For more than fifty years he has set a standard for American art. Like so many of the famous artists I’ve studied, many of them had their roots of art take hold in childhood. From the age of five Jasper knew he wanted to be an artist.

His work depicts commonplace emblems such as flags, targets, maps, and numbers, and through his genius manipulation to the canvas’ surface texture, he raises the images to iconic status. Constantly challenging the technical possibilities of printmaking, painting and sculpture,  Johns laid the groundwork for a wide range of experimental artists.

Jasper is one of the most significant figures in the history of postwar art. His work from 1955 to 1965 was pivotal, and he laid the groundwork for both Pop Art and Minimalism.

Since the 1980s, Johns produces paintings at four to five a year, sometimes not at all during a year. His large scale paintings are much favored by collectors and due to their rarity, it is known that Johns’ works are extremely difficult to acquire.

Today, as his prints and paintings set record prices at auction, the meanings of his paintings, his imagery, and his changing style continue to be subjects of controversy.

Media Highlights

Johns had painted his first American flag in 1954, and it is the image with which the artist is most often associated. His White Flag (1955) hangs in the Metropolitan; Three Flags (1958) is in the Whitneys permanent collection. A 1973 piece, Two Flags, sold for $12.1 million in 1989 — the second highest auction price ever achieved by the artist.

The National Gallery of Art acquired about 1,700 of Johns’ proofs in 2007. This made the Gallery home to the largest number of Johns’ works held by a single institution.

Sources:
christies.com/lotfinder/prints-multiples/jasper-johns-flags-i-5313639-details.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Johns

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Most famous artists from the past have delved into the expression of self-portraits. Although self-portraits have been made since the earliest times, it was not until the Early Renaissance in the Mid-15th Century that artists can be frequently identified depicting themselves as either the main subject, or as important characters in their work.

Why DID so many famous artists paint self-portraits?

Practice Makes Perfect
In early times this was the best way to master portraiture experience before working with the client.

Calling Cards
Portraiture Artists used self-portraits as a calling card, validating their skills. Much like people today use business cards.

Status
Famous artists could paint themselves into a setting which gave status to where they lived.

Document Their Life
A creative and tedious form of today’s selfies! Artists also wanted to document their life and how they changed over the years. For instance van Gogh painted around 36 self-portraits in only ten years. Rembrandt produced the most self-portraits throughout his career.

Looking Deeper
Picasso had some interesting thoughts as to why he painted self-portraits. He once said “Are we to paint what’s on the face, what’s inside the face, or what’s behind it?”

To Make Millions of Dollars?
Famous artists that created million dollar self-portraits probably never dreamed that someday their portraits would sell for millions. If only they knew at the time!

The following 5 famous self-portraits have sold for millions.

“Self-portrait” by Andy Warhol Sold for $27.5 Million

Andy Warhol’s stark red-on-black Self-Portrait, sold for $27.5 Million in 2011. Created with acrylic and silkscreen on canvas, the painting measures almost 9 square feet. It was created toward the end of his life in 1986 and shows the artist, with hair spiked, looking directly at the viewer.

Picasso’s “Self-Portrait Yo Picasso” by Picasso Sold for $47.9 Million in 1989

Painted in June 1901, Yo Picasso is the first of that year’s three self-portraits and shows the 19-year old Picasso viewing himself with pride and confidence. Over the years Picasso’s style developed and his self portraits became more abstract.

“Portrait of an Artist Without His Beard” by Vincent by van Gogh

Painted in 1889, “Portrait of an Artist Without His Beard” sold for $71.5 million in 1998 in New York City. It was the second highest price for a van Gogh at auction and the third highest price for any artwork ever sold at auction.

What made van Gogh’s “Portrait of an Artist Without His Beard” so unique was that it was the only self-portrait he painted of himself without a beard, and it is said to be his last self-portrait. He painted the picture for his mother, Anna Cornelia Carbentus van Gogh, for her 70th birthday while he was in an asylum. He wanted to reassure her that we was doing fine. Ironically he committed suicide soon after.

