Multifarious: Beautiful Bizarre

In a Cafe (Absinthe), Degas
Édouard Manet, The Balcony
Édouard Manet, The Balcony

If you happen to live in the DFW metroplex or are passing through, you should definitely check out the “Faces of Impressionism” exhibit at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. The works are on loan from the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.

Seeing art close up is a vastly different experience than seeing it in books or online especially impressionist art with its heavily textural quality. (I got chastised for leaning too close to a painting, but it was Degas, dammit, and I wanted to see the brushstrokes better!) I saw one of Van Gogh’s self-portrait, Manet’s The Balcony, Degas’ In a Cafe (Absinthe), and so many more.

Impressionist art has become so mainstream that some would (ignorantly) call it trite, but the impressionists got a lot of flack from the art community when they first arrived on the scene. Impressionism is particularly concerned with conveying narrative in a single still scene which is something many comic book artists do with or without traditional paneling and gutters. While we often separate comic art as low-brow and impressionist painting as high-brow, these artistic traditions speak to one another even unintentionally. Take a look at Claire’s recent article on Concrete Park and Gauguin and Cezanne. Both Gauguin and Cezanne dabbled in impressionism towards the end of the movement, and you can see this influence in their later work.

— Ginnis

Dwam Ipomee, Beautiful Bizarre
Dwam Ipomee, Beautiful Bizarre

Everyone knows Frida Kahlo, right? Her self portraits are instantly recognizable with that forbidding eyebrow, but are also full of birds, flowers, and magical realism. Right now Distinction Gallery has a tribute show dedicated to this talented painter, with artists paying homage to her traditional subjects and compositions. If you’re not in Escondido, you can enjoy some of the digital versions here.

Erin Lee is a photographer with a wide array of subject matter. Purusing her website will give a glimpse of models pouting in high fashion spreads, casually dressed women waiting for something on a city street, and heavily tattooed men worshipping a skull-faced Virgin Mary. The recent project on the worship of Santa Muerte is full of gorgeous portraits and vignettes, and can be found on her website or here.

— Sarah

 

Prakt, Mikkeli Illustration Triennial

Prakt, a Finnish design company, was enlisted to create the identity for the 10th anniversary of the Mikkeli Illustration Triennial in Finland. The company reportedly found it challenging to create an aesthetic for a celebration of illustration. Founder Matti Tuominen explained that “We didn’t want to create more illustrations for the exhibition already showcasing the best Finnish illustrations.” Prakt instead invented a typeface for the event based on the common illustration equipment such as pens, rulers, markers, tape, etc. The end result is one snazzy look.

— Romona

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Ginnis Tonik

Ginnis Tonik

Smashing the patriarchy with glitter, pink lipstick, and cowboy boots. You can follow her on Instagram @ginnistonik

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