable display. The prominence of spectacle and entertainment in our culture, and the dubious point of so much of it, may be in question here. But in other paintings the inexplicable takes place elsewhere, seemingly hidden from public view, as in a collection of space suits (or possibly astronauts?) hanging from the rafters of a large storage shed. Either way the scene is one that is incongruous, unlikely, but not perhaps, impossible. It seems intentionally to be both jarring and intriguing. It is by balancing these two reactions that a whole slew of contemporary artists attempt to coerce the viewer into some kind of participatory role with the art. For my part, I think Mr. Mrozowski's work succeeds splendidly.
See more at his website www.ryanmrozowski.com
and at representatives www.pierogi2000.com


















"Vast Black Dogs" 2010, Acrylic on canvas over panel, 36 x 46 inches






















"The Cloud" 2010, Acrylic on canvas over panel, 24 x 26 inches


















"Sharp Shooters" 2010, Acrylic on canvas over panel, 42 x 50 inches


















"Parlor" 2009, Acrylic on Canvas over Panel, 22 x 28 inches






















Title unknown


Thanks again to the folks over at artistaday.com for bringing him to my attention.

Richard Hall

Richard Hall is a straightforward (though I can't say no nonsense) realist painter. His technique and compositional approach are very traditional and very formal. Which may sound fine and dandy but is in fact an approach filled with the greatest of pitfalls. Without exceptional skill and vision, work of this sort generally falls into the vast and endless pool of somewhat boring but pretty good art that litter art markets everywhere. Mr. Hall is more than just pretty good and his some nonsense approach pushes his work into a subtle category of its own. The tension in this first painting stands out as a brilliantly executed piece of visual humor. But (and I'm sorry to have to say this Mr. Hall) I can't even bring myself to use the title. The wit and elegance of the painting is self evident, but the title/puns are a little much for me. But while a title can add something to a piece I don't think it can subtract. The titles have absolutely no hold on the work itself which is quite simply, exquisite and I anxiously await the appearance of new pieces on his blog. richardhallfineart.blogspot.com
Also make sure you check out his website: richardhallfineart.com













"Breakfast Special: Ham'r and Eggs" 22" x 36"























"Chirp off the old Block" 12" x 24"























"Apple Cobbler" 24" x 24"














"Leave it to the Professionals"

I'd like to thank artistaday.com for bringing this artist to my attention.