“Self Portrait with Monkey” by Frida Kahlo Sold for $1 Million

Frida Kahlo, Mexico’s most famous woman artist is best known for her self-portraits that express the emotional effects of pain, loss and tragedy in her life. This self-portrait painted in 1940 was painted during Frida’s one year divorce from her husband Diego. The stance in the painting is direct and serious. Purchased by “Madonna” in the late 1980’s, she has collected several of Frida’s Paintings. Read more here on other famous Frida paintings.

Self-portrait with Hunting Horn by Max Beckmann

German artist Max Beckmann painted “Self-portrait with Hunting Horn” in 1938 while he was in exile in Amsterdam after the Nazis branded him a degenerate artist.

The painting fetched 22.5 million in 2001.

In “Self-Portrait with Hunting Horn”, Beckmann depicts himself alone in a confined, narrow space holding a Waldhorn (a German hunting horn) in his left hand and wearing a black-and red-striped housecoat. The eerie contrasts of the painting tell a much deeper story, the German horn which was used as a symbol of romanticism in German art and literature.

While there are many million dollar faces, these are a few that show the variety that past famous portrait artists have produced.

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Georgia O’Keeffe is a legend in the world of art and remains one of America’s most popular painters of natural artworks today. Born in Wisconsin in 1887, Georgia was raised in the midst of a large farming family and had six siblings; she was the second oldest. Perhaps one of the reasons Georgia developed an interest in painting was her mother’s cultural interests. In addition to their school studies, Georgia’s mother saw to it that all her daughters studied art, although Georgia said she really did not know where the idea to become an artist came from. Wherever it originated, she was highly successful!

Around the world, people still easily recognize her work, often identifying her paintings immediately upon seeing a huge display of colorful flowers or bones in a dream-like desert.

She also holds the record for the highest price paid for a painting by a woman. On November 20, 2014 at Sotheby’s, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art bought her 1932 painting Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 for US$44.4 million (equivalent to US$57.2 million in 2023).

Jimson Weed, White Flower No. 1, expresses one of O’Keeffe’s favorite subjects: a magnified flower. She made it her purpose to highlight their complex structures, explaining: “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.”

Six calla lily paintings created by Georgia sold for $25,000 in 1928; certainly that amount of money was hardly heard of during the period. At the time, this was the most ever paid for a group of creative works by a still-living American artist.

Before Georgia O’Keeffe became famous, she studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and was given her first gallery show by photographer Alfred Stieglitz in 1916. Eight years later, the couple married and were not only husband and wife, but best friends and partners until the time of Stieglitz’s death in 1946. Following his death, Georgia spent much of her time in New Mexico, where she purchased two homes, the Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch. For 35 years she lived in either of these two homes after moving from New York. In 1984, Georgia moved to Santa Fe where she died two years later.

Georgia’s Abiquiu home is open to tours today. When she purchased the 5,000 square foot Spanish Colonial-era compound in 1945, it was said to be in ruins. Georgia spent four years restoring the home with Maria Chabot, her close friend.

Some of Georgia’s earliest popular works of art include Oriental Poppies, Black Iris, and Shelton Hotel, N.Y. No. 1. These paintings were created during the early years of O’Keeffe’s and Stieglitz’s marriage.

Two of her earliest and most celebrated Southwestern paintings—Cow’s Skull: Red, White, and Blue (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) and Cow’s Skull with Calico Roses (Art Institute of Chicago) from 1931—express a skull’s weathered surfaces, jagged edges, and irregular openings.  O’Keeffe said that the bones symbolized the eternal beauty of the desert.

O’Keeffe passed away in 1986 at age ninety-eight, her ashes were scattered over the New Mexico landscape she had loved for more than half a century. She created over 900 paintings and is regarded as one of the most famous women artists of all time.

