The Junk Drawer

Final Clue Painting for the Mystery Artist by fleur_de_lis

Although a lot of you have already guessed correctly, I am including this example of the mystery artist's work anyway. This painting shows how he took the solid geometric forms he had been painting with (see previous example) and shattered them into flat pieces that just give us a suggestion of his subject. This is actually a portrait he painted, but you would be hard pressed to find many recognizable features. Not at all like the portraits he was painting at the age of 15! In my next post I will give you an example of the style of art he is most well known for, and then his master work of social criticism.

Number 3... by fleur_de_lis

Okay, now we're getting closer to the mystery artist's most well known style! This example shows the influence of an artist named Paul Cezanne. Cezanne is considered to be the father of modern art and broke the subjects of his paintings down into 'chunks' of shapes and colors. The mystery artist and his buddies took this idea of Cezanne's and went a little further to develop a style of art called....(I won't give that away just yet!) .that dominated the early part of the 20th century. Joe and Acorn have figured it out--anyone else?

Another painting by the mystery artist..... by fleur_de_lis

This painting could very well give you a BIG clue! It is a very well known painting--even to the point of being used in a tv commercial for the antidepressant Prozac. A few paintings were done in this same vein by him during a period in his life that is known as.....but I won't tell you that! This painting, too, is not at all characteristic of his later works. It is very interesting to me to study all the different styles he experimented with in his long, successful career. I will keep giving clues until someone guesses right! Next up, a painting that shows Cezanne's influence on his art. But maybe I won't even need to give it!

Mystery Artist by fleur_de_lis

Yes, I have been slacking off lately, my apologies. The artist that painted this picture at the tender age of 15 is the subject of my next blog, but I'm going to keep you in suspense for a couple of days. Any guesses from you? Just to be mean, this is NOT the kind of painting you associate with this person! It will be used as a comparison to some of his/her later works, one in particular which I consider to be one of the greatest examples of social criticism in the 20th century. Come on, take a stab at it, give me a guess....!! (Just to make you feel better, I would never have guessed he/she painted it, either)!

Kaboom!! by fleur_de_lis

Avast me fellow steeplematies! I be givin' fair warning to all you scurvy, flea infested, salt encrusted blaaarghers to be on the lookout. I be havin' plans to board a few blaaarghs today. There will be plenty o' pirate talkin' and insultin' goin' on so be prepared! And please join in!

Blackbeard: Terror at Sea by fleur_de_lis

Aaaaarrrrr! September 19 be just a few days away me Steeplematies! Me be hopin' ye be brushin' up on yer pirate talkin' and preparin' yerselves! Here be a website dedicated to Blackbeard put out by the National Geographic channel. There be a fun hangman game ye might be wantin' to try. Til then ye scurvy dogs! http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/blackbeard/

Not Your Ordinary Cup o' Joe! by fleur_de_lis

Well folks, the nearest Starbucks is 23,5 miles from me, and I don't think they've heard the word 'barista' much less have one hanging around. I shake my head at the latest in high class coffee drinking, but I love it for it's artistry! These designs are created in trendy coffee shops on top of espresso drinks by coffee specialists (baristas) and I thought I would share a few with you. Now, wouldn't you like to have one of these?! Morning sunshine! Very classic! I live out in the boonies, but occasionally am able to hit the big city and I did have a wonderful experience with food artistry just by chance. We went to the opening of a new Chinese restaurant and my order came with a carrot carved into a wonderfully detailed dragon, complete with scales and teeth! Have any of you had a fun food experience? Here's a website if you want to see some more of these creations courtesy of Oddee: http://www.oddee.com/item_86089.aspx

Renaissance Party Planner....amongst other things! by fleur_de_lis

Guiseppi Arcimboldo (1527-1593) was extremely famous during his lifetime but was soon forgotten after his death. It was not until the 20th century that a group of artists loosely categorized as Surrealists 'rediscovered' his works and brought him into prominence once again. Arcimboldo did many paintings of flowers, books, fruits and veggies---still lives you say? Oh no, he was a portrait painter and he would paint recognizable portraits of famous people of the time using these items to create their likenesses! Arcimboldo was a talented artist right from the start landing the honor of being a student of DaVinci himself. Later he became court painter to several emperors--Ferdinand, Maximillian ll, and Rudolf ll. While in their employ his duties aside from portrait painting included architecture,stage and costume designing, and the planning and coordination of processions, games, weddings, coronation festivals, and celebrations of all kinds.(Oh yeah! He was a party planner!) Vertumnus...

Squeaky Wheel by fleur_de_lis

It's true, the squeaky wheel gets the oil! Yesterday was a good day for complaining. I spent 20 minutes listening to awful music on the phone but I finally got through and straightened out a return. Ka-ching! $84.95 I went down to the electric company about our electric bill and found out that they credited my money to another account. Ka-ching! $176.17 I picked up a prescription at the pharmacy and asked if my insurance had paid its share on a high priced item--sure enough-- Ka-ching! $53.58 Total results of complaining to incompetents-- $314.70 I'm not complaining any more!