Art Appreciation

PAUL KOMODA

Paul is one of my favorite people and favorite artists.

His sketchbook is a thing of eldritch beauty and horror.

And his finished work – whether for HR Giger or film – is wonderful.

This is very small sample, but hopefully one that will whet your appetite:

https://www.paulkomoda.com/

Art Appreciation

NICO(LAS) DELORT

I don’t know Nico Delort, but wish that I did.

He has almost singlehandedly made Black and White illustration relevant again, as he combines the scale and tonal qualities of Franklin Booth with a more sinuous line and some steel wool (or Photoshop?) lighting/fog effects. Breathtaking work!

Art Appreciation

DEAN CORNWELL

Cornwell was one of the greatest American painters and it was a thrill to see so many of his paintings on display in the Kelly Collection.

In addition to classic paintings in rich full palettes, Cornwell did many pieces in then-printable duotone, and others that served as two-page magazine vignettes – designed to have type laid in and around them.

Art Appreciation

FELICE CASORATI

I don’t love all of Casorati’s work equally, but I love his fascinating tesselated arrangement of pattern and objects in light and shadow.

One day I’ll attempt a pastiche. Maybe.

Art Appreciation

MASSIMO CARNEVALE

Italian illustrator Carnevale is largely unknown in the US.
And while his work is always good, I find his distillation of a film to a single arbitrary and iconic image amazing.

I hope you will too.

 

Art Appreciation

PASCAL CAMPION

Pascal’s work makes me think that I worry to much and work too hard.

But simplicity can be as deceptive as it is elegant – for invariably I find that his work focuses on the “simple” foundations that too many of us leave out entirely – or try (in vain) to shove in through some fiddly technique at the end….

Art Appreciation

FRANKLIN BOOTH

Booth was amazing. Amazing. Full stop.

He’d come of age when engraving was the standard for printing, and he learned to wield his pen accordingly.

His understanding of tone is clear in every piece whatever the genre (apocalyptic SF, fantasy, boy’s adventure, advertising, et al.), or atmosphere.

And he combined that knowledge with impeccable draftsmanship and scale. Wow.

Art Appreciation

Thomas Blackshear’s work is bold, with a glorious sense of design and color.

His classic American influences include many of my own (Klimt, Wyeth, et al.), but his work transcends those influences time and again.

And his portrayals of non-white subjects make one wonder why we see so few such portrayals from other painters….

Art Appreciation

Zdzislaw Beksinski’s sculpture and photos are interesting, but his paintings amaze me.

His work remains an important touchstone for a large number of painters today and it always brings a smile to my face when I see his influence in something new.

Art Appreciation

The relationships between Chiara Bautista’s characters are as interesting and sometimes surprising as those between our reality and hers.

An honor to share Chiara’s personal symbolist work: http://www.chiarabautista.com/