To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage. ~ Georgia O’Keeffe

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Born March 30, 1853, Vincent van Gogh lived a tumultuous life full of color, drama, passion, illness and loneliness. In a short period of ten years, Van Gogh made approximately 900 paintings, 36 which were self-portraits. Ahead of his time, he died never knowing the reach of his art and fame. He passed away at 37 after he shot himself (though some scholars believe he was shot by accident).

Many of his paintings became famous after his death. He is famous for bold post-Impressionist style and many are familiar with his sunflowers. However, he created many self-portraits which give a raw glimpse inside his troubled mental state and his unique self-perspective.

Most likely, van Gogh’s self-portraits are depicting the face as it appeared in the mirror he used to reproduce his face, i.e. his right side in the image that is in reality, the left side of his face. Shown above is a rare photograph of van Gogh taken in 1873 when he was 19. At the time he worked for the Goupil & Cie art dealership in the Hague. It is the only know photograph of van Gogh’s face.

Below are a few of his most interesting self-portraits…

Self Portrait, 1889: Believed to be Vincent van Gogh’s Last Self Portrait

Painted only months before his death, it is interesting to note that the background in the painting is reminiscent of Starry Night. Swirling brush strokes, movement and contrast, the background is restless behind the intense stare of Vincent. Attention is focused on his face, his features anxious and stern.

Self Portrait for Paul Gauguin – Confiscated and Sold by the Nazis

Vincent van Gogh, Arles, (1888,) gift; to Paul Gauguin, (1888-1897).

During the Third Reich regime in Germany, Vincent van Gogh paintings were stolen and/or destroyed by German authorities. The self-portrait above that was dedicated to Gaugin, was one of the works branded as Degenerate art by the Nazis, confiscated and sold. The winning bid for this work was $US 40.00 by Dr. Frankfurter.

The Bandaged Ear – Not What It Seems?

Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear, January 1889

Did Van Gogh really cut off his ear in the legendary act of self-harm and present it to a prostitute who is said to have fainted when he handed it to her? Well, a book published in Germany by Hamburg-based historians Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans, argues that Vincent van Gogh may have made up the whole story to protect his friend Gauguin, a keen fencer, who actually lopped it off with a sword during a heated argument. The historians say that the real version of events has never surfaced because the two men both kept a “pact of silence” – Gauguin to avoid prosecution and Van Gogh in an effort trying to keep his friend with whom he was hopelessly infatuated.

This painting is considered one of the most expensive paintings of all time (along with the self-portrait below to his mother). In the late 90s it sold for $90 million in a private sale.

Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (obverse: The Potato Peeler)

Spending much of his adult life in poverty, van Gogh could not afford to hire models. The above portrait actually consists of two portraits on one canvas. To save money on canvases he would frequently use both sides of the canvas. On the back side is “The Potato Peeler”.

“I purposely bought a good enough mirror to work from myself, for want of a model.”

Birthday Gift for Mother – “Portrait of an Artist Without His Beard”

Portrait de l’Artiste Sans Barbe (Self-portrait without beard), 1889

This painting was Van Gogh’s self-portrait, which he gave to his mother as a birthday gift. Van Gogh painted Self-Portrait without beard just after he had shaved himself.

What made van Gogh’s “Portrait of an Artist Without His Beard” so special was that he painted it for his mother, Anna Cornelia Carbentus van Gogh, for her 70th birthday not long before his suicide in 1890. At the time, van Gogh was ill in Saint Remy, France, and wanted to reassure his mother that he was all right. He painted himself with chiseled features, a clean-shaven face and an intense stare.

The self-portrait is one of the most expensive paintings of all time, selling for $71.5 million in 1998 in New York. At the time, it was the third (or an inflation-adjusted fourth) most expensive painting ever sold.

“I try more and more to be myself, caring relatively little whether people approve or disapprove.”

Vincent van Gogh painted over 30 self-portraits between the years 1886 and 1889. His collection of self-portraits places him among the most prolific self-portraitists of all time.

