Saturday, April 25, 2009

The photorealistic artwork of Robert Bechtle.

I found the photorealistic artwork of Robert Bechtle when I stumbled upon a photo of "News Stands, Los Banos, 1973". Bechtle's work is serene even though many of his paintings take place in cities (San Francisco specifically). His work feels like an early morning with its long light and absence of crowds. Bechtle's work shows the mediocrity of life. Simple living at its finest. The middle class when there still was such a term.

He started drawing at a young age and with encouragement from his teachers and family, pursued a future as an artist. Bechtle won a scholarship that paid for his first year of college by submitting a portfolio of artwork to a national competition. After graduating from the California College of Arts and Crafts (now the California College of the Arts), he was drafted into the U.S Army and sent to Berlin, where he painted murals in the mess hall and delighted in visiting European museums. Besides making paintings, watercolors, and drawings, he is an accomplished printmaker: he worked in lithography early in his career and mainly in etching after 1982 when Crown Point Press began publishing his prints.

He taught at San Francisco State University from 1978 to 1999. Bechtle lives and works in the Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, California.

Robert Bechtle's work has been exhibited internationally and is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney and the Guggenheim in New York, as well as the Walker Art Center, the Smithsonian Institution and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

You can see more of his work here and a New York Times article here.



"News Stands, Los Banos, 1973"

















Thursday, April 23, 2009

Review of Mark Gallery show by Jonathan Talbot.

Jonathan Talbot wrote a great review of my show in Englewood, NJ with Jeff Schaller.

Go here for the review.



Sunday, April 19, 2009

Classic car swap meet, Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ.

I spent the afternoon with Dad at Raceway Park in Englishtown for the annual classic car swap meet. It's always nice to be surrounded by car lovers...and classic car lovers at that! This year was much less crowded than the last few years but there were still some amazing cars being shown. No auto show would be complete without the General Lee or a Super Bee!

The day turned out to be beautiful weather after rain was predicted and I scored a great Coca Cola tin sign.

































Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Southwest Roadtrip with my Diana Camera.

On a recent roadtrip through the Southwest I had a chance to test out my Christmas present from the wife...a Diana camera! I have several Holga's, an Olympus Pen ee split frame camera and the usual DSLR's so the Diana was new fun! My trip took me through 2 time zones, 4 states and over 2,200 miles. Here are a few of the photos from my travels.

The Diana operates in the same manner as the Holga. It takes medium format film and you get vignetting and light leaks. It has that 1970's photo quality minus the rounded edges. There are 3 focus settings and you have the option to keep the shutter open for long exposures. It's a great looking camera with its retro blue and black color.


Twin Arrows, Arizona


Twin Arrows, Arizona


Blank Sign, New Mexico


Blank Sign, Arizona


Motel Pool Yucca, Arizona


Teepee Motel Route 66, Holbrook, Arizona


Box Truck Gallup, New Mexico


Whiting Bros. Yucca, Arizona


Whiting Bros. Grants, New Mexico


Closed/Cerrado Winslow, Arizona


On the highway, Route 40, New Mexico


Double D Tires, Flagstaff, Arizona


For Lease Kingman, Arizona


Gas Mart, Holbrook, Arizona

Monday, April 13, 2009

The Suitcase: Collage art by Kareem Rizk.

I just received a link to Kareem Rizk's blog which has updates about his new shows and miscellaneous art happenings. Kareem contacted me a few years back and we have exchanged e mails since that time about art, collage, transfers, etc..

I am a big fan of Kareem's collage work. His working mediums include collage, acrylic, oil pastel, pencil, solvent transfers and acrylic transfers. His subject matter is based in typography, vintage photographs and bold use of color blocking. Kareem has been blurring the lines of digital and analog by taking his collages into the computer and manipulating them for a new look.

You can check out his blog here and other works here.


"Redcoat"


"Propeller"


"Pontiac"


"Pilot"


"No. 61"


From teh "Mail me art" exhibition"


"Chevy"


"Antigravity"