To see even more of Van Gogh’s portrait, check out the video below.

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A starving artist early on, his masterpiece publication did not come easy and you will soon discover why!

John James Audubon (April 26th 1785 – January 27th 1851)  is considered America’s first great watercolorist of birds and he had a deep fascination that drove him to create his lifetime masterpiece “Birds of America”.

Audubon endured many hardships before finding success in his 40’s. Born illegitimate, Audubon’s mother passed away when he was just a few months old. When John Audubon was 18 years old, he was sent to the United States to avoid him being a part of Napoleon’s army. Originally named Jean Jacques, on the arrival to America, he changed his name to John James to sound more American.

As an adult for two decades in America he made several unsuccessful business ventures. His wife Lucy, a sharp hawk-like looking woman was a powerful and extraordinary woman who worked tirelessly to aid her husband in his landmark work. She encouraged him to focus on his deep fascination of birds. Frequently he used his drawing talent to trade for goods or sell small works to raise cash. He also make charcoal portraits on demand for only 5$ each and gave drawing lessons.

Audubon’s views as artist and naturalist presented a dramatic contrast to those of other naturalists of his time. He aimed to show and illustrate each species as close as possible to life size and engaged in a natural pose or activity. Audubon called his work Birds of America. He attempted to paint one page each day however decided his earlier works were inferior and re-did them. He hired hunters to gather specimens for him.

{As a side note, Audubon would be thrilled to know, in 2012 an original copy of Birds Of America fetched $7.9 million at auction. Today, 120 are known to exist, with 107 in institutions and 13 in private hands.}

Audubon approached publishers in North America and was disappointed that none would publish his work. He headed to London with his work in search of a publisher and to his delight, the British could not get enough of his images of backwoods America and its natural attractions.

Met with great acceptance he toured around England and Scotland, and was lionized as “the American woodsman.” He raised enough money to begin publishing his Birds of America.

This monumental work consists of 435 hand-colored, life-size prints of 497 bird species, made from engraved copper plates of various sizes depending on the size of the image. They were printed on sheets measuring about 39 by 26 inches (660 mm). Printed between 1827 and 1838 by London engraver Robert Havell the work contained just over 700 North American bird species. The cost of printing the entire work was an extreme cost of $115,640 (over $2,000,000 today), paid for from advance subscriptions, exhibitions, oil painting commissions, and animal skins, which Audubon hunted and sold.

It took more than 14 years of field observations and drawings, plus his single-handed management and promotion of the project to make it a success. A reviewer wrote, “All anxieties and fears which overshadowed his work in its beginning had passed away.”

The success of “Birds of America” brought him immediate fame as the book was as close to nature as possible. He was elected to be a fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1930. He went on to Illustrate other works before his death at 65.

Today, All 435 Illustrations from John J Audubon’s ‘Birds of America’ Are Available for Free Download.  The National Audubon Society has recently made John James Audubon’s seminal Birds of America available to the public in a downloadable digital library. Download and find out more here.

A man with driving artistic passion and affinity for birds he indeed lived the below quote out.

I felt an intimacy with them…bordering on frenzy [that] must accompany my steps through life…

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_James_Audubon

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Favorite Bob Ross Quotes

That’s a crooked tree. We’ll send him to Washington.

Find freedom on this canvas.

I think there’s an artist hidden at the bottom of every single one of us.

Make love to the canvas.

We tell people sometimes: We’re like drug dealers, come into town and get everybody absolutely addicted to painting. It doesn’t take much to get you addicted.

We want happy paintings. Happy paintings. If you want sad things, watch the news.

Bob Ross Quotes on Creativity and Inspiration

Ross’s quotes are filled with wisdom and inspiration for artists of all backgrounds. He believed that creativity was not limited to the realm of art but could be applied to all aspects of life.

One of his most famous quotes is, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” This quote reminds us that mistakes are an essential part of the creative process and should be embraced rather than feared.

Another quote that showcases Ross’s belief in the power of creativity is, “Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you’re willing to practice, you can do.” This quote is a reminder that creativity is not solely reserved for those with natural talent, but rather, it is a skill that can be cultivated through practice and dedication.

Bob Ross Quotes on Nature and the Environment

Ross was known for his love of nature and often incorporated landscapes and natural elements into his paintings. He believed that nature was a source of inspiration and that spending time in the great outdoors could help ignite our creative spirit. One of his quotes that perfectly captures this sentiment is, “Look around. Look at what we have. Beauty is everywhere – you only have to look to see it.”

Ross also had a deep respect for the environment and advocated for its preservation. He often spoke about the importance of taking care of our planet and leaving it in a better condition for future generations. In one of his quotes, he said, “We don’t want to set our world on fire. We just want to paint a happy little tree.”

Bob Ross Quotes on Happiness and Positivity

One of the most remarkable aspects of Bob Ross was his unwavering positivity. He believed in finding joy in the simplest things and encouraged his viewers to do the same. One of his famous quotes that exemplifies this mindset is, “We don’t make mistakes here, we just have happy accidents.” This quote reminds us to embrace the unexpected and find beauty in every situation.

Ross also believed that art had the power to bring happiness to people’s lives. In one of his quotes, he said, “Let your imagination be your guide. Find what makes you happy and go for it.” This quote encourages us to follow our passions and pursue what brings us joy, both in art and in life.

How to Apply Bob Ross Quotes in your Own Life

The wisdom of Bob Ross extends far beyond the art world. His quotes can be applied to various aspects of our lives, helping us navigate challenges and find joy in the everyday. One way to incorporate Ross’s philosophy into your life is by embracing the concept of happy accidents.

Instead of viewing mistakes as failures, see them as opportunities for growth and creativity.

Another way to apply Ross’s quotes is by finding inspiration in nature. Take the time to observe the beauty around you and let it inspire your creative endeavors. Whether it’s a walk in the park or simply gazing at the clouds, connecting with nature can ignite your imagination and spark new ideas.

Bob Ross’s legacy and continued influence

Even though Bob Ross passed away in 1995, his legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts worldwide. His television show, “The Joy of Painting”, is still broadcasted today, introducing new generations to his calming presence and artistic expertise.

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Pablo Picasso is considered one of the most iconic artists of all time. The Old Guitarist is perhaps one of his most famous paintings from the Blue Period (1901 – 1904). The painting is expressive of the monochromatic style in which Picasso painted mainly in shades of blue and blue-green.

At the time of this painting in 1903, Picasso was very poor. His poverty gave him unique and emotional insights. It was also during this time that one of Picasso’s good friends had committed suicide and his feelings of sadness, melancholy and emptiness are expressed in his artwork.

Somber in color and subject matter, the painting we are about to look closer at is reminiscent of Francisco de Goya’s theatrical style.

The Old Guitarist – Composition Analysis

The Old Guitarist depicts an older haggard man on the streets of Barcelona, Spain. The composition expertly frames the mood and isolation in the painting.

In his early years, Picasso received formal artistic training from his father in figure drawing and oil painting, and expertly applies the composition rules of thirds. The rules of thirds dictates that if you divide any composition into thirds vertically and horizontally and then place the key elements of your image along these lines or at the junction the arrangement will be more dynamic.

Thorough composition, paint, subject matter and intuition, an uncomfortable disconnect is presented to the viewer of the painting.

In the middle of the composition, The Guitarists right arm and hand seem to suspend in mid air. Elongated fingers curve towards his right leg which wraps him in a cocoon like state. At the top right of the composition the fingers are elegantly positioned in action and elevated a bit higher then the shoulders as if reaching beyond the confinement of the space.

The angular composition behind him (which is later prevalent in Picasso’s Cubism phase) seem to close in on the Guitarist compressing him into a tiny space that feels airless. Dramatic dark’s and lights further accent the composition as the final touch of melancholy.

The Guitar – The Most Valued Possession

The guitar in The Old Guitarist is a curiosity in the painting. Centered in the composition, the empty eyes of the Guitarist (expressing his blindness) align vertically at the junction of the third with his nose and mouth downward and then sweeping upward from the elbow to the delicate hands which bring your eyes to the guitar. The monochromatic style takes a slight turn as the guitar is painted a warmer color.

The guitar is the bright spot in the painting which may symbolize the most important possession the man has.

Homeless street musicians in Barcelona relied on a small income that could be earned from their music. The guitar being the most valued possession of the Old Guitarist and the music being his escape.

Was the guitar painted by Picasso in The Old Guitarist from a long line of famous guitar markers in Barcelona – starting with Juan Estruch Rosell in the late 19th century?

We will never know the whole story behind the life of The Old Guitarist, however Picasso in all his genius presents a scene that evokes emotions and impacts generations.

Interested in more Picasso articles? You might like to see these pictures of  Picasso in his studio in the 1960’s.

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Rockwell’s idealistic presentation of family values is expressed in Freedom From Want. The family scene sums up the perfect idealism of the American family in harmony with each other. The painting depicts three generations of a family around a table at Thanksgiving. The father is standing at the head of the table as the mother is about to place a large turkey in front of him.

Embodying nostalgia for an enduring American theme of holiday celebration, this painting is one of the hallmarks of Rockwell’s career.

All of the people in the painting were friends and family of Rockwell in Arlington, Vermont, who were photographed individually and painted into the scene. Rockwell’s wife Mary is in this painting, and the family cook, Mrs. Thaddeus Wheaton is serving the turkey, which the Rockwell family ate that day. The nine adults and two children depicted were photographed in Rockwell’s studio and painted into the scene later.

Why did Norman Rockwell Paint Freedom from Want?

In January 1941, FDR delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined his idea of the four basic human freedoms, which included:

• freedom of speech
• freedom of worship
• freedom from want.
• and freedom from fear.

To symbolize the Four Freedoms, Rockwell was chosen for his symbolic paintings. Rockwell spent six months painting the Four Freedoms, which were published in a series of Saturday Evening Post issues in 1943. The paintings were a instant success and defined Rockwell’s career. The original art is approximately 45.75 by 35.5 inches, and are now in the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

Freedom from Want is considered one of Rockwell’s finest works. As one of the four paintings in the Four Freedoms, it is the one most often seen in art books with critical review and commentary. Although all were intended to promote patriotism in a time of war, Freedom from Want became a symbol of “family togetherness, peace, and plenty”, according to Linda Rosenkrantz, who compares it to “a ‘Hallmark’ Christmas”.

Norman Rockwell – A Quick Rundown

He was born in New York City on February 3, 1894 and died November 8, 1978. He is known to be talented at a young age, and he received his first commission at age 17!

Norman Rockwell illustrated American life for over 47 years at The Saturday Evening Post. He produced more than 4,000 original works in his lifetime. Most of his works are either in public collections, or have been destroyed in fire or other misfortunes.

Source: Wikipedia

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Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882-May 15, 1967) was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker; his style conforms to the movements of Modernism and Social realism. Hopper’s work is divided between lonely landscape visages and illustrations of subjects in isolation. Essentially, Hopper captures the ambiance of his subject’s mood through the arrangement of the color scheme. Hopper’s rise to eminence as a figurehead in American modern art will be gleaned in connection to his trademark aesthetic.

The art movement of social realism burgeoned in the 1930s amid the Great Depression and correlated with Hopper’s artistic affluence. At the turn of the twentieth century, Hopper began his career as an illustrator by enrolling in New York School of Art and Design. His mentors included Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase who were the important figures of the Ashcan school- an art movement that strived to convey city life in New York’s poorer regions. Norman Rockwell was among the famous artists involved in the Ashcan school. Hopper’s time spent in art school proved seminal, as he sought to translate the standards of the Ashcan school in a different light. Instead of following the paradigm of his peers and Mentors who detailed crowded and bustling spaces, Hopper shifted the focus of social realism into encapsulating the loneliness of living in the city.

Automat: The Looming Atmosphere of the City

For a short spell, Hopper sought employment as an illustrator after he finished his career in school. Hopper spent several years venturing across Europe and studying the tradition of French realist artists, such as Édouard Manet. Hopper was inspired by the French realists to lend his powers of observation towards evincing the lackluster isolation that lurks in the backdrop of incessant bright lights and city noise.

His famous works- such as ‘Automat’ (1927) and ‘Office in a Small City’ (1953) – channels the collective distress of capitalist modernity. Hopper fashions the exterior spaces in these portraits to signify the subject’s interiority. In Automat, the starkly green background silhouettes the female subject who forlornly studies the content of her beverage. A murkiness shades both the city street in the environment behind the café and the woman’s clothing, which associates the looming atmosphere of the city with her despondency.

Office in a Small City: Reality Over-saturated with Artificiality and Confinement

The alienation of post-world war two American business is translated in ‘Office in a Small City.’ Hopper portrays a minimalist visage of a man seated in his office while absent mindedly observing at the city skyline. A sense of drab unmitigated confinement materializes from the man’s vacant response to performing everyday business tasks. The everyman’s claustrophobic boredom in this picture alludes to a pallid cost of perusing the American dream, which is the insipid routine of modern life. Hopper conveys the effects of a reality oversaturated with artificiality and confinement. A concern for the question of what constitutes an examined life in midst of monotony persists in the body of Hopper’s work. Hopper’s eminence as a prominent voice in the Age of Anxiety– see Munch’s ‘The Scream’– is attributed with conveying the mental rigors, or lack thereof, during capitalist modernity.

Nighthawks – One of the Most Recognized Paintings in American Art

Nighthawks painted in 1942 in New York City (and sold within months for $3,000), expresses lonely moments in time. The empty and flat composition expresses the following:
Coldness – the time of day – late at night, cool dark shadows, empty streets, lifeless.
Disconnected – the unsmiling interaction between the bartender, woman and man seemingly avoiding eye contact as a protection of personal space.
Man in a dark suit also disconnected with his back to the large window illuminating the dark and deserted urban streetcape.

The characters living in their own reality in the same space, yet apart. The painting invites a narrative interpretation. If you are reading this, what is your narrative on the painting?

Other favorite works:

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Bob Ross paintings have been discovered in a Warehouse in Virginia!

Did you know that Bob Ross painted over 30,000 paintings in his lifetime? However, if you want to buy a Bob Ross (authentic) painting, you can’t. A lot of people have tried. And many of these original paintings have been safely tucked away in boxes, unknown to most.

So many paintings inspired by Bob Ross – however no originals to be purchased are found.

An adventure by Aaron Byrd trying to buy an original Bob Ross painting led to a discovery. He tired auctions, galleries and online searches to no avail.

His quest led him on a road trip to the company headquarters in Herndon, Virginia. Almost every painting created by Bob Ross are numerically stacked in cardboard boxes; over 1,000 landscapes, snow-capped peaks and happy little trees, all in a warehouse.

At this time none of Bob Ross paintings are for sale.

The video below tells the entire story.

Did you know Bob completed each painting 3 times? One before the show, one during the show and one after.

The Joy of Painting

Bob told the Orlando Sentinel in 1990: “The majority of our audience does not paint, has no desire to paint, will never paint.” Instead, the show’s appeal is more abstract. It’s less about the art lesson, and more about the mood: cozy, nurturing — an audio-visual pat on the back, coaxing the audience to try something new. For 22 minutes, at least, there’s no fear of failure. As Ross used to say, “We don’t make mistakes, we just have happy accidents.”

Everyone can paint!

According to Bob Ross.

All you need is a dream in your heart, and a little practice.

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